Cavalier Corner Digital

✦ on paper By andrew owens Michigan State Running Game Vs. Notre Dame Run Defense Notre Dame's rush defense has shut down Michigan State in each of the past two seasons and is largely responsible for the 31-13 and 20-3 wins in 2011 and 2012, respectively. After rushing for a combined 79 yards in those games against the Irish, the Spartans' offense has become even more predictable following the loss of workhorse back Le'Veon Bell and with the current quarterbacking circus the team is employing. After struggling against the run in the first two games (Temple rushed for 134 yards and Michigan gained 166 yards on the ground), Notre Dame contained athletic Purdue running back Akeem Hunt during last Saturday's 31‑24 win. He mustered only 22 yards and as a team the Boilermakers finished with 38. The Spartans have decided on redshirt sophomore Connor Cook as Saturday's starter after his strong performance in the passing game against Youngstown State last week, but he can also scramble. The Irish have not faced a dual-threat Spartans quarterback during head coach Brian Kelly's tenure, and athletic quarterbacks Connor Reilly (Temple) and Devin Gardner (Michigan) gave Notre Dame fits in the first two weeks. Bell recorded 92 percent of Michigan State's rushing yards during the 7-6 campaign a year ago. Similarly to Notre Dame's current situation, Michigan State is dividing the workload among redshirt juniors Jeremy Langford (44 carries for 200 yards) and Nick Hill (25 rushes for 179 yards) and redshirt freshman Riley Bullough (21 attempts for 82 yards) as it searches for its offensive identity. Advantage: Notre Dame Michigan State Passing Game Vs. Notre Dame Pass Defense Michigan State's jumbled mess at quarterback through the first three weeks was slightly reminiscent of the beginning of Notre Dame's 3-9 season in 2007, when former head coach Charlie Weis shuffled through Demetrius Jones, Evan Sharpley and Jimmy Clausen atop the depth chart. After going with four co-starters on the depth chart the past two weeks, Dantonio has settled on Cook as his starter. The redshirt sophomore was 15-of-22 passing for 202 yards and threw four touchdown passes, all in the first half, in the blowout win over Youngstown State, and the job is now his to lose as the Spartans prepare for their toughest challenge yet. The blame for Michigan State's issues with its desolate passing game since the graduation of Kirk Cousins can't all be placed on the shoulders of its quarterbacks, but also in the hands of their wide receivers. The unit's dropped passes killed a great number of drives in 2012, and 2013 has started along the same lines despite an experienced group (only tight end Dion Sims graduated). Fifth-year senior Andrew Maxwell — the signal-caller to whom Dantonio gave the first shot at filling Kirk Cousins' shoes in 2012 — threw for just 4.5 yards per completion in his first marquee start (versus Notre Dame) a year ago. Notre Dame sacked Maxwell four times and prevented the Spartans from scoring a touchdown. Advantage: Notre Dame Notre Dame Running Game Vs. Michigan State Run Defense The Irish surpassed the 100-yard mark in victories over the Spartans each of the past two years, a remarkable feat considering the Michigan State rush defense finished ninth and seventh in the nation, respectively, in 2011 and 2012. This year, the Spartans return one of the top linebacking corps in the nation, led by senior middle linebacker Max Bullough. He paced the Spartans with 111 tackles a year ago and earned a spot on the All-Big Ten first team. Along the defensive line, Dantonio is breaking in two new starters this September, although one of the fresh faces, redshirt sophomore defensive end Shilique Calhoun, directly impacted both of Michigan State's two wins to open the season. He recorded a sack, an interception and two fumble recoveries in wins over Western Michigan and South Florida while the offense sputtered and searched for an identity. Amazingly, he scored three touchdowns as a defender in those two games, while the entire offense managed just two. Notre Dame's crowded backfield is by no means a finished product. Juniors Amir Carlisle (30 carries for 148 yards) and Cam McDaniel (29 attempts for 125 yards) have been called upon the most through three games, but fellow junior George Atkinson (18 rushes for 98 yards) is by no means a forgotten man. Advantage: Even ✦ Page 3 Notre Dame Passing Game Vs. Michigan State Pass Defense Three of the four starters in Michigan State's secondary returned this year, with first-team All-Big Ten selection Johnny Adams moving on to the Buffalo Bills. The unit has thrived this September and shined in the win over South Florida by allowing only 66 yards and contributing to two defensive touchdowns. Through three games, MSU boasted the nation's No. 1 in pass efficiency defense (68.1 rating) and allowed only 126.7 passing yards per contest. Senior cornerback and 2012 first-team All-Big Ten selection Darqueze Dennard's job will be to shut down Senior cornerback Darqueze Dennard, who is in his third season as a starter, made nine tackles and broke up five passes in Michigan State's first three games this season. photo courtesy michigan state

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