Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/373357
GAME PREVIEW: MICHIGAN and completed 60.3 percent of his passes, can match the experience of Riggs and Collinsworth as a fifth- year player. His success on Saturday will likely come down to how uncomfortable he is made to feel by a promising, but unproven pass rush. Advantage: Even NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. MICHIGAN RUN DEFENSE The Irish three-headed rushing attack provides the same type of depth that helped them average more than 200 yards per game during the 2012 regular season. Senior Cam McDaniel and sophomores Tar- ean Folston and Greg Bryant provide a consistent punch. The return of senior quarterback Everett Golson and the advent of the read option in Notre Dame's offense will add another element to that attack this season. The question for the Irish will be if their offen- sive line can stand up to a high-caliber defensive front like Michigan's without Zack Martin and Chris Watt patrolling the left side. Head coach Brian Kelly believes his offensive line is one of the team's strengths, and its chemistry will be put to the test by the Wolverines. Senior defensive ends Frank Clark and Brennan Breyer give Michigan a combination of speed and power on the edge. The linebacker corps, led by fifth-year senior Jake Ryan, may be the best the Wol- verines have had in a decade. Ryan moved from out- Now fully recovered from a knee injury that sidelined him for five games last year, fifth‑year senior line‑ backer Jake Ryan (31.5 career tackles for loss) is expected to perform at an all‑conference level in 2014. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL