Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/163197
on paper revisited Carlisle, and the maneuverability of classmate Cam McDaniel. On the first play of the game, from the pistol, the Temple safety blitzed and spun the wrong way, immediately opening a lane for a 45-yard gain by Carlisle. The first four plays for Notre Dame were from the pistol, and three of them netted 45, 32 and 51 yards, the latter two passes. About one-third of Notre Dame's first-half plays were from the pistol, whereas in the second half better than 60 percent of the Irish plays were from that formation, mainly to run clock. It served a purpose without showing all its derivatives, while the junior running back trio amassed 167 yards on 27 carries. Advantage: Notre Dame Notre Dame Passing Game Vs. Temple Pass Defense The Irish passing attack that has had so many questions about whether it can go vertical had "chunk" plays of 66 (touchdown), 51, 33, 32 (touchdown), 32 (touchdown) and 20 yards. Going vertical is not always about going deep. Junior tight end Troy Niklas made an excellent block to help spring senior wideout TJ Jones on the 51-yard bubble screen, and senior Tommy Rees used all his weapons at his disposal on various routes, including finding Niklas on a crossing pattern that went for 66 yards. On his second touchdown, junior wideout DaVaris Daniels used a double move that was made possible by how he read the coverage, adjusting to a post corner route instead of going to the inside like the first time. That is a testament to his growth. Advantage: Notre Dame Special Teams On the first Temple punt, Jones didn't attack the ball quite as aggressively as he had in the preseason, and the bounce on the 51-yard punt pinned Notre Dame at its 13. On the second punt, Jones fielded it at the 5-yard line instead of letting it bounce into the end zone, resulting in starting at the 10. Later, an illegal block on another punt return set Notre Dame back 15 yards. By lou somogyi Junior punter Kyle Brindza boomed first-half punts from the Temple 46 and 37 into the end zone, so the "pooch punt" needs some polishing. Missed field goals in the first half from 32 and 43 yards by the Owls' Jim Cooper, Jr. plus a missed point after attempt, kept Temple behind 14-6 at halftime. Notre Dame fifth-year senior Nick Tausch had a 39yard field-goal attempt go awry in the second quarter, while Brindza missed from 44 yards in the fourth quarter. The Irish also allowed a 39-yard kick return. It wasn't crisp on either side. Advantage: Even Third-Down Conversions Temple had a better percentage at .400 (6 of 15) than Notre Dame's .385 (5 of 13), but that is negated by the fact that the Owls missed on both of their fourth-down attempts — most notably on fourth-and-goal from the 6-yard line to open the second half — while the Irish didn't have to have any. On its four touchdown drives, Notre Dame faced only one third-down situation, and it converted on thirdand-four with a 33-yard fade from Rees to sophomore wideout Chris Brown. Advantage: Even Turnovers The one miscue by Temple was inconsequential because it occurred with only 3:37 remaining in the game on a mishandle of a punt at its 18-yard line. The Irish ran out the clock from there. Advantage: Notre Dame Summary No turnovers, six offensive plays that gained at least 32 yards, one running and five passing, and six points allowed are music to the Notre Dame coaching staff's collective ear. The competition level rises significantly, though, next week at Ann Arbor. Last year, the Irish forced six Michigan turnovers and were a plus-four in that department, yet still won only 13-6. Special teams must help make a positive difference.