Purdue vs Notre Dame
Written by: Brainiac
Notre Dame -1 vs. Purdue
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All those good feelings around the Notre Dame program following a 2-0 start evaporated last week with a 23-7 loss at Michigan State where the Irish offense again did very little.
And again, it’s the running game that is the culprit. The Irish rank 111th in Division I-A in rushing and average just 78 rushing yards a game. Their opponents average 144.3 yards.
Against the Spartans, Notre Dame rushed for 16 yards on 22 carries and allowed 203 on the ground.
“In the first three games we’ve had more success throwing than we have running,” coach Charlie Weis said (the Irish rank 69th in the country by average 208.7 yards passing per game). “You can’t make a living just being one-dimensional. You can address it by scheme, but a lot of it comes down to working your (behind) off fundamentally to make an improvement. That’s one of the main focuses we’re doing this week.”
Notre Dame resorted to an empty-backfield formation often in the second half against Michigan State, with QB Jimmy Clausen in the shotgun.
That empty-backfield offense managed just one touchdown against Michigan State, but the Irish’s yards-per-play jumped from 3.5 in the first half to 4.8 after halftime. There were 51- and 57-yard drives that ended in miscues.
So why not go to that more often?
“The problem is if your identity all stems around passing first,” Weis said. “You’re exposing yourself to a lot of problems that you’d like to avoid. If a defensive team could just pin their ears back and come after you, you’re opening yourself up for pressures, sacks, quarterback hits, interceptions.”
Clausen does have six picks this season (matching his freshman total in 149 fewer attempts) and the Irish have turned the ball over nine times. So perhaps their decision-making isn’t ready for the spread-type offense.
“I’ve forced the ball a few times and taken too many chances in the past three games and that’s one of the things that I’m working on during practice,” Clausen said. “If something is not there, if it’s not wide open, check the ball down to the backs. After watching the film where I’m throwing interceptions, the backs are wide open. I’ve just got to stop taking as many chances as I have.”
Purdue is last among Big Ten teams in total defense and 103rd among 119 major college teams, allowing 427 yards per game, so look for Notre Dame to go more to that shotgun formation this week despite what Weis has said. Coaches may lie, but numbers don’t.
Purdue, which is a 1-point underdog this week on WagerWeb.com, is 1-4 in South Bend under coach Joe Tiller and 11-26 overall.
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