Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Game Preview: Rutgers On Paper By Andrew Owens Rutgers Running Game Vs. Notre Dame Run Defense The Scarlet Knights barely managed to stay in the top 100 in rushing offense during the 2013 regular season, finishing 98th with an average of 133.67 yards per game. Redshirt sophomore running back Paul James highlights the unit, after accumulating 146 carries for 833 yards (5.7 yards per rush) and nine touchdowns despite missing four games early in the season due to injury. Freshman Justin Goodwin provides a solid No. 2 option for head coach Kyle Flood. Goodwin rushed for 518 yards and five scores in 12 games. Listed third on the depth chart is a name familiar to Notre Dame: Savon Huggins. The Irish heavily recruited the junior, but Rutgers secured his signature on National Signing Day. This season, Huggins has rushed for 279 yards (3.3 per carry) and two touchdowns for the Scarlet Knights. Notre Dame finished the regular season 76th in rushing defense, allowing 175.33 yards per game. In the regular-season finale, Stanford gained 261 rushing yards in a 27-20 win. The Irish allowed 247 or more rushing yards in four of the final five games of the regular-season slate. Controlling the line of scrimmage and forcing Rutgers' inconsistent passing game to move the chains will be key for Notre Dame. Advantage: Notre Dame Rutgers Passing Game Vs. Notre Dame Pass Defense Junior quarterback Gary Nova started the first 10 games of 2013 before Flood pulled him in favor of senior Chas Dodd. Nova threw 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, and he quarterbacked the squad to a 5-5 record before his benching. Overall, Rutgers finished the regular season 54th nationally in passing offense (242.3 yards per game). Dodd didn't play Senior quarterback Chas Dodd started the final two games of the regular season, and he finished the year 63-of-105 passing for 712 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. photo courtesy rutgers much better after earning the starting nod. He tossed two interceptions against an eventual 3-9 Connecticut squad before throwing a pair of touchdowns in the 31-6 victory over South Florida Dec. 7 that earned the Scarlet Knights a bowl invitation. Redshirt sophomore tight end Tyler Kroft led Rutgers in receptions (40) and receiving yards (530), and he also caught four touchdown passes on the season. Sophomore wide receiver Leonte Carroo caught only 28 passes, but nine of them went for touchdowns. Notre Dame finished the regular season tied for 20th in allowing the fewest number of yards per pass attempt (6.4). The Irish went three games without an interception before senior safety Austin Collinsworth notched one each against BYU and Stanford in consecutive weeks. Senior cornerback Bennett Jackson also picked off a pass against the Cardinal. Advantage: Notre Dame