Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons Irish will beat LSU in 2018 Citrus Bowl
By Jacob Wilson
3. Notre Dame shuts down LSU’s rushing attack
One of the most effective ways to neutralize a mediocre passing attack is to dismantle its compliment, the run game. In this case, the Irish will be facing an early Heisman candidate in running back Derrius Guice. While Guice has certainly been a workhorse for LSU this year, his 5.3 yard per carry mark is average at best, and good for only 91st in the nation.
A fairly consistent Irish defensive front will look to exploit this, hopefully sparking a domino effect that leads to a Danny Etling interception or two. The Irish are still healthy on defense for the most part, and an extra week of rest should do nothing but good for a talented defensive line.
The Irish have fallen off a bit in terms of defending the run, but it could certainly be a long game for the Tigers if they manage to return to form. Should the Irish defensive line suffocate Guice and the LSU rushing attack, look for defensive coordinator Mike Elko to shift his focus to the turnover battle, a dangerous thought for opposing offenses.