Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Game Preview: temple to the defensive backfield. Pass rushers such as Tuitt and senior Prince Shembo won't give Temple's receivers much time to get separation in their routes. Advantage: Notre Dame Notre Dame Running Game Vs. Temple Run Defense The rushing attack at Notre Dame has steadily improved each season under Brian Kelly, and is loaded with the weapons to take another jump forward in 2013. Without Theo Riddick (917 rushing yards) and Cierre Wood (742 yards), the field is wide open for a new feature back to emerge. Junior George Atkinson III's experience gives him the initial nod, but five other capable backs might carve out a role as well. Five-star freshman Greg Bryant is expected to contribute right away. The season opener against Temple, which allowed 199.8 rushing yards per game last year, should give all of Notre Dame's backs a chance to earn playing time in live-game action. The Owls return Tyler Matakevich, the Big East Rookie of the Year, at middle linebacker. He posted 101 tackles to the lead the team as a freshman. Fifth-year senior nose guard Levi Brown is the only returning starter from a defensive line that struggled to hold its ground last year. An experienced Notre Dame offensive line will make it hard for Matakevich to find space to make plays. Advantage: Notre Dame Notre Dame Passing Game Vs. Temple Pass Defense Senior quarterback Tommy Rees looks stronger and a bit faster as he takes over the starting role once again. Rees has 4,413 career passing yards, but has been plagued during his career with turnover issues (24 interceptions). Rees doesn't have an established big-play threat or the arm strength to be a deep-ball quarterback, but he has a host of receivers that should outclass Temple's secondary athletically. Senior TJ Jones and junior DaVaris Daniels combined for 81 catches last year, and both are expected to take a leap forward in 2013. Junior Anthony Robey is the only returning starter in Temple's secondary, which might be a good thing for a group that gave up at least 10 yards on one out of every three passing attempts last season. Redshirt freshman Nate L. Smith, who was originally committed to West Virginia, might give the secondary a physical boost. He'll have a hard time carrying a group that allowed 668 passing yards to its two new quarterbacks in this year's spring game. Advantage: Notre Dame Special Teams Temple's greatest strength last fall may have been kicker Brandon McManus. He helped the Owls finish sixth nationally in net punting (40.7 yards per attempt) and made 14 of 17 field goal attempts. McManus is gone this year. Redshirt freshman Colby Perry and sophomore Tyler Mayes are likely candidates to replace him. Kelly and the Irish said they were committed to improving a weak special teams effort with help from their growing depth this season. The Irish should be able to field four athletic special teams units. Junior Kyle Brindza will be the team's main kicker a year after setting school records for field goals (23) and attempts (31). He may also land the top punting job, which has been a weak point for the Irish during the offseason. Advantage: Even Coaching Temple's Matt Rhule is making his debut as a head coach in Notre Dame Stadium. Rhule recruited many of the upperclassmen on his roster under Al Golden and has returned to take over the main job after spending a year with the New York Giants in the NFL. He created a stir on campus during the past six months, but still has to prove he can redirect a program that finished 4-7 last season.