Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/366772
GAME PREVIEW: RICE ralled 55 receptions for 848 yards and eight touch‑ downs — all team bests. Junior Dennis Parks added 508 yards and three touchdowns. The return of that pair should improve Rice's passing attack in 2014. In the first half of August, Notre Dame had its deepest cornerback corps in decades, led by junior KeiVarae Russell and fifth‑year senior and Florida transfer Cody Riggs starting at cornerback, comple‑ mented by sophomores Cole Luke and Devin Butler. However, starting Aug. 15 Russell had to stop practic‑ ing pending an academic probe. At safety, fifth‑year senior Austin Collinsworth re‑ turns as the quarterback of the defense and will line up next to sophomore Max Redfield. Whereas former defensive coordinator Bob Diaco's defenses relied on a strong front seven to assist the defensive backs, the personnel will lead to the opposite this fall. Advantage: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. RICE RUN DEFENSE One of the most frustrating aspects of 2013 for Irish followers was Notre Dame's inability to produce a consistent rushing attack. The Irish entered fall camp with five talented running backs, but stumbled to a 150.92‑yard rushing average, which ranked 81st in the nation. In its worst stretch, Notre Dame failed to record 100 rushing yards three consecutive weeks against Big Ten foes in September, and Amir Carlisle (who has since moved to slot receiver for his senior campaign) fumbled late in the game against Purdue, which threatened Notre Dame's precarious lead. This fall, optimism abounds again in the Irish back‑ field. The running back personnel is down to three, with sophomores Tarean Folston and Greg Bryant and senior Cam McDaniel. With 705 yards and three touchdowns, McDaniel emerged as Notre Dame's most consistent running back and the one called upon when tough yards were necessary. Expect the Irish to contend for the 200‑yard rushing mark as an average in 2014, especially with senior quarterback Everett Golson providing another running option. In Rice's 4‑2‑5 defensive alignment, fifth‑year se‑ nior linebacker James Radcliffe should anchor the unit after registering 63 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble a year ago. Rice loses three starters in the front six, but the Owls' backups from last year played plenty enough to expect them to excel this fall. Advantage: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. RICE PASS DEFENSE Out with Rees, Troy Niklas and TJ Jones, and in with Golson, senior tight end Ben Koyack and, well, a bunch of question marks. Junior Chris Brown has im‑ proved significantly and has been called the team's top receiver by Kelly. His speed has never been a question, but he has now developed his route run‑ ning and his leadership to the point where he can be on the field for most plays. Senior wideout DaVaris Daniels returned temporar‑ ily following a spring semester academic suspension. Midway through fall camp, Kelly indicated that Daniels had yet to earn a starting role because of a groin issue that hampered him through the first two weeks of practice — and then his status was put in limbo by the academic fraud investigation. At quarterback, Golson hardly resembled his in‑ consistent freshman self during open practices. His throws were typically sharp, he followed his progres‑ sions and he should still be the poised signal‑caller that played admirably on the road at Oklahoma and USC, and was a rare positive in the championship loss to Alabama. Rice's base defense includes five defensive backs, so the Owls might be better prepared to face Notre Dame's spread offense than some of the other 2014 opponents. Senior safety Julius White is the unit's top returning tackler and highlights a defensive backfield that returns four of five starters this fall. Advantage: Notre Dame SPECIAL TEAMS Much talk has been devoted to how Notre Dame's special teams should be better this fall, but until it's