Print Edition of the Irish Insider for Friday, October 20, 2017
By DANIEL O’BOYLE sports Writer
In 2015, d aelin h ayes was set to play for U sc
h e was set to one day stare down n otre d ame quarterback b randon Wimbush and attempt to sack the Irish signal-caller.
h e was set to be teammates with Trojan offensive stars d eontay b urnett, r onald Jones II and s am d arnold.
And his favorite college player was Jaylon s mith.
Irish linebacker Jaylon s mith.
h e made no secret of it, admitting he loved to watch s mith in an interview while still committed to n otre d ame’s biggest rivals.
When the Irish opened the season that year, h ayes
would still be committed to the Trojans, but the Irish weren’t done trying to convince him to flip his commitment, and the five-star recruit went to n otre d ame s tadium to watch the Irish open their season against Texas.
In the second quarter, s mith — wearing the number nine — sacked Texas quarterback Tyrone s woopes. s mith celebrated the way he had done since his high school days, with a swipe of the turf.
Two years later, d aelin h ayes made his first college start. n ot for the Trojans, but for n otre d ame.
h ayes wore s mith’s number nine. And when he stuffed an o wls run at the line, he took a swipe at the
turf.
When asked about the celebration, the 6-foot-3, 258-pound h ayes — the player tasked with striking fear into opposing quarterbacks — doesn’t just laugh. h e giggles.
“We talked before that game and he told me to hit the celebration,” h ayes said.
“That was just an opportunity to pay homage. h e was number nine before me, he was a playmaker before me and he kind of was an example of what type of player I wanted to be when I got here, so that was an opportunity to recognize all of that.”
The change, from a Trojans commit to an Irish defensive end taking over s mith’s legacy began over a year after h ayes committed to U sc ,
when the Trojans fired head coach s teve s arkisian. The Irish persistence in recruiting seemed to have paid off as h ayes decommitted.
s mith, in particular, played a major role in trying to bring h ayes to n otre d ame, keeping in regular communication with the prospect.
“ o bviously we were never on the team together, but he was a huge influence on me,” h ayes said. “ h e was like a big brother. We talked a lot before I committed and after I committed.”
b ut after decommitting from U sc , h ayes would continue to keep his recruiting process interesting. After announcing a top three of n otre d ame, o hio s tate and m ichigan s tate, the m ichigan native made national waves
in the way he committed to the Irish. h ayes starred in a video paying tribute to “The d ark Knight,” running through the streets of d etroit before reaching a n otre d ame billboard.
It takes a certain level of talent to earn the right to announce a commitment in such a dramatic fashion. It takes a whole different level of talent to do so after a high-school career that saw two season-ending injuries, as well as a junior season cut short when h ayes had to move back to m ichigan from c alifornia.
h ayes faced that kind of adversity, injuring his left shoulder only four plays into his sophomore season. After moving to the West c oast and back, h ayes shone in
ROSIE LoVOI | The Observer
Irish sophomore defensive lineman Daelin Hayes, second from the left, fights against a block during Notre Dame’s 38-18 victory over Michigan State on Sept. 23 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Hayes has recorded 14 tackles and two sacks this season, and he played in
injuries in high school.
for 18 yards in the game and has 165 receiving yards in his
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer Irish junior wide receiver Miles Boykin lines up at the line of scrimmage during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7 at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Boykin tallied two receptions
career on 10 receptions, including two touchdowns catches.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
Irish sophomore defensive lineman Khalid Kareem sizes up a Tar Heel offensive lineman during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
Irish sophomore quarterback Ian Book runs upfield during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
Irish junior wide receiver Chris Finke, left, returns a punt during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7. Finke returned four punts for 44 yards against the Tar Heels.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer Senior defensive lineman Jay Hayes lines up before the snap during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7.
USC game will define rest of ND’s season
Tobias Hoonhout a ssociate sports e ditor
o ver a month ago, i argued that n otre d ame’s season was dependent on a win at home against Georgia. i was wrong.
For while the then- n o. 24 i rish (5-1) entered the Gergia game with a big chance to make a statement, and subsequently stumbled with a chance to win the game against the b ulldogs. They didn’t fall flat on their face. n otre d ame righted the ship by rattling off four blowout wins in a row, three of which were on the road,
to suddenly get right back to where head coach b rian
Kelly needed his team to be.
a nd Georgia has looked like a better and better team as the season has gone on, still undefeated and currently ranked n o. 3 in the country, making the i rish perhaps the strongest one-loss team in the country.
s o yes, things are looking up for the i rish. b ut now, the season starts for real.
n otre d ame’s final six opponents have a combined seven losses, and four of those teams are currently ranked. a nd the first of the bunch is arguably the biggest, with n o. 11 U sc
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coming to town this weekend. i s playing the Trojans (6-1, 4-1 Pac 12) to start a good thing or a bad thing? d epends on what i rish team comes to play.
For while n otre d ame is six games in, there are still a number of question marks surrounding the i rish, particularly on the offensive end. n ow, there are still plenty of positives. The topfive run game is averaging over 300 yards per game, with a quartet of talented backs and junior quarterback b randon Wimbush using the experience and talent of n otre d ame’s offensive line to their advantage, and the red zone efficiency is still 100 percent with Wimbush under center.
