Notre Dame Football: Previewing the Week 6 Matchup Against Air Force

A week after thoroughly demoralizing Purdue in West Lafayette, the Fighting Irish return home to take on the Air Force Falcons. 

The teams last met in 2007, with Air Force crushing the Irish in South Bend, 41-24.

This season, the Falcons have soared to a 3-1 record to begin the season, with the lone loss coming at the hands of then-19th-ranked TCU.

There's no question that Troy Calhoun's squad has had this matchup with the Irish circled on the team calendar since the end of last season—and it will certainly be an intriguing contest.

Follow along to find out all you need to know about Air Force vs. Notre Dame.  

Air Force's Offense

Like the other two service academies, Air Force employs the triple option attack. 

Quarterback Tim Jefferson leads the potent attack that currently ranks third in the nation in rushing offense at a clip of 364.5 yards per game. Through four games, Jefferson has accumulated 210 rushing yards on 49 carries. 

That's not all he can do, though.

The talented athlete has also completed 33-of-47 pass attempts, good for 493 yards and five touchdowns.

The fact that he's multi-dimensional makes Jefferson a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.

Notre Dame's defense can't put all of its focus on Jefferson, either.

Tailback Asher Clark has rumbled for 382 yards on 41 carries through four games and is on pace to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season.

As is typical with the option offense, the goal is to eat clock and dictate tempo.

The Irish are all too familiar with that style of play since the team meets Navy and its option offense on an annual basis.

The key for the Falcons' offense will be the play of the offensive line against Notre Dame's stout front three.

Air Force's Defense

The Air Force defense is a base 3-4 scheme with a relatively undersized line. The biggest defensive lineman on the depth chart only weighs in at 220 pounds. 

However, experience in the trenches may make up for that lack of size. Harry Kehs, Ryan Gardner and Zach Payne are all seniors. 

The linebacking corps is, perhaps, the most talented and productive unit of this defense. 

Last season's leading tackler, Jordan Waiwaiole, has returned for his senior season and is well on his way to recording more than 100 tackles. 

The secondary has been tremendous through five games, as Air Force ranks 21st nationally in passing defense. 

It has been a much different story against the run, though. 

The Falcons currently rank 114th in the nation in rush-defense, yielding an average of 227.5 yards per game. 

Notre Dame should be able to take advantage of that porous rush defense; the Irish racked up 287 yards on the ground against Purdue last week. 

Notre Dame's Keys to the Game

1. Play assignment-savvy defense.

Going up against an option offense requires attention to detail and a thorough understanding of individual assignments. If one player fails to execute his assignment, the result is often times a big play. Defenses simply cannot afford to make mistakes against a well-oiled option attack such as Air Force's. 

2. Continue to run the ball.

Against Purdue, Irish running backs Jonas Gray and Cierre Wood combined for 287 yards and two touchdowns. A similar type of outbreak isn't out of the question, as Air Force ranks 114th nationally in rushing defense. 

3. Protect the football.  

Every offensive possession counts when playing against an option offense because of the fact that it will burn large chunks of clock. The Irish must protect the ball or else a South Florida-esque result will ensue. 

4. Keep playing angry. 

 The Irish haven't won three consecutive games by accident. They've been playing with an anger and ferocity after starting 0-2.

That anger has resulted in the team playing with poise and confidence. There's no doubt that Brian Kelly will have his team angry before Saturday. 

Air Force's Keys to the Game

1. Dictate tempo.

For the Falcons to steal a win on Saturday, they must control the clock and the pace of the game. Long scoring drives will wear out the Irish defense and put the offense in a precarious position with an inexperienced quarterback. 

2. Force turnovers.

Notre Dame lost its first two games because it turned the ball over a combined 10 times. If the Falcons can pressure Irish quarterback Tommy Rees, he's likely to turn the ball over. 

3. Take away Michael Floyd. 

It's easier said than done, but Floyd is the engine that makes the Irish offense go.

Against Pittsburgh, Floyd was limited to four receptions and a measly 27 receiving yards. Because he was largely a non-factor, the offense struggled to move the ball and was limited to 15 points in a narrow victory.

Matchups to Keep an Eye on

1. Air Force's rush offense vs. Notre Dame's rush defense.

As I mentioned earlier, Air Force currently ranks third nationally in rushing offense at 364.5 yards per game, albeit against weak competition.

Notre Dame, on the other hand, ranks 19th nationally in rush defense. Air Force should be aware of the fact that the Irish limited Michigan State to 29 rushing yards on 23 carries. 

Edge: Notre Dame's rush defense

2. Tommy Rees vs. Air Force's pass defense. 

Air Force has been stout against the pass thus far, ranking 21st nationally in pass defense.

However, the Falcons haven't faced the likes of Notre Dame's offense through four games. If Tommy Rees can avoid turnovers, it'll be a long day for the Air Force D. 

Edge: Tommy Rees 

Conclusion

There's no question that Brian Kelly is not a happy man right now. He didn't envision starting the season 3-2. 

He and his team have used their collective frustration as motivation to play at a high level for the remainder of the season. 

If there's one mantra this team has been living by, it's "refuse to lose."

It has been working, as the Irish have won three consecutive games and are only getting better. 

Air Force presents a stiff challenge, but the Irish won't be embarrassed by another service academy like they were last year at Navy. 

Final Score Prediction: Notre Dame 28, Air Force 13