Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/408565
GAME PREVIEW: ARIZONA STATE home team's lone touchdown came on an interception return. Headlining the revitalized corps has been fifth- year senior safety Damarious Randall, whose 66 tackles (56 solo, 6.5 for loss) pace the team. Defense also was expected to be Notre Dame's downfall in 2014 after losing six of its starting front seven from 2013, plus top cornerback KeiV- arae Russell (academic investigation) and fifth-year senior safety Austin Collinsworth (injury), who might be cleared to play again this November. The Irish performed beyond expec- tations the first two months, and will need to maintain such a pace during the home stretch. The shootout in the desert might have more defense than expected. TALE OF THE TURNOVER During its 6-1 start, Arizona State committed only six turnovers (three fumbles and three interceptions), tying it for fifth lowest in the country. Dur- ing its impressive 3-0 October versus USC, Stanford and Washington, the Sun Devils committed only one turn- over. Notre Dame seemed to be on a simi- lar pace after not committing a turn- over in either of its first two games and only one through the first three. In the next four, that number swelled to 12 — although quarterback Everett Golson's final throw at Florida State should not be counted as an inter- ception because it was caught out of bounds — to rank Notre Dame tied for 61st in turnovers committed. Notre Dame won the turnover battle 3-1 last year against ASU in its 37-34 win, with both teams scoring on inter- ception returns. A plus-two advantage could be used again. THE WEEK AFTER NAVY Letdowns are normally associated the week after playing a marquee op- ponent on the schedule. An example this year was the Irish's 50-43 victory versus North Carolina — after falling behind 14-0 in the opening minutes — the week following the thrilling 17-14 comeback win against Stanford. Yet over the past seven years, one of the most consistently difficult games the Irish have had is the one the week after playing Navy. There is so much mental prepara- tion required, especially on defense, to playing the disciplined and tenacious Midshipmen that some aftereffects have often taken hold each of the last seven years. • Last year the week after rallying to a 38-34 win against Navy, the Irish were upset 28-21 at Pitt. • In 2012, the 50-10 romp over Navy in the opener held in Ireland was fol- lowed by an 11th-hour, 20-17 win at home versus Purdue. • In 2011, after a 56-14 thrashing of the Midshipmen, the Irish escaped with a 24-17 win at Wake Forest. • In 2010, an awful performance in a 35-17 loss to the Midshipmen was followed by a 28-27 upset loss to Tulsa at home, a situation compounded by the tragic death earlier that week of Notre Dame student manager Declan