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Notre Dame isn’t jumping in the College Football Playoff race with a win, but Saturday is a crucial game for the program when it comes to the future. If Notre Dame wins, it can set up a strong finish to the year as the Irish should go 10-2 and play themselves into a nice bowl. If Notre Dame loses, it could be a tragic end to such a promising season.
Now, a win against Duke isn’t going to be sexy or get the Irish respect from the rest of the country, but it’s a game Notre Dame can’t look past and is more than capable of losing if they don’t show up.
Notre Dame showing up will be a great sign that this team has a care factor they spoke about and can officially move on from the disaster in Ann Arbor two weeks ago.
It can also be an impressive win for Notre Dame as they will play three reserves, Trevor Ruhland, Josh Lugg and Dillan Gibbons on the right side of the line. If Notre Dame can run the football, it will be a step in the right direction to finishing 2019 strong.
Notre Dame RT Josh Lugg
Lugg did well in his first action replacing Robert Hainsey, but he'll face much better edge rushers against Duke. We'll see if he can hold up one on one. He'll likely receive some help from backs to not put him on an island all of the time.
Duke LB Koby Quansah
Duke's leading tackler is fast and in on what seems like every play. He covers a ton of ground and is a huge reason why their run defense has been so good. If Notre Dame doesn't get a body on him at the second level, they will struggle to run inside.
Notre Dame RB Tony Jones
He was missed last week and hasn't seen any action since early in the Michigan game. The offense needs to re-establish the run and they haven't done that with anyone but Jones this season.
Duke RB Deon Jackson
He's not averaging a lot on the ground, but he's a versatile player who can make plays as a receiver. One of the only athletes on Duke's offense that has shown the ability to make a big play.
Notre Dame DE Khalid Kareem
He had great game last week against Virginia Tech and will be going up against a true freshman right tackle on Saturday. That is a matchup Kareem should win all day long.
CB Troy Pride Jr.:
"This week is a different mindset, but at the same time, we have the same work mentality. That's always going to be in the back of your mind. It's a moment you feed off of for the remainder of the year or years to come. You never want to get back to that point again.
"We're bringing energy, flying around and we're going to be who we are. And who we are is that dog mentality and that's coming each and every day we go out there."
DE Khalid Kareem:
"It all starts with us upfront. If we can do our job and make it easier on the guys in our back seven, it will be a fun game for us."
OL Trevor Ruhland:
“This spring was really hard for me. I was coming in hopefully getting the starting center spot, waiting my four years for it. Injuries kind of derailed a little bit of that. I’m beat up. I won’t lie to you.
“I’ve been told not to play, that I shouldn’t play. I’ve got the knee of an 80-year-old, they say. I couldn’t give up and came back for moments like this. You might not see it on my face right now, but I couldn’t be happier.”
| TEAM STATS | Notre Dame | Duke |
| Points Per Game | 33.8 | 29.8 |
| Points Allowed Per Game | 20.8 | 25.9 |
| Total Yards | 415.6 | 362.9 |
| Yards Passing | 255.1 | 196.8 |
| Yards Rushing | 160.5 | 166.1 |
| Yards Allowed | 344.3 | 351.8 |
| Pass Yards Allowed | 180.5 | 206.6 |
| Rush Yards Allowed | 163.8 | 145.1 |
tjsirish said:mccarthyirish7 said:
How the ****ing hell was that a penalty on Jafar?
It's illegal touching if you go out of bounds on your own and you're the first to touch the ball. It's no yardage, just the same result as an incomplete pass.
Virginia Tech had two last week.Frankbuz said:
When was the last turnover for ND?
I agreecardova08 said:
Gotta figure that Gibbons can't be as bad as Ruhland.
Huh, think that was Jamir JonesBlueengine said:
foskey is in, is that a blown redshirt?
This would be his 3rd game.Blueengine said:
foskey is in, is that a blown redshirt?
mattfreeman said:
David Cutfliffe decides to run the 15 secs off the clock at the Notre Dame 25-yard line to call a TO with 2 seconds left in the half.
"Football savant." - BLG
Pretty well. He's missed here and there in the run game, but the holding call was a big negative.Blueengine said:
Ruhland is playing well
It really doesn't matter whether they take it in the first half or the second. It only matters whether you score. If ND had scored right away on the opening possession, no one would be saying anything. If they had deferred and didn't score on the opening possession of the second half, people would complain.Frankbuz said:
Taking the ball to start the game is stupid.
If Duke comes out in the 2nd half and converts a couple of first down, our defense wears down and then the game becomes closer than it needs to be.
mattfreeman said:He didn't make the trip due to injury.irishdragon67 said:
Don't have the game on
Yes, but how often does that happen? How many times has that happened when ND has taken the ball this year?Irish1 said:It really doesn't matter whether they take it in the first half or the second. It only matters whether you score. If ND had scored right away on the opening possession, no one would be saying anything. If they had deferred and didn't score on the opening possession of the second half, people would complain.Frankbuz said:
Taking the ball to start the game is stupid.
If Duke comes out in the 2nd half and converts a couple of first down, our defense wears down and then the game becomes closer than it needs to be.
.Woodynd22 said:mattfreeman said:He didn't make the trip due to injury.irishdragon67 said:
Don't have the game on
Is he really hurt or next to transfer?
He has more sense.irishdragon67 said:
Why doesn't Mike join us?
Maybe he doesn't trust the special teams to start the 2nd half.Mike Frank said:Yes, but how often does that happen? How many times has that happened when ND has taken the ball this year?Irish1 said:It really doesn't matter whether they take it in the first half or the second. It only matters whether you score. If ND had scored right away on the opening possession, no one would be saying anything. If they had deferred and didn't score on the opening possession of the second half, people would complain.Frankbuz said:
Taking the ball to start the game is stupid.
If Duke comes out in the 2nd half and converts a couple of first down, our defense wears down and then the game becomes closer than it needs to be.
Of course it wouldn't matter if they scored, but they very rarely do, so why take the ball when your defense is the strength of this team?
Mike
Mike Frank said:Yes, but how often does that happen? How many times has that happened when ND has taken the ball this year?Irish1 said:It really doesn't matter whether they take it in the first half or the second. It only matters whether you score. If ND had scored right away on the opening possession, no one would be saying anything. If they had deferred and didn't score on the opening possession of the second half, people would complain.Frankbuz said:
Taking the ball to start the game is stupid.
If Duke comes out in the 2nd half and converts a couple of first down, our defense wears down and then the game becomes closer than it needs to be.
Of course it wouldn't matter if they scored, but they very rarely do, so why take the ball when your defense is the strength of this team?
Mike
He's hurt.Woodynd22 said:mattfreeman said:He didn't make the trip due to injury.irishdragon67 said:
Don't have the game on
Is he really hurt or next to transfer?
