The 12th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish are on the road this weekend taking on the unranked and 1-7 Boston College Eagles. Their offense this season started out hot, but has cooled down significantly over the last month. Head coach Bill O'Brien has quality pieces on this side of the ball he has to find a way to get going, but he's gearing up to face a hot Notre Dame defense after only scoring 24 against Louisville, 23 against UCONN and 10 against Clemson.
Notre Dame's defense, on the other hand, has been significantly better than how they started the season and are trending in the right direction. They haven't allowed an opponent to put points on the board in the 4th quarter since Purdue and they've recorded 12 turnovers in the last four games. Despite their recent offensive struggles, there are still players Notre Dame's defense will have to account for and it starts with the Eagles' starting running back.
Running Back #2 Turbo Richard
Running back Turbo Richard is a player this offense has to get going. In addition to having a spectacular name for a running back, Richard has 431 rushing yards, 175 receiving yards and seven total touchdowns on the year. He has 17 missed tackles forced with eight of them coming in the last four games. Richard is 5-8, 207-pounds and is their speed back; he can make plays in space and is a factor in both the pass game and the run game. Unfortunately, Boston College's offensive line has held this run game in check as the Eagles rank No. 127 in rushing yards per game (102.1) and No. 127 in rushing yards per carry (3.3). If this offense wants to get things turned around, Richard needs to be a focal point for this unit.
Matchup To Watch: There's no player-specific matchup against Richard, this is more of a big picture task for the defense. In the last two games, Notre Dame has missed 23 tackles between NC State and USC. They recorded 12 missed tackles against the Wolfpack and 11 missed tackles against the Trojans. Some of that was the wear and tear of playing their fifth and sixth games in a row, but fundamentally, they have to be sound against the 5-8, 201-pound speedster. Richard has the ability to take a 5-yard gain and turn it into a 20-yard gain if he isn't tackled in space. The Irish have to get back to the defense they were, from a tackling perspective, against Purdue, Arkansas and Boise State.
Wide Receiver #11 Lewis Bond
Receiver Lewis Bond is far and away the go-to target in this offense. He has 56 receptions on the season; the next closest pass catcher has 31 receptions on the year. There's been a heavy emphasis in O'Brien's offense this year to get the ball into the hands of Bond. He has 547 receiving yards this year but only one receiving touchdown. The 5-11, 190-pound receiver has strung together a productive three-week stint going for 70 yards against Clemson, 69 yards against UCONN and 42 yards and a touchdown against Louisville on the road. Bond plays both to the field and in the slot, but predominantly lines up as a slot receiver.
Matchup To Watch: Every week, it feels like we talk about Notre Dame's slot cornerback against the opposing team's slot receiver. This week, it's no different. Whether it's true freshman Dallas Golden or Alabama transfer DeVonta Smith, both players will have to account for Bond. I doubt the Irish game plan for Bond the same way they did with Makai Lemon a few weeks ago, but that means Golden or Smith will have to limit big plays in the passing game and tackle well in the open field against Bond. One thing is certain, they will force the ball to Bond throughout the afternoon. Notre Dame's nickel corner will have to be ready when the opportunity comes their way.
Tight End #17 Jeremiah Franklin
Jeremiah Franklin doesn't lead the team in yards, but he's second on the team in receptions and is tied for second on the team in touchdown receptions. The 6-4, 244-pound tight end has 31 receptions on the year for 321 yards, is averaging 10.4 yards per catch and has hauled in two touchdowns on the year. He's a legitimate threat in the passing game and one that has been a go-to target in this offense in crucial moments. Smith rarely comes off the field and has played the fifth most snaps on offense this season (445). Over half of his receptions on the year have gone for 1st downs but he does have three drops on the season on 49 targets.
Matchup To Watch: Safety Tae Johnson has played a major role in revitalizing this secondary in South Bend. Despite not playing a snap against Miami, Johnson is third on the team in tackles, has one interception and has yet to allow a receiving touchdown this year. At times, he'll be matched up with Franklin in coverage and will have to limit his big play ability. Johnson is a sure-tackler and has only missed two on the season; Franklin has forced seven missed tackles this year. Boston College's tight end is a potential red zone threat and one that will have to be accounted for if the Eagles get inside the 20 yard line. Johnson will have to continue ascending as a starting safety and will be challenged at times this week against the Eagles' tight end room.
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