Notre Dame faces off against Florida State on Saturday night in Notre Dame Stadium with a lot on the line. The Fighting Irish come in as the 10th ranked team in the country, while Florida State is still looking for their second win, sitting at an abysmal 1-8. Head Coach Marcus Freeman won't let that record distract the team, calling them one of the most talented teams they have will face this season. Although their record may not reflect that talent, Notre Dame will have to stay focused to win in the fashion they desire, especially with a host of recruits in attendance. With that said, Florida State is flawed team with holes that Notre Dame can exploit, so let's look at keys to victory for Notre Dame.
Photo by The Irish Tribune
Run. The. Ball.
One of Florida State's biggest issues this season has been stopping the run. The Seminoles rank 106th in the country against the run, giving up 191 yards per game. This bodes well for a Notre Dame team that excels at running the ball with their host of talented backs. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price should be able to take advantage of this weakness, especially when FSU's struggles stem from their inability to bring down the ball carrier at first contact. With Love's elusiveness and Price's physicality, FSU's inability to bring down the ball carrier should be on full display. It is also important that Notre Dame is able to establish the run because it opens up their passing game. FSU's rushing defense has also had problems limiting the quarterbacks ground game. In their game against Clemson, QB Cade Klubnik, was able to hurt FSU all game with his legs. This is something Riley Leonard is more than capable of doing, too. Notre Dame's passing attack often struggles when there is no run game. A strong running attack from the Irish will do a lot to open up the offense, maybe even offering a few chances to hit on a big play.
Hit On Big Plays
Speaking of big plays, this is another area where Notre Dame can do a lot of damage on offense. In recent weeks, Notre Dame has progressed in this facet of the game. The passing attack has become more dynamic, and Riley Leonard has been able to find open men down the field. It's still not a big play offense, but it can be when the moment presents itself. FSU has been prone to giving up these types of plays so far this season. Notre Dame's improved ability to hit on big plays may shine again in this game. As said before, it will be important to set up these plays with a strong running game, and if they can do that, Notre Dame will likely have their chances. It is also possible the Irish see these big plays through the ground. Love and Price are more than capable of breaking one loose, with season high runs of 64 and 70 yards respectively.
Limit Mental Mistakes
Notre Dame's hardest task may be limiting the amount of unforced errors on their side of the ball. FSU does not appear to have an offense or defense that Notre Dame can't overmatch. They rank 133rd in points and 132nd yards per game. On the defensive side, they rank 77th in points and 78th in yards per game. These numbers are horrific by Seminole standards, but it doesn't mean Notre Dame will just walk all over them. Notre Dame will have to avoid giving them extra possessions yardage. Penalties and turnovers can keep a team like FSU in this game much longer than they should be. The Irish have shown that they aren't impervious to turning the ball over, averaging a little over one turnover per game. If this number spikes, Notre Dame could have some trouble brewing. The Notre Dame offense also averages six penalties per game, which lands in the middle of the pack at 75th in the country. The defense, on the other hand, ranks a little higher at 92nd with five penalties per game. Both sides of the ball seem to be prone to penalties, but they will need to limit these mistakes if they want to play a clean game. FSU's offense struggles to move the ball, and that will likely be no different against Notre Dame's stout defense. Penalties help a team not only get down the field but sometimes also find a rhythm. The same goes for the offense, penalties can be drive killers, and this Notre Dame offense can easily get bogged down, so penalties will be crucial to avoid.
Force Predictable Third Downs
Notre Dame can also see a lot of success in this game if they can force FSU into predictable or long third downs. Now, this goes without saying, but the goal of any defense is to get into these situations. It is the most effective way to get off the field as a defense, and in this game, it will be no different. These third downs play into the strength of the Notre Dame defense. This season, they rank 8th in the country, only allowing 30% of third downs to result in a new set of downs. On the flip side, FSU is 132nd in the country in third down conversions. If Notre Dame can play up to these numbers, they will have a lot of good chances to get off the field. The hardest part of causing these third downs is to play sound defense on first and second down, so Notre Dame will need to play complementary football. The Irish front seven, starred by Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills, will be crucial in this aspect of the game. Whether its getting to the quarterback or stuffing the run, the defensive line will dictate how each set of downs develop. It doesn't hurt that Notre Dame's secondary is playing at an elite level, so in obvious passing downs, they will be more than up to the task.
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