Virginia Tech Football: Notre Dame Q&A Preview

Fresh off a disappointing 30-20 loss to Georgia Tech, the Hokies are back on the road this week to battle Notre Dame for the first time in program history. The Irish have limped to a lackluster 4-6 record this fall under head coach Brian Kelly, but years of star-studded recruiting classes make this team far more dangerous than their record may suggest. To get some first-hand perspective on what's gone wrong in the shadows of the Golden Dome, I spoke to Matt Jones, a Virginia Tech alum and current Notre Dame beat writer at Blue & Gold Illustrated.

JC: It's been one hell of a roller coaster ride in South Bend, huh? And with two worthy opponents remaining down the stretch, it's distinctly possible that Notre Dame misses out on postseason play for the first time under Kelly. Who would you say has taken the most blame for the Irish's 4-6 start? Has Kelly shouldered the brunt of the fan base's displeasure, or has their frustration been directed elsewhere?

MJ: Kelly has definitely been the main target for the unrest among Notre Dame fans. It began back in January when he decided to bring back maligned defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. Just four games into the season, VanGorder was fired after a 1-3 start and a loss to Duke. Kelly took plenty of heat for that decision to start with, as well as his insistence on playing two quarterbacks in the opener against Texas. It could be argued that that decision cost the Irish the game, and set the tone for a miserable season.

In his seventh season in South Bend, many fans think the program should be immune to the problems it is facing. Notre Dame starts as many as three freshman defensive backs and the defensive line struggles to generate any sort of pass rush, despite high-level recruiting at the position. The Irish have as much or more talent than nearly every team on their schedule, yet routinely make mental errors or struggle to come through when it counts. A lot of that falls on Kelly.

JC: How has Notre Dame's defense improved since Greg Hudson took over in late September? Have you noticed many schematic changes, or has Hudson just managed to get a little more production out of the Irish's limited defensive personnel?

MJ: Notre Dame's statistics have improved since Hudson took over for VanGorder after the Duke game, though Hudson's direct impact on the defense isn't so obvious. Hudson was hired as a defensive analyst in June, and in that role was not permitted to coach the players. Him taking over the defense gave the team some much needed energy, though any scheme adjustments (more three-man fronts as opposed to four down linemen) can be attributed to Kelly and linebackers coach Mike Elston.

The Irish have also benefitted from a soft schedule as of late. Their past two games came against triple option offenses Navy and Army, as well as an Oct. 8 matchup with NC State in a hurricane, the same day Virginia Tech played at North Carolina. Those games are a big reason why Notre Dame is up to 15th nationally in pass defense.

Notre Dame has plenty of talent, the issue was going to be getting those young, raw players to play with confidence. Hudson has achieved that, as more freshmen are playing large snap counts and making an impact.

JC: For all of the Irish's struggles on defense, junior quarterback DeShone Kizer has crafted yet another record-setting season in South Bend this fall. Looking beyond the mouth-watering measurables, what makes the Toledo native so highly coveted by NFL scouts?

MJ: Kizer has essentially matched his numbers from last season, when the Irish went 10-3 and nearly made the College Football Playoff. His supporting cast isn't as strong, particularly looking at an underperforming offensive line. But for the most part Kizer has showed an ability to handle large amounts of information thrown his way, which makes him attractive to NFL teams. He has a strong arm and runs well, and he keeps his composure in close games. He was a three-sport standout in high school and nearly quit football at Notre Dame to play baseball after his freshman season.

JC: Kizer and sophomore receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (What. A. Name.) are the standouts offensively, but who else should Hokies fans be keeping an eye on Saturday afternoon? Any under the radar guys you could see making an impact?

MJ: Freshman wideout Kevin Stepherson has come on strong lately, and he's seen the most snaps of any receiver in the past two games. Kizer looks for him deep, and he's been the most reliable receiver over the past three games. Senior tight end Durham Smythe is a red zone threat and sophomore C.J. Sanders has big play ability in the return game.

JC: The Hokies have been shaky defensively over the last month, appearing vulnerable against offenses with far less pedigree than that of Notre Dame. Vegas seems hesitant to embrace a shootout with the early total sitting at just 56, but recent history suggests pounding the over, no?

MJ: Notre Dame has a tendency to go on long offensive droughts this season, so I can understand the total being in the mid 50's. When Notre Dame's offense is clicking, it has the ability to score quickly, though far too often Kizer stalls and can't keep the chains moving. I anticipate Tech being able to throw the ball on Notre Dame's young defensive backs, a game plan similar to what the Hokies had against Pittsburgh. Running the ball on the Irish will be tough — fifth-year senior nose guard Jarron Jones is a future pro and junior linebacker Nyles Morgan is a tough matchup. Winning the matchups on the outside will determine how high this score goes.

JC: Let's say Notre Dame drops one of their last two, either to Virginia Tech on Saturday or to Southern Cal the following week. Where do the Irish go from there? Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick has gone on record saying Brian Kelly will return in 2017, but could further staff shakeup be on the horizon?

MJ: Regardless of how the Irish finish the season, it's a good bet that Notre Dame will make some changes. The strength & conditioning of the team has come into question, and the special teams have been miserable all season. And of course Notre Dame will be making a permanent defensive coordinator hire, which will likely make or break Kelly long-term in South Bend. After being ranked in the top-10 in the preseason, a season like this is most certainly cause for changes.

JC: Time to put you on the spot: who wins Saturday, and why?

MJ: I'm picking Notre Dame. Senior Day for the Irish, and Tech will face likely the best quarterback on its schedule. Despite their records, the talent disparity in this game is not even close. Notre Dame recruits at an elite level, while the Hokies routinely miss on top in-state recruits (see freshman safety Jalen Elliott, a Richmond native who has played 106 defensive snaps for the Irish this season). While Tech is building its roster, Notre Dame is well-stocked with talent, and in this game, I see that being the difference.