What additional elements can the Notre Dame offense incorporate?
Notre Dame has successfully navigated the mid-season with a seven-game winning streak, marking Marcus Freeman’s best record at this stage in any of his three years as head coach in South Bend.
Today, I want to explore how the Irish can achieve two goals simultaneously: winning their remaining games in November while getting ready for playoff football.
We know that the Irish prioritize the run game, featuring Jeremiyah Love, JD Price, and Riley Leonard. How might Notre Dame increase the pressure on their opponents?
My suggestion? Employ two-back formations with Love and Price on the field together, incorporating both into the short passing game more frequently and increasing their overall carries since they are the team’s premier offensive threats.
Additionally, it was encouraging to see Mitchell Evans score against FSU. It’s clear he hasn’t been at his best this year and hasn’t contributed as significantly to the offense as he did last season. If he can regain his effectiveness, it will greatly enhance the Irish’s offensive capabilities.
While Notre Dame’s defense is exceptional, there is still room for improvement.
The Irish defense ranks among the top five or ten in almost every significant statistical measure. This unit has been the foundation of the program for some time. Remarkably, despite injuries to key pass rushers like Traore and Botelho, and the loss of Benjamin Morrison from the secondary, the defense has maintained its level of performance.
One area of concern is the team’s tendency to allow opposing offenses success on their opening drives—a trend that has become almost routine. Fortunately, Notre Dame generally tightens up defensively after the first drive.
I’d like to see the Irish address this issue before the postseason, as they will want to prevent stronger teams from gaining easy momentum and scoring early.
The fact that this is one of the few critiques I have of the Irish defense speaks volumes; overall, this unit is exceptional.
For more updates and insights on the Irish, follow John on Twitter @alwaysirishINC, on Youtube, or through your favorite audio podcast platform.
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