Notre Dame Football: Key Offensive Matchups vs. Duke

Notre Dame football will look to get things rolling on offense this week against Duke in Durham, North Carolina.

The last two weeks have not been a pretty display of offense by Notre Dame football. First, there was the rain game against Michigan where the offense looked anemic, and then there was the frustrating game vs. Virginia Tech — especially in the first half — that saw many points left out there.

On the year, Duke has only out-gained opponents by 89 yards. Therefore, much like last week, Notre Dame enters a favorable contest. Duke is actually yielding more passing yards to opponents. The Irish absolutely need to take advantage, which leads us to our first key matchup:

Irish Rushing Attack vs. Duke Rushing Defense

Before the Michigan game, Notre Dame was starting to get things going on the ground. Now, two weeks later, and that narrative about the rushing offense has completely changed. In order for the pass to be effective, Notre Dame absolutely needs to find their rushing attack again. Tony Jones Jr. is expected back this week at nearly full health which should help, but Jafar Armstrong needs to show more than he has the past two weeks. He was the starter coming into the season, and has the most talent at the position on the current roster.

Honestly, there is zero reason Armstrong and Jones shouldn’t be a solid 1-2 punch. Duke allows 3.8 yards per rush and Notre Dame averages 4.6. Slight advantage to the Irish. Duke allows 145 yards per game on the ground and Notre Dame averages 160. Again, slight advantage to the Irish. It has been three weeks since Notre Dame has met those averages, however. Get to those averages on Saturday night and that will bode will for the offense.

Ian Book vs. Critics/Himself

This should be a matchup every week at this point. Obviously, he is the starting QB, so he will always be a key offensive matchup — but he needs to play better and he knows it. I won’t pretend to know what Book is thinking or how he feels, but his finger shush to the home crowd this past Saturday told me all I need to know. He has heard his critics loud and clear, and he was able to at least quiet them a tad with his game winning drive.

I don’t know if I agree with what he did, but it also showed a swagger we want in this team and quarterback. Even his toughest Notre Dame critics want him to succeed, because they want Notre Dame to succeed. Here is to hoping the winning drive against Virginia Tech propels Ian Book to terrific November and 10-2 finish for the Irish.

We’ve seen he is capable of more. Brian Kelly and the offensive coaching staff know he is capable of more, and they’ve instilled their confidence in the second year starter over the other signal callers on the roster. Let’s see what Book is made of over these remaining 4 games.

Skill Players Not Named Claypool/Kmet vs. Duke Defense

Braden Lenzy, Javon McKinley and Tommy Tremble have all shown their abilities in spurts this year. It can even be argued they’ve made the most of their opportunities, with their touch to score ratio being fairly high. However, there is a reason besides Ian Book and Chip Long — like most Irish fans want to point to — that is keeping these players to limited snaps. In Tremble’s case, it is mostly Kmet, but Lenzy and McKinley need to flash more often. Chris Finke and the running backs need to flash more. Name whoever you want that has played a decent amount of snaps this year, and they have the opportunity to flash more often.

Claypool and Kmet are dynamic weapons and would be for almost any team in the country, but they too need help to make this offense more dynamic.

In McKinley’s sample size this season, I’ve seen a player with the skillset to win the majority of his 50-50 balls. I’ve also seen an athlete that could break out next year as the No. 1 receiver in this offense during his final season of eligibility. Why can’t the breakout start now?

The same goes for Lenzy. In his limited sample size this season, he has shown the same type of skillset that made Will Fuller such a force at the collegiate level. Will Fuller was also the No. 1 receiver in the Irish offense not too long ago. Lenzy could be that next year. Why not show more consistent signs of that now?