Everyone is disappointed about the ND offense in the past 4 games. To Kelly, it appears just the fact that 3-1 is just fine and it’s all about just winning games. So last year ND basically just stumbled into the National Championship game and last years team was far better than what we are seeing now.

Just stumbling through a season only to get completely waxed by Alabama shows that you just can’t eke out wins over inferior teams but you’ve got to get used to scoring lots of points. Alabama just crushed the vaunted ND defense and I believe Oregon would have done the same.

Neither Bama or Oregon cares what a defense is doing – they are just going to run their offense. Stack the box, they could care less – still going to run when they feel like it. ND is just waiting to see what the defense will give them.

With the above in mind I picked out 3 teams who’s offense is predicated on running the ball first – Alabama, Stanford and Wisconsin. Narrowed it further to just Wisconsin. With that in mind I compared ND and Wisconsin vs. Purdue. ND beat writers were telling us all about Purdue’s DL – have to pass to beat these guys, too tough to run against. So onto the stats:

Wisconsin 41 Purdue 10

• Total yards – Wisconsin 546 yds Purdue 180 yds
• Run Yardage – Wisconsin 388 yds Purdue 45 yds
• Pass Yardage – Wisconsin 158 yds Purdue 135 yds

Notre Dame 31 Purdue 24

• Total Yards ND 400 Purdue 294
• Rush Yards ND 91 Purdue 38
• Pass Yards ND 309 Purdue 256

The ND game was won in the 4th quarter – ND was behind 17-10 going into the 4th quarter. Now Purdue knew Wisconsin was going to run the ball so I’m sure they loaded the box – result Wisconsin Rush 388 yds while ND gained 91 Rush yds. It will be interesting to see how the MSU defense does as they begin Big? play. You don’t get to the big show unless you have an offense that can run the ball when necessary.

OK enough about that – after all it is Oklahoma week. With that in mind here’s a few clips of last years game. That ND team certainly looked more motivated. Time certainly clouds memory but that game was actually tied 13-13 going into the 4th quarter. Golson also ran for 60+ yards which really helped the offense.