No. 14 Notre Dame has its sights set on the road ahead as the team returns from a well-deserved bye week. The path to success should be clear: it’s time for the Fighting Irish offense, including Jayden Thomas and the talented group of wide receivers, to rise to the occasion and make their mark.
“Last week, we had a much-needed bye week,” said Irish head coach Marcus Freeman at his Monday press conference. “For our players, mentally and physically, they needed it. When you think about it, we started this season the last week of June with training camp and have gone straight through last week. It was a great chance for them to have a bye week. We also had to challenge them to get better. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, we had to practice, and we had to get after it and really make sure that we were improving in all areas of the game, and in the areas we have been deficient.
“It’s a team that I see continuing to get better,” Freeman added. “That’s what I’ve seen, especially the last two weeks. This team has gotten better from what they were at the beginning of the year. So, we have to understand the challenge that will be presented on Saturday.”
Big Play Threat Needed
Hosting the reeling Pittsburgh Panthers at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, the Fighting Irish’s offense needs a return to its early-season form. Irish quarterback Sam Hartman has yet to establish a favorite target. Hartman has spread the ball around effectively. With multiple injuries to the receiving corps, he has utilized tight ends, including Mitchell Evans (24 catches for 356 yards). Despite not having a legitimate deep threat, Hartman has 1,838 passing yards this year. He has completed 64.5 percent of his passes. He has thrown 18 touchdowns and three interceptions. Thomas, who has been hampered by a strained hamstring in recent weeks, can be that go-to receiver for Hartman if he is healthy.
Jayden Thomas: The Go-To Receiver Notre Dame Needs
Much was expected from Thomas this year. However, the junior has just 15 receptions for 228 yards and one touchdown. Thomas started the season in strong fashion, playing a prominent role in Notre Dame’s balanced offensive attack. He had four catches for 63 yards (15.8 average yards per catch) and a touchdown in the season opener against Navy. Thomas had a similar stat line in the next two games. He caught four passes for 62 yards (15.5 average) against Tennessee State and caught four more passes against Central Michigan for 63 yards (15.8 average).
After sitting out the Irish’s hard-earned win over Duke, Thomas has not made much of an impact. He managed just one catch, a seven-yard reception early in the game, in the tough loss to Ohio State. Used sparingly the rest of the way, he hobbled off the field early in the third quarter of that game. In the loss to Louisville, Thomas caught just two passes for 33 yards (16.5 average). With the bye week providing time for the Irish to rest and heal, Notre Dame needs Thomas to play a key role in the offense.
Offensive Resurgence Required
Notre Dame flashed on offense during the initial four games of the season. The Irish averaged 46 points per game and over 500 yards per game. But in the subsequent four games, the offensive production witnessed a noticeable dip, averaging just 25.8 points per game. In addition, the offense seemed incapable of creating big plays downfield with just 13 plays of 30-plus yards in the last four games. Thomas, if healthy, can be a game-changer for the Irish. A strong physical receiver, Thomas possesses deceptive speed. He is a crisp route runner and can accelerate in the open field. That skill set should help Notre Dame improve its offensive attack by making more effective use of the entire field.
Keys to Success
Freeman and offensive coordinator Gerad Parker understand now is the time for Notre Dame’s offensive stars to shine. At this critical juncture of the season, it is imperative that the Irish take care of business at home against a struggling Pittsburgh squad. Pittsburgh’s defense ranks 64th in the nation, giving up 24.6 points per game. The unit allows 195.3 passing yards per game, ranking 27th in the country. The Panther defense ranks 26th with 325 total yards surrendered per contest.
To return to its early-season form that featured a balanced offensive attack, Notre Dame will need a more effective and explosive passing game. Facing Pittsburgh off the bye week should provide the offense a golden opportunity to make strides. If healthy, Jayden Thomas will be a valuable component and a go-to receiver for Hartman. Thomas may just be the answer that the offense is looking for to provide a spark on Saturday and the rest of the way.
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