Notre Dame Football: Key Defensive Matchups vs. Ball State

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MUNCIE, IN – AUGUST 30: Quarterback Riley Neal, #15 of the Ball State Cardinals, drops back to pass during the first quarter of the game against the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils on August 30, 2018 in Muncie, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

Riley Neal vs Notre Dame Defense

Riley Neal is the ideal MAC quarterback. He has the arm to throw the ball 30-40 times a game and the size and athleticism to run the ball effectively without wearing down. Neal and the Ball State offense looked about as good as they could have in their first game of 2018. He finished the game 23/30 with 259 yards and two touchdowns. He also carried the ball six time for 37 yards and a touchdown.

Neal is entering into his fourth year as the team’s starting quarterback. In his first two seasons, he threw for 2,276 yards and 2,541 yards. Over those same two seasons, he rushed for 399 yards and 540 yards, respectively. Neal’s junior season was cut short due to injury, but not before he threw for 659 yards in Ball State’s first three games. Now he is back leading this offense, and he certainly has the weapons to eclipse 2500 passing yards again this season.

During his sophomore season, Neal averaged just over ten carries a game. I’m not sure if Ball State’s play-calling in their first game was a reflection of how they want to use Neal as a runner this season or if they were just being cautious with their senior quarterback in a game they had under control. I expect Neal to have at least five carries in the game on Saturday. I think Notre Dame’s week one matchup against Shea Patterson prepared them well to defend a mobile quarterback on designed runs or scrambles.

The Notre Dame secondary will be tested all game against Ball State. I would not be surprised if Neal finishes the game with 50 pass attempts. As I mentioned earlier, there are some things the secondary needs to clean up in pass coverage. As long as they can limit the big plays, they should be fine.

I think the biggest key to neutralizing Riley Neal in this game is the Notre Dame defensive line. If they can generate the same amount of pressure as they did last week, the rest will take care of itself. Neal, like most college quarterbacks, is prone to mistakes. In his previous three seasons, he had a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 1.67. If the defensive line pressures him, he is likely to force some throws that result in turnovers.

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