Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/396685
GAME PREVIEW: FLORIDA STATE BY LOU SOMOGYI SHOOTOUT OR SLUGFEST? In head coach Brian Kelly's four and a half seasons at Notre Dame, the hallmark of his teams has been team defense. The first four years saw the Irish finish no lower than 27th nation- ally in scoring defense, highlighted by the No. 2 placement (12.8 points allowed per game) during the 12-1 campaign in 2012. It was the first time since 1974-77 the Irish finished that high four straight years. The defense has remained the most consistent unit this season, ranking third nationally in scoring defense during its 5-0 start (12.0 points al- lowed per game). Above all, in the marquee or power games the past several years — includ- ing an 18-14 loss to Florida State in the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl — most were about which team could reach 20 points first, if at all. In 2012, the Irish escaped hard- fought, low-scoring battles against Purdue (20-17), Michigan (13-6), Stanford (13-13 in regulation before triumphing 20-13 in overtime), BYU (17-14) and Pitt (20-20 in regulation before eventually winning in triple overtime, 29-26). Last year the Irish survived home scares against Michigan State (17-13) and USC (14-10), and this year it took an 11th-hour march down the field to eke past Stanford (17-14). When you go on the road against a defending national champion such as Florida State, the first item that needs to be packed is a stout defense. How- ever, Kelly said at the end of spring drills this year that the Irish cannot afford to lean on just their defense to carry the day. "We have to put points on the board that we have not been able to consis- tently do against the best teams in the country," Kelly said. "So that's cer- TOP STOrylineS Senior offensive guard Tre' Jackson, who started as a true freshman in the Seminoles' 18-14 win over the Irish in the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl, is part of a veteran FSU offensive line. PHOTO COURTESY FLORIDA STATE