Walker Leads Irish Past Purdue

Darius Walker rushed for 146 yards and added 73 more on pass receptions to lead a balanced Notre Dame offense to a 35-21 win against the Boilermakers. Brady Quinn was his old self as he passed for 316 yards and two touchdowns, although Purdue's Curtis Painter racked up nearly 400 yards against the patchwork Irish secondary.

While the passing game worked well for both teams, Walker's 30 productive carries was the difference as the Boilers had to play from behind all afternoon. Purdue rushed only 18 times while Painter threw 46 passes. The Irish enjoyed a balanced 43 rush/38 pass split, which was one of Coach Charlie Weis' goals this week.

Both teams had problems in the secondary, but the Irish made enough plays on defense to maintain the lead after sprinting to a 28-7 second quarter advantage. Painter kept the issue in doubt by hitting an 88-yard touchdown pass just before halftime to Selwyn Lyman, who was clearly the star of the game for Purdue. The sophomre caught eight passes for 238 yards as the Notre Dame defense limited senior speedster Dorien Bryant to three harmless catches.

Rhema McKnight was the beneficiary as the youthful Boilermaker secondary focused on Jeff Samardzija. McKnight caught ten passes for a more modest 120 yards, but he matched Lyman's two touchdowns on the day. John Carlson had another excellent performance for Notre Dame with five clutch receptions for 62 yards.

Both teams appeared to be armed for a shootout as they scored with relative ease in the first quarter. The Irish took the opening kickoff and rumbled 70 yards in seven plays, capped by a well-conceived end-around to freshman George West for an 11 yard score. Purdue answered later in the period with an 85-yard drive to tie it at 7-7.

The Irish retook the lead less than three minutes later when Walker burst through the line for a 14-yard score, and got the ball back again when the Boilers missed a field goal attempt. Quinn hit McKnight from six yards after the fifth year senior had dropped a sure touchdown a few plays earlier in the drive, and Notre Dame led 21-7.

Purdue quickly moved into Irish territory, but a solid hit by Terrail Lambert on Dustin Keller jarred the ball loose at the Notre Dame 37. Lambert recovered, and Quinn took advantage by moving the Irish into scoring position. The drive appeared to stall on the Boiler five yard line, but the Irish executed a fake field goal and Samardzija strolled untouched into the end zone with only 1:22 remaining in the half.

What could have been a romp suddenly turned into nervous time (apologies to the late Chick Hearn) for Notre Dame fans. Pinned back at his own 12, Painter unleashed a bomb to Lyman, who beat Darrin Walls near midfield. Safety Tom Zbikowski arrived on the scene but whiffed on the tackle, and Lyman waltzed into the end zone. Suddenly, Notre Dame's lead was cut to 28-14 and Purdue would receive the second half kickoff.

Momentum swung back to the Irish when the Boilers went three and out to open the second half after a dropped third down pass. Quinn took over and found McKnight and Carlson for sizeable gains, then found McKnight again for an easy 12-yard scoring toss. Notre Dame led 35-14, but nearly 25 minutes remained in the game.

Purdue moved the ball well after a long kickoff return, but the Boilers could not convert a fourth and goal pass as Lambert made another solid defensive play in the end zone. Notre Dame tried to ice the game with another long drive, but Anthony Spencer led the defensive charge for Purdue and kept the Irish off the board.

As the game moved into the fourth quarter, Weis stayed with the run in an effort to burn time off the clock. Purdue managed a score halfway through the period, to close the gap to 35-21, but Notre Dame generated enough first downs to seal the victory.

Once again, Irish fans were left to sort out a sometimes painful performance by the defense. The absence of cornerback Ambrose Wooden and linebacker Travis Thomas due to injury was exposed by Purdue on several occasions, but the Boilers had to abandon the run after falling behind by 21 points in the third quarter. Notre Dame hurt itself on several occasions with poor tackling, and the effects of playing five consecutive games against quality opponents was definitely in evidence.

Fortunately, the Irish offense was efficient and mistake-free during the first three quarters. Their scoring spree behind a rejuvenated running game took the pressure off Rick Minter's tired and battered troops. A bye week will finally arrive after next week's home game against Stanford, but the level of play by the defense has fallen off sharply after the first two games. Despite these concerns, Notre Dame moved to 4-1 and survived to fight another day as they prepare for upcoming games against three service academies and three PAC-10 opponents.

JV's Top Ten
1. Ohio State
2. USC
3. Michigan
4. Auburn
5. Florida
6. West Virginia
7. LSU
8. Texas
9. Notre Dame
10. Georgia Tech

Bottom Ten
1. Temple
2. Duke
3. San Diego State
4. Rice
5. Colorado
6. Stanford
7. Mississippi St.
7a. Mississippi
8. Buffalo
9. Wyoming
10. Miami (Fla)

POTENT PURDUE INVADES NOTRE DAME

Undefeated Purdue invades Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday to challenge the Fighting Irish. The Boilermakers have accumulated some impressive offensive statistics while going 4-0 against inferior competition, and this week’s game will be their first outside of West Lafayette. Meanwhile, Notre Dame will attempt to build on last week’s emotional comeback victory over Michigan State.

Purdue’s balanced attack is led by junior quarterback Curtis Painter, who has completed 64% of his passes to a group of talented receivers. Dorien Bryant is the main receiving threat, but 6’4” Selwyn Lymon and 6’3” Greg Orton are also quite capable. Tight end Dustin Keller is the most productive player at his position that the Irish have faced this season.

The Boilermaker running game has also been impressive. Kory Sheets and Jaycen Taylor run behind a veteran offensive line for more than five yards per carry. The elusive Sheets has scored ten of the team’s twelve rushing touchdowns.

Notre Dame’s defense will therefore face a difficult challenge, although Painter is not much of a running threat outside the pocket. Still, the Irish may be in for a long afternoon as they must respect the run and chase three receivers and a talented tight end all over the field. Painter is well-protected behind 1,535 pounds of beef, so the best solution for the Irish appears to be ball control and keeping the Purdue attack on the sideline.

