(Notre Dame Football News) – Notre Dame opens the second half of the 2011 season by hosting arch-rival Southern California on Saturday in the first night game at the stadium since 1990. The Irish stand at 4-2 and are coming off a bye week, while the 5-1 Trojans last played on October 13 when they defeated California at Berkeley. Coach Brian Kelly’s team broke USC’s eight game winning streak last November in the Coliseum against Lane Kiffin, who was also in his first season as head coach in Los Angeles. Talented Trojan quarterback Matt Barkley did not play in that game due to injury but will lead his team into South Bend this year.

As is usually the case, USC is loaded at the offensive skill positions. Barkley is having an excellent campaign and the team is scoring 30 points per game. The Trojan defense has been uncharacteristically soft, but played its best game of the season last week at Cal. Notre Dame’s offense has been nearly unstoppable of late, and the absence of turnovers in the past two games is a primary factor in that success. The Irish defense has also started to resemble its preseason hype, although the Trojans will provide a stern test for a secondary that has been shaky at times.

Notre Dame enters the game in reasonably good health. Ankle injuries to Manti Te’o and Ethan Johnson have abated and should not limit their participation, while linebacker Danny Spond should be available after missing a few games. USC is not quite as fortunate, as starting tailback Marc Tyler and freshman wide receiver Marqise Lee are nursing shoulder injuries, and cornerback Torin Harris has not practiced this week. Curtis McNeal (5’7” 175 lbs.) would start for Tyler, who still insists that he will be ready to play. Latest reports indicate Lee appears to be on track to start. Harris would normally be replaced by Anthony Brown, but Brown broke his ankle in last week’s game. Massive guard Marcus Martin (340 lbs.) is also questionable, but backup Martin Coleman is only a cheeseburger or two lighter at 335.

There is a lot at stake for Notre Dame, as if a nationally televised prime time showcase against its traditional rival is not sufficient motivation. The Irish are trying to keep hope alive for a BCS bowl, and a third loss would eliminate them from consideration. From a recruiting standpoint, their performance in this contest will make an indelible statement to a significant number of highly-coveted prospects in attendance. Both teams are unranked in the AP Top 25, but a victory on Saturday should catapult the winner into this group. USC remains on probation and is not included in the Coach’s Poll.

NOTRE DAME’S OFFENSE vs. USC’S DEFENSE

Power and balance are the keys for the Irish. The improved running game should work against a defense that was built with an eye toward speed and defending less physical PAC-12 offenses. Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray have become increasingly productive behind an offensive line that is more assertive each week. If the game goes according to plan, this group should dominate the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, quarterback Tommy Rees needs to improve upon a near-catastrophic performance in the Coliseum last year. Rees has been on target lately although he can ill-afford a relapse in a high intensity game where momentum swings will be crucial.

The depleted USC secondary does not appear to have an answer for Michael Floyd, who will tower over the Trojan cornerbacks. The Irish have done a good job in recent weeks of spreading the ball around in the passing game. If Theo Riddick and Tyler Eifert establish themselves early, Notre Dame can fire on all cylinders and be very difficult to stop.

USC pursues the ball quite well and it will be difficult to run wide against them. Freshmen outside linebackers Dion Bailey and Hayes Pullard are comparatively small by Midwest standards but are very fast. Both can cover in space against the pass, and leading tackler Bailey is an emerging star. Senior middle linebacker Chris Galippo is also effective when dropping into the passing zones.

Up front, the Trojans have two talented pass rushers in their 4-3 alignment. Ends Nick Perry and Wes Horton start and are spelled by Devon Kennard, who returns to the front after spending 2010 at linebacker. Perry is an excellent all-around player who will command respect from Notre Dame’s blockers. Veteran tackles DaJohn Harris and Christian Tupou are 300 pounders who are backed up by inexperienced freshman, so the Irish interior linemen need to be physical throughout the evening.

Free safety T.J. McDonald is USC’s leader in the secondary. He is joined by strong safety Jawanza Starling, whose backup Demetrius Wright is also injured. As mentioned above, cornerback is a concern for the Trojans with Harris and Brown on the shelf. Nickell Robey is a feisty player at 5’8”, but it’s not clear who will start opposite him or if a linebacker will be asked to cover Riddick in the slot. USC may elect to blanket Floyd and single cover the other receivers with its athletic back seven, but that strategy will render them vulnerable to the running game.

USC’S OFFENSE vs. NOTRE DAME’S DEFENSE

The Trojans will have to rely heavily on the passing of Barkley and the extraordinary talents of wideout Robert Woods. The ground attack has been inconsistent this season and will be further impacted if Tyler is out or limited. McNeal is a dangerous runner but is not equipped for 20-25 carries. D.J. Morgan and Dillon Baxter have played sparingly but may be pressed into service. Pass blocking may also be a problem without Tyler, as McNeal could be physically overmatched by blitzing Notre Dame linebackers such as Darius Fleming or Prince Shembo.

