Pitt Awaits Fuming Irish

Reeling and squabbling after a devastating loss to Navy, the Notre Dame football team heads to Pittsburgh to take on the ninth-ranked Panthers on Saturday night. Dave Wannstedt’s team is 8-1 on the season after easily dispatching Syracuse, but there is no chance they will take the Irish lightly. Led by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, the entire city is intent on showing extraordinary support for Pitt this weekend as the Panthers pursue their own BCS dream.

The Irish players have attempted to show solidarity this week in the aftermath of public player criticism of the defensive schemes run against the Midshipmen. As a consequence, starting nose tackle Ian Williams will not start at Pittsburgh and it is unclear whether he will play in the game.

Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate and Kyle McCarthy ultimately accepted responsibility for the loss on behalf of the players, but the smoldering remnants of internal strife remain palpable on campus. Irish assistant head coach Corwin Brown fanned the flames by calling out Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo for encouraging illegal blocking methods against his defense, and he went on to defend his team’s game plan. This circling of the wagons is usually a bad sign that significant cracks are forming in a program’s foundation.

Meanwhile, Coach Charlie Weis hopes to have tailback Armando Allen and guard Trevor Robinson back for this game, but tight end Kyle Rudolph injured his shoulder last week and will not be available on Saturday. The defensive line will be thin without Williams in the middle, which may enable Pitt’s running game to wear down Notre Dame’s front as it did in last season’s quadruple overtime victory.

Despite the furor surrounding Weis and the team this week, the Panthers represent the perfect opportunity for the embattled coach to quiet his critics with a rare win over a ranked team. Weis and Wannstedt began their respective college coaching careers five years ago with an Irish victory in the same venue, and observers will compare the trajectory of the two programs after this one is in the books.

NOTRE DAME’S OFFENSE vs. PITTSBURGH’S DEFENSE

Once again, the Irish must run the ball well to win. Navy proved that the passing game alone, no matter how prolific, cannot guarantee a win. There are simply too many opportunities for error for a heavy aerial assault as opposed to running the ball downhill against an opponent. Failure to sustain the ground game caused Notre Dame to surrender a 14 point lead at home last year to Pitt, and this facet of the game is even more critical on the road. With Allen back and both Robert Hughes and Theo Riddick in the wings, the Irish need to feed them the ball numerous times throughout the evening.

Robinson’s return will help solidify the line if he is ready to return after an ankle sprain. The biggest concern remains at tackle, where Paul Duncan and Sam Young must win their matchups against Pitt’s stalwart ends Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard. To make matters worse, Mick Williams has 13 tackles for loss this season from the defensive tackle position, and the team has combined for an impressive 38 sacks. Notre Dame has recorded only 18 to date.

Clausen will continue to have Tate and Michael Floyd at his disposal, but Mike Ragone will fill in for Rudolph at the tight end position that is suddenly very thin. The Panther secondary is led by veteran safety Dom DeCicco, who leads the team in tackles. The overall unit has played well in spots, but they have also been burned on a fair number of occasions. Expect Wannstedt to employ the soft zone employed by previous Irish opponents to take away the long scoring pass and dare Weis to run.

Clausen and his receivers are good enough to prevail, but the game will probably come down to how much pressure the Panthers are able to apply to Clausen in the pocket. The front four has been able to get the job done all season, but there are other quality players on this defense. Linebacker Greg Williams is a talented sophomore who can blitz as well as drop into coverage. His 51-yard interception return for a touchdown last week broke open the game against Syracuse. Williams is flanked by Adam Gunn, a senior who production is well above average.

PITTSBURGH’S OFFENSE vs. NOTRE DAME’S DEFENSE

The Panthers have achieved balance between the run and the pass behind a solid offensive line and senior quarterback Bill Stull. While Irish nemesis LeSean McCoy now works for the Philadelphia Eagles, freshman Dion Lewis has stepped in to the lineup and run for 1,139 yards. The team averages 187 rushing yards per game, or 50 more than Notre Dame. Pitt also averages 5.1 yards per carry, which meets the standard of excellence in any league.