Fortunately for Notre Dame, its offense should be able to put plenty of points on the board against Purdue’s young defense. Aside from end Anthony Spencer and safety Justin Scott, very few defenders have played extensively prior to this season. The Boilers have allowed nearly 30 points per game to the likes of Ball State and Indiana State, and a more experienced group surrendered 49 to the Irish last season.

This week should present an opportunity for Notre Dame to get its dormant running game on track. Darius Walker will get the majority of the carries, but he is nursing minor injuries this week. This may create opportunities for freshmen Munir Prince and James Aldridge, who have essentially been kept under wraps to date. Regardless of who carries the ball, the Irish will need to maintain possession and put together the long scoring drives that were plentiful last year yet missing in 2006.

Penalties, poor throws, dropped passes and inadequate run blocking have slowed Charlie Weis’ offense to date, but some credit must be given to the opposition in the first four contests. Purdue is similar to Michigan State defensively, but another poor first quarter by the Irish could result in a game that is much closer than it needs to be.

Notre Dame’s special teams are also due for a breakout performance. Punt return man Tom Zbikowski had an 85-yard return negated last week due to a penalty, but it seems only a matter of time before he puts six points on the board. Purdue has allowed one score in this fashion already. The Boilers counter with a one-two punch of Bryant and Sheets on kickoffs, and Bryant broke off a 67-yard return against the Irish last year.

Geoff Price of the Irish and Purdue’s Jared Armstrong are both excellent punters, while Chris Summers earns a slight edge over Notre Dame’s Carl Gioia in the kicking game, although neither is likely to convert a field goal attempt of more than 45 yards.

The Irish can take control of the game early with a fast start on offense and by bringing pressure on Painter as he tries to settle his nerves in a hostile environment. Both teams will be able to score points, but the team that is able to run the ball early will have an advantage. The Irish would prefer not to rely solely on Brady Quinn’s arm to win the game, but his receivers will have a decided advantage over the Purdue secondary.

The positional matchups are as follows:

Position / Advantage
Quarterback – Notre Dame
Running Back – Purdue
Wide Receivers – Notre Dame
Tight Ends – Notre Dame
ND OLine vs. PU DLine – Notre Dame
PU OLine vs. ND DLine – Even
Linebackers – Even
Secondary – Notre Dame
Punting - Even
Kicking - Purdue
Return Teams - Even
Intangibles - Notre Dame

Notre Dame should have the emotional advantage playing at home and coming off a defining win at Michigan State. That could change, however, if the Irish start slowly and give the young Boilermakers hope. It probably won’t be as easy as last year’s rout, but Purdue won’t be able to make enough plays on defense to avoid the inevitable.

NOTRE DAME 42 PURDUE 27

Weis Cracks and Crack Backs

I love the smell of testosterone in the morning. Smells like victory.
Been dreaming about Charlie again, Kayo?

Actually, the pugnacious Brian Poulian is my new man-hero.

John L. Smith said he was disappointed about last year’s flag planting because his players didn’t find the fifty yard line, a problem that re-emerged for his team during the second half of Saturday’s game.

To be fair, Smith’s offense crossed the 50 early in the 4th quarter. They were going the wrong direction on the way to 3rd and 42, but at least they crossed it.

Thank goodness Washington didn’t cross the Delaware that way or we’d all talk like Angel.

There aren’t but a three or four Irish defensive players I’d say had excellent games, but the list of those who made outstanding plays when it really mattered is quite long. Off the top of my head I recall great plays by Frome, Landri, Laws, Travis Thomas, Crum, Richardson, Ndukwe, and Lambert. Zbikowski made some great plays, too; but they didn’t count.

Any Zibby highlight reel should include both his punt return against MSU and his fumble return against OSU in the Fiesta Bowl. As with Rocket’s punt return against Colorado that was nullified by a phantom clip, it is important for future generations to know that Irish legends can only be stopped with an assist from the refs.

Listing the refs on the MSU depth chart was a bit much, don’t you think?

Headline from MGoBlue.com – Wolverines Open Big Ten Season With Comeback Win. Yep, those rallies from 7-0 first quarter deficits surely do stir the soul.

There’s a reason no one makes movies about Michigan football.

Have you forgotten about “The Big Chill”, that 1983 tale of a group of (I realize this is redundant) self-absorbed, Michigan alumni?

Was Joe Paterno hurrying to the bathroom when he left the field during Saturday’s game vs. Ohio State, or was he finally running towards “the light”.

He may have been running toward to the light, but it appears that the light evicted him bodily---undoubtedly to darker realms.

Like the Gameday set?

Bob Davie, who was inexplicably promoted to provide white noise between plays on ABC’s college football coverage, noted that Michigan State has Notre Dame’s number after winning seven of nine games before Saturday’s contest. Of course, Davie’s own 0-5 record vs. MSU is more indicative of whose number MSU actually had.

In his intro, Davie made a big deal about how Spartan Stadium was “a different place to play at night.” In reality, any time a Davie-coached team played at night, it ended disastrously, prompting his motivational slogan, “No more Saturday nights.”

It was either that or “Mostly ball.”

NC State got its first victory over a Division 1-A opponent, impressive because BC is one of the better teams in that Massachusetts high school football classification.

You jest, but John Swofford, ACC commissioner, is going to propose precisely this realignment at the conference’s next directors meeting.

BC fans will proudly tout the extension of their bowl appearance streak if they make the state playoffs.

I wonder if a sports reporter asked Drew Stanton if there was a time in the fourth quarter when he thought, “I’ve dropped off of the Heisman watch list.”

Indeed there was. As a follow-up question the reporter asked Stanton whether there was a time in the fourth quarter when he thought, “Terrail Lambert just jumped onto the Thorpe watch list.”

And Javon Ringer, John Masters, and Jesse Miller remain on the 50 yard line watch.

I see that Florida State got its offense going in a 55-7 victory over Rice, AKA the Temple of the South. Bobby Bowden was reportedly pleased when he was informed after the game.

Give Bowden more credit. The only time he doesn’t know what’s going on around him is when his players are involved in a felony or a NCAA violation.

It’s like watching Jed Clampett turn into Mr. Magoo.

