Blue and Gold Illustrated

Sept. 17, 2018

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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36 SEPT. 17, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED Notre Dame was highly effective getting after the quarterback through the first seven games of the 2017 season, bringing down opposing quar- terbacks 18 times, but the defense registered just six in the final six games. That will have to improve against Vanderbilt, and the Irish started the 2018 season off well, sacking Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson three times and recording six quar- terback hurries. The Irish ranked only 60th in the nation in pass- ing yards allowed in 2017, due mainly to constantly playing with big leads, which forced opponents to throw the football. Notre Dame ranked 16th nationally in yards allowed per attempt (6.3) and 18th in yards allowed per completion (11.1). Advantage: Even NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. VANDERBILT RUN DEFENSE The Commodores had a really hard time stop- ping opposing ground attacks last season, giving up 198.5 yards per game (101st in the land). Its 5.0 yards allowed per rush ranked 103rd, and Vander- bilt permitted 253.3 yards per game on the ground against Power Five opponents. Improvement will have to come without two starters from the line in Vandy's 3-4 defensive alignment. The Commodores also must replace linebacker Oren Burks, who had 82 tackles and seven tackles for loss a season ago before the Green Bay Packers picked him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Brothers Dare and Dayo Odeyingbo will start at defensive end, and their presence gives Vanderbilt hope that its front line will be more stout against the ground game this season. Vanderbilt started the 2018 campaign off rela- tively well, holding Middle Tennessee to just 116 yards (3.2 yards per carry) in the opener. Notre Dame did not start as well, at least not statistically. The Irish rushed for just 132 yards (2.8 yards per carry) in their victory over Michigan, but that was a quality number considering how good the Wolverines are in the front seven. The Irish ranked seventh nationally in rushing offense during the 2017 season, averaging 269.5 yards per game. Their 6.25 yards per carry aver- age ranked third, and the 35 touchdowns on the ground ranked 13th. On paper the matchup certainly favors Notre Dame, but getting its new look offensive line roll- ing is essential to the ground game picking up where it left off in 2017. Advantage: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. VANDERBILT PASS DEFENSE In 2017, Vanderbilt ranked 26th nationally in passing yards allowed, but part of that perceived success had to do with the fact opponents ran the ball so effectively on its defense. The Commodore defense ranked 56th in yards allowed per attempt, 68th in yards allowed per completion and 68th in pass efficiency defense, more telling numbers. Joejuan Williams — a 6-3, 210-pound junior cornerback — started all 13 games for the Commodores last season and posted career bests in tackles (39) and passes defended (10). PHOTO COURTESY VANDERBILT ATHLETICS GAME PREVIEW: VANDERBILT Offense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. WR 81 Miles Boykin 6-4 228 Sr. 4 Kevin Austin 6-2 210 Fr. LT 74 Liam Eichenberg 6-6 308 Jr. 55 Jarrett Patterson 6-4½ 290 Fr. LG 71 Alex Bars 6-6 315 5th-Sr. 76 Dillan Gibbons 6-4 313 So. C 53 Sam Mustipher 6-2½ 306 5th-Sr. 57 Trevor Ruhland 6-3½ 295 Jr. RG 78 Tommy Kraemer 6-6 316 Jr. 75 Joshua Lugg 6-7 314 So. RT 72 Robert Hainsey 6-4½ 295 So. 69 Aaron Banks 6-6 319 So. TE 86 Alizé Mack 6-5 247 Sr. 84 Cole Kmet 6-5½ 258 So. WR 10 Chris Finke 5-9½ 180 Sr. 88 Javon McKinley 6-2 219 Jr. WR 83 Chase Claypool 6-4½ 227 Jr. 87 Michael Young 5-10 192 So. QB 7 Brandon Wimbush 6-2 222 Sr. 12 Ian Book 6-0 203 Jr. RB 8 Jafar Armstrong 6-1 218 So. 6 Tony Jones Jr. 5-11 220 Jr. Defense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. DE 53 Khalid Kareem 6-4 265 Jr. 91 Ade Ogundeji 6-4½ 255 Jr. DT 99 Jerry Tillery 6-7 305 Sr. 57 Jayson Ademilola 6-3 284 Fr. NT 55 Jonathan Bonner 6-4 295 5th-Sr. 41 Kurt Hinish 6-2 295 So. DE 9 Daelin Hayes 6-4 265 Jr. 42 Julian Okwara 6-4½ 241 Jr. Mike 4 Te'von Coney 6-1 240 Sr. 45 Jonathan Jones 5-11½ 227 Jr. Buck 23 Drue Tranquill 6-2 235 5th-Sr. 2 J. Genmark Heath 6-1 225 So. ROV 22 Asmar Bilal 6-2 225 Sr. 33 Shayne Simon 6-3 222 Fr. CB 5 Troy Pride Jr. 5-11½ 190 Jr. 35 TaRiq Bracy 5-10 170 Fr. S 21 Jalen Elliott 6-0½ 205 Jr. 24 Nick Coleman 6-0 194 Sr. S 11 Alohi Gilman 5-10½ 202 Jr. 3 Houston Griffith 6-0 205 Fr. CB 27 Julian Love 5-11 193 Jr. 8 Donte Vaughn 6-3 211 Jr. NOTRE DAME DEPTH CHART Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. K 19 Justin Yoon 5-10 198 Sr. 39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 200 So. P 85 Tyler Newsome 6-2½ 214 5th-Sr. 42 Jeff Riney 5-11 181 Sr. KO 39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 200 So. 19 Justin Yoon 5-10 198 Sr. H 12 Ian Book 6-0 203 Jr. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. LS 54 John Shannon 6-2 235 Jr. 46 Matt Bushland 6-2 210 Jr. KR 8 Jafar Armstrong 6-1 218 So. 6 Tony Jones Jr. 5-11 220 Jr. PR 10 Chris Finke 5-9½ 180 Sr. 87 Michael Young 5-10 185 So. Special Teams

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