Notre Dame football will welcome in the Louisville Cardinals this Saturday, and on paper, it looks to be the toughest challenge up to date.
The Cardinals have playmakers all over the field, as they enter the game statistically as one of the best teams in the country. They rank in the top-25 in multiple offense and defensive categories, backing up their ranking in the polls.
For the Irish to come out victorious, they’ll need to win multiple aspects of the game inside the game. Here are my biggest keys for Notre Dame to get win No. 4 on Saturday.
This is the toughest test for the Irish defense up to date, as the Cardinals are averaging 45.3 points-per-game, with 308 yards passing and 194 rushing a contest. Their passing offense is ranked No. 18 nationally, while rushing is ranked No. 37. While they’ve moved the ball and found the end zone, but Louisville’s kicking game leaves plenty to be desired.
Brock Travelstead has made all 17 of this extra-point attempts, but he’s just 3-of-6 on field goals, missing both 50-plus yard attempts and a 28-yard chip shot. Notre Dame’s defense will be challenged, but if they can make Louisville attempt field goals, instead of finding the end zone, it will be a factor in the outcome.
By this time in the season, we all know what this Notre Dame offense is, one that leans heavily on the run. Teams like Louisville, who have the talent to disrupt a game plan, will stack the box and force the Irish to throw the ball. Riley Leonard will have to bring his A-game, as we have yet to see much of him as a passer.
If the Irish can make the Cardinals respect the pass, it will open up running lanes for the backs and Leonard. The Cardinals are allow much on the ground this year, just 87 yards-per-game, so it won’t be easy. Notre Dame can’t afford to be one-dimensional on offense this weekend, and if they show they can move the ball via the air, we all should be going home happy Saturday night.
So far this year, the Cardinals have only really been challenged by Georgia Tech last weekend, which should work in Notre Dame’s favor. As one of the most physical teams in all of college football, the Irish will need several body blows to eventually knock out Louisville.
They have to bring the intensity that they brought against Texas A&M and Purdue, because if we see the efforts that were brought against Northern Illinois and Miami (OH), or it could be a long evening. The shots need to start early and keep up the entirety of the game
So far this year, the Cardinals have only really been challenged by Georgia Tech last weekend, which should work in Notre Dame’s favor. As one of the most physical teams in all of college football, the Irish will need several body blows to eventually knock out Louisville.
They have to bring the intensity that they brought against Texas A&M and Purdue, because if we see the efforts that were brought against Northern Illinois and Miami (OH), or it could be a long evening. The shots need to start early and keep up the entirety of the game
In his collegiate career, Shough has thrown for 5,475 yards with 44 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. With so much experience, there isn’t much that he hasn’t seen. It will be up to defensive coordinator Al Golden to make his life miserable. Disguising coverages, delaying blitzes, and mixing in defensive line stunts will be a big key to this game.
Notre Dame can’t afford to let Shough sit back in the pocket and pick apart the secondary. It will be up to Golden to formulate a game plan that makes the senior think twice about what he’s going to do, which would give an advantage to the Irish defenders and make his life miserable.
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