Terrail Lambert didn’t take long to improve the quality of his highlight clip appearances, did he?

He’s on the verge of becoming Pontiac’s new spokesmen.

Would that get him in as much trouble as doing teasers for WSBT?

Kirk Herbstreit seems like a pretty nice fellow, but he must have done something awful to earn Saturdays with Brent Mussberger and Bob Davie as his penance.

Especially when you consider that he splits time between those two and the company of Corso and Fowler.

I wonder if Herbstreit knows he’s in hell?

It seems appropriate that three of the Spartans’ offensive players were guarding the 50 yard line against flag planting because MSU’s defenders couldn’t stop the Irish from doing anything after the third quarter.

I think it was a bizarre attempt at performance art: stand around and do nothing for 15 minutes. A perfect metaphor for the Spartan offense in the final stanza.

Meanwhile, John L. Smith maintains that his boys were innocent victims during the sideline skirmish because we know his guys wouldn’t be spoiling for some thuggery.

#4 West Virginia completed its sweep of non-conference opponents Marshall, Eastern Washington, Maryland, and East Carolina. Now comes the easy part of WVU’s schedule, Big East games.

You mean Eastern Washington and East Carolina aren’t in the Big East? What, exactly, are the criteria for belonging to that conference anyway?

I think the lofty standard is to not suck as badly as Temple.

Asked about the significance of his team’s come from behind victory over UCLA, Washington head coach Tyrone Willingham said, ”Today the soil is healthier though the farmer planted aggressively.” John Saunders nodded knowingly.

I think that was a misquote. In the corrected transcript, Willingham said, “Today the soil is healthier though the greens keeper planted aggressively.” Chauncey sticks to what he knows best.

Is that why Chauncey refers to each game as a round of football?

I can only think of one other guy in college football who routinely used his first name and middle initial, and MSU’s John L. Smith has a long way to go before he’ll lay claim to either the talent or the brains of Wossamatta U’s Bullwinkle J. Moose.

Does Chuck “D-Cup” Amato count?

If he does, it will only be for another seven games.

Next up in the world’s most classless prick competition – Joe Tiller. Good luck, coach. The bar has been set very high.

I think we should emulate Weis here, and take the high road. He doesn’t schedule the pricks; he just makes them look bad by comparison.

You and I are going to take the high road? Maybe I wasn’t mistaken about that flying pig I saw this morning.

Kayo
Bacchus
Kayo

IRISH RETURN FROM THE BRINK TO STUN MSU

With its season and even its overall credibility headed for the abyss on Saturday night, Notre Dame staged a miraculous rally to defeat Michigan State 40-37. Terrail Lambert’s two fourth quarter interceptions keyed a furious comeback, during which the Irish erased a 37-21 deficit in the final eight minutes to stun 80,000 rain-soaked Spartan fans.

Brady Quinn threw five touchdown passes, not including one to MSU’s Ervin Baldwin as Notre Dame dug a deep first half hole. Most of Quinn’s production occurred after the break even when the Irish had to abandon any pretense of a running game. The Spartans outrushed Notre Dame by 248-47 on the night, which in most cases translates into victory.

On this bizarre night, however, Michigan State suffered an inexplicable meltdown that was aided by questionable coaching decisions and a better conditioned Irish team. The Spartans led 31-14 at halftime on the strength of quarterback Drew Stanton’s play and a slew of miscues by Notre Dame.

Stanton hit Kerry Reed for a 34 yard score to complete a 73 yard, three play drive on MSU’s first possession while the Irish were going three and out. The Spartans extended the lead to 17-0 by the end of the opening period, which looked like the fifth quarter of the Michigan game to Notre Dame fans.

Quinn hit Rhema McKnight for a 32 yard score to put his team on the board early in the second period, but Baldwin stepped in front of a screen pass on the next Irish series and returned it for a 19-yard touchdown. Trailing 24-7, Coach Charlie Weis gambled on a fourth down in his own territory and was rewarded when Quinn hit John Carlson for 27 yards. Jeff Samardzija finished the drive by taking a pass to paydirt from 17 yards as Notre Dame closed the gap to 24-14.

The Spartans had the last word before halftime, though. A special teams penalty on the Irish gave MSU excellent field position, and Reed’s second touchdown reception a few plays later stretched the lead to 31-14.

Notre Dame gave its faithful some hope after the break by scoring on a 62-yard strike from Quinn to Carlson. Weis gambled again on the next Irish possession by calling for a pass on fourth and nine near midfield. Quinn was blitzed and the ball fell incomplete, whereupon Michigan State cranked up its running game and rumbled into the end zone. A missed extra point kept the score at 37-21, but it hardly seemed to matter.

The Irish were supposed to have the wind at their backs in the fourth quarter, but a monsoon hit East Lansing and the wind shifted 180 degrees. This proved to be only the first in a series of bizarre events in the game’s final fifteen minutes.

With the Irish seemingly unable to move the ball, a pass by Quinn was tipped forward into Carlson’s hands for a first down. Samardzija then grabbed a slant pass and wove his way through the Spartan secondary for a 43 yard score. Darius Walker was stopped short on a two point conversion try, so Notre Dame trailed by 37-27 with 8:18 left.

At this point, the Spartans inexplicably folded. Not only was the Irish defensive line beginning to assert itself, but Coach John L. Smith pulled the plug on his high-octane offense. Smith’s ultra conservative play calling went unrewarded when Chinedum Ndukwe stripped Stanton of the ball and recovered on the MSU 24.

Notre Dame appeared to squander the opportunity when consecutive penalties pushed them back more than 15 yards, but a blatant pass interference call on the Spartans gave the Irish new life. Quinn found McKnight in the left corner of the end zone, and Notre Dame was suddenly within one score with five long minutes left. In keeping with the bizarre theme, Carl Gioia missed the extra point and the Irish trailed by four at 37-33.

Derek Landri and Mike Richardson led the defensive charge as the visitors tried to get the ball back for a chance at victory. A third down blitz forced a poor pass over the middle by Stanton. Lambert picked off the floater and scampered into the end zone from 27 yards to put Notre Dame ahead for the first time in the contest. The Irish led 40-37 with just under three minutes remaining, and Michigan State suddenly had to crank up its dormant offense.

