Keys to victory for the Notre Dame offense against the Stanford Cardinal, areas to exploit
Notre Dame football is coming off of a bye week, and now has their eyes set on the Stanford Cardinal this weekend. On paper, the Stanford defense is a very underwhelming group. This could be a game where the Irish finally try to find some consistency, or at least try to trend upward. There are […]
Notre Dame football is coming off of a bye week, and now has their eyes set on the Stanford Cardinal this weekend. On paper, the Stanford defense is a very underwhelming group. This could be a game where the Irish finally try to find some consistency, or at least try to trend upward.
There are several key victories for the Notre Dame offense in this matchup. Here is what will determine if the Irish win, and how convincingly in the end. They have a chance to make a little bit of a statement offensively.
Create some big pass plays
There’s no skating around it, this Stanford defense is very, very poor. That is especially true from a pass defense perspective. Their one cornerback Collin Wright is a pretty talented player, but the cupboard is bare otherwise. Notre Dame has struggled to throw the ball consistently, but this is the game that a breakout needs to happen. Quarterback Riley Leonard, and these pass catchers need to make a lot of plays. It is the Cardinal’s biggest weakness and the Irish must exploit it.
Handle movement up front
Aside from EDGE David Bailey, Stanford doesn’t have many players who can win a ton of 1-on-1 matchups up front. Instead, the team needs to utilize movement in order to create pressure. You are going to see linebackers Tristan Sinclair and Gaethan Bernadel blitz a ton from various spots, as well as the line slant all over the place. They will try to create some confusion up front, something that Notre Dame has struggled with mightily. Communication will be key in this game.
Be the more physical team
As has been the case the last couple of seasons, this Stanford defense isn’t incredibly talented. They supplement that lack of talent with production. Their second level is very active, and the defensive line plays extremely hard. Notre Dame has a chance to make a statement at the line of scrimmage in this game, and it’s what Irish fans want to see. Getting Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, and the run game going is something to watch.
