2017 Notre Dame Football Preview

2017 Notre Dame Football Preview

Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview

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122 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY BRYAN DRISKELL Former Temple head coach Matt Rhule took over a program coming off a 4-7 season with only one 10-win campaign in school history prior to 2013. In just four years, he led the Owls to back-to-back 10-win seasons and a pair of American Athletic Conference East ti- tles. After guiding the Owls to the AAC cham- pionship, he departed for Baylor this winter. His replacement, former Florida defensive coordinator Geoff Collins, is now expected to build on that success. Temple won with defense under Rhule, ranking third nationally in total defense and 11th in scoring defense. Collins will look to do the same after leading the Gators to a No. 5 total defense ranking and a No. 6 finish in scoring defense. "Geoff Collins came to Temple … with the 'Minister of Mayhem' nickname, which points to his aggressive style of calling games and building defenses that aim to get to the quar- terback and create negative plays," explained John DiCarlo, editor of OwlScoop.com. The coach will emphasize more blitzes and look to use his defensive line aggressively. Collins will have his work cut out for him, though. He must replace the school's all-time leading passer, first-round NFL Draft pick Haason Reddick at linebacker, second-round choice Dion Dawkins at left tackle and fifth- round pick Nate Hairston at cornerback. New offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude is looking to build on past success as well. If he can get good production from the new starting quarterback, the offense should be improved thanks to the return of four starting linemen, a talented running back and the best group of pass catchers in the league. "Patenaude would like to run a more up- tempo, high-octane offense, which would be a bit of a departure," DiCarlo noted. "He has a future pro in rising-junior [running back] Ryquell Armstead, who tallied 919 yards and 14 touchdowns last season in a time share." Temple returns three starters in the second- ary, but Collins will have to completely rebuild a front seven that loses a combined 64.5 tackles for loss and 30.5 sacks from its 2016 rotation. "Collins could try to compensate for what he lost by blitzing more and sending more pres- sure from the linebackers, corners and safeties," DiCarlo noted. ✦ 2017 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2016 Result Sept. 2 at Notre Dame — Sept. 9 Villanova — Sept. 15 Massachusetts — Sept. 21 at South Florida W, 46-30 Sept. 30 Houston — Oct. 7 at East Carolina W, 37-10 Oct. 14 Connecticut W, 21-0 Oct. 21 at Army L, 28-13 Nov. 2 Navy W, 34-10 Nov. 10 at Cincinnati W, 34-13 Nov. 18 Central Florida W, 26-25 Nov. 25 at Tulsa — QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Notre Dame leads 2-0 Last Meeting: Notre Dame 24, Temple 20 (Oct. 31, 2015; Philadelphia) Head Coach: Geoff Collins (1st year) 2016 Results: 10-4 overall, 7-1 AAC (1st East); beat Navy 34-10 in the AAC championship game; lost to Wake Forest 34-26 in the Military Bowl Returning Starters: 8 (4 offense, 4 defense) 2017 Preseason Rankings: No. 55 by Lindy's, No. 81 by Athlon and No. 83 by ESPN Football Power Index Did You Know?: Temple head coach Geoff Col- lins and Notre Dame strength coach Matt Balis worked together at Mississippi State from 2011- 13 … Temple tight ends coach Ed Foley and Notre Dame defensive coordinator Mike Elko worked together at Fordham from 2002-03 … Phila- delphia native Will Fuller scored Notre Dame's game-winning touchdown with 2:09 left in the contest during the 24-20 Irish victory in 2015 … Temple safety Sean Chandler was named to the preseason All-AAC first team by Athlon, Street & Smith's and Phil Steele's … Running back Ry- quell Armstead was named to the preseason all- conference first team by Street & Smith's, while kicker Aaron Boumerhi was named to the top squad by Athlon and Street & Smith's. Prediction: Notre Dame 37, Temple 14 STRENGTH: Wide Receiver Temple has made a name for itself in recent seasons with a highly productive defense, but the wide receiver position is without question the team's top asset heading into 2017. The Owls have it all: size, speed, proven pro- duction and depth. Junior Ventell Bryant is an NFL-caliber wide receiver. At 6-3, he has good size and he led the Owls with 54 catches and 895 receiving yards last fall despite missing three games because of an injury. His breakout game came in 2015, when he caught six passes for 91 yards in a 24-20 loss to Notre Dame. Keith Kirkwood has excellent size at 6-3 and 218 pounds, and the senior provided a solid complement to Bryant last season. Kirkwood finished second on the team with 42 catches for 648 yards. A player on the verge of a breakthrough is senior Adonis Jennings. He caught 27 passes for 474 yards last season, but Jennings finished strong, racking up six catches for 100 yards in the regular-season finale against East Carolina and seven catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns in the bowl loss to Wake Forest. The trio combined for 386 receiving yards against Wake Forest, with Bryant and Jennings both topping the 150-yard mark. CONCERN: Quarterback Temple will have to replace the most prolific passer in school history. Phillip Walker was a four-year starter who finished his career as the program's leader in passing yards (10,669) and passing touchdowns (74). Walker's 3,295 yards last season set a school record and his 22 touch- down passes tied the program's best mark. The returning roster contains just 11 career pass attempts and zero starts, and Temple did not seem to be much closer to finding its answer at quarterback at the conclusion of the spring. A battle will rage in fall camp, and who earns that job remains to be seen. Redshirt sophomore Logan Marchi was Walk- er's backup last season, but according to John DiCarlo of OwlScoop.com, a rough spring has him behind redshirt junior Frank Nutile, who backed up Walker in 2015. Nutile is considered the frontrunner heading into fall camp, but a pair of young players could push him. Redshirt freshman Anthony Russo has prototypical size (6-4, 220) and the best arm on the roster. If he can pick up the new system, he could eventually win the job. Early enrollee freshman Todd Centeio showed promise in the spring and DiCarlo believes he could be a legitimate contender in the fall. TEMPLE OWLS SEPT. 2 • NOTRE DAME STADIUM • SOUTH BEND RETURNING LEADERS Rushing: RB Ryquell Armstead (919 yards, 14 TD) Passing: QB Logan Marchi (29 yards, 0 TD) Receiving: WR Ventell Bryant (895 yards, 4 TD) Tackles: S Delvon Randall (65) Sacks: DE Jacob Martin (2.5) Interceptions: S Delvon Randall (4) X-FACTOR: Junior running back Ryquell Armstead amassed 919 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground last season despite sharing carries. PHOTO BY JOSEPH V. LABOLITO

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