An apparent interception by Tom Zbikowski on the ensuing series was negated by a penalty, and the Spartans were able to keep the drive moving. The Irish defense was relentless, however, and the effort paid off a few plays later. With time running down to less than a minute, Stanton’s third down pass near midfield was broken up by Richardson. The ball bounced off Lambert and the intended receiver, but did not hit the ground. Lambert was able to pull it in before going out of bounds, and Notre Dame had secured an improbable win.

Sitting at 3-1, the schedule suddenly looks more manageable and Irish hopes for a return trip to the BCS are quite realistic. A berth in the championship game is still very remote, but this team needs to concern itself with short term improvements.

Although Quinn, Samardzija and Lambert gained a measure of redemption this week, Notre Dame still must make dramatic improvement. The team commits far too many penalties and suffers breakdowns both in pass coverage and in protecting the quarterback, but no one can say they don’t have heart.

This incredible victory under adverse circumstances will help heal the wounds and focus the team on the road ahead, whereas another embarrassing loss would have dealt Weis and his staff a serious setback in their efforts to rebuild the program. Meanwhile, Notre Dame fans will need a full week to recover from this game and the month-long roller coaster ride that is finally coming to a close.

SPARTANS AWAIT IRISH INVASION

For Notre Dame’s suddenly vulnerable football team, there is more at stake on Saturday night than a victor’s right to plant a flag in conquered territory. The Irish can kill two birds with a solid, winning performance – exorcise the demons of last week’s disaster and gain revenge over a pesky rival by knocking Michigan State from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Despite all the brave talk from Notre Dame fans this week regarding how the Irish are likely to take out their frustration against the Spartans and beat them handily, football games rarely follow that script. The contest will be hard fought and the winner will be the team that runs the ball more effectively and defends the big play in the passing game.

Based on the season’s results to date, Michigan State appears to have an edge in both areas. The Spartans racked up 335 rushing yards last week against Pitt, and still had enough fuel to add 198 more through the air.

Senior Quarterback Drew Stanton leads a diverse attack that hasn’t changed very much from the version that scored 44 points last season in South Bend during an overtime win. Stanton has big and fast receivers in Matt Trannon, Kerry Reed and Terry Love. He can also hand off, pitch or throw the ball to a trio of physical running backs in Javon Ringer, Jehuu Caulcrick and A. J. Jimmerson.

If that is not enough for a defense to worry about, Stanton is an excellent running threat and has a knack for scoring touchdowns on option keepers in the red zone. As determined as the visitors are this week, it will be a tremendous accomplishment to slow down the Spartan offense.

The Irish must defend the whole field, and this means that three cornerbacks need to be able to hold up in single coverage against experienced and talented receivers. Linemen must put pressure on Stanton without letting him scramble for big gains, and linebackers and safeties must be sure tacklers against quality running backs. In short, Notre Dame must play extremely well against an offense that is no less potent than Michigan’s.

Of course, the Irish can help themselves by not handing MSU 24 cheap points as they did against the Wolverines. Brady Quinn needs to reestablish himself as the leader of the team by performing well on Saturday. He has shown only flashes of his 2005 form this season, but the running game and defense are not good enough to win when he is not decisive and accurate.

While Michigan State’s defense is not the equal of the first three Irish opponents, the Spartans return several excellent players. Linebackers Kaleb Thornhill and David Herron, Jr. defend the run well behind a respectable defensive line led by tackle Clifton Ryan. The Spartans play five defensive backs in their base defense. Free safety Otis Wiley and cornerback Demond Williams are very talented and will not be easily beaten.

There is no doubt that Notre Dame will be highly motivated at kickoff. Coach Weis will devise successful running plays and make sure that Quinn gets off to a good start with short, crisp passes. This Spartan team will hit them in the mouth at some point in the first half, however, and it will be interesting to see if Notre Dame can sustain the momentum in the face of adversity.

The outcome will hinge on their ability to maintain a balanced attack throughout, keep the defense off the field and avoid costly turnovers. Defensively, the Irish must force Michigan State to earn every point. The Spartans will score against Notre Dame, but the points had better not come in bunches or on 30+ yard plays.

Michigan State’s specialists are also quite good. Punter Brandon Fields is among the nation’s best and kicker Brett Swenson has made everything under 50 yards this season. Their return teams are average and should not pose a significant problem for the Irish cover teams.

The matchups are as follows:

Position / Advantage
Quarterback – Even
Running Back – Michigan State
Wide Receivers – Even
Tight Ends – Notre Dame
ND OLine vs. MSU DLine – Even
MSU OLine vs. ND DLine – Even
Linebackers – Michigan State
Secondary – Even
Punting - Even
Kicking - Michigan State
Return Teams - Notre Dame
Intangibles - Even

The Spartans have the advantage of the home crowd and the knowledge that they can beat Notre Dame. They have played well to date, although they have not faced a particularly strong opponent. The Irish are capable of winning, but they must improve dramatically at quarterback, along the offensive line and in pass coverage. This is a tall order, and I don’t think they’ll quite be able to pull it off.

MICHIGAN STATE 31 NOTRE DAME 28

Game notes: In honor of the 40th anniversary of the 1966 "Game of the Century", both teams will wear commemorative patches on the front of their game jerseys. Two-time All-American Bubba Smith will become just the third player in Michigan State football history to have his jersey number (No. 95) retired during a special pre-game ceremony.

MICHIGAN SPANKS NOTRE DAME, 47-21

A determined group of Michigan Wolverines came into Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday with a smoldering rage borne of frustration after a 7-5 season in 2005 and questions regarding their place among college football's elite. Meanwhile, the Irish have enjoyed their reclaimed position as America's team behind head coach Charlie Weis and quarterback Brady Quinn. These roles reversed again suddenly and convincingly as the Wolverines administered a thorough and complete beating to the stunned Irish.

Notre Dame showed why it is not ready for prime time, or at least the top five ranking it had enjoyed since the preseason polls. The Irish running game on Saturday can best be described as anemic, the passing game was reduced to dink and dunk, and the offensive line was physically dominated by the bigger and stronger Wolverine forward wall and linebackers. The latter group played exceptionally well, led by Prescott Burgess' two interceptions and a touchdown.