Stull does not throw as frequently as Clausen, but his 68% completion rate and only four interceptions against 17 touchdowns speak volumes about the effectiveness of this offense. Jonathan Baldwin is the home run threat in the passing game, while tight end Dorin Dickerson is an extraordinary possession and red zone receiver. Dickerson set a Pitt tight end record for touchdown receptions in a season last week by recording his tenth. The other wideout is Oderick Turner, who is talented but not as consistent as the others.

Wannstedt will run the ball against Notre Dame’s front, particularly if Williams is not utilized. Even if it is not successful early, history suggests he will stick with the ground game in anticipation of reaping fourth quarter dividends when he is trying to keep the ball out of Clausen’s hands. Stull will look for Dickerson on third down and will try to hit Baldwin deep when the Irish are concentrating on stopping Lewis.

Pitt starts three seniors on the interior of its offensive line, and left tackle Jason Pinkston is very highly regarded. This group has allowed only nine sacks all season, so Notre Dame’s undersized rushers will have a difficult time applying pressure even in obvious passing situations. The Panthers will move the ball in this game, but the Irish defense must find a way to keep them out of the end zone. The linebackers need to do a better job of fighting off blocks, but they will need an inspired effort by the linemen in front of them.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Once again, Notre Dame can help itself by winning the field position battle. Pittsburgh is barely average in punting efficiency and in the return game, and the Irish need to focus on this area to tilt the odds in their favor. The Panthers have also experienced a spate of fumbling problems on their recent punt returns, so additional effort to apply pressure downfield is recommended. Cameron Saddler is the main return man, and is joined by Aaron Smith and Ray Graham.

Dan Hutchins performs the punting and place kicking duties for Pitt, with generally good results. His numbers are solid in the field goal department, but his distance is just average. Notre Dame’s Nick Tausch hopes to get back on track after missing two makeable field goal attempts last week, and Irish fans are still hoping for a breakthrough in a kickoff or punt return with Riddick and Tate. Eric Maust and Ben Turk continue to battle for the punting job each day in practice, but neither has been consistent enough to seize the job on a permanent basis.

SUMMARY

Notre Dame’s offensive linemen were more highly recruited than their Pittsburgh defensive counterparts, but they must play up to their potential to win the battle on the line of scrimmage. On the other side of the coin, the Panther offensive front appears to be more than a match for the depleted Irish, who will need more than a better scheme after giving up 348 rushing yards to Navy.

While Clausen has been patient by throwing mostly short passes against defenses designed to limit his range, Weis has not showed the requisite confidence in his ground attack to see it through. Instead, he prefers to live and die with his quarterback. Protection and field position will be critical to Notre Dame’s chances, but Notre Dame will not win if it is outgained on the ground by a wide margin.

Let’s look at a few questions that will help determine the outcome:

Will Notre Dame’s run/pass mix indicate a greater degree of balance and success in the ground game?

Can the Irish protect Clausen?

Can the Notre Dame defense hold Pitt to less than four yards per rush?

Which team will gain an advantage from special teams?

Can Notre Dame stop the Panthers in the red zone?

Will Stull be able to maintain a high passing efficiency?

After a tumultuous week, will the Irish be emotionally high or flat for this game?

Which team will be most successful in the fourth quarter?

Does Pitt deserve a top ten ranking?

PREDICTION

The Panthers will be emotionally charged and already appear to have a physical advantage at the line of scrimmage. This combination does not bode well for the Irish, whose skill position talent may not be enough to keep pace unless the ball bounces their way or Pittsburgh makes uncharacteristic errors. Clausen will carry his team a long way on his back, but the ground game or a special teams surprise will have to surface for Notre Dame to pull out a win.

Stull is not as accomplished as Clausen, but he doesn’t have to win the game through the air. In the end, the team that runs the ball best will win, and that needle points to Pittsburgh.

PITTSBURGH 34 NOTRE DAME 24

Rebounding Effort

by John Vannie

The Michigan State Spartans visit Notre Dame on Saturday as both teams try to get back on track after disappointing losses last week. While the Irish failed to close the deal against Michigan in Ann Arbor, the Spartans gave away a tight contest at home to Central Michigan by failing to recover an onside kick in the final moments. Notre Dame has not beaten Michigan State in South Bend since 1993, and is 3-9 overall in the series during this span.

Kirk Cousins has taken over the quarterback duties for the Spartans, but he is being pushed by Keith Nichol, a transfer from Oklahoma. Both are capable passers and are surrounded by quality receivers. The running game has yet to approach last year’s success now that stalwart tailback Javon Ringer has departed. Freshmen Ray Caulton and Larry Caper are working in tandem to replace him with mixed results to date.

The Irish hope to be healthy this week after suffering injuries to Michael Floyd and Armando Allen at very inopportune moments against the Wolverines. Floyd appears to be ready while Allen’s status may be a game time decision. Defensively, Notre Dame’s players escaped injury but their pride was badly bruised by Michigan’s upstart quarterback Tate Forcier, whose newfound fame will forever be tied to the Irish.

Both Mark Dantonio and Charlie Weis have similar jobs this week as far as motivation and focus are concerned. Michigan State needs to address problems in the running game and in the secondary, while the Irish must be concerned about the defensive front and special teams. Weis can ill afford to drop to 1-2 on the season since this will certainly rekindle negative speculation regarding his job security.

Notre Dame’s Offense against Michigan State’s Defense

The Irish ground game made notable progress last week, and the plan against the Spartans should contain more of the same. Armando Allen ran for 139 yards and converted several third down opportunities behind an improved offensive line, but the extent of his availability this week is unclear. Jonas Gray and Theo Riddick may have to absorb more of the workload, but neither performed particularly well in brief duty last week. Michigan State may prove to be tougher against the run with nose tackle Oren Wilson and All-American Greg Jones at middle linebacker. Jones leads the team with 29 tackles in two games.

Michigan State’s approach will be to stop the run and put pressure on Jimmy Clausen in the pocket. This worked well for the Spartans last year, when Clausen was rarely able to set his feet and complete passes downfield. Safety Otis Wiley, who has since graduated, recorded two interceptions at key moments in that game. This season, the improvements in the running game, better pass protection and a more experienced Clausen should enable Notre Dame to find the end zone. Dantonio acknowledged the risk of bringing pressure against the Irish this season given the progress Clausen has made and the threat of countermeasures such as screen passes and draw plays.

Michigan State’s secondary has been its biggest concern on defense this season. It’s not likely that they will be able to cover Notre Dame’s receivers without an effective pass rush. The Spartans will try to disguise their intent on blitzes, and the outcome may come down to a chess game between Weis and Dantonio. If the Irish can run the ball at or near the level achieved against Michigan, they will be able to put up plenty of points this week.

Other notable defenders for the Spartans are senior end Trevor Anderson and sophomore free safety Trenton Robinson, who will get the start over 5th year senior Danny Fortener.

Michigan State’s Offense against Notre Dame’s Defense

Notre Dame’s aggressive, blitzing defense should have more success against Cousins, who is primarily a pocket passer. Nichol is the better runner of the two Spartan signal-callers and may see action if needed to counter the rush. Regardless of the target at quarterback, the Irish must stay in position and wrap up each tackle.

Cousins will be effective if given time to throw. He has completed 66% of his passes and thrown four touchdowns with no interceptions. He has a trio of capable receivers led by Blair White (16 receptions), plus a quality tight end in Charlie Gantt. Receiver Mark Dell, who played well against Notre Dame last year, may be ready to play after missing the first two games this season.

The Spartans are trying to revive their running game now that Ringer is no longer an option. Caulton (the starter) and Caper are splitting time right now, but the team managed only 107 yards on 30 attempts against Central Michigan. The offensive line is anchored by left tackle Rocco Cironi, and it’s no coincidence that most of the successful running plays are run in his direction. The other side is still sorting itself out as Dantonio searches for the right pieces to the puzzle.

Dantonio will try to keep the Irish defensive line at bay with the run in order to keep Jon Tenuta’s blitz from harming his quarterback. Since neither Michigan State’s rushing attack nor Notre Dame’s run defense has performed well this season, it will be interesting to see which unit gains the upper hand. If the Spartans can make yards on the ground, they will also be able to keep pace on the scoreboard.

Special Teams

Both team had major snafus last week. The botched defense against an expected onside kick doomed the Spartans while the Irish gave up a long kickoff return for a touchdown that energized Michigan. Senior kicker Brett Swenson is perfect on field goals and extra points this season and is generally very reliable from under 50 yards. Punter Aaron Bates is also solid.

