Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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8 NOV. 7, 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME It's Another Blowout If Defense Doesn't Hold Up By Todd D. Burlage The instant answer to this week's Point/Counterpoint question seems obvious: It's the Irish offense, right? Thinking offense over defense makes sense because while the Irish defense remains situated near the top 10 nationally in all four notable categories — rushing de- fense, pass efficiency defense, total defense and scoring defense — Notre Dame's ongoing identity search in the passing game puts the bulk of the burden on fifth-year senior quarterback Ian Book to lead some quick improve- ment if there's a chance to upset top-ranked Clemson. But dive deeper into the offense or defense debate, and a case should be made that with the Irish defense already the established foundation of this team, if this unit fails against Clemson — with or without Trevor Lawrence in the lineup — Notre Dame has virtually zero chance to win. In 10-plus years and 135 games as Irish head coach, Brian Kelly has faced five top-five opponents and lost all five of those games by an average score of 31-15, including a 30-3 drubbing at the hands of No. 2 Clemson in the semifinals of the 2018 College Football Playoff. Obviously, scoring three points offensively won't work in the rematch Nov. 7, but neither will allowing 30 points defensively. Truth be told, Notre Dame better be nearly perfect both offensively and defensively to give itself an opportunity against a team that hasn't lost a regular-season game since 2017. That said, if the Irish defense isn't at its best against the Tigers, the Irish offense isn't equipped to win a showdown with a team that averages more than 45 points a game. Offense Needs To Show It Can Run With The Big Boys By Lou Somogyi No single unit — offense, defense or special teams — alone can alone achieve this win. Still, if there is a "correct" answer, it's offense. Over the past three years, Clemson aver- aged 44.3 points in 2018, 43.9 last year and 48.2 during its 6-0 start this season. Get the hint? The Tigers will score. For Notre Dame to "limit" the Tigers to 28 points would be no small feat, even without Lawrence. This is like playing No. 1 Miami in 1988 (31-30 win), No. 1 Florida State in 1993 (31-24 win) and No. 1 USC in 2005 (34-31 last-second loss). Notice how in all three games the Irish scored 31 points (some on defense or special teams too) to give themselves a chance. College football's "Big Three" of Clemson, Alabama and Ohio State routinely average 44 to 48 points per game, while next-tier Notre Dame hovers in the 33-35 range. One can't go into these matchups thinking, "if we get to 20-24 points, that should be enough to win." You probably need 30 to put yourself in position — which brings us to part two. The defense showed up well in losses to Georgia in 2017 (20-19) and 2019 (23-17), but both times the offense scuffled mightily. There were similar showings while scoring eight points at No. 7 Miami in 2017, 14 in the 2019 debacle at Michigan and, yes, the 30-3 defeat to Clemson in the 2018 College Football Playoff. That 12.2 scoring average in marquee settings won't get it done against many teams, never mind the Tigers. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR NOTRE DAME TO BEAT CLEMSON: GREAT OFFENSE OR GREAT DEFENSE? Last year as a sophomore, Alex Steeves led Notre Dame in assists (17) and points (28), and was second in goals (11). Despite his performance the Irish went just 15-15-7 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years, so the 5-10, 187-pound forward has accepted the chal- lenge of "upping his game" in 2020-21. Steeves — an Academic All-American, a Big Ten All-Academic Team selection and a two-semester honoree on the prestigious Notre Dame Dean's List — also embraces everything necessary to thrive as both a student and an athlete at a uni- versity he considered a "no-brainer" to attend after growing up in Eden Prairie, Minn. An ac- countancy major in the Mendoza College of Busi- ness, he is on the fast track to a promising NHL career and to fulfilling Notre Dame's four-for-40 promise beyond that. Blue & Gold Illustrated caught up with Steeves to discuss personal and team goals for this sea- son, which is slated to begin Nov. 13, and the challenges the players faced working under coro- navirus closures and protocols. BGI: Always the first question: How has your team handled coronavirus protocols and con- straints? Steeves: "So many things are out of our control. But as a team I think we've all agreed to do our part and prepare ourselves in the best way pos- sible in order to be ready when the time comes to play games. "We know all teams will face different adversity this year, but we'll work through it and trust our protocols. It's really just having faith that we're on the right track." BGI: How do you keep your sanity through all of the unknowns? Steeves: "I think guys are valuing our time at the rink more than ever. We look forward to getting back to the rink. We follow our protocols, but it is almost an escape from the reality right now when we get to go on the ice and practice. "It's definitely different times, but I think there is optimism in that we're very fortu- nate to be able to be practicing and working out right now." BGI: What's the team look like? Steeves: "Our identity is that we definitely have a lot of experience. So we have guys soaked into our culture from multiple years and we know what we want to do. "The responsibility then becomes helping these younger guys along." BGI: You had a great sophomore season, so what are you focused on as a junior? Steeves: "I'm just trying to be a game-changer for our team and I also want to keep expanding my defensive game so I can help and play more minutes towards the end of the game, even if we're up. "That's why I came to Notre Dame, so I can become a complete player and play at the next level." BGI: With so much success at the junior level and with so many playing opportunities all over the world, how did you land at Notre Dame? Steeves: "I wanted a place where I was going to have the resources to become the player that I want to be, and it checks all of those boxes. We have a tremendous coaching staff, our facilities are second to none, we have great fans and then the education speaks for itself. "Everyone is so committed here to helping us succeed and having accomplished lives after hockey, not just during hockey." — Todd D. Burlage Five Questions With … JUNIOR HOCKEY FORWARD ALEX STEEVES STEEVES Will the Fighting Irish defense have to face and contain star quarterback Trevor Lawrence, or will the offense need to win a shootout? PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA