Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/50205
GAME PREVIEW: FLORIDA STATE other nine foes to the tune of a 107-19 advantage in the first quarter. In the last eight games, the only two times Notre Dame didn't score on its open- ing possession occurred in the two losses (USC and Stanford). Florida State's best quarter this year has been the opening 15 min- utes, where it has outscored the opposition by a resounding 102-27 margin, and it also has been strong in the second quarter with a 113-43 advantage. Notre Dame suffered what seemed to be a case of early stage fright in big-game situations versus USC and Stanford. Controlling the pace and tempo with the rushing game might prove difficult against a Seminoles defense that ranks second nationally against the run (allowing 81.8 yards rushing per game and 2.3 yards per carry), es- pecially with the Irish lacking power runner Jonas Gray (knee surgery) and center Braxston Cave (foot sur- gery) in the lineup. "Florida State will be the best de- fense we've played this year," Irish senior wide receiver Michael Floyd said. "They have athletes. They're fast and they're big." The Notre Dame offensive line must step into the forefront via the run and/or pass from the outset for at least two reasons. One, it would perhaps allay some controversy on starting the more experienced Tommy Rees over the more athletic Andrew Hendrix — who also is projected to play — at quarterback. Two, the Irish cannot afford an- other slow start like the ones suffered against USC and Stanford, especially Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 3 South Florida (NBC) Sept. 10 at Michigan (ESPN) at Purdue (ESPN) Air Force (NBC) 2011 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE L, 23-20 Sept. 17 Michigan State (NBC) W, 31-13 Sept. 24 at Pittsburgh (ABC) Oct. 1 Oct. 8 L, 35-31 W, 15-12 Oct. 22 USC (NBC) Oct. 29 Navy (NBC) W, 38-10 W, 59-33 L, 31-17 W, 56-14 Nov. 5 at Wake Forest (ABC) W, 24-17 Nov. 12 vs. Maryland* (NBC) W, 45-21 Nov. 19 Boston College (NBC) W, 16-14 Nov. 26 at Stanford (ABC/ESPN) L, 28-14 Dec. 29 vs. Notre Dame (ESPN) 5:30 p.m. * at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. www.BLUEANDGOLD.com against a defense the caliber of Flor- ida State's that thrives on putting offenses into catch-up mode. SPECIAL DELIVERY Florida State might possess the best kicker/punter combination in the country with first-team All-ACC picks Dustin Hopkins at kicker and Shawn Powell, also an American Football Coaches Association first- team All-American, at punter. Hopkins has converted 130 straight extra points and is 19 of 22 this sea- son on field goals inside 50 yards, although he also has made one from 53. One snafu did occur in the 14-13 loss to Virginia on Nov. 19, Florida State's lone loss in its last seven games, when Hopkins missed from 42 yards out in the closing seconds. In addition, 29 of Hopkins' kickoffs have been touchbacks. Powell leads the nation in punting (47.0 yards per kick) and net punting (42.0). He has 21 punts this year that have traveled at least 50 yards, and also has placed 21 inside the 20. The field position advantage kept Boston College in the Nov. 19 game at Notre Dame before losing 16-14. Junior punter Ben Turk has im- proved for the Irish as the season has progressed, but the Irish are still 104th nationally in net punting (34.04 yards per kick). Eight yards differ- ence per punt can add up. As for the return game, the Irish have excelled with freshman running back George Atkinson III on kickoffs, but that might be negated with Hop- kins' strong leg. FSU is 21st in kickoff returns with a 23.93-yard average and 34th in punt returns with a 10.5-yard average. Greg Reid's 35 punt returns have av- eraged 11.4 yards, highlighted by an 83-yard touchdown. Notre Dame didn't even attempt to return a punt in the last seven games, and its three total yards in punt re- turns easily rank last in the country. Florida State's defense, ranked fourth overall in the nation, might pro- vide the biggest edge statistically in this game. Notre Dame needs to com- pensate by winning other areas such as special teams/field position. ✦ All-American senior punter Shawn Powell leads the nation in punting (47.0 yards per kick) and net punting (42.0), and has placed 21 kicks inside the 20. PHOTO BY COLIN HACKLEY 2011 FLORIDA STATE SCHEDULE Date Opponent Sept. 3 Louisiana-Monroe at Wake Forest Result/Time (ET) W, 34-0 Sept. 10 Charleston Southern W, 62-10 Sept. 17 Oklahoma Sept. 24 at Clemson Oct. 8 Oct. 15 at Duke Oct. 22 Maryland Oct. 29 North Carolina State Nov. 3 at Boston College Nov. 12 Miami Nov. 19 Virginia Nov. 26 at Florida L, 23-13 L, 35-30 L, 35-30 W, 41-16 W, 41-16 W, 34-0 W, 38-7 W, 23-19 L, 14-13 W, 21-7 Dec. 29 vs. Notre Dame (ESPN) 5:30 p.m. Exclusive Company The decision by Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly to start sophomore Tommy Rees at quarterback (see pages 22-24) is based on playing experience, including last year's 33-17 Sun Bowl victory versus Miami. Since Notre Dame's return to the bowl scene in 1969, Rees now will try to become only the third quarterback in school history to win his first two post-season starts. The other two were Joe Montana (1978 and 1979 Cotton Bowls) and Tony Rice (1989 Fiesta Bowl and 1990 Orange Bowl, both against 11-0 teams) in their final two seasons of eligibility with the Irish. Winning the Sun Bowl and possibly the Champs Sports Bowl don't compare to cap- turing the national title on the biggest bowl stages the way Montana and Rice did, but helping defeat two programs from the talent rich Sunshine State wouldn't be an accom- plishment to downplay either. JANUARY 2012 41