Notre Dame Midweek Rundown: Navy Edition

Thoughts on the upcoming matchup between Notre Dame and Navy, as well as some recruiting observations

We are at the midweek point of game week for Notre Dame vs. Navy and Irish Breakdown continues its analysis of the matchup. It is an opportunity for us to get our first look at this 2023 version of the Notre Dame football team.

Today's Irish Breakdown "Big Show" was our Midweek Rundown, and I discussed two topics about the matchup between Notre Dame and Navy, and also had some thoughts on the 2025 recruiting class.

Here is the show, broken into three parts:

Part one of the show was a look at how Notre Dame and Navy stack up from a statistical standpoint. I discussed the pass game matchups, the scoring/total offense matchups and then took a bigger look at the run game matchups on both sides of the ball.

In order for Notre Dame to play to its best there are several players that need to step up and play at a high level. There are several players on both sides of the ball that I have my eye on as possible big difference makers if they are able to step up in this game.

*** Quarterback Sam Hartman obviously needs to have a big game, and it's not just about the big picture notion of the QB needing to play well. Navy runs a very complex, aggressive, blitz heavy system that requires the quarterback to make a lot of tough decisions.

*** Wide receivers Tobias Merriweather and Chris Tyree should have opportunities to make big plays in this game, and they need to do so if the offense is going to play to its full potential. If they step up, and Jayden Thomas thrives against Navy yet again, the Irish could be hard to stop.

*** The right side of the offensive line is intriguing, but we really don't know what it is going to be. Notre Dame needs right tackle Blake Fisher to step up this season, and it needs a breakout from Rocco Spindler. But will we see it? Don't know, but if this group steps up and plays well together the line will be outstanding.

*** Defensive tackles Rylie Mills, Jason Onye, Gabriel Rubio and of course veteran Howard Cross III need to thrive in order to shut down the Navy triple option.

*** Not having JD Bertrand last season hurt the Notre Dame defense, but having him back this year is important. Thriving at the Mike position is vital to handling the triple option, and Bertrand gives them a chance to improve their performance this season.

*** I'm looking forward to seeing how Notre Dame uses safety Xavier Watts, and cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison and Cam Hart have a very underrated but very, very important role in shutting down the Navy offense.

There are six recruits on the defensive side of the ball in the 2025 class that will tell us a lot about the chops of this defensive coaching staff on the recruiting trail. The six players I discussed are defensive end Christopher Burgess, linebackers Noah Mikhail and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, safeties JaDon Blair and Ivan Taylor, and defensive back/athlete Dorian Brew.

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Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

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