Notre Dame Football: Winners and Losers from Fighting Irish's First Month

Over the first five weeks of the season, Michael Floyd has shoved himself into the Biletnikoff race alongside superstars like Ryan Broyles and Justin Blackmon. Floyd ranks third in the FBS in receptions and eighth in receiving yards. His accomplishments become even more impressive when considering the circumstances under which he’s achieved them.

Though there are certainly other weapons available on the Notre Dame offense, Floyd undoubtedly receives the primary attention of every defense the Irish face. So far, only Pittsburgh has been able to shut him down. In every other case, he’s dominated even as the defense has schemed specifically to stop him.

Coming into the season, it was tough to predict what the Irish would get out of Floyd, but he’s bounced back from past off-field troubles and on-field injuries to cement himself as Notre Dame’s best offensive player. Even more importantly, Floyd finally seems to "get it." By all accounts, he’s been a leader and a model citizen so far this year.

As a result, Floyd has not only propelled the Irish, he’s driven his own NFL draft stock up as well. At this point, it looks like Notre Dame is destined for a quality bowl appearance, and Floyd is destined for the first round.

Winner: Michael Floyd

Over the first five weeks of the season, Michael Floyd has shoved himself into the Biletnikoff race alongside superstars like Ryan Broyles and Justin Blackmon. Floyd ranks third in the FBS in receptions and eighth in receiving yards. His accomplishments become even more impressive when considering the circumstances under which he’s achieved them.

Though there are certainly other weapons available on the Notre Dame offense, Floyd undoubtedly receives the primary attention of every defense the Irish face. So far, only Pittsburgh has been able to shut him down. In every other case, he’s dominated even as the defense has schemed specifically to stop him.

Coming into the season, it was tough to predict what the Irish would get out of Floyd, but he’s bounced back from past off-field troubles and on-field injuries to cement himself as Notre Dame’s best offensive player. Even more importantly, Floyd finally seems to "get it." By all accounts, he’s been a leader and a model citizen so far this year.

As a result, Floyd has not only propelled the Irish, he’s driven his own NFL draft stock up as well. At this point, it looks like Notre Dame is destined for a quality bowl appearance, and Floyd is destined for the first round.

Loser: Dayne Crist

Unfortunate as it is, Dayne Crist’s Notre Dame career is effectively over.

In the past, it’d been injuries that derailed the former five-star recruit. This season, Crist has nobody to blame but himself (and maybe Brian Kelly).

Crist was yanked after struggling in the first half against South Florida, and though Tommy Rees wasn’t particularly impressive either, Kelly handed Rees the job in Week 2. Since then, Rees has been unchallenged as the Notre Dame starting quarterback.

Even in the first half against Pittsburgh, when Rees seemed thoroughly confused by the Panthers defensive strategy, Kelly was unflinching in his dedication to his quarterback. This speaks volumes about his confidence in Rees, but even more about his lack of faith in Crist.

Who knows what happens in practice every day, but from an outsider’s perspective, it looks like Crist simply doesn’t grasp the offense as well as he needs to.

In some ways, it’s not his fault. Dayne Crist didn’t come to Notre Dame to run a spread offense, and Brian Kelly didn’t ask for Dayne Crist to be his quarterback. No matter the reason, that relationship has been unstable at best. I have no doubt that Crist will still be ready if he gets another opportunity, but at this point, that’s an unlikely scenario.

Winner: Cierre Wood

Outside of Michael Floyd, Cierre Wood has been Notre Dame’s best player. In his second year in Brian Kelly’s spread offense, Wood is blossoming.

As Notre Dame’s primary running back, Wood has been outstanding in every phase of the game. In his primary role as a runner, he’s rushed for nearly six yards per carry and 117 yards per game with a running style that fits perfectly with a shotgun offense. Wood has the vision to evaluate his options at the line of scrimmage, the patience to wait for blocks to develop and the acceleration to scoot through the hole.

In addition to his skills as a runner, Wood has excelled as a receiver and blocker in the passing game. He makes himself available to Tommy Rees on screens and check downs, and he’s been reliable in blitz pickups.

As the Irish offense has moved in fits and starts, Wood has been consistent. He’ll be a fixture for Notre Dame for the rest of this year, but he may become the centerpiece for Kelly’s offense next season.

Loser: Theo Riddick

Theo Riddick seemed to be the perfect fit in a spread offense. After playing running back in high school, he immediately transitioned to wide receiver when Brian Kelly arrived at Notre Dame. He’s an explosive athlete, the type that can devastate a defense if left in open space.

So far this season, Riddick has been underwhelming, totaling just 153 receiving yards in five games.

Coming into the year, Kelly slated Riddick for punt return duties, deeming it such an important contribution that he’d give Riddick breaks on offense to keep him fresh for returns. A couple of poorly-timed muffs squashed that plan very quickly.

To be fair, Riddick hasn’t been terrible on offense. At times, he’s actually been pretty good. Yet he hasn’t really taken hold of the role that was expected for him.

Notre Dame’s offense has been pretty good so far, but if Riddick’s production can reach the heights of his capability, the Irish offense will be unstoppable.

Winner: Manti Te'o

Though the up-and-down offense has received most of the attention from the national media, Notre Dame’s defense has been the team’s best unit in 2011. While the secondary has struggled at times, Manti Te’o leads a front seven that has been remarkably stout.

Te’o has racked up a team-leading 44 tackles on a defense that’s allowed just 4.8 yards per play and only 2.9 yards per rush.

In his third year at Notre Dame, Te’o has learned harness his incredible instincts into the framework of a defense. It’s cut down on his mistakes and sent his NFL draft stock soaring.

As a middle linebacker, Manti Te’o is almost perfect. At times, Te’o struggles to play in wide open spaces, but he is consistently dominant when the Irish face a pro-style attack. With USC and Stanford looming as Notre Dame’s toughest remaining challenges, things are lining up for Te’o to produce a huge second half.

Winner/Loser: Tommy Rees

More so than any other player, Tommy Rees’ season has been a reflection of Notre Dame’s season as a whole.

Rees has been alternately excellent and excruciating, tossing 10 touchdowns alongside six interceptions. At times, he’s a steely leader, piloting his offense with a poise and calm that belies his youth. At other times, he’s a bewildered teenager, overwhelmed by the complexity of defensive schemes.

Sometimes he’s a winner, sometimes he’s a loser. The real Tommy Rees isn’t either of those extremes, he’s something in between.

While Notre Dame’s season surely won’t rise and fall with the fortunes of just one player, Rees will have more to say about the Irish’s success (or failure) the rest of the way than just about anybody. For better or worse, Tommy Rees is the quarterback at the University of Notre Dame, and given the length of the leash that Brian Kelly has given Rees through the first five games, that fact isn’t likely to change anytime soon.

The Irish have what it takes to run the table, but Rees will have to steer them in the right direction.