Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: ARIZONA STATE lost linebacker Chris Young, their leading tackler a year ago, and three other linebackers. This year, the young front seven yielded 180.4 yards per game and nine touchdowns on the ground in its first seven outings. Meanwhile, Notre Dame averaged 162.4 rushing yards per game, including 281 yards in the season opener versus Rice and 219 against North Carolina. The three-headed backfield committee of senior Cam McDaniel and sophomores Tarean Folston and Greg Bryant averaged 117.8 yards per game through seven contests, led by Folston's recent emergence as the go- to back. Against the Tar Heels and Seminoles, Folston took 39 carries for 218 yards and two touchdowns. Notre Dame's veteran offensive line — reshuffled during the first bye week — has struggled to find the ideal chemistry this season, but facing a unit of green- horns should provide a chance to build momentum before the season's final quarter. Advantage: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. ARIZONA STATE PASS DEFENSE Arizona State's secondary also endured attrition in the offseason, losing three all-conference honorees led by first-team All-Pac-12 cornerback Robert Nelson and second-team All-Pac-12 safety Alden Darby (who was also the team's second-leading tackler in 2013). The inexperienced defensive backfield gave up 225.4 passing yards per game through seven contests, in- cluding 313 and 335 yards in successive September showings against Colorado and UCLA, respectively. The Sun Devils had four interceptions through seven games, with two coming courtesy of redshirt junior Jordan Simone's instincts. Notre Dame senior quarterback Everett Golson has not struggled filling the stat sheet this season, though six interceptions has tempered the praise some. In the first seven games, Golson threw for 1,996 yards and 19 touchdowns while completing 61.9 percent of his passes to 10 different receivers. Sophomore wide receiver Will Fuller has emerged as the leading pass catcher, pulling in 43 receptions for 583 yards and eight scores through seven contests. Fellow sopho- more wideout Corey Robinson presents a red-zone threat, with four touchdowns among his 27 receptions for 359 yards. Advantage: Notre Dame SPECIAL TEAMS Arizona State has been mediocre without Grice re- turning kicks and punts. The Sun Devils returned nine punts in their first seven games for a total of 17 yards, and that includes an eight-yard return. Kick returns have been slightly more successful, averaging 22.8 yards per attempt. Arizona State sophomore kicker Zane Gonzalez gives his coaches confidence whenever attempting field goals. As a freshman last season, he made 18 straight, and was 10 of 12 through seven games this season. Notre Dame has its own reliable kicker in senior Kyle Brindza. He has converted all 28 extra points and 10 of 14 field goals, plus has notched 31 touchbacks on 46 kickoffs. In addition, only six of his 29 punts (41.7-yard average) have been returned. Advantage: Even COACHING Notre Dame and head coach Brian Kelly face Arizona State head coach Todd Graham for the fourth time in five years at a third school. Graham has presented Kelly troubles, leading Tulsa to a 2010 victory over the Irish and nearly beating Notre Dame in 2011 while at Pittsburgh. A year ago, Graham and the Sun Devils battled the Irish before dropping a 37-34 contest. Advantage: Even INTANGIBLES Arizona State will not only look to represent the Pac- 12 better than Stanford did against Notre Dame, but will also look to avenge last year's Shamrock Series loss in Arlington, Texas. Advantage: Arizona State