Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/102697
on paper revisited catches for 90 yards) averaging 15.8 yards on their 13 receptions. However, only 61 of those yards came in the first half, when the game was decided, and when the Irish receiving corps had problems gaining separation against Alabama's press coverage. Golson challenged Alabama All-American cornerback Dee Milliner too much for his own good. On its first possession, Notre Dame had second-andtwo, but instead of a run or a safe pass to move the chains, the Irish failed on two straight fade, jump ball attempts to tight end Tyler Eifert on the boundary side — with the sideline the "extra defender." Milliner also broke up a similar attempt in the second half. Advantage: Alabama Alabama Passing Game Vs. Notre Dame Pass Defense The Crimson Tide's lethal play-action pass worked consistently after it took a 14‑0 lead on its first two possessions, mainly because the running game established control. Quarterback AJ McCarron needed to pass for only 49 yards on the first two touchdown drives, but he found Kevin Norwood for 25 yards and Amari Cooper for 27 during the third. Then on the fourth TD march to make it 28‑0 right before halftime, McCarron lofted a perfect 31-yard toss off a corner route to Christion Jones to set up the score. Alabama's first drive in the second half ended with a 34-yard touchdown off play action to Cooper on a similar play. With the Irish safeties pinching in to aid the run — but to no avail — the corner route to the outside was an all-you-can-eat buffet most of the night for McCarron. Advantage: Alabama Special Teams On back-to-back Alabama punts in the second quarter, Irish freshman Davonte' Neal nearly lost a fumble at his 8-yard line and then caught a punt at his 4, where he was tackled, instead of letting the ball bounce into the end zone. Notre Dame's most By lou somogyi effective play on kickoff returns was a touchback. Advantage: Alabama Third-Down Conversions Alabama converted its first four third-down opportunities. It didn't even face third down on the first touchdown drive, but easily converted two thirdand-one situations and a third-and-five on the second. During the third touchdown march, McCarron found Cooper for 27 yards on third-and-six. The back-breaker was the aforementioned thirdand-three run by Yeldon in which he shook off Te'o, followed by a 27-yard pass to Jones on third-and-six. The game was decided in the first half when Alabama was 6 of 8 on third down and Notre Dame 0 of 5. Advantage: Alabama Turnovers Similar to special teams, this department was inconsequential to the outcome. Neither team had any in the first half when Alabama was already ahead 28‑0. Notre Dame's first drive in the second half ended with a long Golson pass getting intercepted at the 3-yard line, the game's lone turnover. Advantage: Alabama Analysis No stat provides a better summation of the game than the Crimson Tide outrushing Notre Dame 26532 in yards. Brian Kelly's blueprint to return Notre Dame to the summit was built on stopping the run and being able to run the ball, especially in the latter part of the contest. It was applied well through the first 12 games, but fell apart on the grandest stage against the program that is the gold standard for running the ball and stopping the run. It was astounding to witness how much stronger, faster and better Alabama was from the outset. As much as the SEC might have been "down" this year, including surprising losses by Florida and LSU in bowl games, it demonstrated why it is still the king with its seventh consecutive national title, with Alabama capturing three of the last four.