This past Wednesday Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said Notre Dame’s defense reminded him a lot of his own defense.
“Just watching them defensively, it looks like we are getting ready to play Clemson,” he said.
But the sixth-ranked Irish looked nothing Clemson’s defense on Saturday. Notre Dame allowed winless UMass to rack up 450 yards of total offense in the Irish’s 62-27 victory in South Bend. A lot of those yards and points came in the opening half when the game was still competitive and Notre Dame’s first-team defense was on the field.
UMass running back Marquis Young broke off an 83-yard touchdown run, while Jamal Wilson and Sekai Lindsay each had one-yard touchdowns runs as UMass trailed just 21-20 with 6:44 to play in the opening half.
UMass’ offense burned the Notre Dame defense for several big plays in the opening half.
Heading into next Saturday’s showdown with No. 10 Clemson, the Irish will bring in the 43rd-rank defense in the country in terms of yards (341.5) allowed, the 40th-ranked scoring defense (19.8 ppg), the 55th ranked passing defense (203.8 ypg) and the 47th ranked rushing defense (137.8 ypg.)
In case you are keeping score at home, the Tigers rank ninth in total defense (260.7 ypg), 10th in scoring defense (12.3 ppg.), 12th in passing defense (146.0 ypg) and 30th in rushing defense (114.7 ypg).
So what do you believe? The numbers or Clemson’s head coach? Just how good is Notre Dame’s defense.
“They are really, really good up front. They are strong and athletic,” Swinney said. “The (line) backers are big, strong and make a lot of plays. The secondary can cover, athletic and can run.”
The critics will say Notre Dame will be the toughest opponent the Tigers have faced to this point and Swinney will say the same thing. But doesn’t that stand true for Clemson being Notre Dame’s toughest opponent.
Through four weeks of the season, Georgia Tech has been the Irish’s toughest opponent, and in the last two weeks the Yellow Jackets have proven that maybe they are not as good as everyone thought they were. Also keep in mind, Notre Dame played that game at home.
The Irish’s only road game came at Virginia, where they nearly lost after the defense gave up 416 total yards and 27 points to a Cavaliers team that nearly lost to Williams & Mary a week later and then were blown out at home by Boise State, 56-14, on Friday night.
Notre Dame allowed Virginia quarterback Matt Johns to throw for 289 yards, while completing 26 of 38 passes for two touchdowns and no interceptions. Who? Who is Matt Johns?
UMass threw for 302 yards and completed 28 of 48 passes for one touchdown and one interception. You tell me. What do you think Deshaun Watson can do against that Notre Dame defense?
Say what you will about Clemson having to escape Louisville with a three-point victory on Sept. 17. But the Tigers’ road victory over a 1-3 team looks a whole lot better than Notre Dame’s, especially from the defensive side of things.
The Cardinals were held to 19 rushing yards by the Clemson defense, and had just 272 overall. The Tigers recorded five sacks in the win.
Notre Dame’s defense might look like Clemson’s from a personnel standpoint, but so far on tape, they have played nothing like the Tigers’ defense.