Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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36 DEC. 5, 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED NCAA statistical pack in both categories. Where the Irish pass defense shines is in its ability to limit big plays and stymie opponents on their third- down conversion attempts (25.96 percent) — a category that Notre Dame leads the ACC in and ranks in the top 10 nationally. Syracuse allows nearly four sacks per game, which situates it among the 10 worst teams in the country at protecting the quarterback. Advantage: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. SYRACUSE RUN DEFENSE Similarly to the way the Irish dominate the "Syracuse Running Game vs. Notre Dame Run Defense" category, they hold a massive advantage in this ground matchup as well. Notre Dame exited its bye week as one of only three ACC teams averaging more than 200 rushing yards per game, while Syracuse ranked last in the league at stopping the run by a wide margin, sur- rendering 213.6 yards on the ground per outing. Irish sophomore tailback Kyren Williams remains situated near the top of the conference in yards per game (97.1), rushing touchdowns (10) and yards per carry (5.7), while fifth-year senior quar- terback Ian Book continues his role as a clutch option on the ground in third-down situations and when plays break down. As a whole, Syracuse provides little to talk about with its run stoppage unit, though fifth-year senior defensive end McKinley Williams and freshman linebacker Stefon Thompson have played well and remain two of the top tacklers on the team. Advantage: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. SYRACUSE PASS DEFENSE At least statistically speaking, Syracuse has done an adequate job against the pass, but the No. 5 ACC ranking in passing yards allowed per game (245.0) is bolstered because opponents are typi- cally running the ball late in games to run out the clock and close out a victory. That said, Orange sophomore linebacker Mikel Jones is enjoying a productive year, leading the team in tackles with 60 through nine games while adding three interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Takeaways have been a strength of the Syracuse defense. Through nine games, it had notched 11 interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. With six passes broken up and two interceptions — one returned for a score — redshirt freshman Garrett Williams has been a standout for this Or- ange unit that is replete with youth. For Notre Dame, early season concerns over a lack of production from its wide receiving corps are easing as Book appears to have picked a favor- ite big-play target in fifth-year senior wideout Ben Skowronek, who entered last week's game against North Carolina with five touchdown grabs on only 14 total receptions. Book is also more frequently targeting senior slot receiver Avery Davis and fifth-year senior wideout Javon McKinley in critical situations, while freshman tight end Michael Mayer remains the most consistent pass catcher for the Irish this season and a clear candidate for Freshman All- America honors. Advantage: Notre Dame SPECIAL TEAMS Led by senior wide receiver Nykeim Johnson, Syracuse ranks near the top of the ACC in punt re- turn yardage. The Orange also feature one of the best specialists in the country in redshirt junior Andre Szmyt, who won the Lou Groza Award as the nation's best placekicker as a redshirt fresh- man in 2018. Syracuse has also recorded two blocked kicks and one blocked punt through nine games. The two blocked punt returns for touchdowns this season for Notre Dame continue to be the highlight plays for these Irish units. Its kick and punt teams along with its kick and punt return teams rank in the middle of the NCAA statistical pack. Advantage: Even COACHING My, how quickly circumstances and opinions can change. After going 10-3 in 2018 to secure the best finish for Syracuse in 17 years, ninth-year Orange head coach Dino Babers finds himself on the hot seat after dropping to 5-7 in 2019 and starting 2020 at 1-8. Beyond that, media reports suggested after the 30-0 loss at Louisville Nov. 20 — a game where Syracuse recorded 137 total yards, seven first downs and only six pass completions — that the Orange players are showing diminished effort and interest as their season winds down. Meanwhile, Irish head coach Brian Kelly has his team and program rolling, and a trip to South GAME PREVIEW: SYRACUSE Offense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. WR 11 Ben Skowronek 6-3 220 5th-Sr. 18 Joe Wilkins Jr. 6-1½ 190 Jr. WR 3 Avery Davis 5-11 202 Sr. 18 Joe Wilkins Jr. 6-1½ 190 Jr. LT 74 Liam Eichenberg 6-6 302 5th-Sr. 73 Andrew Kristofic 6-5 292 So. LG 69 Aaron Banks 6-6 330 Sr. 76 Dillan Gibbons 6-4 309 Sr. C 52 Zeke Correll 6-3 295 Jr. 75 Josh Lugg 6-7 310 Sr. RG 75 Josh Lugg 6-7 310 Sr. 56 John Dirksen 6-5 306 Jr. RT 72 Robert Hainsey 6-5 290 Sr. 77 Quinn Carroll 6-7 306 So. TE 89 Brock Wright 6-4½ 255 Sr. 24 Tommy Tremble 6-3 242 Jr. or 85 George Takacs 6-6 245 Jr. or 87 Michael Mayer 6-5 235 Fr. WR 88 Javon McKinley 6-2 215 5th-Sr. 8 Jafar Armstrong 6-1 220 Sr. QB 12 Ian Book 6-0 206 5th-Sr. 7 Brendon Clark 6-2 212 So. RB 23 Kyren Williams 5-9 194 So. 25 Chris Tyree 5-9½ 188 Fr. or 20 C'Bo Flemister 5-11 195 Jr. Defense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. Vyper 9 Daelin Hayes 6-4 270 5th-Sr. 29 Ovie Oghoufo 6-3 240 Jr. or 7 Isaiah Foskey 6-5 257 So. DT 95 M. Tagovailoa-Amosa 6-2½ 282 Sr. 57 Jayson Ademilola 6-3 279 Jr. NT 41 Kurt Hinish 6-2 296 Sr. 54 Jacob Lacey 6-2 293 So. SDE 91 Ade Ogundeji 6-4 268 5th-Sr. 19 Justin Ademilola 6-2 248 Jr. or 7 Isaiah Foskey 6-5 257 So. Buck 33 Shayne Simon 6-3 228 Jr. or 35 Marist Liufau 6-2 226 So. or 24 Jack Kiser 6-1½ 227 So. Mike 40 Drew White 6-0 227 Sr. 52 Bo Bauer 6-3 230 Jr. Rover 6 J. Owusu-Koramoah 6-1½ 215 Sr. 10 Isaiah Pryor 6-1½ 204 Gr. CB 4 Nick McCloud 6-0½ 192 5th-Sr. 5 Cam Hart 6-2½ 207 So. CB 28 TaRiq Bracy 5-10 180 Jr. or 26 Clarence Lewis 5-11½ 192 Fr. SS 20 Shaun Crawford 5-9 180 6th-Sr. 3 Houston Griffith 6-0 204 Jr. FS 14 Kyle Hamilton 6-4 219 So. 12 DJ Brown 6-0 194 Jr. or 10 Isaiah Pryor 6-1½ 204 Gr. NOTRE DAME DEPTH CHART Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. KO 39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 197 Sr. 38 Dawson Goepferich 6-2 200 5th-Sr. K 39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 197 Sr. 38 Dawson Goepferich 6-2 200 5th-Sr. P 19 Jay Bramblett 6-1½ 193 So. 38 Dawson Goepferich 6-2 200 5th-Sr. LS 65 Michael Vinson 6-2 226 Jr. 44 Alex Peitsch 6-1 208 Fr. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. H 19 Jay Bramblett 6-1½ 193 So. 14 J.D. Carney 5-10 180 Sr. PR 32 Matt Salerno 6-0½ 196 Jr. 13 Lawrence Keys III 5-10½ 173 Jr. KR 25 Chris Tyree 5-9½ 188 Fr. or 8 Jafar Armstrong 6-1 220 Sr. Special Teams