So let's talk about the NAREM defense, Sean, and what's, I would say if I could be excited about anything coming out of this game,

so you can pick one thing that you're most excited about.

What would it be?

It would be that the Notre Dame defense struggled early again,

and the offense picked him up again.

Now, Al Golden's not going to be happy that his team struggled early.

The leaders on the Notre Dame defense are not going to be happy that they struggled

early.

But for the second straight game, the Nurtain defense started off slow and the offense said,

don't worry, we got you. That is huge for this

football team because you could see some last year at times, Sean, the pressure of the

offensive struggles in big games hurt them, the defense. And now you're two games in a row where you've come out and said,

hey, listen, defensively, you're scuffing a little bit.

Offense is going to pick you up.

Now, again, offense wasn't perfect, but they picked them up.

And that was important, Sean.

It was very important for them to come out and see that.

And that get what, because here's why.

Number one, it gives you confidence in your other unit hey we're

going to be okay we don't have to play with this super super pressure of gee we can't give up scores or

we're going to be in trouble but it also gives you time to make adjustments and and that's really

what we saw in this game is you know we talked about in our keys to victory game you, one of the second key was play smart because Troy Taylor's a really good football coach.

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