Keys to Victory For Notre Dame Over Boston College

Notre Dame (7-3) will look to earn its fifth straight win this weekend when it takes on the Boston College Eagles (3-7). While the battle between the Irish offense and Eagle defense could be somewhat competitive, Notre Dame should be able to dominate the struggling Boston College offense.

Of course, the on paper matchup and what we've seen in previous weeks doesn't necessarily mean we'll see the same thing today. Notre Dame will need to execute in order to handle Boston College the way it should.

Here are the keys to defensive success for the Notre Dame defense.

1. Hit The QB Early And Often - There isn't a bigger mismatch in this game than the battle between the Notre Dame defensive line and the Boston College blockers. Boston College ranks dead last nationally in rushing and it ranks 126th in sacks allowed. Boston College quarterbacks have been sacked 39 times in 10 games this season, while Notre Dame ranks 17th nationally in sacks.

The inability to protect the quarterback is why the Boston College skill players - who are quite talented - haven't been able to have a bigger impact this season. Notre Dame needs to make sure that continues by dominating in the trenches. Shutting down the run game is one part, but the Irish defense needs to pressure the Eagle quarterbacks the entire game.

No matter who starts at quarterback, the Eagle pass attack is dangerous when the quarterbacks get time. Quarterback Phil Jurkovec was given good time to throw against Louisville, and the result was an 18-21 performance in which he threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-33 win. In fact, Boston College has topped 300 passing yards four times this season and has topped 250 yards in seven of the team's 10 games. If Notre Dame can consistently pressure the BC quarterbacks this game could get ugly.

2. Contain Zay Flowers - Boston College has a below average offense, but it also has one of the nation's best pass catchers in Zay Flowers. He has the kind of talent to take over a game, and Notre Dame simply cannot allow that to happen.

Hitting the quarterback early and often is step one, but having a plan for keeping Flowers in check is key. Notre Dame has to limit his ability to get over the top of the defense, and it cannot allow him to get into space with any regularity. Flowers has the talent to make defenses pay in a big way in both ways, and BC will use him on a wide variety of routes.

Notre Dame cornerbacks Cam Hart and TaRiq Bracy will most likely find themselves matched up against Flowers, and both will need to be at their best. But a good game plan will give them help, especially since Notre Dame should be able to control the poor BC ground game and pressure the quarterback with its box defenders. That should free up the safeties to provide assistance on the back end against Flowers.

3. No Big Mistakes - It's not really a complicated game outside of the first two points. Boston College is simply not good enough to consistently move the ball up and down the field against Notre Dame's defense. The only way they can win is if the Irish offense turns the ball over and if the Notre Dame defense makes the kind of big mistakes that allow BC to rip off chunk plays, or create long scores.

Play clean and the Eagles will struggle to score.

4. Get The Ball - If Notre Dame is able to dominate the line of scrimmage and put consistent pressure on the quarterback there is no doubt the Eagle quarterbacks will put the ball up into tough spots. Notre Dame's defenders need to take advantage, turn those forced throws into turnovers and put this game away early.

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