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✦ on paper By andrew owens Michigan Running Game Vs. Notre Dame Run Defense Three starters graduated from an offensive line that struggled at times in 2012, but All-American Taylor Lewan is back in a Michigan uniform for a fifth season. Fifth-year senior tailback Fitzgerald Toussaint returns after a disappointing 2012 season in which he finished with just 555 yards and five touchdowns. In its tight 13-6 victory over Michigan last season, Notre Dame allowed 161 rushing yards, but the key was its ability to prevent the big plays, something it did not do in close losses in 2009-11. The Irish front has enough depth to keep Michigan's stable of backs under control. After relying on quarterback Devin Gardner's arm heavily during the second half of 2012, Michigan finished with a Big Ten-low 940 rushing yards from its tailbacks a year ago and will likely try to set the tone early against an imposing Irish front. The Wolverines rushed for 242 yards and six scores in a 59-9 win over Central Michigan this past Saturday, but lost backup redshirt freshman running back Drake Johnson for the season with an ACL tear. Replacing him in the No. 2 spot on the depth chart is true freshman Derrick Green, who led Michigan with 58 rushing yards and a touchdown against the Chippewas. Advantage: Notre Dame Michigan Passing Game Vs. Notre Dame Pass Defense Gardner has received a good amount of preseason hype as Michigan turns the reins of its offense to him full-time in 2013. A year ago, he spent most of the first half of the season playing wide receiver, but assumed the starting quarterback position in week eight and threw all but one of the team's passes the remainder of the season. He finished the season with 1,219 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, and made up for the lack of a running game. At receiver, the Wolverines are not quite as strong this year, but it might not show up in the statistics due to a more pass-heavy offense. After Roy Roundtree's gradu- Fifth-year senior wide receiver ation, Gardner's move to Jeremy Gallon caught four passes for 47 yards, including a 16-yard quarterback and a season- touchdown grab, against Central ending injury to sophomore Michigan last Saturday. Amara Darboh in fall camp, photo by lon horwedel the weight falls on fifth-year senior Jeremy Gallon and sophomore tight end Devin Funchess to carry the load. Irish cornerbacks Bennett Jackson and KeiVarae Russell are not the inexperienced starters they were a year ago. Notre Dame's secondary now has the upper hand in experience over the Michigan receivers. Protecting Gardner from Notre Dame's front seven attack is paramount if Michigan's receivers are going to impact this contest. Advantage: Even Notre Dame's offensive line has shown improvement in each of the first three seasons under Kelly, and it might just do it again in 2013 with three starters returning. Rees, who recorded the best stat line of his career Saturday with 346 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, should have plenty of time to throw as long as the right tackle combination of sophomore Ronnie Stanley and freshman Steve Elmer hold their own. Advantage: Even Notre Dame Running Game Vs. Michigan Run Defense Special Teams The Irish have five talented backs to throw at the Michigan front seven, but none of them have extensive experience. The Wolverines lost defensive linemen William Campbell and Craig Roh — Big Ten honorable mention and second-team All-American players, respectively — to graduation. In addition, with Jake Ryan's torn ACL this past spring, Michigan will be without its top two linebackers (Kenny Demens also graduated) in this game. These factors make it likely that Notre Dame will emphasize the run to try and minimize mistakes in the season's first road test in front of 110,000 fans at night. The Irish rushed for just 94 yards in last year's victory, but they will need to do much better than that to pull off this win. In the season-opening triumph over Temple, all five of Notre Dame's running back options received carries and head coach Brian Kelly said that is likely to be the case again this weekend at Michigan Stadium. In Notre Dame's dramatic 35-31 loss at Michigan two years ago, running the ball was not an issue. Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray combined for 200 yards and a touchdown. Repeating such a performance will take the pressure off Rees in the passing game. Advantage: Notre Dame Notre Dame Passing Game Vs. Michigan Pass Defense This is Rees' third and final game against Michigan after starting in 2011 (27-of-39 passing for 315 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions) and managing the 2012 win well after relieving Everett Golson. The Michigan game marks the first true test for a passing offense without a star playmaker like it had in recent years with tight end Tyler Eifert, and wide receivers Michael Floyd and Golden Tate. However, senior wide receiver TJ Jones showed signs of developing into that role with six catches and 138 yards against the Owls, while junior DaVaris Daniels added two touchdown receptions. In Michigan's bowl game last year, the Wolverines surrendered 341 passing yards to South Carolina, the best passing offense they had faced all season. Raymon Taylor and Thomas Gordon return, but the losses of safety Jordan Kovacs and cornerback J.T. Floyd sting. ✦ Page 4 Notre Dame's struggles on special teams are well documented, but Kelly sounded optimistic that the use of Jones as a punt returner has energized the unit. His 23 yards on three returns already marked an improvement from past units. Kickoff returns will be successful if George Atkinson III can match his 2011 totals (915 yards and two touchdowns) after a mediocre 2012. Kicker and punter are both fluid situations, and it might be difficult to forecast the personnel at those positions each week until a player claims each respective job. Kelly sounds hopeful that Brindza can lock down both starting roles. Brendan Gibbons is back as Michigan's kicker after a 16‑of‑18 performance on field goals in 2012, but last year's top punter in the Big Ten, Will Hagerup, has been suspended for the season. The punt and kickoff return units both return relatively intact and should improve in 2013. Advantage: Michigan Coaching Michigan head coach Brady Hoke is in a similar position to what Kelly experienced heading into 2012. He must demonstrate in 2013 that the program is once again one of the nation's elite. Otherwise, fans will begin to say that the 11‑2 season in 2011 was a fluke. Kelly knows the importance of setting the brutal September slate off right with a win at Michigan. He and Hoke have split their two meetings, and Kelly is 1-2 against Michigan as Notre Dame's head coach. Advantage: Even Intangibles A loss at Michigan Stadium would be Notre Dame's sixth in seven tries since the series resumed in 2002. Historically, a win in this early-season matchup foreshadows a successful season, and both of these teams have high expectations heading into week two. The Big House has been a house of horrors in recent years for Notre Dame, but the Irish played their best football on the road in 2012. Advantage: Michigan