Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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to Temple signal-caller Connor Reilly and 82 yards on 13 attempts (6.3 yards per rush) to Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner. In the third game, the Irish were able to neutralize Purdue's Rob Henry to four carries and two yards, but the "run" of mobile quarterbacks that can beat you with their feet, as well as their arm, was just beginning. When Michigan State arrived in town last week, even the Spartans had tweaked their offensive identity a lit‑ tle bit at quarterback. In head coach Mark Dantonio's first six seasons, all of his signal-callers had finished well below minus-100 yards rushing in their careers. This year entering the Notre Dame game, some read option had been incorporated for redshirt sopho‑ more Connor Cook, who had rushed for 70 yards and 4.8 yards per carry in MSU's first three games. "That has not been something that has been part of their offense in the past," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said. "Now they have the ability to run some schemes in particular situ‑ ations, down and distance, that force you to consider how you're defending them." The Irish have to get used to it, be‑ cause this season's schedule is espe‑ cially replete with mobile threats at quarterback: • Oklahoma's Blake "Belldozer" Bell, despite his 6-6, 252-pound frame that once upon a time would have stereo‑ typed him as a statue in the pocket, is renowned as a battering ram because of his 24 rushing touchdowns in 2011‑12 while backing up classic pocket passer Landry Jones. The new Sooners starter ran for 372 yards in his part-time role behind Jones. • Arizona State's 6-2, 201-pound Tay‑ lor Kelly is a passer first, but it's easily forgotten that he also rushed for 516 yards in 2012. • Navy's Keenan Reynolds and Air Force's Jaleel Awini both operate the triple option, which is a completely dif‑ ferent animal, but one that will keep Notre Dame's defense on edge, so to speak. • During a 40-21 pasting of Texas Sept. 7, Brigham Young's Taysom Hill rushed 17 times for 259 yards and three touchdowns. Hill was unable to play at Notre Dame last season because of an injury. • Stanford's Kevin Hogan took over as the starter in the middle of last sea‑ son (after the 20-13 overtime loss at Notre Dame), but he still rushed for 263 yards and 4.8 yards per carry. What's underrated about Stanford in recent years is the ability of their quar‑ terbacks to be running threats as well. From 2009-11, Andrew Luck rushed for 957 yards and 5.9 yards per carry, including 453 yards as a junior. "We've faced a lot of mobility back there [so far], so that's something we're prepared for," senior safety Austin Col‑ linsworth said a couple of days prior to playing Michigan State. "It definitely changes the game. You have to stay on your guy in scrambling situations because if you relax for a second, it's a big play waiting to happen. "You have to keep laser-locked on your [receiver] the whole time and just say, 'The only thing I'm worried about with the quarterback is just throwing it.'"