Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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36 NOV. 26, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED USC PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE The Trojans have a highly skilled group of receiv- ers, but injuries and inexperience at quarterback have stalled their passing attack for much of the season. USC ranked ninth in the Pac-12 and 70th nationally through its first 10 games, averaging just 230.3 yards per game. It was also 67th in yards per completion (12.3), 72nd in yards per attempt (7.3) and 79th in pass efficiency (130.58 rating). It's quite a drop from the Sam Darnold-led at- tack that ranked 16th nationally in passing offense (299.0 yards per game) in 2017. USC went from having a third-year quarterback that was a first- round draft pick to a true freshman in JT Daniels that skipped his senior season of high school so that he could enroll early. Daniels has a bright future and has had some strong moments this season. He put together a three-touchdown performance in the 39-36 upset win over Washington State, who was ranked No. 8 nationally the weekend of Nov. 17, and threw for 283 yards and three scores in a 31-20 win over Colorado. However, Daniels has shown a great deal of in- experience, and the Trojan line hasn't give him the kind of time needed to get comfortable. When Daniels does get time, the USC pass game is dan- gerous thanks to its ultra-talented receiving corps. Junior Michael Pittman (27 receptions for 561 yards), junior Tyler Vaughns (45 receptions for 535 yards) and freshman Amon-Ra St. Brown (44 recep- tions for 558 yards) are all capable of taking over games. USC has arguably the most talented receiv- ing corps that Notre Dame will face this season. Through its first 10 games, the Irish defense was one of the nation's best at defending the pass. Notre Dame ranked 29th nationally in yards al- lowed per game (191.2), but was second in yards allowed per attempt (5.3) and fourth in yards allowed per completion (9.7). Notre Dame also ranked sixth in pass efficiency defense (100.39 rat- ing) and third in touchdown passes allowed (six). Pro Football Focus graded Notre Dame as having the third-best pass rushing defense in all of college football through 10 games. Notre Dame will need to pressure the young quarterback, while the Tro- jans will have to figure out a way to protect him. Advantage: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. USC RUN DEFENSE A year after having its best rushing attack in more than two decades, the Irish ground game was inconsistent through the first 10 contests of the season. Heading into its Nov. 17 matchup against Syracuse, the Irish ranked 42nd nationally with an average of 199.4 yards per game. In five of their first 10 games, the Irish rushed for at least 241 yards, highlighted by the 365 yards in the win over Florida State Nov. 10, a team that was giving up just 111.1 yards per game coming into that matchup. The issue for the Irish offense was inconsistency on the ground, and in Senior cornerback Iman Marshall made 31 tack- les (three for loss) and broke up five passes through 10 games, but was part of a Trojans sec- ondary that had yielded 17 scoring passes while notching just two interceptions. PHOTO COURTESY USC GAME PREVIEW: USC Offense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. WR 81 Miles Boykin 6-4 228 Sr. 4 Kevin Austin 6-2 210 Fr. WR 10 Chris Finke 5-9½ 180 Sr. 18 Joe Wilkins 6-1½ 185 Fr. LT 74 Liam Eichenberg 6-6 308 Jr. 55 Jarrett Patterson 6-4½ 290 Fr. LG 69 Aaron Banks 6-6 319 So. 76 Dillan Gibbons 6-4 313 So. C 53 Sam Mustipher 6-2½ 306 5th-Sr. 61 Colin Grunhard 6-0½ 280 So. RG 57 Trevor Ruhland 6-3½ 295 Sr. or 78 Tommy Kraemer 6-6 316 Jr. RT 72 Robert Hainsey 6-4½ 295 So. 75 Joshua Lugg 6-7 314 So. TE 86 Alizé Mack 6-5 247 Sr. or 84 Cole Kmet 6-5½ 258 So. or 82 Nic Weishar 6-5 246 5th-Sr. WR 83 Chase Claypool 6-4½ 227 Jr. 87 Michael Young 5-10 192 So. QB 12 Ian Book 6-0 203 Jr. 7 Brandon Wimbush 6-2 222 Sr. RB 2 Dexter Williams 5-11 215 Sr. 8 Jafar Armstrong 6-1 218 So. or 6 Tony Jones Jr. 5-11 220 Jr. 3 Avery Davis 5-11 204 So. Defense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. DE 42 Julian Okwara 6-4½ 241 Jr. 9 Daelin Hayes 6-4 265 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 53 Khalid Kareem 6-4 265 Jr. 91 Ade Ogundeji 6-4½ 255 Jr. Buck 23 Drue Tranquill 6-2 235 5th-Sr. 2 J. Genmark Heath 6-1 225 So. Mike 4 Te'von Coney 6-1 240 Sr. 52 Bo Bauer 6-3 225 Fr. or 45 Jonathan Jones 5-11½ 227 Jr. ROV 22 Asmar Bilal 6-2 225 Sr. 33 Shayne Simon 6-3 222 Fr. CB 27 Julian Love 5-11 193 Jr. 8 Donte Vaughn 6-3 211 Jr. S 11 Alohi Gilman 5-10½ 202 Jr. 14 Devin Studstill 6-0 200 Jr. S 21 Jalen Elliott 6-0½ 205 Jr. 24 Nick Coleman 6-0 194 Sr. or 3 Houston Griffith 6-0 205 Fr. CB 5 Troy Pride Jr. 5-11½ 190 Jr. 35 TaRiq Bracy 5-10 170 Fr. 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. or 19 Justin Yoon 5-10 198 Sr. H 17 Nolan Henry 6-0 202 Sr. 12 Ian Book 6-0 203 Jr. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. LS 54 John Shannon 6-2 235 Jr. 65 Michael Vinson 6-2 228 Fr. KR 87 Michael Young 5-10 185 So. 3 Avery Davis 5-11 204 So. PR 10 Chris Finke 5-9½ 180 Sr. 11 Alohi Gilman 5-10½ 202 Jr. Special Teams