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✦ on paper By Dan murphy Temple Running Game Vs. Notre Dame Run Defense Temple is in search of a new star at running back after sending Bernard Pierce to the NFL two years ago and losing Big East leading rusher Montel Harris (a transfer from Boston College) at the end of last season. The Owls averaged an impressive 201.18 rushing yards per game last season. Harris averaged 105.4 per game, which was the 25th-best total in the country. Head coach Matt Rhule said he'd like to have a feature back who can take 20 carries a game and a complementary runner to add an additional 10 touches. Junior Kenny Harper (13 carries for 65 yards in 2012) is the frontrunner after training camp to be Temple's bell cow back this year. The Irish run defense (11th in the nation in 2012 at 105.7 yards allowed per game) lost leading tackler Manti Te'o and run-stopping end Kapron Lewis-Moore, but should still be a team strength. A sure-tackling defense behind preseason AllAmericans nose guard Louis Nix and defensive end Stephon Tuitt will have the advantage in most games this season. Advantage: Notre Dame Temple Passing Game Vs. Notre Dame Pass Defense Rhule decided this spring that he wanted to bring more of a passing game to Temple's offense in his first season as head coach. He waited until last week to decide who would lead the attack. Junior Connor Reilly won the starting job against the Irish, holding off senior Clinton "Juice" Granger and freshman P.J. Walker in a close battle during camp. The Owls used a couple of quarterbacks last season while finishing 116th in the nation in passing with only 120.8 yards per game. Granger started the final two games. Chris Coyer started the first nine at quarterback in 2012, but moved to H‑back in this year's offense. He and leading returning receiver Jalen Fitzpatrick will be among Temple's top targets this fall. Notre Dame's experience in the secondary is much better than a year ago. Cornerbacks Bennett Jackson and KeiVarae Russell are both comfortable playing both sides of the field. Jackson, who led the team with four interceptions a year ago, is also healthier following offseason shoulder surgery. Sophomore safety Elijah Shumate adds a new level of physicality 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 Rid- dick (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 Junior wide receiver Jalen Fitz only returning starter in Tem- patrick led Temple in receiving in ple's secondary, which might 2012, catching 30 passes for 363 be a good thing for a group yards and two touchdowns. photo courtesy temple that gave up at least 10 yards on one out of every three passing attempts last season. Redshirt freshman Stephaun Marshall 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 ✦ Page 5 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 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. Kelly and defensive coordinator Bob Diaco were both sought-after commodities on the coaching market last season after leading the Irish to the BCS title game. The entire 10-man staff returned to Notre Dame this season, though — a major accomplishment for a talented group. Advantage: Notre Dame Intangibles First-time visitors to Notre Dame Stadium have had good luck in recent years — South Florida won in 2011, and so did Tulsa in 2010. Temple will have plenty of adrenaline stepping in front of 80,795 fans with a chance to play David to the Irish Goliath. But can Rhule and the Owls channel that into good energy instead of nerves? Notre Dame should be calm and confident to start the season. Rees provides a veteran leader to the offense, and the rest of the Irish will no doubt be looking to wash the taste of an embarrassing national championship game out of their mouths after having it on the palate for the past eight months. Advantage: Notre Dame Predictions Lou Somogyi: Notre Dame 31, Temple 3 Dan Murphy: Notre Dame 42, Temple 6 Tom Loy: Notre Dame 27, Temple 10 Andrew Owens: Notre Dame 38, Temple 10