Notre Dame Football: 5 bold predictions for October 2019

1. Irish don’t allow more than 100 rushing yards in a game

The Irish have been below average in defending the run this season, allowing over four yards per carry to date. Considering the Irish only average 4.7 yards per carry themselves, it has been well noted that the disparity isn’t close to where it should be. In fact, the Irish have been known to abandon the run at times, highlighted by their 33-14 rushing attempt final against Georgia.

However, the Irish defense stepped up against Virginia, allowing a total of four rushing yards on the day. If this effort is put forward on a more consistent basis (particularly against the likes of USC and Michigan), the Irish should have very little problem out-rushing their opponents on a weekly basis.

This starts with the defensive interior, considered an area of weakness for the team heading into the season. Kurt Hinish has proven himself as a valuable asset, but there was very little experienced depth behind him. Nevertheless, we saw junior Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa and true freshman Jacob Lacey make some plays last Saturday, a trend the Irish hope will continue throughout the season.

If it does continue, look for the Irish to become an intimidating force on the interior defensive line. With middle linebacker Drew White and former rover Asmar Bilal settling in, Lea has some valuable pieces to work with. USC and Michigan both have significant upside, but we haven’t seen consistency in the running game so far. Don’t be surprised if the Irish shut them both down this month.