Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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36 OCT. 29, 2022 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: SYRACUSE BY TODD D. BURLAGE SYRACUSE RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE As advertised before this season, the Syracuse offense goes as sophomore running back Sean Tucker goes. A 2022 Preseason All-ACC selection, he was a second-team All-American and a first-team All-ACC honoree in 2021 after he led the league with 1,496 yards rushing on 6.1 yards per carry with 12 touch- downs. He picked up where he left off through his first six games this season when he ranked second in the ACC with 644 rushing yards and 107.3 yards per game, with 6 touchdowns. Junior dual-threat quarterback Garrett Shrader complemented Tucker nicely with 300 yards rush- ing and 5 touchdowns. At the halfway point of its regular season, Syracuse ranked 36th nationally in rushing offense with 188.5 yards per game. For Notre Dame, it ranked tied for 58th in rush- ing defense through its first six games after allow- ing 138.3 yards per game. Not exactly eye-popping numbers here for the Irish, but significant improve- ment from when it dropped to No. 101 in run defense after an 0-2 start to September. Through six contests, senior linebacker JD Bertrand led Notre Dame with 36 stops after his career-high 13-tackle performance against Stanford Oct. 15. Advantage: Even SYRACUSE PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE During its 6-0 start, Syracuse benefited from the improvement and more efficient play that Shrader has shown at quarterback following an up-and- down 2021 season. As a first-year full-time starter last year, Shrader completed only 52.6 percent of his passes and averaged just 6.2 yards per completion. He did, though, add 781 yards rushing and led the Orange with 14 touchdowns on the ground. With a team-best 31 catches, 507 yards receiving and 5 touchdown grabs through six games, sopho- more tight end Oronde Gadsden II has emerged as Shrader's favorite target. Redshirt senior wideout Devaughn Cooper added 16 catches for 207 yards with 1 touchdown. Tucker is another solid receiv- ing option out of the Syracuse backfield, ranking second on the team with 23 catches for 198 yards and 1 touchdown through six games. For Notre Dame, the storyline hasn't changed much this season in this category. The Irish headed into their game against UNLV with only 1 interception, the fewest in the coun- try. That stat becomes more troubling when we consider the Irish already had 11 interceptions through six games last season, 2 that were re- turned for touchdowns. And while the Notre Dame turnover numbers have been dismal all season, its quarterback pres- sure numbers remain solid, though not spectacular. Notre Dame ranks 26th with 2.7 sacks per game. Expected in 2022 to make a run at the Notre Dame single-season and career sack records, se- nior defensive end Isaiah Foskey leads the Irish with a disappointing 3 sacks. Advantage: Even NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. SYRACUSE RUN DEFENSE A commitment to a run-first offense in the pre- season looked to have finally taken root for first- year Irish head coach Marcus Freeman during the impressive North Carolina and BYU wins before a mundane 150-yard performance against Stanford served as a setback. Losses to Ohio State and Marshall dropped the Irish rushing offense to No. 110 nationally at only 103.0 yards per game. But through six games this season, Notre Dame had climbed to 51st nationally at 170.7 yards per game. Sophomore tailback Audric Estime led the Irish in carries (76), yards rushing (418) and touchdowns (5), heading into the UNLV game. Behind Estime, junior Chris Tyree and sophomore Logan Diggs provided depth and versatility after combining for 472 rushing yards (85.9 per game). In a case of emphasizing do what you do best, Syracuse defensive coordinator Tony White in the preseason said he was going to simplify his scheme and play to his strengths after underperforming in 2021. So far, his plan has taken hold. Heading into its game against Clemson last week- On PaPer Sophomore tight end Oronde Gadsden II led the ACC in receiving touchdowns (5) and 100-yard receiving games (3) through Week 7. PHOTO COURTESY SYRACUSE ATHLETICS