Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/98978
Game Preview: Alabama A combination of a strong pass rush and cornerbacks Bennett Jackson and KeiVarae Russell rarely missing a tackle make Notre Dame a hard team to throw against consistently. Advantage: Notre Dame Notre Dame Running Game Vs. Alabama Run Defense Senior Theo Riddick had his best game in a Notre Dame uniform in the regular-season finale against USC, running for 146 yards and a touchdown to bring his season total to a team-high 880 yards on the ground. Senior Cierre Wood gives the Irish an equally capable second option in the backfield. Sophomore quarterback Everett Golson and his ability to scramble and pick up yards with his feet could be a difference maker in this battle. Golson ran for 305 yards and five scores this season. Alabama has the best rushing defense in the country, allowing only 79.8 yards per game, but its one loss came against a mobile quarterback with the ability to extend plays, Texas A&M���s Johnny Manziel. The Aggies racked up 165 rushing yards in that game. One key for all three of Notre Dame���s runners will be finishing in the red zone. The Irish have scored touchdowns on only 46.6 percent of their red zone possessions. That won���t be easy against linebackers like junior All-American C.J. Mosley (99 tackles) and senior Nico Johnson (54 tackles). That duo helped make the Tide the second-best red zone defense in the country, allowing points on only 17 of 27 trips inside the 20-yard line. Advantage: Alabama Notre Dame Passing Game Vs. Alabama Pass Defense Golson will need to continue his consistent upward trajectory to help his team past the Tide. The sophomore threw for 2,135 yards this season, the most ever for a rookie quarterback in South Bend. He and Mackey Award winner (nation���s top tight end) Tyler Eifert developed chemistry in November. Eifert finished his senior season with a team-high 44 Senior safety Robert Lester, who has contributed 42 tackles and four interceptions, leads the way for a Crimson Tide secondary that has allowed only 166.2 yards per game through the air this season. photo courtesy alabama