Kiffin likes to take advantage of the elusive Woods and his other swift receivers by getting the ball to them in the flat so they can operate in space. This typically results in missed tackles and large chunks of yardage. When defenders attempt to tighten up their coverage, Barkley will hit them over the top with the deep ball. Woods has caught 60 passes in six games, and defenses have been unable to slow him down thus far.

Notre Dame’s corners will face a stiff challenge and must minimize missed tackles that turn short completions into long gains. The outside linebackers will also have to elevate their game and overcome a deficit in speed and agility to contain the Trojan skill position players. Pressure on Barkley will be a key ingredient if the Irish are successful. They must collapse the pocket around him, since his normally outstanding accuracy has declined under pressure and he is not a threat to run the ball.

Stellar left tackle Matt Kalil and center Khaled Holmes are surrounded by three new starters this year on the offensive line. The result to date is a modest running game by Trojan standards but very good protection for Barkley, who has been sacked only four times. Barkley’s passing numbers include 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions, a 68% completion rate and just under 300 yards per game. In addition to Woods and Lee, Brandon Carswell is a capable third receiver and tight end Xavier Grimble is a favorite target in the red zone. Fullback Keith Ellison, a former tight end, is primarily used as a lead blocker and pass receiver.

The Irish must stop the run without bringing the safeties into the box, as they will become vulnerable to play-action bombs. Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator Bob Diaco may elect to concede some short gains underneath while keeping free safety Harrison Smith well back. Woods is a player that can dominate the game, and the best defense may be to simply chew up the clock with a methodical offense that keeps him and Barkley on the sidelines.

SPECIAL TEAMS

All of the Trojan return men are fast and dangerous, so the Irish cover teams must be sharp. Robey handles punts with occasional help from Woods, who also teams with McNeal on kickoffs. Freshman Andre Heidari has been more than reliable, hitting on 10 of 11 field goal attempts and all of his extra points. Punter Kyle Negrete’s kicks do not travel far but leave little room for a return.

Michael Floyd volunteered to return punts against Air Force but did not have a chance to show what he could do. George Atkinson has provided a spark to the kickoff return team, but the Irish were still in search of more vigorous and consistent blocking at the midseason break. David Ruffer has missed several field goals, although there is nothing wrong with his leg. The lack of crisp execution between the snapper, holder and kicker should have been addressed during the extra practice time as Notre Dame cannot afford to come away empty this week when they move into scoring position.

SUMMARY

The game shapes up as a contrast in styles where each side enjoys certain advantages on paper. To maximize its chances, Notre Dame will strive to wear down the Trojans, utilize favorable matchups with Floyd or Eifert, and avoid costly mistakes. Conversely, USC must protect Barkley and exploit the Irish defense in space where their skill players will cause Diaco to reach for the Advil. The Irish have the players to win the battle in the trenches, and this will be paramount to offset USC’s quick strike capability. Obviously, turnovers will be magnified in their importance.

The Trojans will strive to start fast in order to take the crowd out of the game. They would like to force Notre Dame away from its strong running game and take the chance that Rees will make a few mistakes while trying to beat them through the air. The Irish approach should be to pound on USC’s relatively thin defensive ranks, make Barkley earn every yard and avoid handing the Trojans cheap points.

Here are a few questions that will shed light on the outcome:

Will Rees be able to adjust to the speed of USC’s defense?

Can the Irish pass rush make a dent in Barkley’s completion percentage?

Will Woods and Lee torch Notre Dame’s secondary?

Which team will be able to sustain its running game?

Will the Irish shoot themselves in the foot at an inopportune moment?

Did Notre Dame’s special teams improve during the bye week?

Will the night time atmosphere and home crowd be a positive factor for Notre Dame?

PREDICTION

USC is very talented, but the October version of the Fighting Irish is a better football team. The concern for Notre Dame is they have played in very few big games during the past few years, and they have found a way to lose most of them. The Trojans may be down a notch from the Pete Carroll levels, but they maintain an expectation of winning and confidence in their ability that translates onto the field. Not surprisingly, they have dismissed last year’s defeat as a fluke based on Barkley’s absence from the lineup.

It’s well past the time for Notre Dame to reestablish its long dormant culture of success, and there is no better opportunity than this one. The Irish can show the world that they can do more than beat up on the likes of Purdue and Air Force, and are ready to become a serious contender once again. This could be a reasonably comfortable win, but my gut says it will be more suspenseful than stylish.

NOTRE DAME 34 USC 30