Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/747744
38 NOV. 14, 2016 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED in the first eight contests, but had tossed six picks compared to two touchdowns. Carter is the better thrower, but he has had limited opportunities while going 9-of-18 passing for 176 yards with two scores and an interception in his first seven games. When Army does pass, brothers Edgar Poe and Christian Poe are the top targets. Both racked up nine receptions in the first eight games, with Edgar posting a team-high 199 receiving yards and Chris- tian adding another 124. Notre Dame was gashed through the air in the early part of the season with opponents averaging 14.2 yards per reception in the first four games, which ranked 112th nationally. After VanGorder was let go, Notre Dame's next four opponents averaged just 10.97 yards per completion, which would rank the defense 16th in the country. Keeping Army from ripping off big plays with its play-action passes will be key for the Irish defense. Advantage: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. ARMY RUN DEFENSE Army's run defense put up outstanding numbers in its first eight games, ranking seventh nationally while giving up just 103.8 yards per contest. Op- ponents averaged only 3.7 yards per carry during that stretch. The Black Knights were led by their outstanding inside linebacker combination of Andrew King and Jeremy Timpf. Each linebacker posted 60 tackles in the first eight games, and the seniors combined for an impressive 13 tackles for loss. Outside linebacker Alex Aukerman had just 2.5 tackles for loss in 2015, but the junior racked up 10.5 stops behind the line in just eight games in 2016. Army's overall success must be viewed in proper context. The Black Knights have certainly played impressive run defense, but Army has been the beneficiary of a weak schedule. None of Army's opponents ranked in the top 50 nationally in rushing through nine weeks of the season, and only three — Temple, Buffalo and Rice — ranked in the top 75. Lafayette ranked 119th nationally in rushing offense at the Football Championship Subdivision level, and Army held the Leopards to just 10 yards in its 62-7 victory. Notre Dame ranked just 94th nationally in rush- ing offense (149.8 yards per contest) through eight games, but the Irish hold a significant talent and size advantage over Army. In addition, the Black Knights have yet to face an opponent with Notre Dame's skill. The Irish ground game is led by sophomore Josh Adams, who paced the team with 510 yards and an average of 5.0 yards per carry. Junior quarter- back DeShone Kizer was second on the team with 316 rushing yards and was the team's leader with seven rushing scores. Notre Dame will have a significant size advantage over Army up front. The Irish offensive line aver- ages 315 pounds, and its smallest blocker — junior center Sam Mustipher — still weighs 305 pounds. GAME PREVIEW: ARMY Offense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. WR 6 E. St. Brown 6-5 205 So. 81 Miles Boykin 6-3½ 222 So. WR 3 C.J. Sanders 5-8 185 So. 15 Corey Holmes 6-0½ 190 Jr. LT 68 Mike McGlinchey 6-7½ 310 Sr. 70 Hunter Bivin 6-5½ 308 Sr. LG 56 Quenton Nelson 6-4¾ 325 Jr. 57 Trevor Ruhland 6-3¼ 300 So. C 53 Sam Mustipher 6-2¼ 310 Jr. 75 Mark Harrell 6-4 306 5th-Sr. RG 62 Colin McGovern 6-4½ 310 Sr. 66 Tristen Hoge 6-4¼ 310 So. RT 71 Alex Bars 6-6 320 Jr. 78 Tommy Kraemer 6-4¾ 315 Fr. TE 80 Durham Smythe 6-4½ 245 Sr. 82 Nic Weishar 6-4 240 Jr. WR 16 Torii Hunter Jr. 6-0 195 Sr. 29 Kevin Stepherson 6-0 181 Fr. QB 14 DeShone Kizer 6-4¼ 230 Jr. 9 Malik Zaire 6-0 225 Sr. RB 33 Josh Adams 6-1½ 220 So. 25 Tarean Folston 5-9½ 214 Sr. or 2 Dexter Williams 5-10¾ 210 So. Defense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. DL 98 Andrew Trumbetti 6-3½ 255 Jr. 9 Daelin Hayes 6-3½ 250 Fr. or 93 Jay Hayes 6-3 285 Jr. DL 75 Daniel Cage 6-1 315 Jr. or 94 Jarron Jones 6-5½ 315 5th-Sr. DL 99 Jerry Tillery 6-6½ 310 So. 58 Elijah Taylor 6-2¾ 285 So. DL 90 Isaac Rochell 6-3½ 290 Sr. 55 Jonathan Bonner 6-3 286 Jr. LB 5 Nyles Morgan 6-0¾ 245 Jr. 48 Greer Martini 6-2½ 240 Jr. LB 17 James Onwualu 6-1 232 Sr. 44 Jamir Jones 6-2½ 225 Fr. LB 4 Te'von Coney 6-1 235 So. 22 Asmar Bilal 6-2 230 So. CB 27 Julian Love 5-10½ 190 Fr. 35 Donte Vaughn 6-2 200 Fr. S 23 Drue Tranquill 6-1½ 225 Jr. 21 Jalen Elliott 5-11¾ 195 Fr. S 14 Devin Studstill 6-0 198 Fr. 28 Nicco Fertitta 5-8¼ 185 So. CB 36 Cole Luke 5-11 195 Sr. 18 Troy Pride Jr. 5-11 180 Fr. NOTRE DAME DEPTH CHART Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. KO 19 Justin Yoon 5-9¾ 190 So. 85 Tyler Newsome 6-2½ 210 Jr. PK 19 Justin Yoon 5-9¾ 190 So. 85 Tyler Newsome 6-2½ 210 Jr. P 85 Tyler Newsome 6-2½ 210 Jr. 42 Jeff Riney 5-9¾ 165 So. H 4 M. VanGorder 6-0½ 215 Jr. 14 DeShone Kizer 6-4¼ 230 Jr. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. LS 61 Scott Daly 6-1½ 250 5th-Sr. 54 John Shannon 6-1¾ 220 Fr. PR 3 C.J. Sanders 5-8 185 So. 10 Chris Finke 5-9¼ 180 So. KR 3 C.J. Sanders 5-8 185 So. 10 Chris Finke 5-9¼ 180 So. Special Teams Senior linebacker Andrew King compiled 60 total stops, 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in the Black Knights' first eight contests. PHOTO COURTESY ARMY WEST POINT ATHLETICS