Vonn Bell

Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer (14) leaps near the end zone during the 2016 Fiesta Bowl on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. South Bend Tribune Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

Targeting Rule Needs Rethinking

February 9, 2016 by andrewwinn

There's an uncalled targeting incident from the Fiesta Bowl that still irks me when I think about it. There's about 40 seconds left in the second quarter. It's 2nd-and-10 from Ohio State's 15 yard line. Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer is flushed from the pocket, makes a move on a defender and heads to the corner of the end zone. He extends the football to try and score and, as he does, Vonn Bell launches himself in Kizer's direction and lowers his head...right into the quarterback's ...

Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith (9) leaps over Boston College’s Myles Willis (23) as QB Jeff Smith (5) passes during the second half of the Notre Dame-Boston College NCAA football game on Nov. 21. SBT Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

Apples to Oranges: Fiesta Bowl Defensive Preview

December 29, 2015 by Moons

When the Irish and the Buckeyes take the field this Friday, the two offenses may be fairly similar with perhaps a slight edge going to the Irish, but the game's eventual outcome will be more a tale of how each side's defense handles these two explosive offenses. The season-long numbers provide a distinct edge to Ohio State. Let's consider how each team ranks nationally in several important categories (actual value in parentheses): Simply put: the numbers strongly favor Ohio State. Whether ...