:: Notre Dame Football: Fighting Irish Football Newswire ::
Brian Kelly says rushing defense key for Notre Dame, praises Purdue ground-game toughness
Leprechaun Express: Notre Dame Football Intel Update, Sept. 1, 2010
At his Tuesday press conference for Purdue week, Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly did not need much cajoling to highlight the need for a strong run defense.
Run Defense Necessary for Championship Football
Put simply by Kelly, winning at the level Notre Dame is going to demand cannot be done without a strong rushing defense:
COACH KELLY: Well, I know you can't win championships without playing good run defense. I can tell you that right now. So it's a focus from the very beginning in terms of what we do. ... We have to play very good run defense if we want to be a championship level football team.
Tested by Tough Purdue Run-Game
Kelly went on to warn that Purdue will give the Irish a stiff test on the ground, as a tough team that can pound the football:
And we'll get tested right out of the gates. Purdue is going to run the football. They're not going to be a one dimensional football team.
Danny Hope teaches a toughness, so we'll get a chance to be tested right out of the gate. But there's no question, if you can't stop the run, you might as well start looking for something else to do because it's going to be a long day.
To be sure, Purdue retains aspects of its pass-happy traditions. In addition to Joe Tiller's "Basketball on Grass" from Hope's predecessor, Purdue has an even deeper history as a Cradle of Quarterbacks.
But last year Purdue was solidly in the middle of the pack for rushing yardage in a Big Ten/11 conference known historically for "three yards and a cloud of dust" power football.
On the other hand, Purdue's Ralph Bolden, the Big Ten's #3 rusher in 2009, apparently is still is recovering from surgery for a torn ACL that caused him to miss spring ball. He is not listed on the depth chart against Notre Dame.
Neverthless, Purdue has reasserted itself as a power running team, to go with its aerial attack. And while, as pointed out by Kelly, Purdue is having to retool their offensive line somewhat, that line nevertheless is mammoth. In a reversal of roles, Purdue's offensive line is bigger than Notre Dame's this year.
Tough Task for Notre Dame's Defense
Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator Bob Diaco is in his second season as a big-time Defensive Coordinator, after a year in that coordinator role at Cincinnati. Diaco will be called upon to dial up and motivate inspired defense by the Irish on the ground as well as in the air.
Once again Notre Dame has switched its defensive scheme, going back to the 3-4. Kelly mentioned in a previous press conference that nose guard Ian Williams has greatly increased his size and strength in the offseason, and should not be getting rocked back easily by blockers.
In addition to the significance of defensive ends against the run, the 3-4 naturally naturally also will place a big emphasis on the role of linebackers, including Inside Linebacker Manti Te'o, who has bulked up to 250 while retaining speed and agility.
Te'o, a Mormon, elected to at leasts delay his Mormon mission to continue his momentum and development after a freshman year that saw him worked in gradually, and then becoming a leading tackler the second half of the year.
Unfortunately, the Irish defense has something to prove after what some perceived as a let-down on the ground against Navy last year, and some difficulties closing out games late in the season. In addition to Navy, a top running school, the Irish gave up significant yardage to Stanford star running back Toby Gerhart.
What will be interesting against Purdue will be the extent to which Diaco, at least earlier on, lets the Irish "pin their ears back" and see how they stack up athletically against the Boilermakers in simpler schemes.
- Back to the Top -
:: [Transcript] Brian Kelly Tuesday Press Conference, Purdue Week
:: Notre Dame - Purdue extended game notes [PDF]
:: Notre Dame vs. Purdue - UND.com Game Day Central
:: Irish Set to Kick Off 2010 Season At Home Against Purdue: Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET, live on NBC - UND.com
:: Notre Dame Football official site - UND.com
:: Notre Dame Football 2010 Media Guide (Table of Contents, PDF sections)
:: Notre Dame Football 2010 Media Guide (Table of Contents, Flash)
:: Notre Dame 2009 statistical summary - NCAA database
:: Purdue 2009 statistical summary - NCAA database
:: Purdue depth chart - Notre Dame game [PDF]
:: Purdue game notes for Notre Dame vs. Purdue [PDF]
:: Purdue Football 2010 Information Guide
:: Purdue Football official site
Keywords: Notre Dame Football, Brian Kelly, Rushing Defense, Run Defense, Bob Diaco, Manti Te'o, Ian Williams, Purdue Football, College Football, Football, Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame Indiana
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