Source: bleacherreport.com --- Friday, January 01, 2016
In its final game of the season, against an elite opponent, Notre Dame Football reached its breaking point. An already injury-plagued, suspension-hampered and inconsistent defense was matched up against Ohio State on Friday in the Fiesta Bowl. The Irish promptly lost star linebacker Jaylon Smith to a gruesome knee injury on the Buckeyes’ second drive and his backup on the following drive. In a game many expected to be a shootout, Ohio State powered to a 44-28 win and nearly 500 yards of total offense. Injuries don’t tell the entire story, neither of Notre Dame’s 10-3 season nor the bowl-game loss. The objective isn ’t merely to lament them. But from fall camp in South Bend through the start of a new calendar year in Arizona, Notre Dame was decimated. Both the quantity and quality of the injured players make the big picture so remarkable. Equally remarkable is the job the Irish—what was left of them, anyway—still turned in. With KeiVarae Russell already out, Devin Butler was set for his second career start at cornerback. But the junior suffered a broken foot in bowl practice, putting the onus on sophomore corner Nick Watkins to log his first career start against the No. 7-ranked team in the country in front of 71,000-plus fans. With Jerry Tillery suspended, Daniel Cage battling an ankle issue and Sheldon Day playing through foot pain and illness as well, Andrew Trumbetti rose on the defensive line to post his best game of the seas ...
from Football http://ift.tt/1PBFNeX
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