Keys to victory for the Notre Dame defense to shut down a struggling Stanford offense

The Notre Dame defense has been playing at a very high level so far this season. They are facing off against a Stanford offensive unit that has left a lot to be desired. On paper, the Irish have the clear advantage but as we know, games are not won and lost on paper.

Here are the keys to victory for the Notre Dame defense this weekend. They have a chance to put together a dominant outing, or have some unforeseen lapses. These keys can help to eliminate the latter.

Eliminate the QB run game

As of now, it appears that quarterback Ashton Daniels is set to play for Stanford. You will also see backup signal caller Justin Lamson at times, who is also a very talented runner. Both of them bring that running element, while Daniels is the much more talented passer. No matter which one is in the game, you can expect them to be running the football at a good clip. Despite missing the last game against Virginia Tech, Daniels is still the team’s leading rusher. Between the two, they have rushed 87 times in five games.

Win 1-on-1 matchups outside

There’s no questioning who Stanford’s top overall player on the team is. Wide receiver Elic Ayomanor is an NFL wide receiver, and a big body at 6-2 and 210 pounds. He excels in contested catch situations, possessing a huge catch radius, strong hands, and good leaping ability. Ayomanor plays mostly in the boundary, but don’t be shocked if they move him around a bit to get matched up on someone other than Benjamin Morrison. He is their best bet to create some big plays.

Force turnovers

Daniels is a talented quarterback but he is prone to making some mistakes. In four games played, he has thrown six interceptions. In total, Standard has thrown seven interceptions as a team, as well as fumbling nine times and losing two of them. This offense will put the football in harm's way, and Notre Dame will need to capitalize when the opportunities are there. If Stanford does turn the football over a couple of times, and gives Notre Dame some short fields, it could be a very long day for them.