Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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ON PAPER REVISITED the ground, and he continues to master reading the zone sweep, including 16 and 20 yards dashes to the left side while patiently following his blocking. Advantage: Notre Dame in the second quarter that resulted in an intercep- tion, Golson was nearly flawless with his execution of the deep, intermediate and short throws. His arm strength on the outs and deep passes already seems to have the zip Jimmy Clausen had during his record- setting junior year in 2009, and he dispersed the ball well with five targets catching anywhere from two to six passes. Senior tight end Tyler Eifert always seems to catch NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. WAKE FOREST PASS DEFENSE Other than his forced long ball into the end zone the ball right at the peak of its height over the de- fender. Especially effective were at least two pump- fakes that Golson used to pick up first downs. Senior running back Theo Riddick's hands also are the best and most consistent they have ever been, high- lighted by plucking 24- and 22-yard receptions on two different third-and-11 plays in the first half that set up two different touchdowns. Advantage: Notre Dame thing damaging, which is where you start. A holding call on freshman safety Nick Baratti during the open- ing kickoff led to an inauspicious start when the Irish had to begin from their 9-yard line. Sophomore kicker Kyle Brindza missed one field SPECIAL TEAMS It remains so-so for the Irish, but there wasn't any- BY LOU SOMOGYI 13 (53.9 percent) compared to Wake Forest's 4 of 15 (26.7 percent). After converting its first 10 third- down attempts a week earlier at Boston College, Notre Dame was successful on its first four against the Demon Deacons on four different touchdown drives to jump to a 28-0 advantage in the initial 23:43 of action. The first was a 24-yard completion from Golson to Riddick on third-and-11 from the 8-yard line. Next was a third-and-goal two-yard fade to Eifert for the touchdown. The third saw Golson use a pump fake before completing an 11-yard pass to junior wide receiver TJ Jones on third-and-five. Finally, Riddick made an impressive, reaching stab of a 22-yard bul- let across the middle from Golson on another third- and-11. Those four helped salt away the game in the first half. Advantage: Notre Dame backer Carlo Calabrese forced a fumble at the Irish 48 that senior safety Zeke Motta recovered, helping set up a quick 14-0 lead. Golson's interception toss into the end zone in the second quarter proved in- consequential. Both teams had only one. Advantage: Even TURNOVERS On Wake Forest's first possession, senior line- goal attempt from 40 yards, but made another from 25 yards. Freshman Davonte' Neal was able to ac- cumulate 13 yards on his four punt returns, but a bobble was nearly lost. Wake Forest didn't achieve anything in special teams to gain any advantage. Advantage: Even THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS The Irish had a huge advantage, converting 7 of home. It established dominance from the outset, maintained intensity and pretty much inserted re- serves by early in the second half. It was clear Wake Forest wouldn't be able to compete with the Irish early, and Notre Dame executed its offense with the Brian Kelly template — spread them out early with a quick tempo pass attack, and then run the clock with the running game in the second half, while maintain- ing excellence on defense. Golson has elevated his all-around game signifi- ANALYSIS Notre Dame was overdue for a game like this at cantly while the season has progressed. The Irish defense might no longer have to constantly carry the day, even though that's not necessarily a negative.