Blue and Gold Illustrated

Oct. 15, 2012 Issue

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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GAME PREVIEW: STANFORD USC and Notre Dame 20-3 at Michigan State). • Both scored 13 points in their fourth game (Stanford in a 17-13 loss at Washington and the Irish in a 13-6 win versus Michigan). For both Notre Dame and Stanford, another tight contest will make them likely turn to tight ends. Notre Dame-Stanford showdown to resemble the Sept. 22 slugfest that was the 13-6 Irish victory versus Michigan. Both offenses are trying to develop a new quarterback while also seeking more help at wide receiver and getting better cohesion along the line. Notre Dame ranked third nation- All the makings are there for this THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS sion defense — 16 of 65 (24.52 per- cent). Highlighting this performance was USC's 1-of-13 performance in the Trojans' 21-14 defeat at Stanford Sept. 15. third downs at Michigan State and 3 of 9 the next week versus Michigan. The Irish were 5 of 15 on third Notre Dame's offense was 1 of 14 on downs in their loss at Stanford last year, and need to be more efficient this season. Any defense that can hold USC's explosive offense to 14 points merits huge respect. On the flip side, Stanford's offense ranked 114th out of 120 teams in third- down conversions (17 of 57, 29.82 per- cent). Third-down success might be the ally in scoring defense the first month of the season, but Stanford also put up notable defensive numbers after four games, never allowing more than 17 points and featuring a stout front seven led by linebackers Chase Thomas (two sacks and a forced fum- ble versus Notre Dame last year) and Shayne Skov, who missed 2011 with a knee injury but was a standout for the 12-1 unit in 2010. This September, the Cardinal rush- difference in this encounter. AVOIDING 0-4 earlier Sept. 22 Michigan game at Notre Dame Stadium. Just like the Wolverines, Stanford There is another similarity to the ing defense ranked third in the coun- try (65.0 yards allowed per game), and it held the Irish to 57 yards on the ground last season. Stanford also was in the top 25 in pass efficiency defense, scoring de- fense and total defense. Perhaps the Cardinal's most crucial stat in September was it had the na- tion's fourth-best third-down conver- enters the contest with a three-game winning streak against the Irish, and will attempt to become the first gradu- ating class in school history to post a 4-0 sweep versus Notre Dame. The Cardinal won a 45-38 shootout in 2009 and posted convincing victo- ries in 2010 (37-14) and 2011 (28-14). It's a personal pride factor for the Irish senior class led by Te'o, but Stan- ford already has one 4-0 feather in its cap this season. With its 21-14 triumph against USC Sept. 15, it marked the first time ever that a Cardinal graduat- ing class went 4-0 against the Trojans. ✦

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