Maryland vs. Notre Dame: 10 Keys to Watch During Fighting Irish's Latest Test

Notre Dame football and Brian Kelly take on the Maryland Terrapins in Washington, D.C., at 7:30 pm on Saturday evening.  In a game against one of the worst teams in the ACC, what can Irish fans expect to watch as their team takes the field?

Maryland only has two wins on the season, including a win against a Miami Hurricanes team who suspended many of its players for the opener.  The Terrapins' only other win came against a Towson team that's known more for its Division I lacrosse than playing football.

Notre Dame, on the other hand, is coming off a solid victory against Wake Forest.  Last weekend's game in Winston-Salem, NC, wasn't without its mistakes, however.  To prevent the Maryland game from being competitive, the Irish will have to find answers for some of their woes.

Turnover Tommy

Tommy Rees is a productive passer and is learning how to take charge of his team.  Unfortunately, Rees is a double-edged sword.  For the significant amount of production he provides, he also gives the ball away, often.  Will Rees be able to avoid interceptions against Maryland?

Quarterback Look-off

One of the fundamentals of a good quarterback is the ability to force the defense to move for you.  In the Wake Forest game, Notre Dame's first touchdown came when Tommy Rees turned his eyes to a short route.  That caused the safety to crash.  Immediately, Rees looked backed to Tyler Eifer deep down the field for an easy touchdown.  Will Rees continue his fundamental progress towards become an elite signal-caller?

Checking into More Runs

Brian Kelly highlighted the lack of check-downs by Tommy Rees in Kelly's press conference, this week.  The running game has been strong for the Irish, this year, especially with the emergence of Jonas Gray.  When Maryland only puts six or seven defenders in the box, will fans see Rees audible into a run more often?

Jonas Gray

Will Jonas Gray continue to literally run towards greatness?  Gray looks like famed running backs of Irish lore the way he's playing, right now.  His combination of size and speed are reminiscent of Notre Dame greats like Rodney Culver and Derrick Brooks.  Can Gray continue his streak of productivity?

Mike Golic

Though listed as the backup to Braxton Cave at Center, this season, Mike Golic looked good when his number was called to play against Wake Forest.  With Cave gone for the season, Golic must be productive for the Irish.  Will he be able to handle opposing nose tackles?  Furthermore, will fans see the line breakdown, or will Notre Dame continue to be atop the nation in fewest sacks allowed?

Michael Floyd

Wake Forest made it a point to double cover Michael Floyd with a safety constantly over the top of him, yet Floyd still managed to score on the Demon Deacons.  Will Maryland double cover Floyd?  If so, look to big games by Notre Dame's other receivers.  Additionally, with Theo Riddick out, look for Floyd to block more on the outside as the Irish rely more on their productive running attack.

Freshman Defensive Line

It was fun watching the Notre Dame defensive line use multiple stunts against Wake Forest.  As Notre Dame's freshmen Aaron Lynch and Stephon Tuitt continue to learn how to play at the college level, look for dynamic plays on the defensive front line.  How many sacks will Notre Dame's defensive line garner on Saturday?

Press Coverage

Another fun aspect of this Notre Dame defense is its ability to play man-to-man coverage on the outsides.  Often, the Irish secondary positions itself at the line of scrimmage before the snap of the ball.  If you watch closely, you'll notice the opposing quarterback can't find anyone open.  If you look down field, you'll notice this Irish secondary is on receivers like a blanket.  How bad will it be for the Terrapins?

Seeing Backups

Look for Notre Dame's younger players to see the field on Saturday.  Of those younger players, fans already know the name George Atkinson III after his two kickoff returns for touchdowns.  This should be another blowout for the Irish, so it should be fun to see the younger guys play with a comfortable lead.  Additionally, look for Andrew Hendrix to change things up against Maryland.  How long will fans get to see the future on Saturday?

Irish Emotion

Is the rift between players and coaches finished in the Notre Dame locker room, or does it linger?  If it lingers, you can expect it to take a toll on this team.  The only way this game is close is if Notre Dame comes out flat.  Why would they come out flat?  Because they've expended all of their energy on internal struggles versus looking forward to their opponent.  Then, again, an angry Irish team destroyed Navy.  After a while, however, festering hostilities drain people.  Don't expect a blowout resulting from rifts.