Onward Notre Dame Offense

Coming off a hot handed 346 yard passing game, quarterback Everett Golson will lead the Irish offense against the 58th ranked defense of Southern Cal'. When the season began in Dublin, Golson, a redshirt freshman, was awarded the starting job among a trio of viable quarterbacks. Now after eleven games started, Everett is one day away from playing in the most important game of the season. The Notre Dame offense has no secrets in their game-plan. The Irish are very balanced with an extremely effective run game. Digging deeper into the Irish offense here is the breakdown from ND Nation.

Lining up against the Domers, the Trojan defense is a solid defense with a freshman and sophomore cornerback. When John Goodman(right) and Tyler Eiffert(left) line up at wide-out the Irish have a huge advantage over the smaller defensive backs. Eiffert 6'6" and Goodman 6'3" should be big targets for Golson. Notre Dame can convert big plays by using Eiffert and Goodman on jump balls. If Everett is able to have a game similar to the Wake Forest game, then that would take pressure off of the run game. But to pass the ball efficiently against USC, Notre Dame must first establish the run game. 

A solid rushing game from Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick would open a lot of options for Golson. Golson is very dangerous off of play-action pass plays. He is very mobile in the pocket and isn't afraid to rollout of the pocket for a short gain. Against Oklahoma, Wood busted a 60 yard gallop to the endzone After that run the Sooner defense crowded the line of scrimmage opening up short, quick passes for Golson and the Irish. If the Irish are able to do the same against the Trojans, then Notre Dame would control most of the game clock. 

The most important thing for the Irish is to value the ball. Not only not turning the ball over, but converting on long drives. When the offense has a good opportunity they must convert with points. 

Do: Control the clock, use Eiffert to convert third downs, Golson Keepers.

Don't: Turn the ball over, fail to convert in the redzone, have a number of penalty yards.

For the Fighting Irish the game-plan is pretty straight forward. In past games the offense had long methodical drives that wear down defenses. The same thing needs to be done to breakdown the USC defense. 

GO IRISH--BEAT TROJAN