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Notre Dame Football: Key Offensive Matchups vs. Wake Forest

By Connor McJunkin

SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 04: Brandon Wimbush #7 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish holds off Grant Dawson #50 of the Wake Forest Demon Deaconsas he runs for a first down at Notre Dame Stadium on November 4, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 04: Brandon Wimbush #7 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish holds off Grant Dawson #50 of the Wake Forest Demon Deaconsas he runs for a first down at Notre Dame Stadium on November 4, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 01: Te’von Coney #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates recovering a fourth quarter fumble Sam Mustipher #53 while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won the game 24-17. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame’s Big Boys vs Wake Forest’s Big Boys

For the most part, this is always a matchup that the Irish should have the advantage in. This week is no different. Wake Forest lost defensive ends Duke Ejiofor and Wendell Dunn who had 81 starts combined. Replacing them will be redshirt junior Carlos “Boogie” Basham and senior Chris Calhoun, who have a combined five starts in their careers.

This presents another interesting matchup at the tackle position for the Irish, where most of the inexperience comes from with Liam Eichenberg and Robert Hainsey. After a rough start to the season — especially for Eichenberg — both showed improvement last week vs. Vanderbilt and I think are growing into their roles and progressing well. I see both of them continuing that trend and taming Basham and Calhoun for the most part on Saturday.

The interior of the defensive line is where Wake Forest has the most talent and experience.  Fifth-year seniors Willie Yarbary and Zeek Rodney will be anchoring the middle and have a combined 31 career starts between the two. I always enjoy when the opponent has solid interior defensive lineman, because the strength of Notre Dame’s offensive line is in the middle with Kraemer, Mustipher, and Bars.

This will be another great matchup across the board. Notre Dame is coming off of its best rushing performance of the season last week, while Wake Forest gave up 220 rushing yards in a loss to Boston College. With improved play-calling that includes more outside zone and play-action, it should help keep Wake Forest’s defensive line guessing and allow for holes to open up between the tackles.

Advantage: Irish

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