Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/98978
Game Preview: Alabama backs have recorded a rushing touchdown against the Fighting Irish fortress. In Alabama���s 32-28 victory versus Georgia for the right to play Notre Dame, what most impressed Irish boss Brian Kelly was how after the Crimson Tide fell behind 21-10 in the second half, it still patiently and methodically kept running the ball between the tackles. Powerful Eddie Lacy���s 220-pound frame muscled through for 181 yards on 20 carries, while true freshman T.J. Yeldon added 152 yards on 25 carries. ���What really stood out to me is that they were going to exert their will, and it didn���t matter that they were down ��� they were going to run the football,��� Kelly said. ���They were going to go with their strength, and I like watching teams that want to beat you mentally as well as physically.��� In their lone defeat, 29-24 to Texas A&M Nov. 10, the Crimson Tide managed only 122 yards on the ground (31 carries). Alabama���s rushing attack also has made its play-action pass extremely effective, evidenced by junior quarterback AJ McCarron���s No. 1 ranking in the NCAA in passing efficiency that includes a whopping 9.3 yards per pass attempt, a 66.8 percent completion rate and 26 touchdown passes compared to merely three interceptions. On the flip side, Notre Dame rushed for at least 200 yards in six of its last eight contests while averaging 233.6 yards and 5.5 yards per carry. Both programs pride themselves on a physical, blue-collar, old-school foot- ball mentality that imposes its will on the opponent. This does not have the makings of a finesse game. In The Red Offensively and defensively, it���s a statistical wash between Notre Dame and Alabama. The Fighting Irish are No. 1 in scoring defense (10.33 points allowed per game) and the Crimson Tide No. 2 (10.69). On offense, both teams average at least 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing per game, with Notre Dame totaling 421.3 yards and Alabama 439.1. The tipping points could be special teams, turnovers ��� and production in the red zone (inside the opponent���s 20-yard line). The positive news is the Irish surrendered touchdowns less than one out of every four trips an opponent made to its red zone (24.2 percent) ��� the best mark in the country ��� highlighted by clutch goal-line stands in victories against Stanford and USC. The negative is Notre Dame is 75th in red-zone offensive efficiency. While the Irish scored on 46 of their 58 possessions inside the opponent���s 20, only 27 were touchdowns, while 19 were field goals. In comparison, Alabama was 51 of 57 in the red zone ��� with 41 touchdowns and 10 field goals. In the 22-13 victory at USC, Notre Dame reached the red zone six times but crossed the goal line only once, leaving too many points on the field. In a national title encounter, every possible point is needed. ���