Notre Dame has been less than stellar. Nicholas Tausch recovered after an early missed field goal in Ann Arbor, but punter Eric Maust was inconsistent at best. The Irish return and coverage teams have not looked crisp this season and personnel changes may be underway since many freshmen and sophomores were given an early opportunity to make an impression.

Summary

The Irish must put last week’s loss behind it and seize the initiative on Saturday to win. Notre Dame’s players are experienced enough to do just that, but the Spartans usually play their best game of the year in this contest before their annual November fade. Both offenses boast an effective passing attack but the successful team will be the one that can keep the others running game under control.

If Wilson is able to tie up blockers while Jones runs free to stuff the run, the Spartans can keep close until the fourth quarter and find a way to pull off yet another victory on Irish soil.

Here are a few key questions that will determine the outcome:

• Can Notre Dame avoid a letdown after a disappointing loss?
• Will Notre Dame play more disciplined defense or continue to be out of position?
• Can the interior of the Irish offensive line keep Jones from dominating in the middle?
• How will Cousins handle the pressure from a blitzing defense?
• Will Weis be able to keep the Spartans off balance with his play calling?
• Will a special teams play have an effect on the outcome?
• Can Notre Dame’s much maligned defensive front stop the Spartans’ anemic running game?
• Will Allen be at full speed, and if not can Gray and Riddick pick up the slack?

Prediction

The overall talent and experience levels favor Notre Dame, but the Irish must avoid the catastrophic mistakes that plagued them last week. They would also benefit from a better performance by the referees, but the idea is not to put oneself in a position where one bad call can determine the outcome. This could be a 14-point win for the home team if events unfold as expected, but Michigan State’s history of exceptional performances in recent years and the uncertainty regarding Allen’s availability cannot be ignored. The Irish should hold on for the win, but the Spartans will bring plenty of attitude and make things uncomfortable until the final moments.

Notre Dame 31 Michigan State 27

Contender or Pretender?

by John Vannie

Notre Dame and Michigan square off at the Big House on Saturday in a game that will provide a boost to one program’s rebuilding efforts while relegating the other to the dreaded “wait until next year” mode. Yes, I did say "rebuilding" in the context of Michigan and Notre Dame football, where seldom is heard such a discouraging word. The fact is that both Rich Rodriguez and Charlie Weis were forced to restock a depleted cupboard at their respective schools, and each recently endured a 3-9 season on what they hope is the road to recovery.

The Irish won last year’s rain-soaked contest 35-17 as Golden Tate burned the Wolverine secondary and Rodriguez’ spread option attack misfired by committing six turnovers. Both teams are improved this season, and the gap between them is certainly less than 18 points. One might argue that Michigan’s excess practice time this summer has accelerated its turnaround, but those expecting the NCAA to punish the Wolverines should not hold their breath.

Saturday’s game will be a contrast in styles. Michigan’s defense boasts a solid front four that will put pressure on the quarterback, but they are vulnerable in the secondary. The Irish bring pressure by blitzing linebackers, and rely on a solid secondary to cover opposing receivers. The weakness is up front, particularly against the run. Offensively, Notre Dame’s sophisticated passing attack will keep any defensive coordinator awake at night, while it’s improved rushing attack may not yet be ready to take over a game in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines prefer to stay on the ground and take the pressure off a pair of freshman quarterbacks.

Neither Tate Forcier nor Denard Robinson are prototypical strong-armed Michigan quarterbacks, but Rodriguez has changed the model to a more mobile and elusive style. The offense is built on speed and deception rather than raw power, and the Irish defense will be stretched from sideline to sideline. Although Notre Dame looks stronger on paper, the history of this series since its renewal 30 years ago indicates that upsets by the home team are more the rule than the exception.

Notre Dame’s Offense against Michigan’s Defense

Defensive Coordinator Greg Robinson has joined the Wolverine staff this season after an unsuccessful run as the head coach at Syracuse. Robinson’s best achievement at Syracuse was an upset victory over Notre Dame last November in South Bend, but the Irish played without Michael Floyd and the running game was a mess.

