Notre Dame Football: Key Offensive Matchups vs. Georgia

Here is what to look for when Notre Dame has the ball on Saturday Night in Athens.

It’s a battle of heavyweights, and there are many different key matchups to look out for. Georgia is known for its speed on both sides of the ball, and they always have playmakers on defense. Notre Dame, on the other hand, has one of the more efficient and accurate quarterbacks in college football. It should be a fun matchup this weekend between two top 10 teams. Let’s dive into the offensive matchups Notre Dame will be faced with.

Chip Long vs. Dan Lanning

Both are young, up and coming coordinators. Long has the advantage over Lanning in terms of years of experience calling plays, but Lanning took over one of the better defensive rosters in college football. It will be a chess match all night, and if Long can have the one up over the lesser experienced Lanning, Notre Dame should have some success on offense. This isn’t to suggest trickery or gadget-type plays need to be installed — although there are certainly a few I have in mind — but more of calling the right play at the right time and finding ways to get the ball in the hands of his top weapons.

If Claypool, Finke, Kmet etc. aren’t heavily involved and Notre Dame is blown out, many Irish fans will have questions about the game plan.

Irish Rushing Attack vs. Georgia Front Seven

In the early going this year, Georgia is one of the best teams in the nation against the run. Notre Dame, meanwhile, has struggled to run the ball consistently between the tackles and on short yardage situations. This matchup will likely determine the outcome for the game on Saturday. If the Irish can find success on the ground, that will be a huge boost — not only the offense as a whole — but to the passing offense.

If the Irish struggle to get anything going on the ground, that will put a lot of pressure on Ian Book to make plays. Historically under Brian Kelly, Notre Dame doesn’t find success when they have to air it out all game.

Even a few chunk plays here or there — or the threat of an Avery Davis jet sweep — can help in ways that most don’t think about. The occasional 5-6 yard run that puts Notre Dame in 2nd or 3rd and manageable will help. Asking for a 150+ yard rushing game is probably asking too much.

The other side to this is the Notre Dame offensive line. While they were effective against Louisville, they took a step back against New Mexico — and in both games they struggled on short yardage situations. They key against Georgia will be to open up running lanes and getting the job done on 3rd and short in a big spot. With Jafar Armstrong hurt, the Irish don’t have many runners, if any, that can turn negatives into a positive if the offensive line is pushed off the ball.

Notre Dame Playmakers vs. Georgia Playmakers

The Irish have closed the gap against the college football elite. Too many times have other rosters looked bigger and faster, and that was the deciding factor in a game. That has changed, and it’s time to show it on the big stage.

Chase Claypool is a big, dynamic receiver on the outside that most corners can’t match up with. Lawrence Keys and Chris Finke are fast, shifty slot weapons that are difficult to cover. Avery Davis and Braden Lenzy showed this past Saturday what they are capable of in open space. Cole Kmet is back to pair with Tommy Tremble and Brock Wright at tight end — all big red zone threats with their size. Tremble and Kmet showcase the ability to lineup out wide. Javon McKinley gives the offense another weapon with a height advantage on the outside.

All of these guys have different abilities that can and should be showcased against Georgia, and they will simply have to be better than what the Bulldogs have on the defensive side of the ball.