Preview: Michigan at Notre Dame
Rush Offense vs. Notre Dame Rush Defense
Michigan is #45 nationally in rush offense, but Denard Robinson accounts for 117 of the team’s 192.3 yards/game. The offensive line has generally struggled to create creases for anyone else. Meanwhile, Notre Dame is #23 in rushing defense, giving up 96.3 yards/game. They held Michigan State’s Le’Veon Bell to 77 yards on 19 carries (4.1 yards/attempt) and the entire Navy offense to 149 yards, a team that was #3 nationally in 2011 with 358 yards/game. The Fighting Irish have done a good job of recruiting in recent years, and they now have several very good players in the front seven. Denard Robinson has shown that he can run on these guys, but I have some concerns about whether the offensive line can hold up.
Advantage: Michigan
Pass Offense vs. Notre Dame Pass Defense
After playing two cupcake defenses and one very good defense, Robinson is completing 54.6% of his passes for 6 touchdowns and 4 interceptions; he’s the #39 rated passer in the country, thanks to some long completions. However, two of those interceptions have been returned for touchdowns. Michigan has its full complement of wide receivers, and the 6’4″ Devin Gardner leads the team in yards, touchdowns, and yards per catch. Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish are missing starting safety Jamoris Slaughter and starting cornerback Lo Wood for the season; the other starting corner Bennett Jackson had 2 interceptions against Purdue, and safety Zeke Motta isn’t much of a pass defender. Receivers should be able to get open, but the 3-4 defense will probably put some pressure on Robinson in the pocket; Notre Dame sacked Michigan State quarterback Andrew Maxwell four times last week. Defensive end Stephon Tuitt leads the country with 5 sacks and the team is sacking the quarterback 3.67 times per game. Big plays will be there both ways, but based on past performance, I think Robinson will make some big things happen through the air or by scrambling.
Advantage: Michigan
Rush Defense vs. Notre Dame Rush Offense
This matchup terrifies me, because Notre Dame has several running backs with a great deal of ability. Theo Riddick had 107 yards and 2 touchdowns against Navy; George Atkinson is averaging 9.5 yards/carry; Cierre Wood returned last week to run for 56 yards on 10 carries against MSU; and quarterback Everett Golson can run a little bit. Michigan has struggled on the inside, and both defensive end Brennen Beyer and defensive tackle Richard Ash are questionable to play due to injury. They’re #104 nationally against the run. Riddick and Wood are both capable running backs, but Atkinson is the wild card. He’s fast and physical and could be a huge game-breaker. I do not see this phase going well for the Wolverines.
Advantage: Notre Dame
Pass Defense vs. Notre Dame Pass Offense
Golson is Notre Dame’s starter, but he’s backed up by a couple capable guys in Tommy Rees and Andrew Hendrix. The youngster is completing just 58% of his passes for 3 touchdowns and 1 interception, so he’s not lighting the world on fire, but if the running game produces, he won’t have to win it through the air. The Fighting Irish have a handful of capable receivers, not just one guy to concentrate on like Michael Floyd the past few years. Tight end/wide receiver Tyler Eifert, receiver T.J. Jones, receiver DaVaris Daniels, receiver Robby Toma, and running back Theo Riddick all have between 6 and 9 receptions. Eifert, in particular, seems like a matchup problem because of his size (6’6″, 251 lbs.) and speed. Notre Dame gives up 2.67 sacks/game, and Golson holds onto the ball too long sometimes, but Michigan barely gets after the quarterback unless they use Jake Ryan as a rusher. Without starting cornerback Blake Countess, it might be a struggle for Michigan to cover each of the targets.
Advantage: Notre Dame
Roster Notes
- Michigan recruited K Kyle Brindza, WR Chris Brown, WR DaVaris Daniels, DT Sheldon Day, LB Dan Fox, QB Everett Golson, OT Mark Harrell, DE Jarron Jones, QB Gunner Kiel, OT Christian Lombard, OT Zack Martin, WR Davonte Neal, DT Louis Nix III, S Elijah Shumate, OG Chris Watt, TE Alex Welch, RB Cierre Wood, and CB Lo Wood.
Here’s my review of Michigan’s 35-31 win last season, my awards from that game, and some highlights:
Predictions
- Denard Robinson has his worst career performance of the Notre Dame series.
- Notre Dame gashes Michigan for 190 rushing yards.
- Big plays go Notre Dame’s way this year.
- Notre Dame 24, Michigan 20