On defense, the hosts started well against the Michigan running game, but the undersized Irish wore down as the game progressed. The secondary reverted to 2005 form by allowing three long scores to Mario Manningham, who burned Ambrose Wooden once and Terrail Lambert twice. The latter matchup was exploited repeatedly by the Wolverines and the Notre Dame defensive staff did nothing to counter it.

Even special teams contributed to the Irish demise. A fumbled kickoff return set up a touchdown and the coverage teams were mediocre. Penalties (11 for 84 yards) were also a problem, although the referees may have been tired from Friday night's family reunion in Lloyd Carr's hotel suite.

It was a long afternoon for Brady Quinn, who saw his status as Heisman favorite evaporate despite three touchdown passes. Although the sturdy signal-caller had a poor game, he does not deserve undue criticism for the loss despite misfiring on a number of throws. The fact of the matter is that Notre Dame was truly overrated, and no quarterback is going to be successful over the long haul without even a respectable running game.

While Weis bravely took his medicine after the game and pinned much of the blame on himself, Irish followers know that the real solution to the problem lies in recruiting. Despite his ability to coax significant productivity out of the talent he inherited, the team's weaknesses have been exposed by bigger, faster and more physical opponents in three of its last four outings.

Besides the inability to get any push up front in the running game, Quinn's receivers have been unable to separate from quicker defenders. Long passes in particular have become little more than jump balls because the current receivers lack elite speed. Bright spots include the growth of tight end John Carlson as a legitimate threat, and the breakout performance of wideout David Grimes against Michigan's nickel backs. Notre Dame still has the horses to beat many teams, but not enough to crack the top ten.

Despite the rude awakening administered by a long time rival, Irish fans should not sink into a state of depression. There are nine regular season games left, and the Nation must support this team for what they are rather than complain about what they are not. Many folks blindly adopted the confident attitude of Weis because they wanted to believe he could scheme the team to victory over any foe, but football is a game won in the trenches much more often than in the coaching box.

As is often said in sports, the most important game is the next one. This Notre Dame team has no time to feel sorry for itself, because 2-2 is a real possibility with a trip to East Lansing only a few days hence. The coaches and players will be smarting from this loss, but the staff must try to restore the confidence of every player from Quinn on down the line.

The question is whether opposing teams have figured out how to defend Weis and the Irish in this second year of operation. With virtually the same personnel on offense from last year, Weis is limited in what he can do against tough, physical teams on the schedule. Michigan was certainly one of them.

MICHIGAN LOADED FOR BEAR AGAINST IRISH

The Michigan Wolverines invade Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday for what promises to be a heavyweight slugfest. Michigan has had limited success against chief rivals Notre Dame and Ohio State in recent years, and the Wolverines have dedicated themselves in the off-season to administer some payback. Meanwhile, the Irish must fight off complacency after thrashing Penn State in order to match the intensity of Lloyd Carr’s troops.

Michigan’s defense is similar to Georgia Tech’s in that both have a veteran front seven and a young secondary led by a top cornerback. The Wolverines are bigger and have more depth than the Yellow Jackets, however, and will be more difficult to wear down than either of Notre Dame’s first two opponents. The Irish have yet to establish an effective running game this season, and are unlikely to find much room again this week.

This game is likely to be another low scoring contest. Brady Quinn will once again face considerable pressure up the middle, as this is the method of attack proven to be most successful against Notre Dame in the Weis era. The Wolverines shut down the Irish in the second half of last year’s contest with this type of pressure, and Penn State had some success with a similar approach during the third quarter last week.

The Wolverine defense boasts an impressive front four led by end LaMarr Woodley and huge tackles Terrance Taylor and Alan Branch. The linebackers are also big and have adequate speed. David Harris holds down the middle while leading the team in tackles, and Prescott Burgess teams with Shawn Crable on the outside.

Leon Hall is the leader of the secondary, while fellow cornerbacks Charles Stewart and Morgan Trent may become the targets of Quinn’s passes should they be forced to cover Jeff Samardzija or Rhema McKnight without help. Safeties Ryan Mundy, Brandent Englemon and Willis Barringer will also attempt to hold down tight end John Carlson and the rest of the Irish aerial attack.

Notre Dame must protect Quinn, perhaps by rolling him out or moving the pocket, and generate enough rushing yards to keep Michigan’s defense from dominating the game. The Irish may not get very many scoring opportunities, so they must avoid drive-killing penalties and get into the end zone by taking advantage of their more experienced pass receivers against the Wolverine cover men. Darius Walker should also have some success as a receiver in this game.

When Michigan has the ball, they will run it until someone stops them – which admittedly may not happen. Surprisingly, their offensive line is only adequate except for left tackle Jake Long, but they are blessed with three talented and diverse running backs in Mike Hart, Kevin Grady and Brandon Minor. Expect the Wolverines to attack the right side of the Irish defense on the ground and attempt to hit them with play action passes when safeties Tom Zbikowski and Chinedum Ndukwe creep toward the line of scrimmage.

Quarterback Chad Henne is a three year starter, but he has hit only 50% of his passes this season despite weak competition. If he is sharp, Notre Dame could be in trouble. Michigan’s receivers are fast and dangerous, but consistency has been a problem and Henne misfires more often than a veteran passer should.

Still, the trio of Mario Manningham, Steve Breaston and Adrian Arrington can burn opponents from anywhere on the field. Doug Dutch and Carl Tabb will also see playing time without a significant drop-off in production. The Wolverines have always featured an excellent tight end, and this year is no different. Tyler Ecker fills the role for this year’s team, although he may not be at full strength this week.

The key for the Irish defense will be their ability to stop the run while containing Breaston and Manningham with corners Ambrose Wooden and Mike Richardson. While slowing down Penn State’s deep threat receivers was the focus last week, Notre Dame must first slow down Hart to win on Saturday.