The passing game, however, is still anyone’s guess. d o the i rish have the talent? a bsolutely. Junior receiver e quanimeous s t. b rown is still a stud and sophomore c hase c laypool has had flashes of something more than just raw potential, not to mention the loaded tight end position. a nd Wimbush himself has had throws that make him look like a bonafide passer.
b ut regardless, it’s clear the passing game isn’t a priority for Kelly and offensive coordinator c hip Long. a nd while i give Kelly a lot of credit for recognizing his strengths and committing to them, even though running the football has never been the bread and butter of a b rian Kelly offense, the unbalance is still a disconcerting.
b ecause what happens when the run game fails? Like it did against Georgia? The i rish were only able to put up 19 points, one touchdown and a mere 55 rush
yards against the b ulldogs, ultimately failing to adjust and capitalize through the passing game. a nd while Georgia boasts the 10th-best run defense in the country, U sc is no pushover either, especially in a rivalry game like the one this s aturday. i f the i rish start sputtering, will the offense be able to adjust and still pose a threat?
o n the defensive end, coordinator m ike e lko has done a tremendous job in transforming the i rish into a turnover machine, as n otre d ame has already equaled its turnover margin from the last two seasons with 14 takeaways through six games. The run defense has also been dominant, only allowing one touchdown on the ground so far this year.
b ut in the secondary, there are still question marks. The i rish rank a lowly-117th in pass defense, and against the Trojans and redshirtsophomore quarterback s am d arnold, there should be cause for worry. For n otre d ame to come out on top, the secondary is going to have to make plays consistently, a tall order for a unit that has struggled with being consistent, not to mention the fact that d arnold is the best passer the i rish have faced this season.
U sc will be the second ranked team the i rish have played at home this season. a nd while Georgia certainly matched up better against n otre d ame’s strengths than the Trojans do, the ultimate question remains in how the i rish will handle the pressure.
i n each of their five wins this year, the i rish have been able to coast to the
finish line. a gainst weaker opponents, it’s a good strategy — make some early plays, run up the lead to a comfortable margin and put the game away as early as possible. b ut what happened in n otre d ame’s sole loss this year? Georgia played the i rish close the whole game, as the matchup warranted, and in the fourth quarter, the i rish choked.
Last year, n otre d ame couldn’t put games away, and then couldn’t come up with the plays needed to win the game in the fourth quarter. it’s why a team that was picked 10th in the preseason poll sputtered to 4-8. a nd while the program has consistently repeated that the problem is a thing of the past, and that this year the mentality has changed, in the one game this season that actually posed a real test for four quarters, the same fatal flaw reared its ugly head.
This matchup with U sc means an awful lot to the i rish. it means beating arguably n otre d ame’s biggest rival. it means winning a game over a ranked opponent for the first time in almost two years. it means a strong start to the second half of the season and the needed win to solidify n otre d ame’s playoff chances. a nd it means finally putting to bed the uncertainty of whether the i rish have the toughness to find a way to win, late in the game, in marquee matchups that really matter.
Contact Tobias Hoonhout at thoonhou@nd.edu
The opinions in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
Irish junior wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown looks on as a play comes to an end on the other side of the field during Notre Dame’s 33-10 win over North Carolina on Oct. 7 at Kenan Memorial Stadium.
Wimbush looks to put development on display
By BEN PADANILAM editor-in-c hief
Patience is a virtue, and it’s one i rish junior quarterback b randon Wimbush knows well.
h aving sat on the bench behind d e s hone Kizer and m alik Zaire and not seen the field for the better part of two seasons, Wimbush was finally handed the keys to the kingdom of the i rish offense in the spring.
a nd that only made having to sit out his team’s last win over north c arolina with a right foot injury all the more difficult.
“it’s a little weird, but i’ve done it for two years,” Wimbush said Wednesday. “it’s not something that you want to do after starting five consecutive games. … i would’ve been able to get out there mentally and operate the offense. how effectively we don’t know, obviously, but if it came down to it, i think i would’ve been able to go out there and execute.”
a nd with sophomore i an b ook under center against the Tar heels, Wimbush was forced to watch the game from the sidelines. i rish head coach b rian Kelly said not playing o ct. 7 affected Wimbush that day, as Kelly thought he was less focused on learning from the game and more focused on playing it due to his youth as a starting quarterback.
“i know he wanted to try to play the game. h is focus was much more about trying to play the game than learning from what transpired in the game,” Kelly said of Wimbush on Tuesday. “i think if maybe he’s a little further along in his process, that maybe he picks up more from the game.
“i think there was too much angst and anxiety of wanting to play and trying to get in the game and him feeling like he was out of place on the sideline. i don’t know that he was totally in the right place in terms of mentally trying to learn things and see things as they unfold.”
b ut the one thing that frustration did force Wimbush to do was refocus himself during last two weeks so as not to let his absence have a negative carryover effect.
“it was a little bit frustrating because i wasn’t able to be out there and help the guys win the game and keep that camaraderie going that we had built, so it was important for me to get back out there last week and show the guys why i am the quarterback,” Wimbush said.
a nd many of his teammates have seen just that over the last two weeks since Wimbush returned at full strength.
“he looks great. he looks like b randon,” i rish
captain and graduate student offensive lineman m ike mcGlinchey said Wednesday. “You can’t really say much other than that. he’s going to do great things for us.
“ … b randon’s kind of been our life and soul of this football team so far, especially on offense. e verything that we do goes through him, and he’s a great leader, great person and great teammate. it means everything to have him on the field with us.”
