Notre Dame football is looking for answers this week, but has several key strengths to continue leaning on
Notre Dame football enters an extremely important bye week, moving to 4-1 with a 31 to 24 victory over the Louisville Cardinals last weekend. The Irish staff will look to assess their football team, and develop a plan to move forward. With that strategy, the Irish must also know their strengths and things they can […]
Notre Dame football enters an extremely important bye week, moving to 4-1 with a 31 to 24 victory over the Louisville Cardinals last weekend. The Irish staff will look to assess their football team, and develop a plan to move forward. With that strategy, the Irish must also know their strengths and things they can build off of.
There are several things that this Notre Dame team does very well. We call those things building blocks, things that can help to keep the team up while they grow in other areas.
Running back room is stellar
It wasn’t a great week against Louisville but it’s pretty easy to see how special sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love is. His playmaking ability was once again on display in the fourth quarter when he took a screen pass for a touchdown. Even when he doesn’t have his best game, it’s still impossible to keep him in check.
You also have Jadarian Price, who is a home run waiting to happen. He fumbled during this past game, and ball security needs to be an area of attention moving forward. When he’s clean on that side, Price is electric. Add in true freshman Aneyas Williams, who has been impressive in limited snaps, and this backfield is an embarrassment of riches.
Riley Leonard’s legs
This is an extension of the previous section, and a huge asset to the Irish offense. As a collective, it looks like we have to accept that Notre Dame is never going to open the passing attack. For what they are going to lack in that department, they will need to supplement it with Leonard’s running ability. He brings a tremendous dynamic ability in a bigger body at 6’ 3 ⅝” and 216 pounds. Leonard has the talent to make the wrong play right at times.
The secondary is elite
We are coming off of a game where cornerback Christian Gray didn’t play, and All-American Benjamin Morrison was limited. Both players are not feared to be limited for the long term, which is great news for Notre Dame. With Leonard Moore now emerging, and Jordan Clark playing good football, that cornerback room can cover as well as any team in college football.
The safety position is much healthier, and equally as impressive as the cornerback room. Star defender Xavier Watts is making offenses continue to look silly for trying to test him. Sophomore Adon Shuler has also been very good for the team. He continues to make plays each week. Rod Heard provides good depth behind both of them.
Speed everywhere on defense
Notre Dame has suffered a couple tough injuries up front with Boubacar Traore and Jordan Botelho, as well as Joshua Burnham having missed a couple of weeks. Even with those injuries, this front seven is extremely fast. The linebackers can all run, and while the defensive line is undersized, it also makes plays all over the field. The play speed is tremendous.
