Sept. 16--SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame knows pain, having lost two more starters -- quarterback Malik Zaire and tight end Durham Smythe -- to season-ending injuries Saturday at Virginia to up the season total to five.
Zaire had surgery on his broken right ankle Sunday, and Smythe tore his right MCL on the play before redshirt freshman quarterback DeShone Kizer connected with Will Fuller on a 39-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds left in the 34-27 triumph in Charlottesville, Va.
"Nobody really cares," Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said Tuesday. "And those that do are happy that you've got more injuries."
The Irish defense, meanwhile, and specifically the secondary, better get to know gains -- and how to avoid allowing so many -- if Notre Dame aspires to keep its College Football Playoff hopes off the respirator.
The Cavaliers and quarterback Matt Johns picked apart the defense for 16 first downs, two touchdowns and 289 yards through the air.
No. 14 Georgia Tech and its triple option will present a different set of challenges when the programs meet for the 35th time Saturday.
The Yellow Jackets offense hasn't had a three-and-out this season and has 12 touchdowns in as many trips to the red zone.
Sure, that was against Alcorn State and Tulane. But consider this: Georgia Tech had 11 three-and-outs all of last season, the fewest in college football, and is averaging 54.4 points during its last five games and 46.8 in its last 10.
The Yellow Jackets' 915 rushing yards are tops in the FBS, as are their 8.47 yards per carry.
"You could be the greatest athlete in the world, and if it doesn't make sense to you, you could be a liability trying to defend the triple option," Kelly said.
Special assistant to the head coach Bob Elliott has done most of the homework on the option. The Irish will face a similar offense Oct. 10 against Navy.
While Kelly said facing two such teams has increased the time spent studying them, the results will come down to those wearing pads rather than headsets.
"There's going to be 11 guys on the field that are going to have to stop the option," he said. "We are not trying to reinvent anything but trying to make certain we are doing the right things and preparing our team.
"Georgia Tech is going to score points. It's in the history of what they do."
Given that they gave up 73 points while splitting their last two against Navy, the Irish hope history doesn't repeat itself.
Extra points: Tyler Luatua is listed as the starting tight end in place of Smythe, but Kelly said a host of tight ends will play. ... Kelly said freshman quarterback Brandon Wimbush "definitely" will play this season. ... Linebacker Jarrett Grace has been bothered by ankle and hamstring injuries.
pskrbina@tribpub.com
