Notre Dame football vs. USC Trojans: 3 Trojans who must be stopped
By Brad Weiss
![Apr 13, 2019; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmets sit on the field following the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports Apr 13, 2019; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmets sit on the field following the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/f89c6909b0e8b11feea3d57e05c1e0fa58a615c490c0aad0123542f0f6a64537.jpg)
Notre Dame football vs. USC Trojans: 3 Trojans who must be stopped
Drake Jackson
One of the key issues for the Notre Dame football team this season has been the play of the offensive line, as it has negatively affected the offense in 2021. The Irish have struggled to get the ground game going on most occasions, and when it comes to protecting the quarterbacks, that is an area where the Irish have been less than stellar as well.
On Saturday night, USC is coming to town with an incredible edge rusher in Drake Jackson, their starting outside linebacker, and one who can have a major impact on this game. Jackson is not only an incredible sack master, but he is also a guy who can disrupt the passing game, showing incredible athleticism when he is in coverage.
For the Irish to come away with the victory on Saturday night, they have to keep Jack Coan clean, as we have seen that he is not a big-time playmaker when he is being pressured. If they can keep Jackson out of Coan’s way, and take care of blocking him at the next level, it will erase a lot of what the Trojans like to do on that side of the ball.