Notre Dame's showdown against Indiana in Notre Dame Stadium is well within sight. The Irish are favored in this game, but if Notre Dame does not execute well, this game could go right down to the wire. Here are a few ways Notre Dame can avoid the upset against Indiana and move on to a matchup with Georgia in New Orleans.
Photo by The Irish Tribune
Establish the Run
It goes without saying that the Notre Dame running attack is the strength of this offense. Jeremiyah Love has been the focal point of this offense all year, and he has delivered breathtaking runs as one of the best backs in the country. Love garners a lot of attention, but Riley Leonard and Jadarian Price have also been important pieces of the rushing attack. Together, these three have shown their ability to put up huge numbers and win games. All three players have rushed for over 600 yards this season, with Love leading the charge followed by Leonard and Price. They have also been very impressive in finding the end zone, combining for 36 rushing touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, they will be going up against the No. 1 ranked rushing defense in the country. Indiana has been able to stifle opposing rushing attacks all year, but Notre Dame will be their toughest test yet. Notre Dame averages 224 rushing yards a game, while Indiana only gives up 76 rushing yards per game. It will be a strength on strength matchup for both teams on Friday night. This matchup could dictate the outcome of this game. Notre Dame wants to create an effective run game that sets up easy passing situations while also having the chance to break one loose at any moment. Indiana wants to dictate the terms of this game through their physical run defense. This puts teams in third and long situations, which is right where they want Notre Dame. The Irish passing attack has been limited and inconsistent all year. A quality run game can help mitigate these problems and even hide them at times, but if Indiana can stop the run, it will be a long night for Notre Dame.
Start Fast
One of Notre Dame's most noticeable progressions this season has been the way they start games. Early on, Notre Dame tended to come out of the gates sluggish. Think back to NIU, Miami (OH), and even Louisville. In all three of those games, Notre Dame started the game slow, and it even cost them in the game versus NIU. Against Indiana, Notre Dame will have to start the game strong. First of all, a hot start will energize what will already be a raucous crowd in Notre Dame Stadium. If the crowd is into it early, that is just another advantage Notre Dame can play into. On the flip side, a slow start will take the crowd right out of the game, which will not only give Indiana energy, but also may cause Notre Dame to tense up. As the favorites, a strong start from Notre Dame could also demoralize Indiana. Notre Dame could immediately show Indiana how hard it will be to win, which could hurt their morale. It works inversely for Notre Dame, however. A slow start from the Irish could give Indiana all the confidence they need to pull off the road upset. Lastly, a fast start from the Irish helps them decide the terms of the game. Whether it is the offense establishing the run game, or the Irish defensive line getting into the backfield, a fast start can put Indiana on their back foot from the start, allowing Notre Dame to play on their terms.
Get After the Quarterback
In Indiana's only loss this season against Ohio State, Indiana really struggled to protect their quarterback, Kurtis Rourke. In that game, Ohio State was able to bring Rourke down five times, which brought their offense to a screeching halt. Rourke only completed eight passes for 68 yards. Indiana is normally a very efficient passing attack. Rourke is an accurate passer that has thrown 27 touchdowns and only four interceptions this season. That shows a real ability to hit on big plays while taking care of the ball. Throughout the season, Rourke and his wide receivers often connect on back-shoulder deep balls. Rourke puts it right where it needs to be, and their talented wide receivers often come up with it. To avoid this, Notre Dame's pass rush needs to put pressure on Rourke. Notre Dame's pass rush has been a bit inconsistent this year, but Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III have combined for the most sacks by any defensive interior in the country. Those two, along with the rest of the d-line will need to bring their A-game on Friday to give this defense a chance. Against USC, Notre Dame struggled to bring pressure, and that resulted in USC carving up the defense. These young Notre Dame corners will need the help of the defensive line to stop Indiana's passing attack. If Rourke is allowed too much time, he is more than accurate enough to find open receivers and put the ball where it needs to be.
Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun
コメント