The three weeks since his last start has also allowed Wimbush to continue his development as a passer, particularly given s aturday’s game will be just his sixth start at quarterback for i rish.
“it’s been three weeks man, and i obviously haven’t played a game, and i’m excited to get back out there with my guys,”
Wimbush said. “b ut just having three weeks to watch more film, to work on technique, to work with the timing of the receivers and just get back into a groove i think has been huge.”
b ut that maturation process has continued since the spring, as Wimbush has felt the game slow down for himself with each additional week he has been under center for notre d ame.
“i think the game has slowed down immensely for myself and for the rest of the offense,” Wimbush said. “We’re at a point where we’re going to start clicking on a new level, and i ’m excited to see what that looks like this weekend. r ecognizing the defense is something i had to improve on, and i think i did.”
With that development has
come on-field production, which may not show up in the modest statistics Wimbush has put up through the air, but have impressed the coaching staff nonetheless.
“b ut i think as we got a chance to kind of sit back a little bit and do a little bit more of the analytics and dive deeper in what he’s done, it doesn’t jump out at you on film,” Kelly said. “b ut his production numbers are really, really interesting in terms of big plays with his feet and big chunk throws, conversions on third and fourth down situations.”
a nd the junior quarterback said he believes much of that maturation is the direct result of his increased understanding of the role of preparation, which bolsters both his confidence and ability to execute.
“[The biggest things i’ve learned are] the speed of the game and where i have to be in my preparation in knowing a scheme of a defense, and how my preparation can obviously lead to better execution,” Wimbush said. “i think that’s huge because i had two weeks to prepare for Usc , and i just feel way more confident going into this weekend.”
a s he continues to grow as a passer, Wimbush said he expects the offense to reach new levels. a nd he plans to put that on display starting this weekend against the Trojans.
“We’re excited for Usc to come into town, and i’m excited to get back out there and put on a show,” Wimbush said.
Contact Ben Padanilam at bpadanil@nd.edu
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KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
Irish freshman running back C.J. Holmes prepares for the snap as the Tar Heels line up in punt formation during Notre Dame’s 33-10 win over North Carolina on Oct. 7 at Kenan Memorial Stadium.
EMMET FARNAN | The Observer
Irish junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush rolls out to his left and looks downfield for an open target to pass to during Notre Dame’s 52-17 win over Miami (OH) on Sept. 30 at Notre Dame Stadium.
EMMET FARNAN | The Observer Junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush scrambles to his right while keeping his eyes downfield during Notre Dame’s 52-17 win Sept. 30.
ROSIE LoVOI | The Observer
Irish junior running back Josh Adams looks to regain his balance after breaking a tackle during Notre Dame’s 38-18 win on Sept. 23.
ROSIE LoVOI | The Observer
Junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush looks to pass during Notre Dame’s 38-18 win over Michigan State on Sept. 23.
Darnold, Jones II lead latest crop of USC stars
By MAREK MAZUREK a ssistant managing editor
The last time a ranked Usc team faced a ranked notre d ame team was eight years ago in 2009.
Jimmy c lausen quarterbacked a no. 25 i rish squad into The c oliseum against a no. 6 Trojans team coached by Pete c arroll.
Usc won that game 34-27. a nd over the next decade the two teams couldn’t find a way to come together when both had a number in front of their names.
The late 2000s saw notre d ame fire c harlie Weis and rebuild under b rian Kelly while the mid-2010s saw Usc wade through the aftermath of a pay-for-play scandal and ncaa penalties.
This s aturday, for the first time in eight years, the no. 11 Trojans (6-1, 4-1 Pac-12) and the no. 13 i rish (5-1) will meet with national implications on the line for both teams.
“We want to make sure that our players know that you get great opportunities like this at notre d ame to play on a great stage like this against a rival in Usc , against a very, very good football team,” i rish head coach b rian Kelly said Tuesday about the magnitude of s aturday’s matchup.
“The great players that have played in this game across the decades. i think that’s what stands out when people talk about notre d ame, Usc ; it resonates. it’s got brand power. it sits up there with the great rivalries of college football.”
i n fact, s aturday’s matchup marks the most meaningful game between the long-time rivals since 2005’s nail-biter, which concluded in the infamous “b ush-push.”
“it’s going to be a great challenge, a great environment from a history standpoint, a legacy standpoint, but actually within this season too,” Trojans head coach c lay helton said Tuesday. “it’s nice to see both teams in the national spotlight this week and highly ranked.”
This year’s game, however, will feature a new cast of stars. i nstead of m att Leinart or m att b arkley, Usc red-shirt sophomore quarterback s am d arnold takes the spotlight, surrounded by n FL draft talk.
“i think everybody nationally knows about s am d arnold and what he can do, heisman trophy candidate,” b rian Kelly said. “Great supporting cast: r onald Jones, etc. very, very capable in many areas; the ability to throw it. They are going to be a challenge as it relates to their passing game, and they are very good at running the football, as well.”
d arnold comes into the matchup against notre d ame
with a 62.7 percent completion percentage and over 2,000 yards passing on the year.
“i think in the last two games; i’ve focused here on the passing game,” helton.
“[ d arnold’s] a kid that’s thrown six touchdowns and one interception in the last two games, in both still completing over 300 yards with the ball. i’ve seen him progress through this season especially in the passing game, i’m proud of him.”
d arnold will likely be the most talented quarterback the i rish face this year, but helton said what makes d arnold special is his game knowledge and situational awareness.
