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Notre Dame Football: Key Defensive Matchups vs. Vanderbilt

By Jack Leniart

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 08: Te'von Coney #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a sack with Khalid Kareem #53 against the Ball State Cardinals at Notre Dame Stadium on September 8, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 08: Te'von Coney #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a sack with Khalid Kareem #53 against the Ball State Cardinals at Notre Dame Stadium on September 8, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterback Kyle Shurmur #14 of the Vanderbilt Commodores drops back to throw his career high fourth passing touchdown of the day against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs at Vanderbilt Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

Kyle Shurmur vs. Notre Dame Secondary

Shurmur is one of the better quarterbacks in the SEC — if not the country. The senior gunslinger is close to claiming several of Vanderbilt’s school passing records this season — most of which are currently held by Jay Cutler.

Shurmur threw for 2,823 yards, 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. This year he gets two of his top four pass-catchers back and has a chance to crack 3,000 total passing yards.

Shurmur is a talented passer, but he can be a bit one-dimensional. He very seldom runs the ball (on scrambles or designed runs). He’s not the type of quarterback that will escape the pocket and gash you on the ground. Teams that are able to generate consistent pressure and make him uncomfortable should have success against Vanderbilt.

The Notre Dame defensive front has been very disruptive in their first two games, and they should continue to do so against Vanderbilt. If the Irish secondary can play tight coverage, the pressure from the defensive line will get there.

Next. 3 Storylines vs. Vanderbilt. dark

Shurmur threw for 428 yards and four touchdowns in his first two games while only being sacked once. If he is comfortable in the pocket, he can pick defenses apart. Because of that, I expect Clark Lea to dial up some blitzes on passing downs to move Shurmur off his mark.

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