The Notre Dame offense showed plenty of growth against Louisville, with answers starting to be found

It was a good victory for Notre Dame football on Saturday, defeating the Louisville Cardinals 31-24 at home. It was a much needed victory after losing to Louisville last season in underwhelming fashion. This team needed a jolt of confidence, and they got that.

While it wasn’t a perfect day for the Irish offense, there was also a lot to be positive about during the victory. Here are the standouts, and the one area that needs some adjusting. There was a ton to be impressed with.

STUDS

WR Jaden Greathouse

This was the game we have been waiting for, the potential breakout for Greathouse. A lot of Notre Dame fans and analysts expected the sophomore to be a breakout star this season, but unfortunately, it has been a slow start this season. Greathouse was the best pass catcher on the day, hauling in four receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown. He looked healthy, smooth and confident on the night. It was great to see Greathouse play with some swagger.

RB Jeremiyah Love

The rushing numbers weren’t great, going for just 34 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, but the inconsistencies up front was a big part of that. Love ran hard, and showcased just how talented he is. You once again got the flash of big play ability when the sophomore took a screen to the house in the fourth quarter. Love finished with five receptions and two touchdowns during the victory.

QB Riley Leonard

Leonard came out hot in this contest, looking the best he has in a Notre Dame uniform during the first quarter. For whatever reason, the offense seemed to get very passive for most of the game, but Leonard still had a strong day on Saturday. He finished the day completing 17 of 23 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns through the air, completing 74 percent of his passes. Leonard also led the Irish with 52 yards and another score on 13 carries. His dual threat ability was firmly on display.

DUDS

Adjustments against pressure

For as good as the first quarter was offensively, with the second to last drive also considered, the offense was pretty stale for the majority of the contest. The big inconsistency came with adjustments. After the slow start for the Louisville defense, they began blitzing the Irish heavily. That tended to confuse the offensive line, and made the offense rush overall. It took awhile for Notre Dame to figure out a strong counter, which will be important to watch down the stretch of the season in bigger games.