Notre Dame's Tight End Problem Gives Miami and SMU a Clear Target

Notre Dame's defense has a crack in the middle of the field, and two ACC opponents on its schedule have the tight ends to test it. Over their last three games, the Fighting Irish have allowed 17 catches, 151 yards and five touchdowns to opposing tight ends, according to Irish Breakdown's Trevor Trowbridge, writing for Roundtable Sports. Notre Dame has given up only eight passing touchdowns all season. Five of them went to tight ends, and all five came in that three-game stretch.

It's a sharp turn. Through the first four games, Power Four tight ends managed 10 catches for 74 yards and no scores against the Irish. Then North Carolina's Jelani Thurman and Shamar Easter combined for eight catches, 74 yards and three touchdowns. Stanford's Benji Blackburn added a score, and BYU's Walker Lyons caught five passes for 49 yards and another touchdown in Notre Dame's most recent game. For the season, opposing tight ends have 27 receptions for 225 yards against the Irish.

That gives Miami and SMU something to plan around. Most of the talk about Miami's offense centers on quarterback Darien Mensah and receivers Malachi Toney and Cooper Barkate. Tight end Elija Lofton has been a quieter part of it, with 15 catches, 160 yards and two touchdowns, per Trowbridge. Miami's official roster lists him as a 6-foot-3, 242-pound junior who started last season's opener against Notre Dame. SMU's numbers at the position are bigger. Theo Melin Ohrstrom and Randy Pittman have combined for 32 receptions, 310 yards and eight touchdowns, which makes tight end one of the Mustangs' main ways to score.

Trowbridge points out that Notre Dame's run defense has been dominant, and that has pushed opponents toward the middle of the field. He also notes that the tight end totals look a little better than they are because backups such as BYU's Roger Saleapaga II barely produced.

What it means for Saturday

Neither ACC team plays the Irish this weekend. Both are on the road first. Miami is 7-0 and goes to North Carolina on Saturday, October 31, on ABC. That means the Hurricanes' defense will face the same Thurman-Easter pairing that scored three times against Notre Dame. Miami is averaging well over 40 points a game. It beat Pittsburgh 52-23 last week after a 43-35 shootout with Florida State, so the defense has given up 58 points over two games. A Tar Heels offense that just found success with its tight ends is the kind of opponent that can keep a game close.

SMU is 6-1 and plays at Syracuse the same day on ESPN2. The Mustangs have won five straight since their 41-31 loss at Louisville, including a 59-20 win over California last week. Syracuse is also on Notre Dame's schedule, and its tight end Dauntae Bacheyie is the Orange's second-leading receiver with 16 catches, 246 yards and four touchdowns. SMU will have to cover a productive tight end of its own before its tight ends get their chance against the Irish.

For now, the takeaway is simple. Notre Dame has shown a weakness in the seams, and the two ACC teams left on its schedule have built offenses that can use it.