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Notre Dame football: 3 Keys to victory against Cincinnati in Week 5

By Brad Weiss

SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 23: Jarrett Patterson #55 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish snaps the ball during a game against the Boston College Eagles at Notre Dame Stadium on November 23, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Boston College 40-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 23: Jarrett Patterson #55 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish snaps the ball during a game against the Boston College Eagles at Notre Dame Stadium on November 23, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Boston College 40-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame football vs Bearcats
ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 21: Desmond Ridder #9 of the Cincinnati Bearcats celebrates a touchdown against the Central Florida Knights with teammates Vincent McConnell #77 and Gerrid Doaks #23 at Bounce House-FBC Mortgage Field on November 21, 2020, in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football: 3 Keys to victory against Cincinnati in Week 5

Contain Desmond Ridder

Finally, we come to Desmond Ridder, the AAC’s Offensive Player of the Year last season, and a player that some believe could be one of the first quarterbacks off the board next April. Ridder is the kind of multi-faceted quarterback that can give defenses nightmares, and we have seen lesser signal-callers have good days against this Irish defense already this season.

Ridder is a special player, there is no doubt, but for the Irish to win against the Bearcats, he has to look a bit more human, which is not something that defenses have been able to accomplish against him. He has a strong arm, does not make mistakes with the football, and can take off at any time, making him a real headache for opposing defenses.

Luckily for the Irish, their defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman knows Ridder all too well, as he was the Bearcats defensive coordinator last season. He should have some intel on how to at least contain Ridder in this one, and if they can keep him under wraps for most of this game, they should be able to make enough plays when they get the ball to win this one as the underdog.

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