5 Notre Dame Players That Must Step Up

If Notre Dame is going to keep its playoff hopes alive this weekend and beyond it needs five players to step up their game.

Notre Dame has played well in September, but the Irish aren’t where they need to be if another berth to the College Football Playoff is going to be achieved.

There are a number of veterans who must raise their level of play if that is going to happen, and it must begin this weekend when the 18th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers come to town.

Ian Book, Quarterback

It’s not that Book is playing poorly, because he isn’t. He struggled against Louisville, but the senior shredded New Mexico (360 yards, 5 TD’s) and had strong moments against Georgia. Book is on pace for over 3,300 passing yards and 32 touchdowns.

The issue is that Book hasn’t been nearly as consistent as he needs to be, he’s still not pushing the ball downfield as much as he needs, and there have been stretches in each of the first three games where his erratic play has stalled the offense. Against Georgia that stretch resulted in the Bulldogs turning a 10-7 deficit into a 23-10 lead, with Book throwing two picks.

Book has shown the skill he needs to be a dominant quarterback, but he must put it all together and not just show flashes from time to time. That means making better presnap decisions, showing more poise in the pocket, being more aggressive throughout the game and doing a better job reading plays out.

Book is close, but if he can’t take that next step the offense won’t get to the level it needs to be for another playoff run.

Julian Okwara, Defensive End

During his breakout 2018 season Okwara emerged as one of the nation’s top pass rushers, averaging 4.7 pressures per game. Though three games this fall Okwara is averaging just 2.0 pressures per game.

Part of that is due to opponents scheming to slow down the Irish pass rush, but Okwara just hasn’t made his presence felt the way he was expected to. On top of that, Okwara’s run game production has taken a huge dip. This was especially true in the loss to Georgia, with Okwara getting knocked off the ball multiple snaps by the Bulldog tight ends.

Senior Daelin Hayes has played well, senior Ade Ogundeji has continued to improve his game and another senior, Khalid Kareem, has been solid. Kareem needs to be better, but it is Okwara that must really make a big jump, and he must do it in a hurry. The Irish line was expected to fuel the defense, and the unit can’t reach its full potential without Kareem and Okwara getting back to being dominant players.

If Okwara can get back on track, start making more plays and improve in the run game the Irish front four will get back to being good enough to turn this defense into one of the nation’s best, which is what it was in 2018.

Chris Finke, Wide Receiver

It has been a rough start to the season for the fifth-year senior captain. His numbers are down, he has struggled as a run blocker, his route running hasn’t been sharp and Finke hasn’t been nearly as reliable as he was in 2018.

Finke not being in the slot as much as he was last season isn’t a valid justification for his poor play. There are two reasons why that argument should be rejected. One, Finke still gets double digit slot snaps in each game. Two, several of Finke’s biggest mistakes this season have been from the slot.

Simply put, Finke just isn’t playing focused or effective football as a route runner, pass catcher or blocker. He’s had a hard time adjusting to being the number two or number three weapons. Perhaps the return of tight end Cole Kmet and wideout Michael Young will take some of the pressure off Finke.

Finke getting back to being the reliable third-down weapon he was a season ago would give the offense, which ranks 122nd in the nation in third-down offense, a major shot in the arm.

Aaron Banks, Left Guard

The interior of the Notre Dame offensive line has been a mess this season. The unit was solid in the opener against Louisville, but over the next two games the group struggled mightily. Part of that has been the subpar play of Banks, who has been especially disappointing in the run game.

Banks has been erratic from a pad level and assignment standpoint, but his unwillingness to fire off the ball and use his size, power and athleticism has been the most disappointing. Offensive line coach Jeff Quinn must find a way to get Banks and the rest of the interior players going.

Notre Dame’s run game has been a huge disappointment thus far in the season, and the backs need to stop being blamed. If the interior of the line starts playing better the run game will take off, and Banks must make a big jump for that to happen. If Banks, right guard Tommy Kraemer and center Jarrett Patterson get rolling the offense will be very hard to beat.

Troy Pride Jr., Cornerback

Pride has been solid through the first three games. Opponents are just 5-10 against him for 63 yards, and he has two break ups in three games. When balls are caught on him they’ve required really good throws and even better catches.

But if Notre Dame’s defense is going to reach its peak it needs Pride to play even better. The area where Pride must make improvement is doing a better job playing the ball and finishing off plays. If he can do that his game will explode, which will give the defense a boost.