Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: TEXAS On PaPer BY BRYAN DRISKELL TEXAS RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE The Longhorn ground attack was wildly inconsistent during the 2014 season. Texas averaged 181.2 yards per game during a stretch from Oct. 4 to Nov. 8, but in its seven other contests the Longhorns compiled just 99.9 yards per game and only 2.9 yards per rush. Most notably, the Longhorns produced just two yards on the ground in their 31-7 loss to Arkansas in the Texas Bowl. Texas should be helped by the return of four start- ers up front and two talented running backs in se- nior Johnathan Gray, a former five-star recruit, and 241-pound sophomore D'Onta Foreman. The Long- horns are shifting to an up-tempo attack that should feature more quarterback runs from starter Tyrone Swoopes and redshirt freshman Jerrod Heard. Notre Dame's rush defense in 2014 was just as in- consistent as the Texas rush offense. During the first seven games of the season the Irish ground defense was stout, allowing just 102.7 yards per game and 3.1 yards per rush. Injuries and youth combined for a defensive collapse, one that saw Notre Dame allow 251.0 yards per game and 5.1 yards per rush during the final six games of the season. All but Arizona State (188 yards) rushed for at least 205 yards during that stretch. Advantage: Texas TEXAS PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE Throwing the football was not a strength for Texas last fall. The Longhorns averaged just 199.9 yards per game, which ranked 88th nationally. They also averaged a paltry 6.2 yards per attempt and allowed 28 sacks. Notre Dame allowed 233.0 passing yards per game last fall, finishing 75th in the nation. Three starters return in the secondary led by junior cornerback Cole Luke, who finished last season with 15 passes defended. Notre Dame also welcomes back dynamic corner KeiVarae Russell, a senior who missed all of 2014 due to a suspension. Talent will be abundant on the back end, but pivotal to Notre Dame's success will be its ability to generate a pass rush. Advantage: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. TEXAS RUN DEFENSE There were times a season ago when the Notre Dame ground game excelled, with performances of 281 yards against Rice, 263 yards versus LSU and 216 yards in the win over North Carolina. Consistency was the issue for Notre Dame, which had three games with less than 100 rushing yards. The Irish return four of the five offensive line starters from its bowl victory over LSU, and the ground attack will be bolstered by the presence of junior quarterback Malik Senior running back Johnathan Gray has five career 100-yard games and ranks 15th on Texas' all-time rushing list with 2,118 career yards. PHOTO COURTESY TEXAS