Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons the Irish will beat Michigan in Week 1

4. Linebackers will make key stops on third down

Last season the Fighting Irish went to a 4-2-5 scheme to utilize the speed and depth in the secondary. That did not hurt the impact of the linebackers as Te’Von Coney returns and was the leading tackler on last year’s team.

Coney should be in the Michigan backfield all game long after he racked up 116 tackles and picked up 10 tackles for a loss last year.

Drue Tranquill comes from the rover position and was also in the backfield plenty as he made 85 tackles with nine tackles for a loss in 2017. Both of these players will slow down Michigan’s rushing attack and force Shea Patterson to throw the ball more than Jim Harbaugh would like in this one.

Jordan Genmark-Heath is a backup who can offer excellent depth and played in all 13 games last year. If he sees time in this one he could make a big play or two.