Special teams will also contribute significantly to the outcome, as field position will be at a premium. The Irish have played well in all aspects of returns and coverage so far this season, but Breaston is a dangerous return man who has burned Notre Dame in the past. Michigan’s kicker is the reliable Garrett Rivas, who rarely misses a kick of less than 40 yards.

The overall matchups, as one might expect, are relatively even.

Position / Advantage
Quarterback – Notre Dame
Running Back – Michigan
Wide Receivers – Notre Dame
Tight Ends – Notre Dame
ND OLine vs. UM DLine – Michigan
UM OLine vs. ND DLine – Even
Linebackers – Michigan
Secondary – Notre Dame
Punting - Notre Dame
Kicking - Michigan
Return Teams - Even
Intangibles - Michigan

Michigan desperately needs this game for its program, and the Wolverines have circled it as a must win during the long off-season following a disappointing 7-5 campaign in 2005. The question is whether they can pressure Quinn enough to neutralize the advantage he holds over Henne.

Prior to the start of the season, I thought that this would be the September game the Irish would most likely lose. One disturbing statistic in the first two Irish games with Big-10 referees is that opponents have not been called for holding while Notre Dame has been flagged five times. Overall penalties are 17 for the Irish and nine for their opponents. If this trend continues and if Michigan’s offensive linemen are allowed to use any means to keep Victor Abiamiri from Henne, anything can happen.

On balance, however, Notre Dame’s preparation, playmakers and coaching should overcome Michigan’s emotion in a hard fought contest.

NOTRE DAME 24 MICHIGAN 20

IRISH BURY PENN STATE

Notre Dame played solid football in all facets of the game on Saturday to outclass Penn State 41-17 in the home opener. The rejuvenated Irish defense turned in another fine performance, but this time the offense and its recently-maligned quarterback did its part to dismantle the Nittany Lions. Not to be outdone, Notre Dame’s special teams joined the party with outstanding play from Travis Thomas, Carl Gioia, Geoff Price and both coverage teams.

The Irish were a bit sluggish at the start, but Brady Quinn flashed his 2005 form with crisp passes to tight end John Carlson, who enjoyed a career best afternoon. A holding penalty derailed yet another promising drive, however, but Gioia converted for an early 3-0 lead.

Penn State tried to answer behind the running of Tony Hunt, but the drive stalled and a botched snap foiled kicker Kevin Kelly’s chance to tie. The Lions began to move again on their next possession, but Hunt coughed up the ball when Tom Zbikowski drilled him near midfield as the first quarter drew to a close. Ronald Talley recovered for Notre Dame.

Quinn moved the team to the Penn State 12 behind a well executed fourth down draw play, but the Lions stiffened. After a near interception on third down, Gioia came on and booted a 35-yarder for a 6-0 lead. At this point in the game, the lead did not feel particularly comfortable as Penn State seemed to be in control of the line of scrimmage.

Zbikowski almost handed the Lions a scoring opportunity when he fumbled a punt on the next series after stubbornly refusing to call for a fair catch. Raeshon MacNeil bailed out the Irish by pouncing on the ball just when Penn State appeared poised to recover.

Quinn took advantage by connecting with Jeff Samardzija and Carlson for 26 and 32 yards, respectively, as the Irish started to crank it up. The capper was a 7-yard strike from Quinn to Samardzija for a 13-0 advantage with four minutes left in the half.

Once again, a promising drive by Penn State unraveled. Anthony Morelli found Hunt on a well-conceived screen pass, but a clipping penalty killed the visitors’ momentum. Victor Abiamiri sacked Morelli two plays later and the Lions punted the ball away with 1:30 left.

Starting at the Irish 32, Quinn and Coach Charlie Weis were not about to sit on their lead. Mid-range passes to Carlson and Rhema McKnight moved the ball into the red zone, and Quinn’s scramble took it to the Penn State nine with 12 seconds left. As was the case last week against Georgia Tech, Notre Dame was out of time outs but determined to score a touchdown. Quinn relied on his arm this time, hitting McKnight in the back of the end zone for a 20-0 halftime lead.

Morelli and the Lions took the second half kickoff and immediately imploded. A third down play went awry and Morelli found himself trapped in the backfield. Maurice Crum jarred the ball loose and it bounced into the hands of Zbikowski, who cruised 25 yards for a commanding 27-0 lead before most fans had returned from the concession stand.

The Lions defense stepped up the pressure on Quinn during the next series and recorded consecutive sacks. Price boomed the Irish out of trouble with a 62-yard punt and the Penn State offense went back to work. On the next play from scrimmage, Morelli uncorked a rainbow toward Derrick Williams, but Irish safety Chinedum Ndukwe easily stepped in and picked it off at the Notre Dame 45.

The Irish were unable to convert a third down pass, however, and Price came onto the field to punt it away. The snap went instead to Travis Thomas, who darted through a huge hole and was off to the races until he was cut down at the Lion’s four. Penn State dug in for what seemed to be its last stand, and Weis was presented with a fourth down at the one after three plays did not produce a score.

Once again, Weis made the right move by sending in Travis Thomas for the smaller Darius Walker. Thomas took a pitch left and stretched out over the pylon after a bone-jarring collision with a defender at the goal line. Notre Dame stretched its lead to 34-3 with four minutes to go in the third quarter and the pushups began to take a toll on the Irish student body.

The only remaining question was whether Notre Dame could keep the Lions out of the end zone. Morelli hit a couple of passes on the next series to move into Irish territory, but Ndukwe snuffed out a trick play by Penn State, in the form of a direct snap to Williams, and sacked him for a 14 yard loss. The Lions could not recover and Morelli’s fourth down pass fell harmlessly to the turf.

The final quarter opened with a curtain call for the Irish offense. Aided by the short field, Quinn capped off a stellar day by hitting Darius Walker on a textbook screen pass for a 41-3 lead with twelve minutes left in the game. Walker was wide open in the right flat and went untouched for the 15 yard score.

At this point, Weis called off the dogs and the Irish third string defense rewarded the determined Lions with a couple of garbage time scores. The damage had been done, though, and Penn State was obviously dismayed at its own miscues and with the way Notre Dame controlled the ball with long marches against its proud defense.

