Notre Dame Making Progress Along Offensive Line
Notre Dame’s running game is at or near the top of the list of needed fixes as the Irish embark on their final five games.
After finishing 27th in the country in rushing last season at 207.9 yards per game, Notre Dame has struggled to find much success this year. The Irish are ranked 91st in the country in rushing through seven games, averaging just 150 yards per game.
Senior left tackle Mike McGlinchey said the improvement will come, pointing to the players Notre Dame lost off last year’s team — Ronnie Stanley, Zack Martin and Steve Elmer — and the learning curve of this year’s group.
“We know we haven't executed to the best of our ability at times in our running game, but at the same time it's a growing and learning curve and we'll be OK,” McGlinchey said. “And the three new guys that are coming in are doing a great job and they'll continue to do a great job.
For head coach Brian Kelly, there’s different ways to measure improvement.
“Well, progress is relative to what you folks see and what we see, right? Progress is always going to be defined based upon winning from one week to the next.
“But for me, progress will be maintaining a double-team and not splitting a double-team. Maintaining a block back on the offensive line. Squeezing on a five-man protection instead of jumping out on a five-man protection.
“I don't want to give you a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, but progress is seen differently. I don't know what answer I can give you, other than the progress that I want to see is really different from what I can articulate to you.”
Miami’s defense will test the Irish. The Hurricanes rank 20th in sacks (22), No. 1 in tackles for loss (71) and 23rd in total defense, allowing 345.7 yards per game.
Under first-year head coach Mark Richt and defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, the Hurricanes are averaging about a sack more per game and almost five more tackles for loss.
“It's just a matter of — especially up front — you have to come out with a little bit more control,” McGlinchey said. “There's going to be a little bit more movement, a little bit more things that are going to be thrown at you that aren't base alignments. They do that, no matter the situation, they really are trying to pressure you.
“They don't throw a lot of pressure, but they do a lot of different stunts and movements up front, if you're not prepared for it or in the right mindset about how you approach your job, it can cause some problems for some offenses. And up front, specifically, we need to be under control.”
While McGlinchey said it takes control to counteract a defense like Miami, senior right tackle Alex Bars — a first-year starter — said it boils down to something much simpler.
“You go back to basics. Fundamentals save you on all things,” said Bars, who has taken every first-team snap this season. Get your feet right, get your hands right. They’re a great defense so we’ve got to prepare well for them.”
Even as the offense has struggled to score points and run the ball consistently, McGlinchey has seen progress and signs that the offensive line is coming together.
“Those little moments that — not a lot of people really understand what it's like to play offensive line and understand what the game is like throughout each play,” McGlinchey said. “Going back on film and watching it at each and every game we can see that there is growth.
“We can see that there is a little bit more cohesion. Obviously it's not to the level we want to be yet, I don't know if it will ever be, because that's the game football is. But we've definitely seen growth and seen the five of us coming together at certain times. And it just needs to happen more often.”