Notre Dame Football: Everything Irish Fans Need to Know About Syracuse

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Stats don’t tell the entire story as Notre Dame football prepares to face Syracuse, which amassed 589 yards of total offense last week against Maryland.

The Orange, despite outgaining Maryland by 220 yards, coughed up two turnovers, failed to convert twice in the red zone and surrendered three sacks in a 34-20 loss to the Terrapins at home Saturday.

“Certainly if you just looked at the statistics, you would wonder how they didn't win that football game,” Irish head coach Brian Kelly said Tuesday.

The 3-0 Irish now face the 2-1 Orange at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Saturday night. Let’s analyze the Irish opposition and consider what prompted the gap between the squad that nearly touched 600 yards and the one that lost by 14 points.

Missed Opportunities Against Maryland

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In addition to the aforementioned miscues against Maryland, Syracuse committed eight penalties for 69 yards, allowed a blocked punt and missed a 25-yard field goal.

“I think the biggest theme on both sides, including the kicking game, is finish,” Syracuse head coach Scott Shafer said this week in an interview with Matt Park of Cuse.com. "We have to finish better. We have to finish the play better.”

Syracuse failed to finish drives against the Terrapins. Most notably, Orange senior quarterback Terrel Hunt tossed an interception that was returned 88 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Syracuse had just used a monster 51-yard gain to power inside the red zone before the pick.

“You can’t win games where you turn the ball over,” Shafer said to Cuse.com. “I felt like we really couldn’t be stopped unless we stop ourselves, and that’s exactly what happened.”

The misfire was Hunt’s first interception of the season. But the dual-threat quarterback has completed only 59 percent of his passes. If Notre Dame disguises looks and forces Hunt to be more of a thrower, the Irish could confuse the quarterback and create takeaways.

Notre Dame ranks eighth in the nation with its six interceptions, five of which have come in the last two games. Following the bye week, the secondary is resolidifying from the rash of injuries and an ejection that depleted the ranks against Purdue. With cornerbacks Cody Riggs and Cole Luke manning the perimeter and safeties Max Redfield, Elijah Shumate and, potentially, Austin Collinsworth flying around the center of the field, the athletic Irish secondary should be able to close quickly on the Orange receivers. If Notre Dame can find a pass rush, too, that could hurry Hunt to force throws with an attacking Irish defense waiting.

Prolific Rushing Ability

Nick Lisi/Associated Press

Hunt played the lead role in Syracuse’s 370-yard rushing outburst against Maryland. The senior gained 156 yards and notched two scores on 23 attempts, putting him in some elite company among Orange quarterbacks.

Through three games, Hunt has stockpiled 273 rushing yards. The Orange have 795 as a team—good for 265 per game.

“I think our offensive coaches have done a nice job staying with what we wanted to be on offense,” Shafer said to Cuse.com.

“I think our offense is starting to get a rhythm,” he later added.

Notre Dame, for its part, has looked stout against the run, especially in its last two games, as Michigan only mustered 100 yards on 35 carries and Purdue scratched out 26 carries for 56 yards. Can the Irish keep tabs on Hunt throughout the game?

The Irish handled dual-threat Rice quarterback Driphus Jackson (61 rushing yards) and Michigan signal-caller Devin Gardner (five yards). Hunt figures to get his share, but don’t expect him to gash the Irish. Notre Dame’s defense is too talented and has had too much time to prepare for Hunt and the Orange.

Bullough’s Defensive Scheme

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In his weekly look at the opponent, Kelly heaped praise on Syracuse defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough.

“[He] does a very good job of mixing things up, gets you in third down. … They do a great job of bringing different pressures out of their third-down packages and confuse the quarterback and make it difficult for you,” Kelly said.

Kelly said Notre Dame must do a great job with its protections and ensure the downs and distances remain manageable. All of that seems doable, of course, for an offense that has scored at least 30 points in each of the first three games.

But with Bullough dialing up different pressures, it will be interesting to watch how Notre Dame’s offensive line responds. While no changes are finalized yet, Kelly said, this week’s depth chart revealed a shakeup along the line. Nick Martin could move from center to left guard, with Matt Hegarty stepping in at center, and Christian Lombard could swap outside to right tackle with Steve Elmer moving in to right guard.

Although the Irish did have the benefit of the bye week, a new-look line would still be developing its chemistry and comfort with protections on the fly, somewhat. If Bullough picks his spots, the Orange could find its way to quarterback Everett Golson. Notre Dame has already allowed six sacks this season after surrendering just eight in the entire 2013 season.

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Mike Monaco is a lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco_ on Twitter.