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Notre Dame Football 2021 Opponent Preview: Toledo Rockets

By Daniel Morrison

MOBILE, AL - DECEMBER 23: Mascot Rocky the Rocket of the Toledo Rockets prior to their game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers on December 23, 2017 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - DECEMBER 23: Mascot Rocky the Rocket of the Toledo Rockets prior to their game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers on December 23, 2017 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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TOLEDO, OH – OCTOBER 31: DT Stephens #12 runs the ball in the game against the Toledo Rockets on October 31, 2018, in Toledo, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
TOLEDO, OH – OCTOBER 31: DT Stephens #12 runs the ball in the game against the Toledo Rockets on October 31, 2018, in Toledo, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame Football 2021 Opponent Preview: Toledo Rockets

Toledo Defense

The Toledo Rockets defense is capable of having lapses and give up big plays, but they’re still one of the best defenses in the MAC. This starts with their secondary, which is led by Samuel Womack and Tycen Anderson, who play corner and safety respectively.

Womack was second in the country for pass breakups in 2019, with 15. That was good for second in the country. He followed that up with eight PBUs in just six games in 2020. Anderson, meanwhile, was second-team All-MAC in 2020 and is one of the best tacklers in the conference.

The Rockets need to rely on that secondary. They line up in a 4-2-5 base defense. Strategically, this makes sense as the game moves more and more to spread offenses, but weak spots can definitely be exploited in this alignment.

A 4-2-5 puts stress on linebackers, as they’re always down a man in the box.

This could also be a big benefit to Notre Dame, which wants to run downhill in the zone run game. This means that much of their success against other running teams is going to come down to what Dyontae Johnson can do to fight off linemen at the second level.

The Rockets will also need their defensive line to step up, as the Irish offensive line wants to use this as a tune-up game. A game to figure out any issues that showed themselves against Florida State. Deshaun Johnson is where this starts for the Rockets because if this second-team All-MAC defensive lineman with eight tackles for loss in 2020 can create havoc, the Irish could be in trouble.

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