Notre Dame Defense Should Continue Its Dominance Against Wake Forest

The 19th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-3) will look to get back to its winning ways this weekend when it hosts Wake Forest (4-6), losers of six of their last seven games. Notre Dame has been an outstanding defense this season, and that unit is why I am confident the Irish are going to win their final two games.

Notre Dame has been outstanding on this side of the ball all season, and unlike the offense it has done so against the better offenses on the schedule. The unit wasn't at its best against Clemson, however, and it will look to get back on track against a Wake Forest offense that has struggled all season.

Wake Forest's run game has had its moments this season, including a 288-yard performance in a win over Vanderbilt, a 224-yard performance against Georgia Tech and a 172-yard performance in a comeback win over Pittsburgh. Of course, it has had some down moments as well, and the Deacons were held to just 7 rushing yards in its most recent game, a 26-6 loss to NC State.

Despite having almost identical overall statistics to last season, the run game has shown signs of life. The top three backs are averaging about a half a yard better than the backs did a season ago. There is some talent in the backfield, but the line has struggled this season. Notre Dame needs to make sure that continues in this matchup.

If there is an Achilles heel for the Notre Dame defense it has been the run defense. It struggled in the loss to Clemson, giving up 176 yards. It also gave up over 180 yards in back-to-back games against Duke and Louisville. Notre Dame needs to shut down the Wake Forest run game, and if it does so the defense should dominate overall in this matchup.

Part of Notre Dame's issues in the run game has been its inability to consistently produce disruptive plays. Notre Dame ranks just 94th in tackles for loss this season, but Wake Forest ranks 131st in tackles for loss allowed. This is the kind of game where defensive tackles Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III should be turned loose, and if they are they could play the primary role in completely locking down the Wake ground game.

Wake Forest misses Sam Hartman, there is no doubt about that. After ranking 9th and 12th in passing yards per game the previous two seasons - both with Hartman at the helm - the pass offense has bottomed out and ranks 96th nationally in yards per game this season. Wake Forest doesn't rank in the Top 50 in a single passing stat listed here.

The lack of big plays has been a huge part of this drop. Wake ranked 9th and 3rd in producing passing plays of at least 30 yards the previous two seasons, but it ranks 112th this season with just 10 completions that have gone for at least 30 yards. Notre Dame has given up just 7 passing completions of at least 30 yards this season, which should be a big part of this matchup.

Despite losing star wideout AT Perry, the Deacons do have talented pass catchers in Jahmal Banks, Taylor Morin and Ke'Shawn Williams. If they are going to create problems for Notre Dame it will be with this group. Fortunately for Notre Dame, they have arguably the best secondary in college football this season.

Cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison and Cam Hart have been an excellent duo, and safety Xavier Watts has emerged as one of the most disruptive safeties in the game. The Irish defense needs this trio to continue its brilliant play, and if they do Wake Forest will struggle to get on the board.

This is one of the biggest mismatches Notre Dame has been part of all season, at least on paper. Wake Forest has some quality players at the skill positions, but their woes at quarterback and poor offensive line play has done them in. While Notre Dame ranks in the Top 15 in scoring defense, total defense, yards per play allowed, red zone defense, fewest big plays allowed and turnovers gained, as well as nine pass game categories, the Deacons rank outside the Top 100 in almost every comparable category.

As long as Notre Dame is locked in defensively this should be another dominant performance.

Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge

Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

———————

Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.

BECOME A MEMBER

Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!

Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter