First look at Notre Dame: Can Texas A&M football overcome best defense they’ll see all year?
Game week is finally here, Texas A&M football fans. After a long, two hundred-plus day wait, we can finally settle back into the routines and rhythms of a college football week—and for us, on Mondays, that starts with a first look at the upcoming opponent.
Given the magnitude of this opener for Texas A&M football, there’s a sense in which Notre Dame has already been well-covered. But where beforehand, there was an excess of projections and prognostications, we have much better information this close to the game. Of course, there will still be some guesswork, but that’s the nature of talking about the first game of the season.
Every Texas A&M football fan should be aware of the Irish quarterback, Riley Leonard. A transfer from Duke, Leonard was one of the most highly-touted transfers of this past cycle due to what he accomplished while under Mike Elko in Durham.
Of course, Elko’s familiarity with Leonard could spell trouble for the Irish—as well as the fact that Notre Dame will be forced to rely on some very inexperienced tackles against the Aggie pass rush. As I examined last week, Leonard is really not a plus passer when it’s all said and done, so if the Aggies can hold up against the run, it will be a long day for the Irish offense.
If he can manage it, though, I think new Irish OC Mike Denbrock will attempt to lighten the load on Leonard as much as possible. Early on, I’d watch for a heavy dose of QB run, screen passing, and quick completions to make things easy for Leonard.
On defense, though, the Irish will be maybe the best unit the Aggies will see all year. Marcus Freeman, of course, made his name as a DC up in South Bend, and the culture of tough-nosed play on that side of the ball that he has instilled has only increased since he became the head man.
The Golden Domers boast what could be the best defensive tackle tandem in the nation in Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills, so it could be tough sledding between the tackles. The interior OL for the Aggies are no slouches, though, so while it still may be an advantage for ND, I wouldn’t call the Ags overmatched.
The corners for Freeman’s group will be a tough nut to crack as well. I anticipate that they’ll load up against the run and make the Aggies beat them in the passing game—of course, with Weigman behind center, that could be a foolish ploy.
Overall, I see this one being a defensive battle. When I consider each signal caller’s potential, though, I see this one heavily tilted in the favor of the Aggies—I just think Weigman is far better than Leonard. I’ve predicted a score as high as 30 for the Aggies, but I think I’ll go a little lower here—I’ll say Texas A&M football wins 23-13. BTHOND!