The key to this game is the battle between the Michigan defensive front and the Irish offensive line. Michigan is aware of the significant advantage enjoyed by the Irish receivers against its secondary, and the likes of end Brandon Graham and tackle Mike Martin will be counted upon to neutralize it. The Wolverines will try to overpower the Notre Dame ground game and force quarterback Jimmy Clausen to convert on third and long. While Clausen was successful in this regard against Nevada, his protection will be severely tested this week. Not only will the Irish need to double team Graham, but they must also be on the lookout for well-disguised and delayed blitzes from anyone in the back seven.

Weis may use the same tactics on Graham and freshman Craig Roh as he did last week against Nevada’s talented defensive ends. A mix of screens and cut blocks will be employed to slow them down and allow Clausen to display his passing proficiency. As for the running game, the presence of Martin and linebacker Obi Ezeh will make it difficult to make yardage up the middle on Michigan, but there will be opportunities off tackle or wide in conventional sets or a wildcat formation.

Robinson will employ multiple coverages and pre-snap movement to create problems for Clausen. Last week, the junior did an outstanding job of identifying single coverage, looking off the safeties and hitting the open receiver. If he has sufficient time and is able to effectively read the coverage scheme, his receivers will enjoy success against the Michigan secondary.

Michigan’s Offense against Notre Dame’s Defense

Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator Jon Tenuta is adept at turning up the heat on young quarterbacks, and the Irish game plan will be to hit Forcier early and often. The risk in a blitz-happy strategy is that Michigan’s offensive line needs only to create small creases for its backs to burst into an opponent’s secondary. Both sides will guess right at times, but the unit that can establish a degree of physical dominance will prevail. The Irish linebackers and secondary need to be aggressive yet disciplined in run support, and the front four must penetrate the line of scrimmage and create disruption.

The Wolverines will employ Forcier and Robinson at quarterback, and both might line up in the same backfield. Forcier is the more accomplished passer while Robinson was the team’s leading rusher last week against Western Michigan. This rotation is far more strategically driven than last season’s ineffective quarterback carousel between Nate Sheridan and the since-departed Steven Threet.

Michigan’s speed and mobility at the point of attack also supports the extensive use of Manti Te’o at linebacker for the Irish. His speed may be better suited than the skill set of Toryan Smith to defend the spread option. Another player to watch for Notre Dame is free safety Harrison Smith. He will be a key player in run support but is also the last line of defense against the long passes to Junior Hemingway that Rodriguez will spring on the Irish at opportune moments.

While Hemingway’s movements will bear watching, Michigan does not have comparable weapons in the passing game to prevail if the ground attack fail to move the chains consistently. The Irish can weather the damage from a few big plays that will almost certainly occur as long as they are not on their heels the entire afternoon. Notre Dame’s success on defense will hinge on its ability to battle the Wolverines to a standstill in the trenches and keep them from running downhill.

Special Teams

Irish freshman Nicholas Tausch was not tested in the field goal department last week, but may get his chance in a clutch situation on Saturday. Punter Eric Maust was reasonably successful against Nevada. He did not realize extraordinary distance but none of his kicks were returned. Another freshman, Theo Riddick, had only one chance to return a kickoff on Saturday, but it’s too soon to tell if he can become a true weapon in this role.

Michigan kicker Jason Olesnavage came through on a 44-yard field goal attempt last week, and it’s always a relief to get that first successful kick out of the way. Zoltan Mesko averaged over 47 yards in five attempts, including a 66-yard rocket. Western Michigan could manage only six total return yards on his punts.

Summary

This is a rivalry game that both teams desperately need to win. Weis’ teams have been more businesslike than demonstrably emotional during his tenure, but the Irish must show some fire this week. Decision making by the quarterbacks will be a key factor in the outcome, and Notre Dame has a distinct advantage with Clausen at the helm. The questions surrounding the Irish are more of a physical nature. The linemen must give prepare for a hard-hitting battle and the defense must improve its tackling. The Wolverines may not be as talented at the skill positions, but they will attempt to stop the run and make Clausen hold the ball long enough in the pocket to hit him repeatedly. Since defensive pressure leads to turnovers, the team that is most successful in this regard will win.

