Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Taking A Closer Look What Worked • Blitz package. The Irish had some trouble creating a pass rush early in the contest against Michigan, but incorporating a blitz package that included multiple rushes off of the edges by defensive backs and through the middle by the inside linebackers consistently caused quarterback Denard Robinson to be on the run — ending in a number of bad decisions, including four interceptions and losing a fumble. The Irish finished the contest with three sacks, including one by junior linebacker Prince Shembo. • Offensive adjustments. Notre Dame entered the Michigan showdown with a game plan to use a balanced attack, but after struggling early head coach Brian Kelly called an audible. For the second time this season, he sacrificed the athleticism of sophomore quarterback Everett Golson for the experience of junior Tommy Rees. While Rees may not be a flashy player, he has a touch on his passes in key situations that is a cut above the young signal-caller, and the junior’s composure and consistency was enough to hang on for the win. • Creating opportunities. Notre Dame won the turnover battle against the Wolverines decisively, forcing six Michigan miscues. Those plays don’t occur without a strong pass rush on Robinson, and the Irish secondary getting in position to make the play. What Didn’t Work • Establishing a rhythm. Whether it’s a rushing or aerial attack, Notre Dame is typically able to make its way down the field to put points on the board. The offense took some time to start clicking with Michigan’s physical approach limiting the big plays through most of the defensive battle. The Irish had one consistent drive early in the fourth quarter that accounted for 11 plays, 53 yards and 6:24 prior to ending with a 39-yard field goal. • Stopping drives. The Irish will work to improve stopping a team’s offense in the late downs after allowing the Wolverines to convert better than 50 percent of its third-down tries (8 of 15) and its only fourth-down attempt. • Remaining disciplined. Notre Dame started off the season with a low amount of penalties against Navy (four for 30 yards), but has had trouble since, committing eight for 52 yards against Purdue and six for 41 in the win over Michigan State. The Irish were penalized five times for a total of 49 yards versus Michigan, including illegal shifts and false starts. — Jason Sapp By The Numbers By Lou Somogyi 2 Freshmen who intercepted passes for Notre Dame during the first half, maybe a first in the program’s history. Safety Nicky Baratti picked off a halfback pass by Michigan running back Vincent Smith late in the first quarter. It was the first interception by a Notre Dame true freshman since Robert Blanton returned one for a score against Purdue in 2008. Then, on the final play of the first half, cornerback KaiVarae Russell intercepted a deep throw by quarterback Denard Robinson. 3 Interceptions by senior linebacker Manti Te’o this season, including two versus Michigan. Notre Dame linebackers had a combined three interceptions the past two seasons: one by Darius Fleming last year, and one each by Fleming and Brian Smith in 2010. Te’o is also the first Irish linebacker to record two interceptions in a game since Maurice Crum Jr. had a pair in a 20-6 victory at UCLA in 2007. 5 Intercepted passes by Notre Dame, two by Te’o and one apiece by junior cornerback Bennett Jackson, Baratti and Russell. It’s the most by an Irish team since five against Purdue in a 52-7 victory on Sept. 24, 1988. 6 Points allowed by Notre Dame against Michigan, the fewest since an 11-3 victory at Ann Arbor in 1909. The Wolverines averaged 33.8 points against Notre Dame in the previous six meetings from 2006‑11. 13 Turnovers forced by Notre Dame this season. Last year, the Irish induced only 14 during the 13-game season, the fewest by a Notre Dame team dating back to the 1951 season. The Irish finished minus-15 in turnovers last year, but are plus-nine during their 4-0 start this season. 14-14-1 Record in the series with the Wolverines since its renewal in 1978. Notre Dame won four in a row from 1987-90 and Michigan had a three-game winning streak from 2009-11, but overall it’s been ebb and flow for both programs in this rivalry. 69 Years since Notre Dame allowed six or fewer points in back-to-back victories versus ranked opponents (three against No. 10 Michigan State and six versus No. 18 Michigan). The 1943 national champs limited No. 3 Navy, No. 3 Army and No. 8 Northwestern to six, zero and six, respectively, in three straight games. 228 Yards of total offense by Michigan senior quarterback Denard Robinson — 138 passing and 90 rushing. It was a precipitous drop from his 502-yard output against Notre Dame in 2010 (258 rushing and 244 passing) and 446 last year (338 passing and 108 rushing). 1989 The most recent season until now that Notre Dame has not trailed in a football game through the first four contests. The Irish didn’t fall behind that season until the fifth game, 6‑0 at Stanford, before winning 27-17 to extend their victory streak to 17. 1990 The last time Notre Dame won a football game by scoring fewer points than in the 13-6 win versus Michigan. In the regular-season finale that season at USC, the Irish won 10-6.