Super Bowl LIV: Notre Dame alums McGlinchey and Day play for rings on Sunday
By J.P. Scott
The Super Bowl is on Sunday. Will you be rooting for the team with the former Notre Dame football player on the roster?
This Sunday is the big day — Super Bowl LIV! The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will square off for NFL supremacy. Two former Notre Dame players are likely going to play key roles in how the game shakes out.
Offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey has been a key part of San Francisco’s run to the Super Bowl — especially in the postseason. 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has only been sacks three times during the postseason — a testament to the passing blocking of McGlinchey and Co. Additionally, the 49ers have rushed for 471 yards during their two postseason contests. Again, you can look to McGlinchey and the rest of the offensive line at the catalyst for those numbers.
San Fran’s O-line will be challenged by an underrated Chiefs pass rush. Kansas City will be ready to stop the lethal rushing attack. That, combine with the dangerous Chiefs offense, means Garoppolo will have to drop back and throw the ball if the 49ers want to win. Protecting him will be key.
On the defensive side of things, former Notre Dame defensive lineman Sheldon Day is art of the regular rotation up front for the 49ers. His mission is simple: disrupt the pocket and keep Patrick Mahomes uncomfortable all night.
Day has done a decent job of doing that to opposing quarterbacks this season, even if his stats (15 tackles, one sack, three TFLs) don’t reflect it. It’s going to take ac ouple of defensive stops for the 49ers to pull off the win over the high-powered Chiefs, and Sheldon Day will quite literally be at the center of that effort.
Next. Notre Dame was lucky to keep Clark Lea. dark
Super Bowl LIV kicks off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. EST on Fox.