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Last week, Notre Dame went to College Station as a three-point underdog.
Being undersold on the road in the season opener is a great way to get the players’ attention before the game, and Marcus Freeman did just that.
This week, the challenge is on the other end of the spectrum. Freeman must get his players’ attention after a few days of getting over-the-top praise, playing the home opener, and being a heavy favorite. There are as many challenges as having the team prepared for Northern Illinois as it was for Texas A&M. The challenges are different.
The Huskies are coming in with an experienced team that plays for a program that has pulled off wins over Power Four teams. “They’ve won seven of their last nine games dating back to last year. They return 18 starters—nine on offense. Nine on defense,” said Freeman.
Northern Illinois started the season with a 54-15 win over Western Illinois. Quarterback Ethan Hampton (Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week) was 18-20 for 328 yards and five touchdown passes. Eleven different receivers caught passes from three different quarterbacks.
Trayvon Rudolph (wide receiver) had 171 all-purpose yards last week. Rudolph scored on a 60-yard rush and a 43-yard reception. Rudolph’s 104 yards on four catches was his fifth 100-yard receiving game of his career.
Keys:
Pressure Upfront: Defensive Coordinator Al Golden was nearly perfect when it came to when to call the blitz against Texas A&M. Last week, Hampton had plenty of time against an overmatched Western Illinois team. If Notre Dame can take away the Huskies’ passing game, especially in the middle of the field, without blitzing, it will help the defense’s effectiveness when Northern Illinois breaks tendency.
Get the Running Game Going: Notre Dame’s rushing numbers were slightly misleading. If you squint your eyes and look closer, 87 yards came on three carries. That means the Irish got 111 yards on 31 carries. That’s not very efficient. The running games serve multiple purposes. It will continue to give the offensive line confidence, giving the front five a chance to wear down the Huskies defense. It would also open up the play-action portion of the playbook. Last week, Notre Dame’s passing game didn’t stretch the field, and if this team wants to make a significant run in the College Football Playoff, it will need to.
Penalties: Notre Dame’s 11 penalties would have been the top issue had the Irish lost last week. At his midweek press conference, Freeman said, “We have to practice it. We have to drill it. It’s the lack of focus penalties that are the ones you get frustrated on.”
When facing an underdog, the last thing a team can do if assist in extending drives on defense or dampening them on offense. The Irish got away with it last week but it’s not the way to live week after week.
Notes:
Kicker Mitch Jeter received the Lou Groza Award Star of the Week. Jeter went 3-for-3 on field goals. Two were from 46 yards, including the game-sealing field goal, and one was from 26 yards.
