Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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3 Sophomore wide receiver WILL FULLER has snared a touchdown reception in each of Notre Dame's first three games. It is the first time an Irish receiver has caught at least one touchdown pass in each of the first three games since Michael Floyd in 2009 versus Nevada, Michigan and Michigan State. 6-0 Notre Dame record in the Shamrock Se- ries, with the average margin of victory 21.8 points. Next year's Shamrock Series will be at Fenway Park in Boston Nov. 21 versus Boston College — the first football game at Fenway since Dec. 1, 1968, when the Boston Patriots defeated the Cincinnati Bengals. BY THE NUMBERS BY LOU SOMOGYI What Worked • Everett Golson's improvisation as a run- ner. The senior quarterback was pretty much a non-factor as a runner in the zone read against Michigan (two designed carries), but he had a game-high 14 carries for 56 yards versus Purdue. Golson racked up some yardage on a couple of zone reads, but did most of his damage on scrambles, notably the 15-yard touchdown run right before halftime. Five or six carries for about 30 to 40 yards, with about three of the zone read and one or two on a QB draw, might be the ideal blueprint for head coach Brian Kelly to open up other ave - nues of the offense. Golson's game-high 14 runs were more by necessity while trying to bail out of Purdue's pass pressure. His mobility and abil- ity to extend plays, while still keeping his eyes downfield, were the difference in the game. • Second-half defense. This especially refers to pass-pressure packages that included sopho- more linebacker Jaylon Smith much more than in the first two weeks. Blitzes were seldom di- aled up with so many adjustments in the sec- ondary, but the pressure intensified when Smith became involved. • Safety/corner reserves. Freshman safety Drue Tranquill, who had played exclusively as a dime linebacker, and sophomore corner Devin Butler, sidelined all of spring with an injury, were called upon much more than they could have an- ticipated, and they aided the strong second half on defense. Each had four tackles, and Butler also recorded his first career interception. • New receivers emerging. Sophomore Co- rey Robinson, who has continued to play while recovering from thumb surgery, notched three catches for 52 yards and a score against Purdue. In the first two games, he had just two catches for 47 yards. With senior slot receiver Amir Carlisle injured, junior slot receiver C.J. Prosise doubled his catch total from the first two games with four for 51 yards. Both made excellent, leaping catches several times. Sophomore running backs Greg Bry - ant and Tarean Folston also combined for four catches that netted 60 yards. What Didn't Work • Offensive line protection/ running game. The all-senior interior with center Nick Martin and guards Conor Hanratty and Matt Hegarty struggled a second straight week. At tackle, sophomore Steve Elmer, who played guard last year, is adjusting to not being a guard and has had difficulties with the speed rush. There is virtually no power surge from the line. If not for Golson's mobility, this might have been a 10-sack game and a potential loss. — Lou Somogyi TAKING A CLOSER LOOK