5 Game Wreckers ND Will Face in 2018
Last season Notre Dame played a difficult schedule, like they always do. Seven of their opponents ended up in the final version of the AP Top 25.
Even beyond those seven teams, the Irish faced an incredible group of individual talent that the coaching staff had to do a little bit extra to prepare for. It was a long list last year that included NC State’s Bradley Chubb, LSU’s Derrius Guice, and Boston College’s Harold Landry.
Looking ahead at the schedule this year, it doesn’t appear that Notre Dame will face as many game wreckers in 2018 as they did last season. But then again, some players aren’t projected to be dominating individuals and then develop into them as the season goes on (see Coney, Te’von).
Right now there are five players who the Irish will face this season that stand out above everyone else as game wreckers. It’s not as simple as “Slow this guy down and we win the game”, but if Notre Dame does do that, then there chances of getting the W will increase.
Michigan DE Rashan Gary
At first glance, Gary hasn’t lived up the hype that preceded him as the top recruit in the nation. His first full year as a starter was last season and his numbers were good, but not mind blowing (six sacks and twelve tackles for loss).
Throw on the tape, though, and it’s a different story.
Gary can be a bully at the point of attack. Single blocking him with a tight end is a not a very good idea. Putting a back on him is even worse. The Notre Dame offensive line made a couple of mistakes in the spring game where they had a back be solely responsible for picking up Khalid Kareem. If that happens versus Gary, it’s not going to end well for the Irish.
He has an explosive first step. He blows by the Cincinnati right tackle here like Gary was the one who knew the snap count.
He’s one of many good players on the Michigan defense, but no one can disrupt a game quite like Gary can.
Wake Forest WR Greg Dortch
The Demon Deacons put up huge numbers against the Notre Dame defense in a losing effort last season. They did that despite not having their best weapon on the field.
Greg Dortch was the leading receiver for Wake then and finished as the leading receiver even though he missed the final five games of 2017. In eight games he caught 53 passes for 722 yards and nine touchdowns. And he was only a freshman.
As long as he’s healthy, Dortch should be one of the best slot receivers in the nation. They’ll take shots with him deep and also use him in the screen game frequently. Whenever he gets his hands on the ball, he is a threat to make a house call.
He goes from 0 to 60 in a millisecond here against Louisville after making the initial defender miss.
Dortch had four touchdowns in that game and could have five if he didn’t fumble when reaching for the goal line on another great run after the catch. Needless to say, Notre Dame’s safeties will have to take good angles against him in the perimeter screen game and Shaun Crawford will be tested when in the game covering him at nickel.
Stanford RB Bryce Love
There’s no need to list all of the stats or to go into great detail about Love’s abilities. Notre Dame fans have seen it firsthand last season when a hobbled Love rushed from 6.25 yards per carry against the Irish defense.
Even though they put all of the focus on stopping him and did a good job of it for the majority of the game, all it takes it one mistake and he can get loose. Nyles Morgan should have had him for a tackle for loss, but Love makes him and Nick Coleman miss and turns this into a big gain.
If he’s healthy, Notre Dame won’t face anyone who can break open a game like Love.
Florida State RB Cam Akers
Former 5-star recruit Akers had a quiet 1,025 yards as a true freshman. He didn’t get the publicity of some other college football rookies because of FSU’s poor season and because AJ Dillon had such a monster debut in the ACC.
The flashes of brilliance for Akers were there. He had four games of over 100 yards or more and he seemed to have at least a couple of runs a game that could produce a double take. His ability to stick his foot in the ground and get up the field was fantastic.
This burst against Wake is impressive as you’ll see from any back.
He’s going to be better this year and he’ll be the featured back the entire year above Jacques Patrick. The Seminoles should be in a transition year with a new coaching staff, but Akers should be a workhorse that Notre Dame will be forced to slow down when the two programs meet in November.
USC LB Porter Gustin
Some people may have forgotten about Gustin because he only played four games in 2017. He missed the Notre Dame game and USC definitely could have used him. (Gustin had three sacks in his short season).
He was borderline unblockable against the Irish in 2016 and gave Alex Bars (at right tackle) and Mike McGlinchey fits all day long. He’s going to test Liam Eichenberg and Robert Hainsey this year with his relentless motor and ability to turn the corner around the edge.
He dips underneath the punch of Bars here and combines with Rasheem Green to finish on DeShone Kizer.
What makes Gustin a true game wrecker is that he is also an elite defender against the run. There aren’t many better at setting the edge than him and he consistently makes plays in the back field (16.5 tackles for loss in his last 17 games).
Notre Dame might have to chip him with a back or tight end in protection and should give him different looks when blocking him in the running game too. They won’t see him until the regular season finale, but Gustin is probably going to be the best edge defender the Irish face all season.