All right, Brian, and the final part of today's show here in the Irish Breakdown

podcast, brought to you by Fandle. We're talking adjustments that Notre Dame's defense is going to have to make. And this has been one that, you know, this has been a side of the ball that has started off really poorly. They've really grown in the last three to four games, and they're going to have to continue that ascension. And that's something that they're going to have to continue moving forward with.

So when you look at this defense, again, we'll do the same thing that we did on offense,

breaking it down statistically, scheme, personnel.

And again, it also starts with situational football.

This is the side of the ball that Notre Dame is absolutely going to have to improve on,

on third down, red zone. And there's definitely some things that they can do, you know, to get this turned around, Brian. So when you look at this defense from a red zone perspective, third down, what can they do to improve situationally? Well, Treve, you know, I kind of dominated the, the offensive side. I'd like to get some of your thoughts on this.

I think the biggest thing is on third down,

the first thing that comes to my mind is you've got to be better on first down.

And this is where part of the reason that I think that we've seen them be a little better

on third down in recent games is because I do think

that they're they're forcing more incompletions and like USC for example uh you know was a team that

that that that I don't think they did a great job of on first down they gave up some quick throws

they gave up some some of those plays and they weren't good on third down. Against NC State, they were great. They forced CJ Bailey to throw more completions. They did a good job of shutting down the run game, and NC State was terrible on third down. I think the biggest thing for me is just being better in early downs and putting teams in more third and long situations. And then finish in those situations.

Like they've got to be better in those situations.

And I think that's where being more aggressive in coverage is going to help you.

I think that's, I mean, I would say the NC State game was probably their most aggressive

third down game of the season from a call standpoint,

and NC State could do nothing on third down because CJ Bailey just couldn't get comfortable.

They got a little bit softer on third down against USC.

They did.

I mean, we think we thought the one third and eight where they just ran a little stop route right

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