Here are a few key questions that will determine the outcome:

• Can Notre Dame match Michigan’s intensity and emotion?
• Will Notre Dame allow the Wolverines to control the time of possession?
• Can Paul Duncan and Matt Romine handle Brandon Graham and give Clausen time to pass?
• What impact will Manti Te’o have for the Irish?
• Can the Irish force Michigan into third and long situations?
• Which defense will demonstrate superior hitting and tackling?
• How will Tausch perform under pressure?
• Which team will make mental mistakes and commit turnovers?

Prediction

The game may not be decided until the fourth quarter, and Notre Dame will be in trouble if it has to play from behind all day. Conversely, the Irish might win by 10-14 points if they can build an early lead and force Michigan out of its comfort zone, but that rarely happens when these teams play in Ann Arbor. In recent visits, Notre Dame has made mistakes that put it in a hole early, but Clausen gives them a chance to recover if they can maintain their poise under adverse conditions.
Although anything can happen in this contest, it’s likely that neither team will dominate on defense or be able to run its offense with the ease it enjoyed last weekend. I expect the Irish to hold their own up front and exploit their advantage at the skill positions, but it won’t be a walk in the park.

Notre Dame 24 Michigan 21

Irish, Weis Seek Validation

by John Vannie

Notre Dame opens the 2009 football season at home on Saturday with renewed hope for both the program’s reputation and the security of its head coach. The Irish struggled to a 10-15 record in the past two seasons as Charlie Weis attempted to rebuild the program with a solid base of underclassmen. This year, the team and its fans expect to reap the rewards of this endeavor. The overall roster is generally more athletic, many key players have gained valuable experience, and the schedule appears to be quite favorable.

The opposition this week will be provided by the Nevada Wolfpack, who have never played Notre Dame. Chris Ault’s team boasts a potent offense that was ranked in the nation’s top five last year and returns most of its starters, except at wide receiver. The defense is far less formidable, but Nevada hopes that the patience afforded last year’s young players will lead to improvement this season.
Weis barely managed to survive last November’s collapse and must start fast this month in order to keep the smoldering chair in his office from a spontaneous combustion. The Irish boast a wealth of talent at the skill positions and an experienced offensive line. The latter unit has been much maligned over the past two seasons for inconsistent performances and passive play, but enters this campaign injury-free and absent any plausible excuse.

Defensively, the back seven is stocked with speed, skill and numbers. Competition at each linebacker and secondary position has yielded a formidable two-deep that has not been evident in South Bend in more than a decade. The primary concern is an inexperienced group of linemen, but this can be mitigated if sufficient members of a promising sophomore contingent meet or exceed expectations. Nevada is the first of several teams that will test Notre Dame’s ability to stop the run, and the degree to which the Irish are successful will be a key factor in their overall season results.

Notre Dame’s Offense against Nevada’s Defense

Nevada may be the perfect team to test Notre Dame’s ability to run the ball early in the season. The Wolfpack ranked sixth in the nation in rushing defense last year and return their core group of linemen. The pass defense was quite poor, however, and one would expect the Irish to attack them through the air on Saturday. Although this strategy should produce points, it won’t answer the main questions surrounding Notre Dame’s offense. Irish fans are anxious to gauge the progress made by offensive line under new coach Tom Verducci and how this improvement will manifest itself in terms of rushing yardage. Junior tailback Armando Allen is poised for a breakout season and Jonas Gray has emerged as the primary backup over several other talented candidates including exciting freshmen Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood.

Quarterback Jimmy Clausen remains the leader of the offense and could conceivably emerge from the shadow of Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy to take his place among the nation’s elite signal callers. He has an impressive array of wide receivers and tight ends at this disposal, led by starters Golden Tate, Michael Floyd and Kyle Rudolph. The key items to watch are the protection afforded Clausen by his linemen, especially left tackles Paul Duncan and Matt Romine, and Clausen’s own ability to move around in the pocket to deliver the ball while under pressure.
The Wolfpack pass rush is led by ends Kevin Basped and Dontay Moch, each of whom recorded more than ten sacks last season. Sophomore James-Michael Johnson is the best of the linebackers, and free safety Jonathon Amaya leads a group of veterans in the secondary that was routinely torched last season. Obviously, Nevada hopes that experience, however painful, will lead to better results this year.

