Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/373357
GAME PREVIEW: MICHIGAN On PaPer BY DAN MURPHY MICHIGAN RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE When Michigan has the ball against Notre Dame, the trenches will be a battle of the young and un- proven. There were only 10 teams among the 125 in the Football Bowl Subdivision that averaged fewer yards per carry than the Wolverines' 3.28 mark last season. And at running back and offensive line, they've gotten younger. Leading rusher Fitzgerald Toussaint graduated leaving a trio of sophomores — De'Veon Smith, Drake Johnson and Derrick Green — to battle for reps this fall. All three have potential, but will de- pend on the offensive line taking a big step forward from a dismal 2013 season. True freshman Mason Cole will make his first road start at left tackle in Notre Dame Stadium. The Wolverines plan to start as many as three sophomores on the line as well. First- year offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier is used to pounding the ball from his days in Alabama, but he's got a big project on his hands this year. Notre Dame is equally young on the defensive front with sophomore Isaac Rochell, freshman An- drew Trumbetti and junior Jarron Jones (who has two career starts). As long as that group can help keep quarterback Devin Gardner from running loose, linebackers Jaylon Smith and Joe Schmidt should be able to keep the Irish on the winning side of this matchup. Advantage: Notre Dame MICHIGAN PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE Much to the relief of Notre Dame's secondary, wide receiver Jeremy Gallon is no longer in Ann Arbor. Gallon gashed the Irish with big plays through- out his college career. The Wolverines turn now to junior Devin Funchess (49 catches for 748 yards and six touchdowns in 2013) to take his place. The 6-5, 230-pound wide receiver started as a tight end in Michigan, but has moved to more of an outside role this season. He and 6-3 redshirt sophomore Jehu Chesson give Gardner a pair of tall targets on the outside. Gardner focused on avoiding big mistakes this offseason after throwing 11 interceptions last year. His first big test in that regard will come this week against an Irish secondary eager to be more ag- gressive. Fifth-year seniors Austin Collinsworth and Cody Riggs both have the potential to step in front of any ill-fated pass attempts. Sophomore safety Max Redfield is also an athletic threat if he can keep his mental mistakes to a minimum. Gardner, who threw for 2,960 yards last season Junior Devin Funchess made the transition from tight end to wide receiver in 2013, and finished the season with 49 grabs for 748 yards and six scores. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL