Notre Dame defense needs to rebound after poor performance

Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire (8) leaps over Virginia defenders during an NCAA college football game Saturday, September 12, 2015, in Charlottesville, Va.

Coach Kelly said the team is looking at the ways players were injured, but there’s not a consistent pattern with the knee injuries.

The university said Smythe underwent successful knee surgery and a right shoulder operation Tuesday, both performed by Brian Ratigan.

The eighth-ranked Irish (2-0) host No. 14 Georgia Tech (2-0) on Saturday afternoon.

Last week, running back Tarean Folston was knocked out for the season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament during the 38-3 victory over Texas. Two of them, there were no contact at all, and in this one (Smythe’s) it was a play, actually the play right before the touchdown at the end of the game against Virginia that Durham got rolled up on by one of his own players. “I believe this team is a team that embraces this challenge and is ready to move forward”.

“‘Just no excuses. Let’s go play”.

The Irish face the option twice in the next four games, with a game against Navy on October 10.

Junior Albert Reid says, “I feel like we played a great game”. “It’s just one of those things that there is anything that you could have done differently in that situation”, Kelly pondered. “It is unfortunate, but it is what it is and we will find a way to put it together so we can win games with DeShone Kizer as our starting quarterback”.

Prescott completed 34-of-51 passes for 336 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions on the night. I understand the importance of this season and what’s going on.

None is more important to the playoff, though, than the patience the 13 committee members will have in watching the Irish’s season continue to unfold with a rookie quarterback. Luatua and Hounshell are more adapt at pass-blocking than as receivers, while Jones and Weishar are closer to what Notre Dame fans envision as a typical Notre Dame tight end.

The Cubs (No. 1 in MLB) are having their best season since 2008 and their second-best since 1984.

“We just have to balance the offense and do the things that he (Kizer) is capable of doing”, Kelly said. It can go in a direction where its an impetus to take us further on.

“It started way back in June, I was preparing as if I was going to be the guy”, he said.

“We got lost in the misdirection and they didn’t pay attention to what our specific responsibility was”, Kelly said. “There’s no question. But we’ve got a lot of really good players around them”, he said.