Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/200019
on paper revisited able to play more up close. Advantage: Notre Dame Notre Dame Running Game Vs. Air Force Run Defense This had the earmarks of a 250- to 300-yard rushing output by Notre Dame against the much smaller Falcons front line. However, head coach Brian Kelly was surprised to see Air Force roll the dice with man coverage while selling out against the run, so the pass was the route the Irish took. Notre Dame finished with only 135 rushing yards after entering the contest with an average of 135.3 per game. The inside- and outside-zone runs, Notre Dame's bread and butter, were shut down, so it went more into gap running inside, which is more so in junior Cam McDaniel's wheelhouse (10 carries for 61 yards). Freshman Tarean Folston had as many carries against Air Force (11) as he did through the first seven games, and his 47 yards were well earned. He made a lot of yardage on his own with shiftiness and producing gains after initial contact. Advantage: Even Notre Dame Passing Game Vs. Air Force Pass Defense With Air Force emphasizing man coverage throughout the first half, Notre Dame went mainly vertical with its passing game the same way it did against Michigan State. The difference is the Falcons' secondary doesn't have the skill sets of the Spartans, and the front seven especially is not nearly as imposing. By halftime, quarterback Tommy Rees was 14-of19 passing for 224 yards with three scores. Eight different players caught passes, and five different receivers would score. This was a huge mismatch throughout the game (see "Stat Of The Game"). Rees was not nearly as productive on the roll out, but on this day he could pretty easily sit in the pocket with minimal duress. Advantage: Notre Dame By lou somogyi Special Teams Air Force blocked junior kicker Kyle Brindza's 46yard field goal attempt on the opening series, but in typical fashion Brindza rebounded with a 51-yard make the ensuing quarter. Two other plays were notable. First, after an Air Force field goal narrowed its deficit to 14-10, junior George Atkinson III returned the ensuing kickoff 37 yards to the Notre Dame 49, setting up a touchdown three plays later. Then on the next series, senior TJ Jones aggressively pursued and caught a short punt that netted only 28 yards. Had he let it bounce, Air Force might have picked up another 15 yards. Advantage: Notre Dame Third-Down Conversions Notre Dame converted 5 of 11 chances (45.5 percent), while Air Force made good on 7 of 17 opportunities (41.1 percent). The Irish did miss on third-andone again on the opening series. The most crucial third-down conversion came on the next series when Air Force was called for defensive holding on third-and-eight, setting up the Irish TD that tied the score at 7-7. Advantage: Notre Dame Turnovers Air Force had both miscues in the game, and they devastated its slim chances. Its first lost fumble came one minute before halftime inside the Irish 20. The second came on the opening series inside the Notre Dame 40 that set up a 31-10 Irish lead. The Falcons were still in the game before those two turnovers. Advantage: Notre Dame Summary One word: mismatch. Despite some attrition along both lines, Notre Dame was still far bigger, stronger and faster in every area. Air Force put up its usual game effort, but the two lost fumbles, one at the end of the first half and the other at the start of the second half, both in Irish territory, became way too much to overcome.