Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: TEXAS 33rd in punt return defense. Texas was 60th in punt returns and 98th in punt return defense. Both teams should be better this fall, but neither is in position to expect dramatic improvements. Notre Dame has to replace Kyle Brindza, who handled all three kicking duties a season ago. His replacements are freshman kicker Justin Yoon and sophomore punter Tyler Newsome. While both pos- sess a lot of leg power, neither has attempted a kick at the collegiate level. Texas must find a new punter but does return senior kicker Nick Rose, who made seven kicks of more than 40 yards as a junior. Advantage: Even COACHING The coaching matchup is highly intriguing. Brian Kelly enters the 2015 season with a career .692 win- ning percentage. Charlie Strong comes in with a .652 winning percentage, but that number is misleading. He led the Louisville Cardinals to a 23-3 record in his final two seasons, including bowl victories over Florida and Miami. Kelly is an offensive-minded coach with a gifted offensive staff. Strong is a defensive-minded coach with one of the nation's top defensive coordinators in Bedford. The Irish expect to be dominant on offense, while the Longhorns should field a much-improved defense. The key to the game could be the other matchup, the scuffling Irish defense led by Brian VanGorder against what was an abysmal Longhorn offense led by of- fensive coordinator Shawn Watson and line coach Joe Wickline. Advantage: Notre Dame INTANGIBLES The intangibles lean heavily in Notre Dame's favor. Kelly's team returns more starters (20 to 11), has more of its leadership from a season ago, brings back almost all its production and features more top-end talent. Notre Dame also has a settled quarterback situation, while the Longhorns enter the season with the expectation of playing two signal callers in the opener against the Irish. Advantage: Notre Dame