Lion Coach Joe Paterno summed up the day by saying, “I think they outplayed us. We made too many mistakes. We were sloppy.” Linebacker Paul Posluzsny added, “We expected them to keep going deep, but they just cleaned us all out and went underneath.”

Although the schedule remains unforgiving and Notre Dame will face a tough Michigan team at home next weekend, the team’s confidence has been restored. Gioia, Carlson, Ryan Harris and Quinn all made significant improvement over last week’s performances, and the defense continued to gain the respect of its erstwhile doubters.

It’s still too early for a Top 25 poll, but it is clear that the Irish are legitimate contenders. Whether they can survive September and remain among the elite is still unknown, but Notre Dame fans have to like their chances.

PENN STATE PROVIDES STIFF TEST FOR IRISH

After sending waves of panic through its neurotic fan base last weekend in Atlanta, the Notre Dame football team hosts Penn State on Saturday afternoon. Irish fans are still contemplating the possibility that Brady Quinn is a mere mortal and the Notre Dame offense might fizzle instead of sizzle. Those that actually hold onto their tickets instead of trying to scalp them will see first hand whether the rejuvenated Irish defense is a one-hit wonder or a new sensation.

The Nittany Lions are coming off a mediocre performance against Akron, during which several new starters including quarterback Anthony Morelli made their debut. Morelli completed 50% of his passes and demonstrated a powerful, accurate arm when protected in the pocket. Conversely, he made a few questionable decisions and forced a few throws into coverage in the face of defensive pressure. It won’t be difficult to predict Notre Dame’s defensive plan this week.

This 2006 Penn State team has not yet established an offensive identity. The offensive line is new except for All-American left tackle Levi Brown, and the tight ends are relative unknowns. Tailback Tony Hunt did not have much success against Akron, leading one to suspect that the Lions’ running game will still be a work in progress this weekend.

Notre Dame’s defensive line did not make many plays against Georgia Tech, but they should be able to enjoy some success against a group that is less experienced and not quite as athletic. The challenge for the Irish will be focused on the back seven where Penn State’s fleet of fast and extremely dangerous receivers will attempt to break free. Derrick Williams leads the group, but Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood make it difficult for Notre Dame to double team any one target. All three recorded a touchdown reception last week.

The Irish defense should focus its sights on Morelli, since he has demonstrated the ability to deliver the ball to his receivers when time allows. Penn State will also try to create opportunities for Williams where he has room to operate. The Lions are known to run reverses and other trickery, and will occasionally enlist speedy cornerback Justin King to run a few plays with the offense. It’s vital for Notre Dame that its defensive ends stay home and keep containment.

Although the Irish secondary is better equipped to match up with Penn State’s receivers, the Lions are likely to hit a fair share of plays. The key for Notre Dame will be to rattle Morelli with pressure and different looks in coverage that will lead to interceptions in his first road game.

When the Irish have the ball, fans may see several three and four receiver sets. The Lions are breaking in three fourths of a new secondary, and coach Charlie Weis will want to see their fifth and sixth defensive backs on the field instead of outstanding linebackers Paul Posluszny, Dan Connor and Sean Lee.

This trio is very aggressive yet disciplined, such that challenging them with screens, draws and conventional runs may not be a winning strategy. Notre Dame’s guards do not appear to have the athleticism to consistently get out and block them, so Weis may choose to run more out of passing formations. It would also be best to force PSU’s linebackers to cover faster players in space or get them off the field entirely, whereupon Darius Walker will become a more effective option.

Surprisingly, Notre Dame’s offensive line struggled in pass protection during the first half of the Georgia Tech game. This area must improve if the Irish are to win this week. Penn State’s defensive line is solid in the middle with Ed Johnson and Jay Alford, but new starter Jim Shaw and converted linebacker Tim Shaw (no relation) at end have yet to establish themselves.

It goes without saying that Quinn will need to get off to a good start and become relaxed in the pocket. The opening game brought back memories of his freshman season during which he absorbed a vicious hit on nearly every pass. Actually, Quinn’s own running ability helped alleviate some of Tech’s pressure last week, although that sort of thing is not the ideal first or second option.

Notre Dame’s receivers were supposed to have a field day against a young secondary last week, but that did not materialize. A similar opportunity presents itself on Saturday, although cornerback King and safety Donnie Johnson are quality players. The Irish must improve all phases of the passing game including protection, getting open, decision-making and delivering the ball. I expect this will be the case regardless of the opposition, but the Irish need production from receivers other than Jeff Samardzija and Rhema McKnight.

As is the case in most games involving evenly matched teams, field position and special teams can provide the deciding factor. Notre Dame found a punter last week in Geoff Price, and kickoff man Bobby Renkes proved capable of reaching the end zone. Coverage and return teams also played well, particularly on kickoffs.

Penn State counters with Williams on punt returns, and the sophomore sensation teams with freshman A. J. Wallace on kickoffs. Jeremy Kapinos is an average punter but place kicker Kevin Kelly performed flawlessly last week in adverse weather conditions.

If the game comes down to a field goal attempt by Notre Dame, Irish fans will be holding their collective breath. Kicker Carl Gioia missed both kicks last week, and badly needs to get the first one at home under his belt. He struck the ball well each time and had proper trajectory, but his mechanics were off. This may have been caused by trying too hard or excess adrenaline, similar to a golfer that tries to hit a 300-yard drive when 270 would do quite nicely.

The teams match up as follows:
Position / Advantage
Quarterback – Notre Dame
Running Back – Notre Dame
Wide Receivers – Even
Tight Ends – Even
ND OLine vs. PSU DLine – Even
PSU OLine vs. ND DLine – Notre Dame
Linebackers – PSU
Secondary – Notre Dame
Punting and Kicking - PSU
Return Teams - Even
Intangibles - Even

Both teams have plenty of room to improve upon last week’s performance. Penn State ran the ball poorly and fumbled twice, while the Irish misfired or dropped passes and committed numerous penalties. Each team will try to exploit weaknesses in its opponent, but Quinn and the Irish should find a comfort zone at home more easily than Morelli and the Lions.

