While Notre Dame has survived two early-season tests, its next opponent has breezed through two early-season scrimmages.
Michigan has been numbingly efficient in home victories over Vanderbilt and Central Michigan, winning with rushing, defense and more rushing.
Against Vandy, Michigan called 51 running plays and 22 passes. Against Central Michigan, it was 50 running plays and 21 passes.
The result: The Wolverines ran for 252 yards against Central Michigan and 246 against Vandy.
“If we can run the ball like that, why not keep running and work the clock and keep our defense off the field?” asked tailback Mike Hart, who ran for three scores Saturday. “I don’t know about running at will, but we think we can run the ball on any team.”
Quarterback Chad Henne threw for 113 yards on 11 of 19 passes, his lowest output in 26 career starts. But it’s unclear whether Henne is slumping or if new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord has been saving his fireworks for South Bend.
Asked about the passing game Saturday, coach Lloyd Carr replied: “Do I like where we are? I think we have to get better.”
It’s tough to overstate the importance of Saturday’s game. If Notre Dame can survive this one, it figures to be heavily favored in its next eight games.
Then comes the regular-season finale, a Thanksgiving weekend showdown at USC.
The Trojans are in a similar position, hosting a dangerous Nebraska team Saturday before they figure to cruise through the Pac-10 slate. Oregon and Cal should at least provide a challenge, but both those games will be played in Los Angeles. Then the Irish come to town.
For what it’s worth–little more than bragging rights–Notre Dame surged from fourth to second in this week’s Associated Press poll. Ohio State remains No. 1 after thrashing Texas 24-7.
Auburn is third, followed by USC. Texas fell to eighth.
Three for one
Before he agreed to move from tailback to linebacker during spring practice, Travis Thomas sat down with Irish coach Charlie Weis and played reporter.
Thomas asked Weis two key questions:
With all the talent on the team, why me?
Can I still have a role on offense?
The first response was simple. Weis wanted Thomas on the field, not the sidelines as Darius Walker’s backup.
The second response also gave Thomas hope.
“He said Darius is his guy,” Thomas recalled. “But he said, `You may be our guy for certain personnel [packages] or certain situations.'”
Thomas was intrigued by the possibility of being a two-way player. As it turns out, he’s a three-way player. The proof came when he ran 43 yards on a fake punt during Notre Dame’s 41-17 waxing of Penn State on Saturday.
Thomas got tackled at the 5. After Walker rushed to the 1, Thomas powered home the score on his second chance.
At linebacker, the 218-pound Thomas finished with just two tackles, while teammate Maurice Crum Jr. had 14, including three tackles for loss. But Thomas’ defensive contributions go beyond numbers.
“Not only does he bring speed, but leadership,” defensive lineman Victor Abiamiri said. “That’s been a major thing we’ve been looking for at the linebacker spot, with [Crum] growing up. Travis stepping up has been great for us.”
Double trouble
He’ll never be known as Ohio State’s big-play wide receiver. Not as long as he plays opposite Ted Ginn Jr., who could seemingly outrace a Harley-Davidson.
But Anthony Gonzalez, a redshirt junior from Cleveland, was Troy Smith’s No. 1 target Saturday night in Austin. He caught eight passes for 142 yards, both career highs, and scored on a 23-yard grab in the front corner of the end zone.
Gonzalez benefited from both single coverage and an even-keeled demeanor.
“I always try to stay relaxed,” he said.
“A big part of my game is mental, and if I’m too hyped up, too excited, then sometimes I let my emotions get carried away.”
Ginn caught five passes for 97 yards and a touchdown, giving Smith two of the Big Ten’s most lethal weapons.
Ohio State gets a breather this week in the form of a home visit from Cincinnati. Then the Buckeyes face two rugged Big Ten tests: home for Penn State and at Iowa.
———-
tgreenstein@tribune.com