“The most proud play i had from him the other night [was] where he pulled the ball down, made the linebacker miss, got
the first down and got down,” helton said. “h im being able to do all that together is a sign of his progression.”
While d arnold has put up impressive numbers, he has been prone to interceptions, throwing nine on the year.
To compliment an n FLcaliber quarterback, Usc also sports an n FL-caliber running back in its backfield in r onald Jones ii . Jones has racked up 640 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns this season, but there have been concerns about his ankle entering game week.
Jones ii will likely play at less than 100 percent, but Kelly said the star back can still pose problems for notre d ame’s defense.
“Well, he’s got speed, explosiveness, great vision. i love ronald,” Kelly said. “We
recruited him out of high school. he’s just a terrific back.
“You know, he’s a featured back. i think he’s as good as anybody in the country and he runs behind an offense that can throw the football. s o creates great opportunities and great space. he’s a weapon. d angerous, dangerous player.”
however, Usc ’s injury problems don’t end with Jones ii The defensive front especially is an area of concern for the Trojans as defensive linemen junior r asheem Green, senior Josh Fatu and junior linebacker Porter Gustin have recently dealt with injuries.
o n Wednesday, helton announced that Porter, who had been dealing with a variety of injuries and underwent surgery in early s eptember will sit out versus notre d ame.
Fatu will also sit out due to concussion symptoms after being in an automobile collision earlier this week.
“Josh [Fatu] is probably out for this game, going through concussion protocol,” helton said. “We’ll see if we can’t get him back in next week. he’s listed day-to-day, but the reality is probably next week.”
Green however will play, and Kelly said the Trojans’ pass rush is one of his primary concerns about the Usc defense.
“i think if you look at their defensive front, it’s probably more than anything else, been one where they have gotten a lot more disruptions; the ability to pressure the quarterback,” Kelly said.
Contact Marek Mazurek at mmazurek@nd.edu
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ND defense seeks domination versus Darnold
By BEN PADANILAM editor-in-c hief
i n 2016, n otre d ame’s defense forced a total of 14 turnovers, intercepting eight passes and recovering six fumbles.
Through six games of 2017, the i rish defense has matched that total with eight fumble recoveries and six interceptions.
i n his 13 games in 2016, Trojans quarterback s am d arnold threw nine interceptions.
i n his first seven games of 2017, the redshirt sophomore has also matched last year’s total in the category, leading all Pac-12 signal-callers this season.
it’s those trends n o. 13 n otre d ame (5-1) will be looking to take advantage of in s aturday’s game against n o. 11 U sc (6-1, 4-1 Pac-12).
“ i think it’s a strength and a weakness of his,” i rish captain and senior linebacker d rue Tranquill said of d arnold’s aggressiveness.
“[The number of interceptions] stems from his competitiveness and his desire to extend plays and get the ball downfield to his receivers. i f he wants to throw balls in tight windows, we’ve definitely had a focus on guys getting their hands on balls
and disrupting the ball.”
much of n otre d ame’s ability to turnover its opponents can be attributed to the mentality shared by the entire defense: dominating the opposition. a nd senior defensive lineman Jay h ayes said its that mentality which the i rish will bring into s aturday’s matchup as well.
“We sit in this meeting room and it’s about dominating your opponent — having the skill sets and knowing what it takes to dominate your opponents,” h ayes said. “ … That message is reiterated throughout the defense — throughout the defensive line, throughout the safeties, throughout the linebackers, everybody. d ominate your opponent. The guy across from you, dominate him. Look him in his eye, dominate him. s o that’s what we’ve got to do going into this game.”
b ut the i rish defense is well aware that the domination it aims for won’t come easily. While stopping d arnold may be the more apparent challenge, n otre d ame defenders realize that containing junior running back r onald Jones ii in the run-pass option attack the Trojans utilize will also be a challenge, as he has averaged 106 yards per game on the ground in his six games played this season. b etween d arnold and Jones, the i rish expect a challenge, but it is one they also expect to meet so long as they play within themselves.
“They’ve got a lot of dynamic playmakers all over the field,” Tranquill said. “ … We just have to be sound and execute our defense, and if we do that, i think we’ll come out victorious on defense.”
“We plan on slowing them down the way we’ve slowed
everyone else down,” i rish sophomore defensive lineman d aelin h ayes said. “We focus on us, we focus on our process and we’re getting prepared for the fight.”
a nd that execution and focus will be multi-faceted; for the i rish linebackers and defensive backs, the emphasis will be on not allowing chunk yardage should d arnold extend plays outside of the pocket.
“ h e’s a playmaker,” Tranquill said of d arnold.
“ h e can extend plays, has a very quick release in his [run-pass option] game and has the ability to scan the field and get deep within his progression. s o we’re going to have to plaster routes.
“We’re going to have to focus on that downfield so that when he extends plays and gets out of the pocket, he
can’t make those big plays.”
For the defensive line, however, the emphasis will be on preventing d arnold from getting outside of the pocket in the first place, making him uncomfortable while stuck between the tackles.
“[The key will be] just getting in his face and being able to hit the guy makes him uncomfortable,” d aelin h ayes said. “[ i rish offensive coordinator c hip Long] says the quickest way to shut down an offense is to hit the quarterback and make him uncomfortable, so i think that’ll be huge this week.”
a nd the ability to rotate personnel constantly on the defensive line has allowed the i rish to be disruptive consistently throughout games.
