Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: NORTH CAROLINA Greg Bryant managed only 455 yards on 105 carries in the season's opening four games, good for a de- ceptively high 4.3 yards per carry. That committee should have a chance to gain mo- mentum against North Carolina. The Tar Heels had given up 190.0 rushing yards per contest through four outings, including a whopping 343 to East Caro- lina. The Tar Heels have yet to truly recover from the graduation of third-team All-American Kareem Martin. The young defensive front, which is led by fifth-year senior tackle Ethan Farmer (11 tackles on the season), did limit Clemson to 92 rushing yards a week after the East Carolina debacle, so it has shown it is capable of slowing an attack, even if it is unlikely. Advantage: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. NORTH CAROLINA PASS DEFENSE Each week, Golson has found a new toy to play with among his receivers. To start the season, the emergence of sophomore Will Fuller caught de- fenses off guard. Then, former running back Amir Carlisle, a senior, developed into Brian Kelly's ideal slot receiver. Before long, lanky sophomore Corey Robinson had learned to cope with a thumb in- jury well enough to pull in two touchdowns. Finally, against Syracuse, sophomore Torii Hunter Jr. saw his first collegiate action and scored on his first catch. In addition to those four, Golson connected with six other receivers in the first four games while throwing for 285.5 yards per contest and placing Notre Dame 36th in the country in passing offense. Before the matchup with the Orange in MetLife Stadium, Golson had yet to throw an interception. He threw two in that tilt, but his 11-to-2 ratio is still strong. North Carolina, on the other hand, has struggled stopping the pass even more than it has the run. Of 125 teams at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, only one (Bowling Green) allowed more passing yards per game through the first five weeks of the season than North Carolina (353.0). In the span of two weeks, North Carolina allowed East Carolina and Clemson to gain 882 yards through the air on the way to combining for 120 points. The Tar Heels' best chance at slowing down Golson would come via turnovers. Sophomore cornerback Brian Walker picked off three passes in the season's first four games. Advantage: Notre Dame SPECIAL TEAMS North Carolina has a dangerous return man in Switzer, who earned first-team All-America honors after bringing back five punts for touchdowns in 2013. The five TD returns tied an NCAA record. He has yet to bring one back in 2014, but poses a con- stant threat. Notre Dame senior kicker/punter Kyle Brindza, who allowed opponents to return only two of his first 15 punts, will be key to minimizing Switzer's impact. If he can't, Switzer could make the Irish pay. Advantage: Even COACHING Known for his offense, Fedora will provide the toughest test yet for VanGorder's attacking defense. In his third season leading the Tar Heels, Fedora is not yet on the hot seat, but the 7-6 record in 2013 was a step down from the preceding year's 8-4 mark. Kelly, meanwhile, has continued to keep his team focused despite the swirling drama of the ongoing academic dishonesty investigation. His steady stew- ardship will continue to be necessary until all of the investigation's ramifications have settled. Advantage: Notre Dame INTANGIBLES The two shellackings against East Carolina and Clemson soured North Carolina's season, but it might be catching Notre Dame at the ideal time, right between Stanford and Florida State. The Irish have been strong at home since 2012. Advantage: Even