Notre Dame football: Saturday is the last tune up for the linebackers

The Notre Dame linebackers need to improve before the Georgia game.

As a whole, Notre Dame’s defense played well against Louisville. The Cardinals moved up and down the field on the first couple of drives, but after that, the Irish stiffened, only allowing three points after the first quarter.

Despite adjusting well to Louisville’s offensive scheme, there was still a problem that never seemed to get sorted out — the linebacking corps.

Coming into the season, the Irish linebackers were one of the team’s biggest question marks. The position was in turmoil. Players like captain Drue Tranquill had graduated. Everyone knows it is difficult to replace multiple players at any position. It is even more difficult when all of those players had NFL talent.

You lean on your 5th-year senior to make sure everyone knows what they’re supposed to be doing. You lean on them to make big plays when the team needs someone to step up. Unfortunately, Notre Dame’s senior leader in the linebacker room, Asmar Bilal, did anything but step up against Louisville.

Bilal only totaled four tackles, with one of those being an assisted tackle. It seemed he was often out of position, misreading the play, and generally being beat by blockers making it to the second level.

Now, given that the Irish are playing a 4-2 defensive front this season, they need elite play from both of their linebackers to stop the run properly. They can’t afford missed tackles or assignments. They need guys who can play sideline to sideline and get off their blocks.

These linebackers, led by Bilal, need to prove that they can consistently play for 60 minutes at an elite level this Saturday. New Mexico is coming to town, and they’re a pushover. The talent gap is tremendous. The coaching gap is tremendous.

It’s important to dominate and grow within this 4-2 defense. If they can do that, they’ll grow in confidence and understanding.

They’ll need to be confident and even better in the coming weeks, too. A week after New Mexico, the Irish head between the hedges and play Georgia. Everyone knows that Georgia will run it down your throat until you stop them. Bilal and the other backers need to dominate if Notre Dame stands a realistic chance.

From there, Virginia visits South Bend. Two years ago, this might’ve been a yawner of a game. Now, the Cavaliers boast Bryce Perkins. Perkins is one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the country.

Besides needing the linebackers to be able to stop the run, they’ll need to stay disciplined and keep Perkins in check. Beyond that, in the passing game, not only will they need to drop into coverage, but also spy Perkins. If Perkins’ options to throw to are covered, he’ll run. If Notre Dame doesn’t have a linebacker there to swallow him up, then Virginia will move the ball with ease.

Remember, for Notre Dame, they probably need to go undefeated to make the College Football Playoff. Notre Dame only plays 12 games. They do not play a conference championship. Put an 11-1 Notre Dame up against a 12-1 team from a Power 5 conference, and we know how the CFP selection committee will make their decisions.

Perfection is the goal. Perfection is not attainable if the linebacking corps does not step up and play at a high level. They have one game to reach that potential and gain the confidence to maintain their potential throughout the course of the season.