Notre Dame Spring Game: Biggest Storylines to Watch for in Blue-Gold Game

The annual Blue-Gold game kicks off in South Bend this weekend and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have themselves quite a bit of work to do.

Brian Kelly's team has had no shortage of headlines this offseason and now they enter this spring game with plenty of key roles up for grabs.

The nationally televised game isn't the end all-be all for those jobs, but there are a number of storylines to watch for.

QB's Command of the Offense

Notre Dame fans know damn well there is a quarterback battle going on...again. But rather than just focusing on the numbers they put up, it will be important to watch which signal-callers are in command of the offense.

Returning starter Tommy Rees will have a distinct advantage in this category, but that is why it is even more important to watch how Everett Golson and Andrew Hendrix handle things.

Hendrix saw time last year, but didn't show a complete grasp of the offense while Golson stayed on the sidelines but continues to intrigue both fans and coaches with his athleticism at the position.

Kelly has already said that each quarterback will run the same offense—no exceptions.

They both differ heavily from Rees in style of play and it wouldn't be surprising at all if one of them was given the opportunity to play.

As for freshman phenom Gunner Kiel, don't expect too much of him and it wouldn't be surprising if he was redshirted to save a year of eligibility considering the Irish have so many other options to put under center.

Next Go-To Receiver

We know the Irish have a top-flight tight end in Tyler Eifert, but who the heck is going to replace Michael Floyd, the most decorated receiver in school history?

The Irish hope one of their incoming freshman might make an impact, but realistically the players needed to step up most are John Goodman, T.J Jones and possibly DaVaris Daniels and Robby Toma.

They all have talent, but more than one of them need to rise to the occasion and become players—and from there someone needs to step up become a go-to guy.

A game like this is a time to put their names on the map.

Defensive Linemen on the Rise

The defection of Aaron Lynch leaves the Irish defensive line in a curious spot. They barely finished in the top half of the nation in sacks last season and now their best pass-rusher is gone.

Fifth-year senior Kapron Lewis-Moore and Stephon Tuitt will be the starting ends with Chase Hounshell likely stepping into the rotation.

Lynch's departure may mean early enrollee Sheldon Day sees some action early as a freshman and they have to hope he's up to the challenge.

The Blue-Gold game will be a good opportunity to see how they work together and what type of rotation they truly have without Lynch.

Excitement

Another thing to always look for is the tone and vibe of the team. The Irish have some returning players, but said goodbye to a number of familiar faces as well. 

Obviously they'll be amped up to play, but you can always tell the difference between a team that genuinely wants to be out there and a team that is just going through the motions.

With spring practice officially coming to a close with this scrimmage, it will be interesting to see what the tone is out on the field.