Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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FOR THE RECORD • Notre Dame finished 42nd in the country in total defense in 2016, allowing 378.8 yards per game. In terms of scoring defense, the Irish finished in a tie for 61st at 27.8 points allowed per game. Under two different defensive coordinators — Brian VanGorder for the first four games and interim DC Greg Hudson for the final eight — the Irish allowed an average of 182.4 yards per game on the ground, 72nd in the country. Teams had a tougher time through the air against Notre Dame, averaging just 196.4 yards passing (21st). • The 4-8 record in 2016 marked just the second losing season in the 26-year coaching career of Notre Dame's Brian Kelly. The only other previous losing campaign for Kelly was in 2004 at Central Michigan, his first year as a Football Bowl Subdivision head coach. The Chippewas finished 4-7 and lost three games by at least 30 points. 2. Jackson Owns Irish With Notre Dame's season fizzling out in late-November, USC star junior Ado- ree' Jackson had a field day against the Irish at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The Trojans' do-everything cornerback put on a dazzling display, returning both a punt and kickoff for a touchdown while also catching a scoring pass in the 45-27 rain-soaked USC victory. His 97-yard kickoff return was the clear highlight, when he streaked down the right sideline and hurdled Notre Dame kicker John Chereson on the way to the end zone. During a season in which Notre Dame struggled with special teams throughout, Jackson exposed the Irish in all areas. 3. Jones Swallows Canes Notre Dame fifth-year senior defensive tackle Jarron Jones had a game to remember against Miami Oct. 29, featuring several highlight-reel plays against Hurricanes center Nick Linder. Jones received the game ball for his dominant effort and gave it to his mother. In the backfield throughout the game — he finished with seven total stops, in- cluding six tackles for loss and a sack — Jones' performance helped Notre Dame build a 20-0 lead and ultimately come away with a 30-27 victory. 4. Pack Block No play better exemplifies the misery of the 2016 season for Notre Dame better than the blocked punt that proved the difference in a 10-3 loss to North Carolina State Oct. 8 in Raleigh, N.C. Playing in a constant downpour with heavy winds due to Hurricane Matthew, the Irish and Wolfpack were tied 3-3 in the fourth quarter when NC State tight end Pharoah McKever broke through the middle to block the punt by junior Tyler Newsome, which was scooped up by safety Dexter Wright and returned 16 yards for the game-winning score. With neither side able to mount a consistent offensive drive due to the condi- tions, the block was a too much for Notre Dame's offense to overcome. 5. Adams Runs Past Miami On the brink of another crushing loss, sophomore running back Josh Adams would not have the Irish lose to Miami. With six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and his team trailing the Hur- ricanes 27-20, Adams took a Kizer handoff, broke a tackle and bolted 41 yards for the game-tying touchdown. After jumping out to a 20-0 lead, the Irish allowed 27 consecutive points before Adams evened the score. On his 20th birthday, Adams and Notre Dame scored the final 10 to pull out the win. TOP FIVE DEFINING PLAYS BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 139 The Irish suffered a program-record seven defeats by eight points or less in 2016, with the first coming in the season opener at Texas when backup quarterback Tyrone Swoopes' six-yard scoring run gave the Longhorns a 50-47 double-overtime triumph. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA 1. Swoopes Ends Texas Shootout With dreams of a College Football Playoff appear- ance still in tact for both sides, the 2016 season opener in Austin, Texas, between Notre Dame and Texas was one of the best games of the season. On a sweltering Sunday night, the Irish and Long- horns battled in an unforgettable game. Texas scored a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter and seemed to have the game in control. But a blocked point after try that Notre Dame's Shaun Crawford returned for two points tied the game at 37 and forced overtime. The teams traded touchdowns in the first over- time, but Texas senior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes — inserted in a special run-only package — was too much for Notre Dame. His six-yard touchdown run, which featured a dramatic dive into the end zone, won the Longhorns the game. 272.0 The career total offense per game average amassed by quarterback DeShone Kizer during his two years as the Notre Dame starter. That number ranks No. 1 in Irish history. After averaging 261.8 yards per game as a sophomore in 2015, Kizer took a larger role in the offense in 2016, averaging 283.1 yards per game. BY THE NUMBERS 7 The number of losses Notre Dame suffered by eight points or less, a program record. Only the season finale at USC (45-27) did not end within one score. Prior to the USC game, Notre Dame's worst loss was an eight-point defeat to Michigan State. 65 Notre Dame's ranking among the 65 Power Five teams in sacks by defensive linemen in 2016. The Irish tallied three, two by defensive tackle Jarron Jones and one by defensive end Isaac Rochell. Notre Dame returns zero career sacks among its defensive linemen in 2017.