Key to Notre Dame football’s success in 2024: Get Leonard comfortable behind o-line

As the 2024 college football season unfolds, one of the biggest questions for Notre Dame football isn’t about talent or potential. It’s about health—specifically, how the Fighting Irish can keep their star quarterback, Leonard, healthy. The success of Notre Dame’s offense this season will rest heavily on Leonard’s durability and the strength of the offensive line protecting him.

The questions heading into the Texas A&M game concerned how the offensive line played. Given the talent but inexperience, they proved to be up to the challenge, growing quickly in College Station. They will need to continue to grow as a unit and get better if the Irish are to continue to win.

A critical element that could determine Notre Dame’s trajectory this year will be how well they manage Leonard’s workload and keep their offensive line intact, especially as they navigate the ups and downs of the regular season.

Riley Leonard needs to find comfort in Notre Dame football offense

We know Riley Leonard is a game-changer. who has the ability to beat teams with his arm and legs, making him a nightmare for opposing defenses. We saw him display this under the lights against the Aggies in Week One. His decision-making, poise in the pocket, and athleticism make him one of the most vital pieces of Notre Dame’s success.

However, we also saw flashes, especially against Northern Illinois, who didn’t look comfortable in the pocket. He didn’t look comfortable especially stepping up and into his throws.

The Irish coaching staff knows this. On Monday, head coach Marcus Freeman talked about how quarterbacks wearing red jerseys might have been a detriment in practice. The challenge will be striking the right balance between leveraging Leonard’s full skillset and limiting the wear and tear he faces throughout the season, while giving him some confidence in the pocket. 

This challenge will be most evident in the early non-conference games and potential blowouts, where coaches will need to weigh the benefits of keeping Leonard in for reps versus pulling him out to protect him for the tougher matchups ahead.

Notre Dame's danger of overreliance on Riley Leonard

There’s no doubt that keeping Leonard healthy and comfortable is crucial for the Irish’s success, especially since it doesn’t appear Freeman is planning a change at quarterback. But that can sometimes lead to overreliance.

When the offensive game plan revolves too much around Leonard’s abilities, it increases the pressure on him to make plays every down (as evidenced by that horrible throw to Kris Mitchell) which can lead to unnecessary risks. We’ve seen in past seasons that teams with highly mobile quarterbacks, while exciting, are often one injury away from seeing their season take a major downturn.

Hopefully blowout games will come and offer opportunities to rest him and allow younger quarterbacks to get valuable game experience. As Notre Dame faces lower-tier opponents as the season goes on, the coaching staff must resist the temptation to keep Leonard in the game longer than necessary. 

Offensive line health and performance

While Leonard is the centerpiece of the offense, none of it works without a strong and healthy offensive line. Notre Dame’s offensive line has traditionally been a hallmark of the program, producing NFL-caliber players year after year. In 2024, their performance will be more critical than ever. If Leonard is to stay healthy and effective, the offensive line must consistently protect him, giving him the time to make plays and avoid unnecessary hits.

A strong rushing attack opens up the play-action game, allowing Leonard to pick apart defenses without having to scramble as much. However, like Leonard, the offensive line is also vulnerable to injuries. Depth is key, but maintaining the health and cohesion of the starting line is critical. When linemen go down, chemistry and communication often suffer, leading to breakdowns in protection.

This season, the Irish line will need to continue its consistency and avoid the lapses that allow defenses to collapse the pocket. Notre Dame has the pieces in place for a strong line, but keeping that unit healthy is just as important as keeping Leonard out of harm’s way.

What’s at stake

The stakes for Notre Dame football this season are high. Even with the loss to Northern Illinois, a playoff spot is still possible. If Leonard can get more comfortable with the offensive line in front of him, the Irish can potentially still be one of the most dangerous teams in the country. They have the talent to compete for a College Football Playoff spot, but it all hinges on keeping their key pieces healthy. An injury to Leonard or a significant offensive lineman could derail their season and leave them wondering what could have been.

It’s not just about the games against elite competition—managing Leonard’s health and keeping the offensive line intact will be essential all season. That means Notre Dame will need to be smart in blowouts, strategic in their offensive play-calling, and diligent in keeping their stars fresh for the most important games of the season.

Notre Dame football’s success hinges on more than just talent and game-planning. It requires careful management of their most important assets, with Leonard’s health at the top of the list. If the Irish can keep Leonard upright and their offensive line intact, they have a legitimate chance to make noise this season. However, if they push their star quarterback too hard or fail to maintain the offensive line’s strength, they could see their hopes fade faster than expected.