In order to have a chance at victory, Nevada must try to contain the Irish running game with its front four and drop additional players into pass coverage. If Notre Dame can dominate the line of scrimmage, the game could become a rout. If the Irish linemen struggle to execute blocks as they have the past three seasons, the contest could become uncomfortably close. Notre Dame will not reach its potential this season if its offensive success is based solely on the ability of its talented pass catchers to make plays downfield.

Nevada’s Offense against Notre Dame’s Defense

The Wolfpack offense is balanced and dangerous. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick personifies this diversified attack as evidenced by his 2,849 yards passing and 1,130 yards rushing in 2008. He is supported by a pair of All-Conference rushers in Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott, but his offensive line may not be quite as formidable due to key graduation losses at center and left tackle. The matchup between this group and the young Irish defensive front will be critical to the outcome. If Notre Dame can contain the running game and force Kaepernick to throw, the advantage tilts decisively toward the home team.

The reasons for this assertion are the fact that Nevada has lost its top three receivers from last season, while the Irish secondary is shaping up as one of the best in the country. Only tight end Virgil Green can be considered a legitimate threat in the passing game. Although Kaepernick and his new, inexperienced receivers have spent considerable time getting acquainted in the spring and summer, the Wolfpack aerial show is still very much a work in progress.

Notre Dame will strive to force Kaepernick into passing situations by stopping the run and building a lead on the scoreboard. Nevada will remain competitive only to the extent it can maintain balance on offense and keep the high-powered Irish attack off the field. The matchups to watch will be the Wolfpack offensive tackles and the Irish defensive ends, Kapron Lewis-Moore and Kerry Neal. The latter two will be counted upon to hold the point of attack in defense of the run, which is a major concern of this unit coming into the season.

One wild card element for the Notre Dame defenders is the scrambling ability of Kaepernick. Nothing frustrates a defense more than slowing down the running game and covering the receivers only to have a nimble quarterback take off for first down yardage or buy time to find an open receiver in key situations. The Irish may have to assign a linebacker to spy on Kaepernick to mitigate this risk. A similar approach may also be needed later in the season against Washington’s Jake Locker and possibly others.

Special Teams

The Irish have awarded the kicking chores to freshman Nicholas Tausch, who won the job over previous incumbent Brandon Walker. There has been considerable turnover among the personnel throughout Notre Dame’s special teams, but punter Eric Maust, return man Allen and gunner Mike Anello are familiar faces to Irish fans.
Nevada’s kicking situation is unsettled, and junior college transfer Ricky Drake is penciled in to handle the job after the graduation of four-year starter Brett Jaekle. The punting duties are in good hands with veteran Brad Langley. Taua is the primary return man and could cause problems if he has room to maneuver on punts.

Summary

Nevada’s offense is sufficiently experienced and talented to score points, but the Wolfpack will find it much more difficult to cope with Notre Dame’s own offensive firepower. The teams could easily combine to score more than 60 points in this contest.

Here are a few key questions that will determine the outcome:

• Will Notre Dame’s offensive line avoid the frustrating breakdowns of the past and open holes for its running backs?
• Will Clausen’s performance most resemble his erratic November 2008 outings or his Hawaii Bowl breakout?
• Will Kaepernick escape the Irish rush to make big plays with his arm or feet?
• Will the Irish be demonstrably more physical in the trenches?
• Can Toryan Smith become the run stuffer Notre Dame needs at middle linebacker?
• Can Duncan and Romine protect Clausen’s blind side?
• What impact will a freshman kicker have for the Irish?
• Will circumstances allow Notre Dame to send in the reserves for meaningful minutes?
• Which team will play fearlessly and make the fewest mistakes?

Prediction

Despite putting up impressive offensive statistics in the WAC during the past two seasons, Nevada has not been successful of late against BCS conference teams. They do not figure to threaten Notre Dame on paper, but there is sufficient uncertainty surrounding the 2009 Irish after wildly inconsistent performances last year and numerous changes on defense and in the coaching staff. These unknowns can make certain prognosticators look quite foolish, but Notre Dame’s core players should be experienced enough to turn in a winning performance even if there are a few opening game issues to resolve going forward. Besides, Weis’ job essentially depends on it.

Notre Dame 42 Nevada 23