The Impact of Notre Dame's Ian Book

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Ever since taking the starting spot as Notre Dame's starting quarterback, Ian Book has the Irish offense avant-garde. The junior leads the NCAA in passing percentage at 75 percent all the while tossing for 1,800 yards, 15 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Book also notches in at sixth in passing efficiency with a score of 170.0.

Book took over for former starting quarterback Brandon Wimbush who had an impressive 13-3 record and led the Irish to a key win over Michigan early this season. With Wimbush though, head coach Brian Kelly felt as if the offense was lacking a dimension. Passing.

“We were putting too much stress on other parts of the operation, particularly the defense," Kelly said in a post game press conference earlier in the season.

As a starter, Wimbush was an ineffective passer but a determined runner. Running the ball, he racked up 803 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2017. Passing proved to be his Achilles heel as he threw for a meager 1,870 yards, 16 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, and completed 49 percent of his passes.

The Book led offense has exploded scoring 233 points in five games. To serve as a comparison, in the three games Wimbush started the offense totaled 70 points. In the first three games Book started, the offense totaled 139 points. It took Book a game and a half to produce what the Wimbush led offense had produced in three games.

According to Andrewwinn of SBNation, throughout their first 496 snaps, Book had an overall success rate nearly 16 percent higher than Wimbush.

Wimbush's game is predicated on running the football. However, Book has wheels of his own. Through his first six starts this year book has racked up 218 yards on 62 attempts. Though those numbers aren't gaudy, they misrepresent the impact his decision making has been when it comes to running the ball. He's great at sensing pressure and escaping the pocket unscathed for a few skimpy yards that would have accounted for a sack.

Book has been everything the Irish needed as they prepare for a run to be one of those amongst the undefeated. With the difficult part of the schedule in hindsight, Book and the Irish hope to continue winning and get into the College Football Playoff.

Photo Credits: SBNation

Video Credits: Youtube.com--ESPN