Irish D looks forward to conventional offense

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Tired of spread offenses, Notre Dame’s defense couldn’t be happier to see Michigan State coming to town this week.

“It’s going to be easier for us this week because they line up in an I pro [formation] and they’re going to come at you and try to run between the tackles,” linebacker Brian Smith said. “It’s just going to being coming back to the way we play.”

The Fighting Irish (1-1) struggled defending the run the past two weeks. Nevada and its pistol offense averaged 5.3 yards a carry in the opener despite being shut out 35-0. Michigan averaged 5 yards a carry in a 38-34 victory last week.

Both teams gashed Notre Dame for big runs up the middle.

The Irish are ranked 88th in the nation against the run, giving up 171.5 yards a game. Teams with Bowl Championship Series aspirations can’t afford to give up that kind of yardage on the ground. Of the 30 teams that have earned BCS berths over the past three years, 27 of them have ranked in the top 25 in the nation against the run. The worst team was Notre Dame in 2006, when the Irish were 61st in the nation giving up 136.9 yards a game.

A year ago, Notre Dame’s defense made big strides against the run. It was rated 45th in the nation at 134.2 yards a game. A season earlier, the Irish were 96th, giving up 195.2 yards a game running.

Defensive line coach Randy Hart indicated part of the problem this year is that Notre Dame’s young, inexperienced line has been thinking too much.

“Quit walking on egg shells and get up and go play and have some fun playing defense,” he said.

Irish defenders say that will be easier to do not having so play as much assignment football against the Spartans (1-1).

“It ain’t as much razzle-dazzle and tricky,” linebacker Toryan Smith said. “Michigan State, what you see is what you get.”

It’s the Irish who will be trying to keep the Spartans off balance with their blitzing defense. Notre Dame defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta’s attacking 4-3 scheme is based on one overriding principal: stop the run.

“Confuse the front five, never let the quarterback set his feet, but you’ve got to stop the run first and foremost,” Tenuta said.

At times this season, it’s the Irish defenders who have looked confused. In some plays, two players have been in the same gap, leaving an open lane for the ball carrier. The Irish also have had problems tackling.

Coach Charlie Weis said the Irish plan some “tweaks” on “some of those inside rush lanes that exist.” Tenuta said the Irish “have some holes in the scheme.” Neither would elaborate.

But it’s clear the Irish defensive line, a concern heading into the season, needs to play better.

So far, the four defensive linemen listed as starters on the depth chart have 13 tackles, five fewer than strong safety Kyle McCarthy, a Mooney High graduate. Defensive end Kerry Neal has yet to make a tackle. The other defensive end, Kapron Lewis-Moore, has two tackles. Their backup, John Ryan, has six.