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Notre Dame Football: 3 reasons Irish could make playoff in 2021

By Connor Muldowney

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs against Jahlil Taylor #52 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs against Jahlil Taylor #52 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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May 1, 2021; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Jack Coan (17) hands off to running back Kyren Williams (23) in the first quarter of the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2021; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Jack Coan (17) hands off to running back Kyren Williams (23) in the first quarter of the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Kyren Williams will take pressure off the QB position

When you have a good run game, the rest of the offense can sometimes take care of itself. The passing game will open up and when you have a new quarterback, that’s all you can ask for.

Don’t get me started on who I think should be starting quarterback this fall, but if Brian Kelly doesn’t go with Tyler Buchner, he’ll be making a huge mistake. If he’s plugged in as the starter and Kyren Williams takes pressure off him right away, we could see him grow at a rapid pace.

When a quarterback doesn’t have to put the team on his back every single game, that frees up the offense, and defenses can’t just drop 8-9 guys back every time and make him beat them. The top-tier run game that Notre Dame will have with a Heisman candidate in Williams and a more than capable backup will keep defenses honest and let the offense grow.

Will the offense be as good as it was with Ian Book running the show? It’s hard to tell, but the potential is endless.

And it won’t just be Williams, either; Chris Tyree had a breakout freshman season as well, rushing for 496 yards and four touchdowns on 6.8 yards per touch. This backfield tandem is going to cause some problems for defenses while taking pressure off a new, potentially inexperienced, quarterback.

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