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Notre Dame vs Georgia: Notre Dame's 3 Keys to Victory

Writer's picture: Noah WehbyNoah Wehby

Notre Dame's marquee matchup with Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl is right around the corner. This will mark the biggest game for Marcus Freeman during his time at Notre Dame, and the program's biggest game in a long time. Notre Dame will have it's hands full with a very talented Georgia team led by Kirby Smart. Here are three things Notre Dame needs to accomplish on New Year's Day to takedown Georgia and advance to the semifinals.

Photo by Irish Tribune


Win On The Outside


One of Notre Dame's deficiencies on offense is their lack of explosive playmakers on the outside. Obviously, Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are capable of breaking a huge play almost every time they touch the ball in the backfield, but that capability has not always translated to the wide receivers. The Irish passing attack this season has been methodical, often relying on short passes to move the ball. Some of this can be attributed to Leonard's weaknesses, as he hasn't shown any consistent ability to push the ball down the field. Leonard doesn't have a particularly strong arm, and the wideouts don't have a ton of big play speed and size. Beaux Collins was thought to be this type of player, but he has struggled to break out up to this point. Against Georgia, Notre Dame may need someone in this wide receiver room to make a few plays to put their stamp on the game. Georgia will surely commit their defense to stopping Notre Dame's dangerous running game. Kirby Smart is a fantastic coach with two weeks to prepare and plenty of talent to find ways to do this. This means that Notre Dame may need to look elsewhere for explosive plays. In his game against Indiana, Jordan Faison showed flashes of his ability to make big plays for the offense. Faison was a reliable set of hands to find on third down for Leonard, and even made a few players miss on a big kickoff return to start the second half. Whether it is Collins, Faison, Greathouse, or even Mitchell, Notre Dame is going to need someone to step up on the outside to relieve some pressure put on the rushing attack. In a game of this magnitude, Notre Dame needs to have options to be able to consistently and effectively hurt this daunting Georgia defense.



Limit The Run


Like Notre Dame, Georgia makes their living on the ground. They have two talented running backs, Nate Frazier and Trevor Etienne, who have combined for 17 touchdowns and over one thousand yards. Etienne, who has been banged up all year, will have had three weeks to get healthy. He is a player, much love Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, who can use his incredible athleticism to score on any play. There is also a new wrinkle in Georgia's rushing attack; their new starting quarterback, Gunner Stockton. Stockton will start in place of Carson Beck, who suffered a season-ending injury against Texas in the SEC championship. Stockton was a five-star recruit coming out of high school who can hurt a defense with his legs. Stockton did not get much playing time this year, but when he came in for an injured Beck, he showed that ability against a very good Texas defense. Stockton's legs will give Al Golden and this Notre Dame defense one more thing to worry about. Altogether, Georgia averages 129 rushing yards a game, which doesn't jump off the page, but Georgia is a team that wants to establish the run to set up their passing attack. Notre Dame will have to figure out how to stop this without one of their best defensive players, Rylie Mills. Mills makes up half of a defensive interior that has been wrecking opposing offenses all year. Mills had been good all year, but hit his stride in the second half of the season. During the season, Mills recorded 37 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks. Mills' absence will surely be felt against Georgia, who wants to play a physical game in the trenches. Notre Dame will now look to Donovan Hinish and Gabriel Rubio to fill in for Mills, as they get set to match up against the best offensive line they have played all year.


Riley Leonard Needs To Make Plays


Riley Leonard has come a long way since the loss to NIU. Following that performance, Leonard has been a more decisive and confident player, which has led to their current 11-game winning streak. During this winning streak, Notre Dame has not been in a lot of close games, resulting in Leonard not being asked to do a lot at the end of games. For the most part, Leonard has led the way as a game manager who takes care of the football and conduct the offense. Against Georgia, this may not be the case. Georgia is possibly more talented than Notre Dame, making is a necessity that Leonard plays his best game yet. Notre Dame is going to need him to make a few plays, whether that's a big throw downfield, or keeping a play alive with his legs. Georgia's defense is going to focus on the run, which gives Leonard openings to find players downfield. These are the kinds of opportunities that he needs to take advantage of for the Irish to win. Notre Dame is going to need Leonard to make a play or two that they are not accustomed to seeing him do. He has shown flashes of it all year, like his touchdown pass to Mitchell Evans against USC, where he perfectly floated a pass over the defender. Georgia's defense is going to play receivers tight, requiring more accurate and on-time passes from Leonard. Overall, Leonard has proven himself to be a quality college quarterback, but he can set himself apart if he plays to his full potential when it is required of him against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.





8 comentarios


Dan Orlovsky
02 ene

Dan here, Riley Leonard obviously did not listen to this man’s keys to victory because Leonard is just being a manager, and not taking control of the game. As a football enthusiast, I think they should move on to different QB.

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Booger McFarland
02 ene
Contestando a

Hey Dan it’s Boog here, Leonard’s been taking control of this past drive with his legs. I think if Notre Dame stays with this approach things will pan out for the Irish.

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MakeNDIrishAgain
02 ene

Love these keys young man, think we need to limit to penalties and value the ball should be a great second half when these Irish boys become men

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IrishFanatic1989
02 ene

Some great insight from this author. Love the idea of winning the outside, not sure what that means but I’m here for it. Obviously can’t overlook Leonard’s running ability and his ability to extend plays.

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IrishMAGAFan
02 ene
Contestando a

Legs legs legs from Leonard, haven’t seen it yet but will come later, very nice

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IrishLover1969
02 ene

LOVE THE IDEAS FROM THIS YOUMG MAN. I LOVE THE IRISH. WINNINT ON THE OUTSIDE IS GONNA BE TOUGH BUT DEFIE TLY FONNA BE IMPORTANT WINNING THIS GAME. DONT FROGET ABOUT LEONARDS LEGS.

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IrishMegaFan
02 ene
Contestando a

Nice

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