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✦ ON PAPER BY DAN MURPHY STANFORD RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE Stanford might be missing its two All‑American offensive linemen from a year ago more than its All‑American quar‑ terback. The grind‑it‑out Cardinal rushing attack has stalled in its first five games, gaining only 154.8 yards per contest compared to 210.6 per game in 2011. During the last week of September, an underwhelming Washington defensive allowed 70 yards on the ground to hand Stanford its first loss of the year. success has come from not giving opponents the time they need to do what they want. Sophomore Stephon Tuitt, who is averaging 1.5 sacks per game, has had a lot to do with that. He'll be gunning for Stanford's first‑year starter at quarterback, Josh Nunes. Nunes had his first big game against Arizona a week ago, eight interceptions and rarely allowed big plays. They got a few breaks against Miami, but settled in to hold Stephen Morris to a very pedestrian 201 yard passing. Defensive coordinator Bob Diaco said a big part of their throwing for 360 yards and two scores in a track‑meet vic‑ tory. The Cardinal tight ends are still dangerous and will test the Irish safeties in South Bend. Redshirt junior Zach Ertz leads the team with 21 catches for 316 yards and two scores. Advantage: Notre Dame ami (376 yards) and Navy (293 yards) in the rushing game. Against defensive lines their own size, the Irish have yet to prove they can move the ball consistently. Sophomore quarterback Everett Golson got involved in the running game against the Hurricanes, which should at least be a nudge in the right direction for the unit as a whole. Stanford's front seven is as good as any in the country. NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. STANFORD RUN DEFENSE Notre Dame has had no trouble bullying teams like Mi‑ touchdown — a 76‑yarder against Duke — to his credit this season. He has the sixth‑best average (20.0 yards per re‑ turn) in the country. Notre Dame is ranked 104th in return‑ ing punts. Freshman Davonte' Neal (3.5 yards per return) has yet to find a way to shake loose this season. Stanford has also done slightly better than the Irish in the SPECIAL TEAMS Senior Drew Terrell already has one punt return for a kick return game in 2012. Sophomore wideout Ty Mont‑ gomery, who is listed as doubtful for this week's game due to a knee injury, has picked up an average of 25.8 yards on his first 10 returns. Sophomore Kyle Brindza hasn't allowed opponents to do much with their kickoffs, but he did fail to get a good leg on a couple against Miami. Brindza also took over field goal duties during the second week of the season and made eight in a row before missing to end the first half last weekend. Stanford's Jordan Williamson missed four kicks in his first four games, but two of those were from 47 and 51 yards away. Advantage: Stanford That group has given up only 77.2 yards per game. All‑ American linebacker Chase Thomas leads a unit that has pushed opposing offenses 174 yards in the wrong direction with 43 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Advantage: Stanford Senior running back Stepfan Taylor, who rushed for 2,467 yards and 25 touchdowns the past two seasons, is on pace for another strong year with 119 carries for 555 yards and five scores through five contests. PHOTO COURTESY STANFORD He was the only running back on the team with double‑ digit carries after five games. The former 1,000‑yard rusher is averaging 111.0 yards per game. Rushing touchdowns have been hard to come by against Senior Stepfan Taylor is shouldering the bulk of that load. with 186 passing yards on 17‑of‑22 throwing against the Hurricanes. The Irish are still struggling to get tight end Tyler Eifert NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. STANFORD PASS DEFENSE Golson rebounded from a shaky Michigan game nicely this Irish defense. Led by Heisman Trophy candidate Manti Te'o, Notre Dame has gone seven straight games without giving up a score on the ground dating back to last fall's loss to the Cardinal in Palo Alto, Calif. Advantage: Notre Dame STANFORD PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE The Irish secondary did more than survive in its first five games. The young, inexperienced group helped to create involved with the offense, and his fellow receivers aren't taking advantage of the extra attention he draws. No one but senior Theo Riddick is averaging more than three re‑ ceptions per game. Stanford's defensive backfield has not been a shutdown group in its first five games, but it has held its own against some talented teams. USC quarterback Matt Barkley com‑ pleted less than half of his pass attempts while being upset by the Cardinal. Redshirt sophomore safety Ed Reynolds has returned three interceptions for 144 yards. Like the Irish, Stanford forces opposing teams to make mistakes in the passing game by creating pressure up front. Advantage: Stanford ✦ PAGE 5 first year as Stanford's head coach in 2011, and he deliv‑ ered. This season, Shaw's team has looked inconsistent and vulnerable at times. Kelly and his staff had a rockier mountain to climb when COACHING David Shaw inherited a just‑add‑water BCS recipe in his they arrived in South Bend. They look like they have turned a corner through the first third of the 2012 season. The Irish are finding ways to win close games, which was a major problem in the past five or six years. Kelly hasn't reached the summit yet, but he's proven enough to hold the edge against Shaw. Advantage: Notre Dame run the table at home this season. The Cardinal didn't look quite themselves during their only other road game so far this season. College GameDay's visit to South Bend should add another layer of excitement for the home team. Advantage: Notre Dame INTANGIBLES Stanford is the biggest obstacle left for the Irish plans to PREDICTIONS Lou Somogyi: Notre Dame 20, Stanford 13 Jason Sapp: Notre Dame 17, Stanford 13 Wes Morgan: Notre Dame 38, Stanford 21 Dan Murphy: Stanford 21, Notre Dame 17