Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons the Irish will beat Michigan State
By Jacob Wilson
1. The Irish linebacker corps matches up well against Lewerke
Linebackers and quarterbacks aren’t usually lined up in the matchups to watch category, but this game poses an interesting battle between Michigan State’s dual-threat quarterback Brian Lewerke and Notre Dame’s linebacker unit. This unit, established as one of the most complete groups on the team, has the experience and talent to make life rough Lewerke on Saturday. Here’s why.
Lewerke enters week four with the most rushing yards on his team, mostly due to a recently imposed read-option offense. Lewerke has seen success against Bowling Green and Western Michigan to this point, but will face his toughest test yet against this Irish front. Outside of a strong Irish interior that has generated significant push to this point, Notre Dame deploys one of the nation’s best linebacker groups.
Due to the presence of read-option offenses from ACC competition along with those used by Army and Navy, Notre Dame found the need to develop a read-option specialist at the linebacker position. They found their guy in senior Greer Martini, who has since developed from an option specialist to an every down player.
Beside Martini is captain Nyles Morgan, an inside linebacker who hasn’t skipped a beat since the departure of Jaylon Smith in 2016. Te’von Coney can come in for relief of either of the two starters, and has absolutely flourished in that role, recording a team high 25 tackles to this point.
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The Irish have taken the rover position and used it to their advantage, choosing senior captain Drue Tranquill to serve as a safety/linebacker hybrid. This combination of experience and skill should allow the Irish to be all over Lewerke on the ground, forcing him to beat them with his arm.