Notre Dame Football at North Carolina Tar Heels: 3 things to watch

Notre Dame Football at North Carolina Tar Heels: 3 things to watch

Notre Dame’s banged up offensive line

Notre Dame comes into this game against the Tar Heels banged up along the offensive line, and they will have to figure out a way to fix the issues on the interior. Coach Brian Kelly confirmed on Monday that center Jarrett Patterson would be out for the season due to foot surgery, leaving a gaping hole in the middle of the line.

One of the men who stands next to him in front of Ian Book, Tommy Kraemer will miss the game against North Carolina after having an appendectomy after the Boston College game. This is going to be something to keep an eye on, as the Irish put together a makeshift offensive line on Friday against a top-25 team.

Luckily for Notre Dame, the Tar Heels are not that great on the defensive side of the ball, although they have a star in former quarterback-turned-linebacker Chazz Surratt, and brothers Tomari and Tomon Fox. Surratt makes plays all over the field, and leads the team with five sacks, while the Fox brothers live in the backfield.

Hopefully, the Irish can make due without Kraemer this weekend, and Patterson for the rest of 2020.