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Notre Dame scored at least 31 points in five of the six starts of quarterback Ian Book. Syracuse can also score points. The Orange are seventh in the nation in terms of goals scored, averaging 44.4 points, and quarterback Eric Dungey scored 26 touchdowns.
Book – who returns from a rib injury that he missed last week against the Florida State – and Dungey will lead a powerful foul in Saturday's game between Irishman (10-0) and No. 12, Syracuse (12-2)).
Chris Simms knows the job well. The former Texas and NFL quarterback is a studio analyst for NBC and will be on site at Yankee Stadium.
The book impresses Simms even before the sophomore redshirt takes his first picture.
"He was the best pitcher during pre-game warm-ups at every game of my life," Simms said in a phone interview. "I've been around the quarterbacks all my life and I love watching them warm up. When I tell you that there's a guy you can count on, he's throwing perfect rockets and spirals every time you throw during warm-ups, (Book) has always caught my eye that way. "
It has been reported in the games. Book is leading the country with a completion percentage of 74.5% and ranks fourth in terms of passing efficiency with a score of 170.0. He threw 15 touchdowns with just four steals.
"One thing I always think of as a good offense is having to defend all the ground," said Simms. And that's what Ian Book does for Notre Dame.
"He's really special about the movement in the pocket and buying time to launch it. He has incredible speed that way and he can quickly get the ball out of his hands. There is much to be impressed by what Book has done so far. "
The big question this week is how Book will bounce back after his injury.
"I've had some bruised ribs myself," Simms says, "and under your armpit, when you're throwing, there's an amazing couple on that part of your body, if it's really tight or you're feeling not normal, it's like nothing happened: it can make something that you're very normal and normal feel less normal about, you go: 'It's really tight, it really bothers me.
"Sometimes it can affect your mechanics because you're trying to find a way to throw the ball without it bothering you."
Dungey poses various problems to the defense of Notre Dame. The 6-foot-4, 226-pound athlete managed 2,193 yards and 14 touchdowns and 690 yards and 12 scores.
"He's not the natural pitcher like Ian Book, but he's a very good pitcher," Simms said. "It's his physical nature that enlightened me more than anything. His physical appearance and his fearlessness are one of the main reasons why this Syracuse offense was committed. "
Dungey owns or shares 16 Syracuse records, including the total career offensive (10,594 yards). Irish coach Brian Kelly also used the term "intrepid" to describe Dungey.
"It's three and three or three and four in the reading zone, and he's guarding it and there's a guy standing right there," Kelly said. "You catch it and tackle it, and it will fall in front of 4 yards.
"It's just a tough guy. And that kind of hardness envelops the whole offense. It's not a crime of finesse. There is tenacity, and I think it comes from him.
Twitter @lamondpope
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