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2016 Preview: Notre Dame Eyes First Playoff Appearance

By Shawn Spencer

Nov 21, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; The Notre Dame Fighting Irish takes the field to start the second half against the Boston College Eagles at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; The Notre Dame Fighting Irish takes the field to start the second half against the Boston College Eagles at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 16, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Jarron Jones (94) leaves the field following the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. The Blue team defeated the Gold team 17-7. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Jarron Jones (94) leaves the field following the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. The Blue team defeated the Gold team 17-7. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Key Starters

Notre Dame should once again have a very balanced offense in 2016, and it will be up to the offensive line to maintain that balance throughout the season. The offensive line was stellar last season with Ronnie Stanley at left tackle, Quenton Nelson at left guard and Nick Martin at center. With Stanley and Martin now in the NFL, it will be up to Mike McGlinchey  to solidify the left side of the line.

McGlinchey played extremely well last year at right tackle and will take over Stanley’s left tackle position in 2016. The 6-foot-7 redshirt junior, who is the cousin of Falcons QB Matt Ryan, will have even more responsibilities this season as he protects the blindside of QB Deshone Kizer. Protecting the quarterback’s blindside isn’t new to McGlinchey, as he was the blindside tackle for two games last season with left-handed QB Malik Zaire in the game.

Staying in the trenches, the key player on the defensive side of the ball is nose tackle Jarron Jones. Jones missed the entire regular season in 2015 with a torn MCL after recording 40 tackles, 7.5 for a loss, in 2014. Now in his final season with the Fighting Irish, Jones is an upgrade on the defensive front of a defense which ranked 72nd in the nation last year against the run. At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, a big-bodied run-stuffer like Jones is exactly what Notre Dame was lacking. He’s one of the top DT prospects in the nation.

Next: Final Prediction

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