NOTRE DAME 27 PENN STATE 20

IRISH OUTLAST GEORGIA TECH

For the first twenty-odd minutes of Saturday night’s season opener, it appeared as though Georgia Tech’s defense had either attended fall practice at Notre Dame or had developed a method to sneak into the Irish huddle. So complete was Tech’s control of the vaunted Notre Dame offense that even Charlie Weis had no answers.

As it turned out, the Irish rediscovered their running game and flashed a little defense of their own in recording a hard fought 14-10 comeback victory over the determined Yellow Jackets. Notre Dame dominated the final 35 minutes of the game, but two missed field goals prevented the Irish from creating any breathing room until the game’s final minute.

Tech delivered on its promise to get the ball into the hands of its premier player, wide receiver Calvin Johnson. The All-American took a pass from Reggie ball late in the first quarter and streaked 29 yards down the sideline to the Irish four. The pair connected again on the next play for the game’s first touchdown as Johnson beat Mike Richardson on a fade pattern.

Georgia Tech’s defense continued to harass Brady Quinn and disrupt Notre Dame’s aerial attack. Punter Geoff Price was the only effective Irish weapon in the early going, but he was used much more often than anyone had hoped. Quinn continued to misfire under heavy pressure from tackle Joe Anoia and linebacker Phillip Wheeler, and this turn of events ignited the Tech crowd.

In what was the only real defensive gaffe of the game for Notre Dame, Ball again found Johnson on a deep sideline pass early in the second quarter. Johnson was matched up in single coverage against freshman cornerback Darrin Walls, who managed to drag down Johnson at the Irish 11.

Fortunately for Notre Dame, the defense stiffened and held Tech to a field goal. Travis Bell converted for a 10-0 lead while Irish fans watched in stunned silence. The Irish tried to respond with a 42-yard field goal attempt, but Carl Gioia missed it wide right.

As the Irish defense settled in, Weis and Quinn began to adjust to Georgia Tech’s defensive pressure late in the second period. The offensive line tightened up its protection and Weis began to mix in a few running plays. Quinn’s 16 yard scramble highlighted a march down the field with time running out in the half.

Notre Dame eventually found itself at the Tech 5 yard line with 20 seconds to go and no time outs remaining. Needing seven points, Weis gambled on a quarterback draw since its failure to convert would have resulted in no time left to run another play. Quinn correctly read the defense and barreled into the end zone behind John Sullivan for the touchdown.

The score settled the team and its bewildered fans, who had expected the Irish to pick up where they were offensively in the middle of last season. Although the Yellow Jacket defense visibly tired in the second half, penalties and first game mistakes prevented Notre Dame from pulling away.

Darius Walker, playing in front of his hometown fans, led the Irish on their decisive 14-play scoring march on the first possession of the third quarter. Walker ran for 38 yards on 5 carries on the drive, including the last 13 after a penalty on Wheeler for a blow to Quinn’s head. Walker finished with 99 tough yards on 22 carries for the night.

Leading 14-10, Notre Dame’s defense responded well to the task of stuffing the Tech offense and keeping Johnson under wraps. The Irish were able to stop the running game and put pressure of their own on Ball, whose only second half success came on quarterback draws. The offense provided no margin for error throughout the game, and the defense held together.

Momentum temporarily shifted away from Notre Dame early in the fourth quarter when a dropped pass inside the Georgia Tech ten by Rhema McKnight and another missed field goal by Gioia gave the Jackets a boost. The defense responded by sacking Ball to keep Tech from moving across midfield.

The Irish were then pinned deep in their own end, but Quinn’s 42 yard pass to Jeff Samardzija moved Notre Dame out of trouble. Tech’s defense rose to the challenge again to force a punt, but Ball was sacked on consecutive plays to end the next threat with time running down.

The Yellow Jackets tried to create one more chance for Ball and Johnson after once again punting the ball deep in Irish territory, but determined runs by Walker brought Notre Dame out from the shadow of its own goal. Quinn then hit McKnight on a third down pass to maintain possession, and Gailey was forced to consume his time outs in an effort to get the ball back for a last shot.

Weis wanted no part of a Hail Mary pass to Johnson, so he decided to go for it on fourth and one on the next series of downs as the clock wound down to a minute and change. Quinn again ran it behind Sullivan’s block to convert, and the Irish ran out the clock to preserve the 14-10 victory.

Georgia Tech proved to be a formidable opponent and eight months of preparation by an excellent defensive staff served them well in this game. The Irish have plenty of work to do, but there were numerous bright spots despite the close call.

The Irish secondary played extremely well, especially in the second half. Although the defensive line was neutralized by Tech and the linebackers missed several tackles, the front seven did shut down the run except for a few escapes by Ball.

Offensively, the run blocking and Walker’s toughness were definite plusses. Quinn and his receivers will round into form as the season progresses, although future opponents will try to bring pressure after watching film of this game.

Bright spots included improved markedly kickoff returns, the punting of Price, linebacker Mo Richardson’s pass rush, tackle Sam Young (after a bit of a rocky start) and Asaph Schwapp’s lead blocking despite a couple of early whiffs.

Concerns are primarily the kicking game and the overall play at strong side linebacker, where starter Mitchell Thomas was out of position several times and missed a number of tackles. Maurice Crum played decently in the middle, but his lack of ideal size for the position was evident on a few occasions.

At this point, Notre Dame is overrated at number two in the nation. The good news is the team is 1-0 and have an opportunity to demonstrate progress next week against another tough opponent. This game may serve as a reminder for the players not to read their press clippings, but more likely it will cause unrealistic Irish fans to rethink impossible expectations of blowout victories against quality opposition.

Other notes:
- California was obviously not prepared for the physicality of Tennessee in its disastrous visit to SEC country. The PAC-10 once again looks to be USC and nine other non-entities.
- Michigan struggled to get past Vanderbilt, but I like their defense and stockpile of running backs led by Mike Hart, Kevin Grady and freshman Brandon Minor.
- Anthony Morelli displayed an impressive arm in Penn State’s opening defeat of Akron, but he frequently locks onto his primary receiver and will force the ball into coverage at times.
- Montana State’s defeat of host Colorado was the shock of the day, and it appeared not to be a fluke.