Fansided

5 reasons Notre Dame makes the 2019 College Football Playoff

By Rucker Haringey

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on against the LSU Tigers in the first half of the Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on against the LSU Tigers in the first half of the Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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CHESTNUT HILL, MA – SEPTEMBER 16: Tony Jones Jr. #34 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with Alex Bars #71 after scoring a touchdown against the Boston College Eagles during the second half at Alumni Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
CHESTNUT HILL, MA – SEPTEMBER 16: Tony Jones Jr. #34 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with Alex Bars #71 after scoring a touchdown against the Boston College Eagles during the second half at Alumni Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

4. Alex Bars and Sam Mustipher

The biggest question about the Notre Dame offense this season is how they will deal with the losses of Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson. Both players parlayed dominate seasons for the Fighting Irish into first round selections in this year’s NFL Draft. Additionally, both players seem destined to start for their respective teams in their rookie seasons.

That’s going to place a ton of pressure on the lineman left in their wake to have big seasons. Specifically, seniors Alex Bars and Sam Mustipher will need to play great football in 2018. The boast a combined 62 starts between the two of them. Kelly’s offensive scheme can only function at a high level if they receive solid play up front.

For all the talk about how Kelly would like to throw the ball down the field, this offense is still predicated on its ability to run the football. That means Bars, Mustipher and Tommy Kraemer must succeed in getting push against the opposing defensive tackles. The interior of the Notre Dame offensive line must be the foundation of the offense if the Irish are going to move the ball consistently.

Bars and Mustipher don’t have to turn into McGlinchey and Nelson this season, but it would be nice if they could turn into NFL prospects of their own. They aren’t going to hear their names called in the first round, but either player has the potential to earn a living playing football.

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