“We’re just fresh,” d aelin h ayes said. “ i f you’re only in for five to six plays and you
sub out the next series or whatever, you’re going to be fresh [and] … able to go out and make plays and be explosive, give it everything you got.”
That explosiveness is a trait the i rish defensive line expects to play an important role in s aturday’s game with the Trojans, as the defense hopes to use this game as a showcase of its ability to do what it believes it has done throughout this season: dominate its opponents.
“You’ve got to be relentless, and i think, going into this game, that’s what our guys are going to do — we’re going to be relentless,” Jay h ayes said. “This is a good game to show our ability to be relentless.”
Contact Ben Padanilam at bpadanil@nd.edu
ROSIE LoVOI | The Observer
Irish senior linebacker Drue Tranquill fights through a blocker to reach the passer during Notre Dame’s 38-18 victory over Michigan State on Sept. 23 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.
ROSIE LoVOI | The Observer
Irish senior defensive lineman Jay Hayes reads the quarterback and watches the ball on a read-option play during Notre Dame’s 38-18 victory over Michigan State on Sept. 23 at Spartan Stadium.
TROJANS PASSING
The Irish pass defense has been strong this year, limiting opponents to a completion percentage of just 54.4 percent and recording six interceptions in six games, with the only major statistical black spot coming thanks to garbage time yardage at michigan state.
but the Irish are yet to face a sam darnold.
Georgia’s freshman quarterack Jake Fromm has proven to be superb this year, but was asked to do little in his first career start against the Irish. darnold brings not only talent, but also experience. The six quarterbacks the Irish have faced so far this year combined for only 21 starts, seven starts against Power-5 opposition and zero Power-5 wins before facing notre dame. darnold brings 17 starts and a 14-2 record against power-five teams.
darnold became a top nFL prospect for a reason, not just because of 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns, but also because of his combination of accuracy, arm strength and ability to extend a play. A high turnover rate this year may prove he has weaknesses, but you can’t pick against a quarterback like sam darnold.
EDGE: USC
TROJANS RUSHING
In junior ronald Jones II and freshman stephen carr, Usc has one of the best running back duos in the nation when healthy. but the versatile carr has missed time already this year and is unlikely to be 100 percent healthy for saturday.
Jones is a more-than-capable back on his own, rushing for over 100 yards four times this year, as well as making up 134 yards on the ground against the Irish last year. Jones gave the Trojans the lead last week against Utah with an acrobatic score and possesses the speed to be a big play threat any time he gets into space.
The Irish run defense has been stout this year, however, holding opposing teams to less than four yards per carry. but with senior linebacker and top run-defender Greer martini out with a knee injury, Jones may have more of an opportunity to break off a big play.
EDGE: EVEN
TROJANS OFFENSIVE COACHING
Trojans head coach clay helton served as offensive coordinator under steve sarkisian before taking over as head coach, while former Tennessee quarterback Tee martin took the step up to take charge of the Trojan offense last
season. Usc coaches in recent years have always had the help of top quarterback recruits, but martin and helton deserve credit for teaching quarterbacks like darnold the Trojan prostyle system and creating an offense that puts up 477 yards per game.
on the Irish side, defensive coordinator mike elko continues to look every bit the star coordinator he was expected to be, forcing three-andouts on the opening five Tar heel possessions in chapel hill, north carolina. elko deserves a large amount of the credit for the incredible Irish defensive turnaround this year as he proves to be one of the very best coordinators in the nation.
EDGE: NOTRE DAME
TROJANS SPECIAL TEAMS
Trojans freshman kicker chase mcGrath didn’t attempt a field goal in either of his first two games for Usc. After missing his firstever attempt, he needed to make his second to prevent an upset loss to Texas. mcGrath made that, and a 43-yarder in overtime as well as a career-long 46-yarder against california, on his way to eight consecutive successful kicks. still, the freshman’s inexperience could prove to be a concern.
Walk-on redshirt-junior reid budrovich won the Usc starting punter job from scholarship punter and returning starter chris Tilbey, and he has proven effective this year. budrovich’s 44.6-yard average puts him in the top 25 in the nation, and he shined in the Trojans defeat to Washington state, with three punts inside the 20 and a long of 63 yards.
The Irish made some sort of impact in punt returns for the first time this season against north carolina, with junior chris Finke returning four punts for 44 yards.
EDGE: EVEN
TROJANS SCHEDULE (6-1, 4-1 Pac-12)
sept. 2 Western Michigan (W 49-31)
sept. 9 Stanford (W 42-24)
sept. 16 Texas (W 27-24 OT)
sept. 23 @ Cal (W 30-20)
sept. 29 @ Washington State (L 30-27)
oct. 7 Oregon State (W 38-10)
oct. 14 Utah (W 28-27)
oct. 21 @ Notre Dame
oct. 28 @ Arizona State
nov. 4 Arizona
nov. 11 @ Colorado
nov. 18 UCLA
The win over a top-15 opponent has eluded b rian Kelly and notre d ame for quite some time. And it won’t come easily s aturday — s am d arnold, despite what the numbers indicate this season, is still has an elite arm, and r onald Jones II is an elite and perhaps underappreciated rushing talent. b ut in games where Usc has gone down to the wire — Texas, Washington s tate and Utah — the Trojans have traded scores with their opponents, leading d arnold to force throws and be inefficient. And the Irish have seemingly followed that formula this season, scoring early and allowing a deep defensive line to disrupt opponents late in games. And it’s a formula that might just get the Irish that elusive win.
