Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/98978
Game Preview: Alabama the Tide. Manziel bought time against the Alabama pass rush and turned broken plays into game-changing touchdowns. His ability to improvise temporarily sank the Tide, and has since buoyed hopes for Golson. ���I think that���s what I do bring to the table,��� he said. ���Just that idea of improvising a little bit when the play doesn���t always go right. It���s not going to always go your way so you have to turn bad plays into good plays. ��� I���m gonna be ready for them.��� The confidence amid chaos carried Golson during his biggest performances this year. It provided him with the edge he needed to stay in the starting lineup while learning to play on the college level, according to head coach Brian Kelly. And that���s the other element that keeps coach and quarterback looking at the glass as half full. Golson has made impressive leaps from monthto-month in his first season. With plenty of room left to improve, the six weeks he had to prepare for the Tide should produce a better quarterback. Alabama hasn���t faced a defense like Notre Dame���s all season, especially an Irish front seven that Saban himself called the best in the nation. Irish junior nose guard Louis Nix is eager to put his skills to the test versus the best offensive line his team has faced this year. The 326-pound load laid the foundation for Notre Dame���s success on defense this fall by devouring one-onone matchups and busting through double-teams. ���I���m glad I get the opportunity to go against the guys on that line,��� he said. ���That���s what we wanted. Win or lose, it will better the team. It will better [sophomore defensive end Stephon] Tuitt and me. It will better everyone because a hard physical team is what we need. A team from the SEC, a team like Alabama coached by Nick Saban, those guys will make you better.��� Tuitt and Nix split Notre Dame���s Moose Krause Defensive Lineman of the Year award this season. Tuitt ended the year with 12 sacks and 42 tackles, slightly behind Nix who made 45 tackles, including 5.5 behind the line of scrimmage. Nix is anxious to see where he fits when compared to other talented nose guards that have tried to hold their ground against the Crimson Tide. He���s also hoping to learn a few things by facing two of the country���s top offensive linemen, especially Jones who has played all over the line during his career at Alabama. ���He knows how to play the game obviously because he���s played three different positions,��� Nix said. ���He���s very strong at the point of attack. I have to be ready for him.��� The battle between Alabama���s offensive line and Notre Dame���s defensive line and linebacker corps will likely determine which team leaves Miami smiling and which one leaves dejected. ���That���s the thing I want to see in this game,��� Walsh said. ���I want to see Notre Dame���s defensive line against these guys. I think it���s going to be really interesting to watch that matchup.��� ���