Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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on paper revisited on the pass than a power attack. No option threat also limits what it can do in such situations. Advantage: Michigan Notre Dame Passing Game Vs. Michigan Pass Defense Quarterback Tommy Rees' ability to move the ball in rapid transit through the air was the lone element that kept Notre Dame hanging in the contest, albeit constantly playing catch-up. Pass protection was good, although Rees was far less effective once he was flushed out of the pocket. Junior Troy Niklas (six catches for 76 yards and one touchdown) is on the threshold of emerging as Notre Dame's next big-time tight end with his combination of physical play, hands and mobility. Both of Rees' interceptions on his 51 attempts were costly, but 30 points and 410 yards of total offense easily would have won this contest last year. The difference is on defense. Advantage: Notre Dame Special Teams This was a far better performance by Notre Dame after an inauspicious debut. Junior Kyle Brindza converted all three of his field goals, booted four touchbacks and punted well; senior TJ Jones had an 18-yard punt return to set up a field goal (the longest punt return all of last year by the Irish was 12 yards); and junior George Atkinson III had a 50-yard kickoff return. Michigan's Brendan Gibbons converted both of his field goals, but a slight overall edge goes to the Irish. Advantage: Notre Dame Third-Down Conversions Notre Dame was slightly better with its 8 of 15 (53.3 percent) compared to Michigan's 6 of 12 (50.0), but the Irish also failed on their two fourth-down attempts. Furthermore, Michigan's third-down conversions proved more damaging. • On Michigan's first scoring drive, senior receiver Drew Dileo made a superb, leaping catch for six By lou somogyi yards on third-and-two to help set up a field goal. • On the ensuing Wolverine possession, Gardner found Gallon for 22 yards on third-and-seven, but more damaging was on third-and-goal from the 15, Notre Dame sophomore cornerback KeiVarae Russell was called for pass interference in the end zone, setting up a touchdown on the next play. • On Michigan's third touchdown of the first half, Gardner scrambled for four yards on third-and-three, and on the next play he found Gallon for a 12-yard touchdown. • Two pass interference calls on Notre Dame on third-and-12 from the Irish 27 and then third-andfive from the nine set up the final TD and victory. Advantage: Michigan Turnovers With 1:29 left, trailing 20-13 and on second down from his 42, Rees was picked off by cornerback Blake Countess, who returned the ball to the Notre Dame 23 to set up a two-touchdown Michigan lead at halftime. That was "evened out" when Irish junior defensive end Stephon Tuitt made a diving interception for a score to cut Notre Dame's deficit to 34-27. The "tie-breaker" was Countess' pick off a ricochet on first-and-goal from the 6-yard line with 1:29 left and the score 41-30. That made it 2-1 for the Wolverines. Advantage: Michigan Summary Notre Dame was never out of the game, but it was constantly fighting upstream and was seldom able to quell the bleeding on defense, especially when it came to limiting Gardner as a dual threat. It played well enough on offense and even special teams to win the game, but if you're going to be a top-10, BCS postseason team, the foremost priority is to pack a defense when you go on the road. Other than the pass pressure on Tuitt's score, the Irish did not make nearly enough plays on that side of the ball to earn a victory.