Even if you take away Books sacks, ND has 20 rushes for 79 yds.
I think the single biggest adjustment Venables made was having a spy on Book on almost very play, but disguising it. I noticed he would appear to rush 4, but in reality, 3 would rush and one would engage the OL but not penetrate, just spying Book. Even when he blitzed there was almost always 1 guy who didn't even attempt to penetrate.
I think that is why when Book broke containment, he had nowhere to run except to the sideline. I think I recall one time, early in the game, where the spy was out of position and Book made a positive gain out of a scramble.
And, the DBs were outstanding, Book had nowhere to throw as a sprinted toward the sideline.
Re: Everybody was telling me that ND would dominate the trenches
Dec 19, 2020, 9:58 PM
Venebles and the talent gap at WR was the difference. nD couldn’t make the big plays in the beginning and it snowballed form there. ND is a very good team....but not elite. I am a ND fan 1st Clemson 2nd, I think a healthy Clemson team wines 8 out of 10. I don’t want to see ND play Bama....