Notre Dame football: Keys to victory against Marshall in Week 2
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team is a heavy favorite against Marshall today, and here are the keys to victory for the Irish in Week 2
The Notre Dame football team heads home in Week 2 to take on the Marshall Thundering Herd, who picked up a convincing victory in Week 1 against an FCS school in Norfolk State. The Thundering Herd will have a much tougher opponent in this one, as the Irish are ranked No. 8 in the country, and are coming off a hard-fought loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in Week 1.
In that game, the Irish led throughout the first half and had a real chance to make a statement in front of a national audience right out of the gate. Instead, as has been the case the last two games, the Irish faltered down the stretch and came out on the wrong side of a 21-10 decision.
In Week 2, playing at home, you can expect a much different result for the Irish.
Notre Dame football: Keys to victory against Marshall in Week 2
Run the football
The Notre Dame football team struggled to get the run game going against the Buckeyes, though their first score of the season came from Audric Estime, who was making the start at running back. Against the Marshall defense, Tommy Rees needs to establish the run game early and often, utilizing all three healthy backs in Estime, Logan Diggs, and Chris Tyree.
Pounding the Thundering Herd in the run game will set up the pass for Tyler Buchner, who looked very good early on against Ohio State. The Irish will also have Jarrett Patterson back in this one, so a healthy Notre Dame offensive line should dominate in the trenches.
Get pressure up off the edge
For the defense to get rolling against Marshall, they have to get more pressure coming off the edge. Against Ohio State, the pass rush was non-existent, and while the Irish have a lot more talent than the Thundering Herd does, Marshall does have a competent quarterback in Henry Colombi.
Colombi has played in many college football games and has confidence coming off a solid showing against Norfolk State. If he is given time to throw, he will make plays, which means Isaiah Foskey must show in a big way inside Notre Dame Stadium.
Put them away early
When you are a 20.5-point favorite, you have to go into a game looking to punch your opponent in the mouth. For the Irish, they cannot allow the Thundering Herd to stick around long in this matchup, and the goal has to be to get an early, insurmountable lead, and put the Thundering Herd away.
Notre Dame football has yet to win under Marcus Freeman, but all of that should change in a big way inside Notre Dame Stadium in Week 2. Expect the Irish to roll in this one, correcting some mistakes from a week ago, and getting their season back on track.