Trap Game? Does Boston College Have What It Takes to Repeat History?
Coming off the massive win against Miami just a week ago, Notre Dame now sets its sights on Boston College in what could be a quintessential "trap game" for the Irish.
Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
From the moment Notre Dame took down No. 1 Miami last Saturday night, the idea of a Boston College trap game began to take hold. Trap games have long been a narrative in college football, and they are often a reality for many teams. Notre Dame fans may remember how real trap games are, especially against Boston College. In a situation eerily similar to the one the current team faces, the 1993 Notre Dame team lost to Boston College the week after beating No. 1 Florida State. On Saturday, Marcus Freeman and this Fighting Irish team will do everything they can to avoid the '93 team's fate and keep pushing toward the College Football Playoff.
It appears that this game could hinge on Notre Dame's ability to take care of the football. Boston College has thrived on its ability to wreak havoc and cause turnovers, leading the ACC with 15. Of those 15 turnovers, 12 of them have been interceptions, meaning it will be on CJ Carr to look after the football. Luckily for the Irish, Carr has been impressively able to take care of the ball, as he has only thrown one interception all year. Freeman has also brought up how important it will be for his team to limit turnovers in this game. In researching trap games, Freeman referenced that turnovers were a common occurrence for teams that fell victim to a trap game. Against a team that has caused two or more turnovers in each of its four wins, Carr and the Notre Dame offense will have to have ball security at the top of their priorities.
The next task for Notre Dame will be stopping Boston College QB Mason McKenzie. McKenzie is a true dual-threat QB who is very capable of hurting a defense if he is allowed to escape the pocket. So far this season, he has thrown for 1,616 yards and 10 touchdowns. On the ground, he has run for 676 yards and five touchdowns, leading the team in rushing yards. He is at his best when he is able to escape the pocket to hurt a defense with his legs or buy time to make a throw down the field. While his athleticism is a strength, he does struggle when he is forced to solely become a pocket passer. McKenzie has been turnover-prone all season, as he has struggled to process defense from the pocket. With eight interceptions this year, Notre Dame's secondary should be able to give him fits all game.
While the Irish secondary may be favored in their matchup, it lies on the defensive line to contain McKenzie's scrambling ability. They will have to be able to hold their contain on the outside of the pocket, while still finding ways to bring pressure. In the interior, McKenzie presents as Boston College's main running threat. This means Notre Dame's run defense should be able to find a lot of success stopping the run. After a good game against Miami, it will be important for this group to continue their momentum.
Notre Dame is frankly the much better team in this game. They have the superior athletes, but it will be about whether they show up or not. Trap games are usually not about a team being better than many thought. Instead, it is about the better team playing to their standards. Last year, Boston College was able to keep the game close in the fourth quarter until Jeremiyah Love broke off a 94-yard touchdown run. Notre Dame does not have that kind of player to rely on if this game remains close on Saturday. The Irish will need to put Boston College away early to avoid a close game, because if they do not, the game could become the trap game many Irish fans are worried about.
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