Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/206976
✦ on paper rankings after struggling in losses to Michigan and Oklahoma. Just as the rush defense fell due to playing Air Force and Navy, the Irish pass defense ascended from 46th nationally in pass defense to 23rd (205.7 yards yielded per game). Head coach Brian Kelly would like to see the unit continue to gain momentum in the turnover department. Advantage: Notre Dame By andrew owens Pittsburgh Running Game Vs. Notre Dame Run Defense Pittsburgh has boasted an impressive pedigree of running backs the past decade, with Ray Graham and Dion Lewis both making the NFL in recent years. This year's starter, junior Isaac Bennett, has shown signs of heading in the same direction, but the Panthers' rushing attack has been plagued by bouts of inconsistency that parallel Notre Dame's issues at the position. Pitt is ranked 104th in the country with 122.5 rushing yards per game. The Panthers offensive line is a much larger group than the academies lined up against the Irish, and Pittsburgh — with three returning starters from the 2012 squad — experienced the most success against Notre Dame's vaunted rush defense a year ago when Graham rushed for 172 yards. Notre Dame's rushing defense has been similarly inconsistent, but has improved since the Oklahoma game. Air Force's 290 rushing yards and Navy's 331 inflate the stats a bit because the two triple-option teams are so rushing dependent. After facing Navy, Notre Dame fell from 41st nationally (144.1 yards allowed per game) to 65th (164.9) in rushing defense. Senior nose guard Louis Nix III has battled knee tendinitis in recent weeks, but Notre Dame indicated Sunday he will practice this week. His availability against the Panthers is key for an Irish defense looking to force Pittsburgh to become one-dimensional and rely on streaky fifth-year senior quarterback Tom Savage. Advantage: Even Pittsburgh Passing Game Vs. Notre Dame Pass Defense Outside of a six-touchdown performance in a 58-55 win over Duke in September, Savage has been inconsistent in head coach Paul Chryst's offense. Outside of the defeat of the Blue Devils, he has not thrown more than two touchdown passes in a game, and recorded four games without an interception and three games with two interceptions. To compound matters, Savage has been sacked 29 times, which ranked 118th in the country (3.63 sacks allowed per game). Fifth-year senior wide receiver Devin Street and freshman wide receiver Tyler Boyd are Savage's favorite targets, compiling 40 receptions for 690 yards and four touchdowns and 45 receptions for 644 yards and six Fifth-year senior quarterback Tom Savage has thrown for 1,779 yards and 14 touchdowns through eight games, but he also has already been sacked 29 times. photo courtesy pittsburgh touchdowns, respectively, through eight games. Redshirt junior tight end Manasseh Gardner has notched the next highest totals, with 14 catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns. Chryst's pro-style offense favors balanced rushing and passing attacks, and the success for Pittsburgh depends on establishing the rushing game early. Unfortunately for the second-year coach, the passing game is not explosive enough to overcome issues on the ground. Notre Dame's pass defense continues to rise in the ✦ Page 4 Notre Dame Running Game Vs. Pittsburgh Run Defense Junior running back Cam McDaniel has pulled away from the rest of the pack in total carries (98 to junior George Atkinson III's 77), but freshman Tarean Folston emerged with a breakout performance in the 38-34 win over Navy. He rushed the ball 18 times for 140 yards and a touchdown, and will look to maintain that momentum against Pitt. Typically, Atkinson has received the bulk of the firstquarter carries before Kelly and offensive coordinator Chuck Martin turn to McDaniel for most of the remainder of the game. The national ranking of 86th (150.1 rushing yards per contest) is more indicative of what the 2013 Irish are at the running back position, rather than a team ready to turn the corner and opt for one or two primary backs. Pittsburgh is ranked 64th in rushing defense (164.0 yards allowed per game) with its experienced front seven (five starters along the defensive line and linebacking corps returned after starting in 2012). One of the fresh faces, however, is leading the way defensively. Redshirt junior Anthony Gonzalez has emerged this season to rank second on the team in tackles (51). Advantage: Even Notre Dame Passing Game Vs. Pittsburgh Pass Defense One of Notre Dame's essentials to surviving the road trip to Pittsburgh is protecting senior quarterback Tommy Rees. Only five teams have allowed fewer sacks than the Notre Dame offensive line (seven) in 2013. Pittsburgh senior defensive tackle Aaron Donald is one of the nation's top pass rushers (19.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks) and will attack the interior of the Irish offensive line that has undergone some shuffling due to injuries in recent games. Although Rees focused on senior wide receiver TJ Jones and junior tight end Troy Niklas early in the sea-