Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/75050
now that Andrew Luck is in the NFL. He will be aiming for his third straight season of more than 1,000 yards on the ground and is the headliner for a deep group of backs that should see even more touches in 2012. Outlook: Stanford's sustainability will be tested this year as head coach David Shaw takes full ownership of the team. Without Luck, the program's all-time leading passer, not much is expected to change in tactics. The Cardinal will still have a run-first, power mentality on offense and a strong run defense. Competing on the BCS level like they have for the past two seasons might prove to be difficult, though. Linebackers Shayne Skov and Chase Thomas both return for senior seasons with the potential to put up some impressive 5. STANFORD OCT. 13 2011 record: 11-2 Last Meeting: Stanford 28, Notre Dame 14 (2011) Impact Player: RB Stepfan Taylor — The hard-running senior is the main attraction on the Cardinal offense numbers. Skov missed the majority of 2011 with a major knee injury. When he returns, he'll be the emotional and physical leader of a tough Cardinal defense. On offense, whoever steps in for Luck will have more talent at receiver than in years past with senior Drew Terrell and sophomores Ty Montgomery and Kelsey Young. The line has a few major holes that could be filled by a group of incoming freshmen that includes top prospects Andrus Peat, Kyle Murphy and Joshua Garnett. Spring Storyline: Who will take over at quarterback? Junior Brett Nottingham has been the heir apparent in the past and likely still is. Nottingham played poorly during the spring game, which allowed senior Josh Nunes to stay even with him in the competi- tion. Nottingham has the strongest arm and quickest release on the roster. Nunes has a slight advantage with his feet, but that's not a huge asset in the Cardinal offense. Shaw isn't expected to announce a starter until fall training camp. 3. MICHIGAN SEPT. 2 2011 record: 11-2 Last Meeting: Michigan 35, Notre Dame 31 (2011) Impact Player: QB Denard Robinson — The dynamic playmaker accounted for 948 total yards in his two previous games against Notre Dame. He struggled at times last year while the coaching staff tried to mold him into a more traditional pocket passer. Michigan decided this spring to let him do more of what he does best for his senior season. The results could be lethal. Outlook: Brady Hoke set a high bar in his first season as head coach at U-M by winning 11 games and a BCS bowl. Rob- inson was a major part of that success. So was a revived defense under coordinator Greg Mattison that ranked sixth in the country in fewest points allowed. The back end of that defense returns mostly intact, but they lose two starters in the trenches who played vital roles in the team's turnaround, including all-conference nose tackle Mike Martin. The Wolverines are missing a few pieces on offense, namely a tight end and a deep threat receiver, which keep them from being a true elite offense and will dictate what they run this season. Junior Fitzgerald Toussaint is likely to have an- other 1,000-plus-yard season as the lead running back. Receivers Jeremy Gallon and Roy Roundtree burned the Irish on last year's game-winning drive and should make it a potent spread offense with Robinson at the helm. Spring Storyline: Building depth on both lines was the major project this spring, and it will continue into the summer. Fifth-year senior Ricky Barnum provided a pleasant surprise with how quickly he took over at center to replace Rimington Award winner David Molk. The defense is hoping former five-star recruit Will Campbell can make the same jump this summer at the nose tackle position. Michigan is in position to make a run for the Rose Bowl this season, but injuries could cost dearly if they don't develop further on the offensive line. JUNE/JULY 2012 75