FINAL SCORE : notre dame 34, Usc 31
He A d
No. 11 USC
Assistant managing editor
If you told me at the beginning of the season that notre d ame would enter its game versus Usc as the favorite on paper, I wouldn’t have believed you.
b ut the Irish are the odds-on favorites, at home and Usc is battling some key injuries on defense.
d espite that, b rian Kelly and his team have consistently failed to pick up wins in key games like this one. b eating a top-15 opponent requires a complete game from all sides of the ball and coaching staff. The Georgia loss in Week 2 showed the Irish haven’t figured that out yet.
Until Kelly and notre d ame show they can win versus a top-15 foe, Irish fans should not get their hopes up beyond cautious optimism. In the end, s am d arnold will outshine b randon Wimbush in the air.
FINAL SCORE: Usc 35, notre dame 27
U sc will be n otre d ame’s first true test since the team’s one-point loss to Georgia. h owever, a series of blowout wins have proven the Irish have come a long way since the start of the season and should be ready to go against the Trojans on s aturday. Assuming b randon Wimbush and the n otre d ame stable of running backs is as healthy as b rian Kelly claims, the Irish offense should be able to pose a major challenge to the country’s n o. 67 defense in U sc
The Irish defense has continued to impress, and while the Trojans will be the first real challenge since the b ulldogs, its ability to force turnovers should be able to hold up, even against the impressive U sc receiving corps.
Marek Mazurek
Elizabeth Greason sports e ditor
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
Ben Padanilam editor-in-c hief
HEAD O
nO. 13 nOTRE Da ME
IRISH PASSING
Junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush has proven a strong leader of the Irish offense, with his running ability playing a significant part in the Irish offensive success this season. But as a passer, his deficiencies are obvious. Wimbush’s accuracy is suspect in all situations and nonexistent on the run. Making matters worse, the Irish receivers — touted as an extremely deep and talented group before the season — have not lived up to expectations, even when Wimbush is giving them accurate passes.
The Trojans have given up over 260 yards per game through the air to Power-5 teams, but has also allowed those teams to complete less than 55 percent of their passes. Injuries on the defensive line may limit the Trojan pass-rush, but they should still have enough to get the best of Wimbush.
Expect the Trojans to give Wimbush some easy opportunities to beat them with his arm in exchange for shutting down the run. Whether he can take advantage of them may decide the game.
EDGE: USC
IRISH RUSHING
The run game has been a clear strength for Notre Dame this season. The Irish have rushed for an average of over 300 yards per game this season for 6.9 yards per attempt.
Midseason All-Americans Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson have been at the forefront of that, opening up holes for the Irish ball carriers, whether it’s junior starting running back Josh Adams, quarterback Brandon Wimbush or any of the backups who have shone behind Adams already this season.
The Trojan run defense has mostly been impressive this season, apart from allowing 265 yards to Western Michigan and 6.5 yards per rush to a Stanford offense led by Bryce Love. Against the most dangerous running quarterback they faced this year — Sam Ehlinger of Texas — the Trojans limited the Longhorns to less than two yards per carry.
But the Irish running attack has too many talented players, and Adams is too much of a big play threat, especially with McGlinchey and Nelson blocking for him.
EDGE: NOTRE DAME
IRISH OFFENSIVE COACHING
Irish offensive coordinator Chip Long has struggled to find a way to get the passing
Tobias Hoonhout
Associate Sports Editor
While the 5-1 Irish have looked good so far this season, there’s a caveat — they have beaten all the teams they were supposed to, while losing the one game that was going to be a toss-up.
But now, Notre Dame faces USC as the start to a stretch of four ranked opponents over the final six games of the season.
This game gives Brian Kelly’s team a huge opportunity to make a statement to start the second half of the season. To run the table, the Irish need to start on a strong note, and frankly, this game seems to be happening at the perfect time. The Irish are coming off a bye week of rest and preparation, while the Trojans have struggled of late.
Expect big things from the Irish this weekend.
FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 38, USC 24
The Irish have easily taken care of five of the six teams they’ve faced this season, but still lack a real quality win this season, an issue that has plagued Brian Kelly for too many seasons in the past. There are doubts about Kelly’s ability to earn real trademark wins, but this looks like it could be the perfect opportunity to get one. The performances of Irish opponents so far should give Notre Dame confidence, while USC faces injury issues on the defense and has also struggled out of the gate offensively. If the opportunistic Irish defense can put the offense in good situations early on, that might be enough.
his struggles against the best teams, but
like one.
game going all season, but he has been in charge of an offense that’s been dominant on the ground.
Trojans defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast has extensive NFL experience, serving five years as the Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator and one at the same role in Kansas City, while also serving roles with the Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. The Trojans may rank in the middle of the pack for defensive yardage, but 15 turnovers in their last five games show that they can make the big play.
EDGE: USC
IRISH SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior kicker Justin Yoon made his only field goal attempt against North Carolina, bringing him to 7-of-10 for the season, though at only 29 yards, it was not a major test. Still, despite his 0-for-2 season opener, Yoon’s experience and impressive Irish career so far suggests that he can mostly be trusted. Yoon also looked much more impressive in kickoffs against the Tar Heels than either he or freshman Jonathan Doerer had all season, showcasing improved power.
