Irish expect identity at the line of scrimmage to dictate their week five outcome
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The run game between Notre Dame and Louisville will be the center focus, on defense and offense.
October 7, 2023, served as a top 20 matchup between the Irish and the cardinals.
"Our guys weren't prepared for whatever reason, we got to take a deep dive and figure out what it was," Head Coach Marcus Freeman said.
The Irish had a number of problems at Louisville a year ago. Five turnovers on offense, three interceptions, and two fumbles.
Defensively, the ability to stop the run was nearly non-existent for the Irish, allowing 185 yards for two touchdowns, and that’s hard to forget.
"Obviously be better in the run game and be better in our tackling than we were a year ago," Defensive Coordinator Al Golden said.
-Junior Tuihalamaka/Defensive Lineman-
"The players that have been here for that game last year, we already knew, and we took it too heart," Defensive Lineman Junior Tuihalamaka said.
Heart is what the Irish need today both on defense and offense, as the Irish rank 18Th In the country in the rushing attack.
"I just can see them still running the ball as they were last season. We just got to dominate the line scrimmage," Tuihalamaka added.
So it's clear.
"That's what our identity is. We want to be able to run the ball," Freeman said.
In the first four games, the Irish have 13 touchdowns on the ground, averaging 238 yards per game.
10 touchdowns and 661 rushing yards between running back Jeremiyah love and quarterback Riley Leonard. Both ranked in the top 40 in the country.
"Teams have to account for him (Leonard) to run the ball right, coming from a defensive side like you have to say, Okay, we got to get an extra hat in the box in case he runs the ball," Freeman added.
"They want to run the ball and use their quarterback as a runner and not turn it over," Louisville Head Coach Jeff Brohm added.
Leonard’s production on the ground ranks second among FBS quarterbacks, with six touchdowns and it’s all by design.
"I mean some of our read zone things that we do, and some of the edge read things that we do in the run game, it's either a give or keep by the quarterback," Notre Dame Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock said.
As for Louisville, their defense sometimes has trouble stopping a quarterback who can break off explosive runs.
"With Notre Dame, it's important to figure out a way to get a lead and to make them do some things that they're not as comfortable doing," Brohm said.
The Cards gave up 98 yards to Georgia Tech, but they still rank 18th in rushing yards allowed.
Just 262 yards and three touchdowns. So, the challenge is there on both sides of the ball.
"Their whole defensive line, I think, does a really, really good job of controlling the line of scrimmage, and that's going to be a key to the game for us. I mean, we're, we're an offensive line driven program. We've got to win the line of scrimmage, and that's a key to winning the game," Denbrock said.