Keys for the Notre Dame defense to shut down the Purdue Boilermaker offense on Saturday

Notre Dame football heads into their matchup against the Purdue Boilermakers really wanting to put together a bounce back game. That is especially true on the offensive side of the football, but the defense also wasn’t great against Northern Illinois either. They are now facing a Purdue offense that can be tricky.

On paper, however, Notre Dame should still have a very strong performance this weekend. Here are the major areas that the Irish defense must win on Saturday. They could be the key to winning the football game, and beginning to regain momentum.

Make things hard for Hudson Card

When Card is at his best, he’s getting the ball out of his hand accurately and on time. The RPO and screen game are very important to the former Texas transfer. Card has a snap delivery and understands the positives of getting his playmakers in space. Playing with rhythm and structure is where he’s most comfortable.

While Card is also a good athlete, he becomes a lot less efficient when forced to make plays off of script. He can occasionally make things happen with his feet, but comfort is lost after his first couple of reads. Keeping Card uncomfortable is a major key in this football game. Make him beat you, not the skill position players around him.

Win the early downs

Anytime you are talking about a rhythm based offense, especially one that utilizes so many RPO looks, you want to play ahead of the sticks. When you have a bad first play of a sequence, it hurts the efficiency of the offense. That’s how flow is interrupted, and an offense becomes a little too predictable.

Keep running back Devin Mockobee in check, as well as the perimeter screen game on early downs, and you stifle this offense. Purdue doesn’t want to get into obvious passing situations, and they sure don’t want to get into third and longs. Keep them behind schedule, and make them uncomfortable as a unit.

Be sound on the perimeter

The Graham Harrell offense is an air raid system that specializes in working the football to the perimeter. That includes both in the screen game, as well as working vertically down the field. When it comes to the screen game, Purdue does a tremendous job blocking on the perimeter and creating plays after the catch. You should expect players like Jahmal Edrine to be involved as a receiver, as well as blocking at a high level.

Cornerbacks like Benjamin Morrison , Christian Gray , Jordan Clark and other slot defenders are going to have to play a physical brand of football. They will have to be physical working off of blocks, as well as tackling in space. Defensive backs are going to get put into high leverage situations, and they will need to compete and finish plays.