Irish senior punter Tyler Newsome’s powerful leg has been known for years, as shown by his 44.4-yard punting average. But until the Irish faced the Tar Heels, short-field situations appeared to be a glaring weakness in his game. Two weeks ago, however, a Newsome punt stopped at the one-yard line and set up an Irish safety.
Yoon and Newsome will be relieved they won’t be kicking to Adoree’ Jackson this year, but Velus Jones Jr could be a threat on kick returns with a 27.1-yard average. On punt returns, Ajene Harris has 27 yards on six returns.
EDGE: EVEN
IRISH SCHEDULE (5-1)
Sept. 2 Temple (W 49-16)
Sept. 9 Georgia (L 20-19)
Sept. 16 @ Boston College (W 49-20)
Sept. 23 @ Michigan State (W 38-18)
Sept. 30 Miami (OH) (W 52-17)
Oct. 7 @ North Carolina (W 33-10)
Oct. 21 USC
Oct. 28 North Carolina State
Nov. 4 Wake Forest
Nov. 11 @ Miami (FL)
Nov. 18 Navy
Nov. 25 @ Stanford
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
Kelly talks injury report, offensive matchup
By BEN PADANILAM editor-in-c hief
c oming off of its bye week, no. 13 notre d ame will spend the week preparing for arguably the most important game of its season thus far: a matchup under the lights of notre d ame s tadium against no. 11 Usc
a nd the week of rest enabled the i rish (5-1) to allow
some of their injured players to heal up in anticipation of s aturday’s game, as they will have junior quarterback b randon Wimbush back under center after he missed his team’s last game, a 33-10 win over north c arolina on o ct. 7.
“There are no questions about his health, so i think we can put that to rest in terms of how he is,” i rish head coach b rian Kelly said of Wimbush
on Tuesday. “he’s 100 percent. There’s no health issues at all.”
The i rish also expect to have several other players back in the fold: The topthree running backs on the depth chart — juniors Josh a dams and d exter Williams and sophomore Tony Jones Jr. — will all be “good to go,” Kelly said, while freshman defensive lineman m yron
Tagovailoa-a mosa got over his chest contusion last week and has shown “no ill effects” throughout this week. o ne player who the i rish will be missing for s aturday’s game against the Trojans (61, 4-1 Pac-12), however, is captain and senior linebacker Greer m artini, Kelly confirmed Thursday. o n Tuesday, Kelly said m artini had injured his knee in practice
and was a “day-to-day kind of situation.” Junior linebacker Te’von c oney will start in m artini’s place at the buck linebacker spot for the i rish on s aturday.
Wimbush’s development
With his starter back in the fold and over his right foot injury, Kelly said his focused as shifted to continuing to develop the quarterback, who has impressed him so far this year.
“We went back and, as you know, in these bye weeks evaluate and self-scout, and he’s been really productive in a number of areas for us: moving the chains, fourthdown conversions, third down, big plays,” Kelly said of Wimbush. “he’s done a lot of really good things to get us to where we are today, and yeah, there has to be some improvement in some other areas, but from a productivity standpoint, he’s done some really good things, and he’s only going to get better.”
a nd while s aturday’s game might be the most significant contest Wimbush has played in thus far, Kelly said the experiences the junior had
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ROSIE LoVOI | The Observer
Irish junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush, center, plants his foot and cuts upfield toward the open running lane during Notre Dame’s 38-18 win over Michigan State on Sept. 23 at Spartan Stadium. Wimbush has 402 rushing yards and a team-high eight rushing scores on the season.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
Irish captain and graduate student offensive lineman Mike McGlinchey, right, drops back in pass protection during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7.
EMMET FARNAN | The Observer
Irish sophomore cornerback Julian Love, center, makes a tackle during Notre Dame’s 52-17 victory over Miami (OH) on Sept. 30. Love has 27 tackles and one interception on the year.
EMMET FARNAN | The Observer
Irish junior running back Josh Adams sprints for a 73-yard touchdown during Notre Dame’s 52-17 victory over Miami (OH) at Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 30.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer Graduate student wide receiver Cam Smith makes a cut during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7 at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Smith caught his first touchdown of the year in the game.
EMMET FARNAN | The Observer Irish sophomore quarterback Ian Book makes a cut upfield during Notre Dame’s 52-17 victory over Miami (OH) on Sept. 30.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer Sophomore quarterback Ian Book scrambles out of the pocket during Notre Dame’s 33-10 win over North Carolina on Oct. 7.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
Irish junior running back Josh Adams looks to juke a UNC defender during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
Senior linebacker Drue Tranquill stares down a Tar Heel offensive lineman in Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
Irish sophomore quarterback Ian Book escapes the pocket during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7.
USC game sets up big recruiting weekend
By ELIZABETH GREASON sports e ditor
The irish recruiting trail will be back in full swing this weekend as no. 13 notre dame takes on its first marquee opponent in no. 11 Usc since its 20-19 loss to Georgia on sept. 9. notre dame’s recruiting slowed after the Georgia game, as miami (oh) was not a matchup that would provide much intrigue for top recruits and the irish were on the road for their other three games, on top of a bye week.
The irish (5-1) will be hosting a number of the country’s top recruits from three different classes against the Trojans (6-1, 4-1 Pac-12), many of whom are also taking a close look at the Usc football program according to blue and Gold recruiting analyst david mcKinney.
