Notre Dame football: 3 players to watch on the Louisville defense
By Andrew Hall
No. 4 Notre Dame football returns to the gridiron to take on the struggling Louisville Cardinals.
Choosing three defenders for Notre Dame football fans to watch on a Louisville defense that allows 34.3 points per game is akin to selecting which vegetable tastes the best. None are great options but, alas, a few need to be picked.
The Cardinals currently rank 62nd out of 76 teams playing in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Against ACC opponents, they are yielding 38.7 points per contest.
Athlon named six Louisville players to their All-ACC teams – only one player was a Cardinals defender. By comparison to Notre Dame’s two ACC opponents, Duke and Florida State had three and four players on All-ACC defenses in Athlon’s preseason poll. Judging by media opinion and the current output of the Louisville defense, it is fair to opine that the Cardinals’ defense is bad.
Despite those numbers, there are still three Louisville defenders to watch when Notre Dame is on offense.
Rodjay Burns – Outside linebacker
Louisville linebacker Rodjay Burns entered 2020 with high expectations. He finished second on the team in tackles while holding the title of Louisville’s best player on defense in 2019, when he collected 83 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery.
However, his 2020 performance has not lived up to those expectations. He is only sixth on the team in tackles but has made several impactful plays including three tackles for loss and a sack.
Of the players on the Louisville defense, Burns has the ability to derail the Irish offense. But, with Notre Dame’s current offensive scheme, Burns might lack the size to stand up to the consistent onslaught of the Notre Dame rushing attack.
Dorian Etheridge – Middle linebacker
Dorian Etheridge currently leads the Cardinals in tackles with 27 total stops. Last year, he finished fourth on the team including eight tackles for loss. At 6’3 and 231 pounds, he possesses ideal size for the middle linebacker spot in a traditional 3-4 defense.
Like any middle linebacker in that defense, he will need to play physical against Notre Dame’s offensive line, particularly on Notre Dame’s base running play, the outside zone.
Against the Irish in 2019, he only mustered three tackles and a 0.5 tackle for loss. Etheridge hopes for a better outcome this time around.
C.J. Avery – Will linebacker
C.J. Avery led the Cards in tackles in 2019 with 93 total tackles. So far this season, he is second on the team with 25 total stops. He already has an interception, two tackles for loss, a pass broken up, and a quarterback hurry. He may be the best playmaker on a poor football team.