“obviously it’s a big game for notre dame, it’s a marquee game nationally so they want to bring a lot of guys in here first,” mcKinney said. “obviously, the biggest name that’s going to be here is a mon-ra st. brown from mater dei in california. rivals has him as the no. 1 wide receiver in the class, the no. 4 player in the class. There’s obviously notre dame connections with him being the younger brother of equanimeous st. brown, so he’s coming into town. a couple of his four-star teammates are coming too, from mater dei. Linebacker solomon Tuliaupupu, he’s a fourstar. rivals has him as the no. 84 player. … a nd then four-star offensive guard chris murray coming to town as well. so, obviously a lot from the same high school.
“other guys coming in, Tommy Tremble, a tight end from Georgia who has been on notre dame’s radar for a long time,” mcKinney said. he’s pretty much their only remaining tight end target now, so this is a big visit for him. he was supposed to come in for the Georgia game, but he got injured and wasn’t able to fly, so he’s coming in this weekend.”
st. brown will be the primary focus for the irish coaching staff, as the youngest of the st. brown brothers is also being heavily recruited by Usc, as well. his oldest brother, equanimeous, is a junior receiver for the irish, while his middle brother, osiris, is a freshman receiver at stanford. mcKinney said having an older brother already on the notre dame roster could be both a blessing and a curse for the irish in the a mon-ra st. brown recruiting process.
“it’s obviously a good thing to have a brother in the program, but just getting a feel for him, maybe a mon-ra might want to carve his own path somewhere,” mcKinney said. “i don’t know that for sure, but he’s always said that playing with equanimeous or osiris at stanford would be nice, but ultimately it’s his
decision. i can see him being a guy that wants to carve out his own path and do his own thing at a different school, but i think there’s merit to both situations there, because he has considered the possibility of playing with one of his brothers, i think that would be fun for him, but also, again, i think he may be the kind of guy who wants to do his own thing.” in years past, notre dame has brought in a number of West coast recruits for the Usc matchup. This strategy will be no different this year, as the three four-star recruits in st. brown, Tuliaupupu and murray, all from mater dei in santa a na, california, will be making official visits, along with Tariq bracy, a three-star athlete from milpitas, california.
“ … Four official visitors from one region of the country is certainly notable,” mcKinney said. mcKinney also noted that the strategy of bringing in notre dame recruits who are also Usc recruits could backfire for the irish, should the Trojans put on a particularly impressive performance saturday.
“if Usc were to come in and win by 30, which i certainly don’t expect to happen, that’s obviously not going to look good,” mcKinney said. “a nd a lot of those kids, especially a mon-ra and solomon, are really considering Usc as well and Usc is in really good position with those kids, so it wouldn’t look good to lay an egg. but, when it comes down to it, the weekend is about notre dame and, obviously the game is about part of it and a lot of it is
the stuff going on outside of the game. but, it certainly wouldn’t look good if notre dame went out there and laid an egg against Usc in front of a bunch of kids who are considering Usc.” as the Usc game is such an integral one in terms of recruiting for the irish, mcKinney said the main focus for notre dame needs to be on the game itself and on defeating the Trojans, which will prove to recruits that the irish truly are a national team once again.
“First goal is to win, to beat Usc. Just go about your business,” mcKinney said. “a lot of times notre dame speaks for itself. bringing a kid to notre dame and taking him to the game and showing him campus kind of gets the job done for them sometimes. of course, coaching
a dverT isemen T
staff will be pushing and meeting with these kids and telling them all these things, but notre dame is a little bit different than some other schools where the history and tradition surrounding the school kind of speaks for itself, so they are going to be pushing for a lot of these kids, so the first priority is to go out and beat Usc and show these kids that are coming in that the 4-8 season, first of all, is done with, and the first half of the season where notre dame dominated some lesser opponents wasn’t just them dominating lesser opponents, it was them dominating because that’s what they do. so, going out and beating Usc is the first goal for the season and for recruiting.”
Contact Elizabeth Greason at egreason@nd.edu
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KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
Irish junior wide receiver C.J. Sanders returns a kick during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7 at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
EMMET FARNAN | The Observer
Sophomore cornerback Troy Pride Jr. backpedals after the snap during Notre Dame’s 52-17 victory over Miami (OH) on Sept. 30 at Notre Dame Stadium.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer Irish junior linebacker Te’von Coney reads the play during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7. Brian Kelly said Coney will start against USC in place of the injured Greer Martini.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer Irish junior kicker Justin Yoon kicks off during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7 at Kenan Memorial Stadium.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer
Sophomore quarterback Ian Book makes an adjustment at the line of scrimmage in Notre Dame’s 33-10 win over North Carolina on Oct. 7.
ROSIE LoVOI | The Observer
Irish freshman safety Isaiah Robertson, right, brings down a Spartan ball carrier as sophomore cornerback Donte Vaughn, center, looks on during Notre Dame’s 38-18 victory over Michigan State on Sept. 23 at Spartan Stadium. The Irish defense forced three turnovers in the game, including a forced fumble at the goal line by sophomore Shaun Crawford.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON The Observer
Irish junior tight end Alize Mack, left, carries the ball during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7 at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mack tallied six receptions for 38 yards in the contest.
ROSIE LoVOI | The Observer
Junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush throws a pass during Notre Dame’s 38-18 victory over Michigan State on Sept. 23.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer Irish defenders bring down a Tar Heel ball carrier during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 7. The Irish defense did not allow a first down to the UNC offense until the game’s second quarter.
KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer Junior defensive lineman Jerry Tillery fights past a Tar Heel offensive lineman during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory on Oct. 7.
