| Notre Dame RB Cierre Wood rushed for 118 yards and two TDs in the Irish's 41-3 win over Miami (Fla.) on Saturday night. (AP) |
If the old adage holds true, a dominating defense should have little trouble containing an explosive offense.
In Super Bowl XXV, a Bill Parcells-led Giants’ defense held the Buffalo Bills’ no-huddle attack in check in the 20-19 win. Two decades later Parcells’ disciple Bill Belichick, designed a masterful game plan in Super Bowl XXXVI in shutting down Marshall Faulk and the Rams. In the 2009 BCS national championship game, Florida stifled an Oklahoma offense that had put up at least 60 points in its previous five games.
On Saturday night at the home of the 1985 Chicago Bears, one of the most famed defenses in the history of football, Notre Dame slowed a high-octane Miami (Fla.) offense that had put up record-setting numbers the past two weeks. Like the Giants, the Irish used a ball-control offense and backed it up with a suffocating defense in a 41-3 win at Soldier Field.
Entering the game, the Irish had allowed just nine points per game and ranked in the top 15 in the nation defensively in four statistical categories. The Hurricanes averaged 43 points and more than 600 yards of total offense in their past two games. In Notre Dame’s last three games, the Irish have held Michigan State, Michigan and Miami without a touchdown.
“That’s an incredible feat for our defense,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said.
Notre Dame finished with 376 rushing yards, the most since a 380-yard performance in a win over Boston College in 2000. Irish RBs Cierre Wood and George Atkinson III each eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark on the night. It marked the first time Notre Dame had two 100-yard rushers in a single game since 2002 when Rashon Powers-Neal and Ryan Grant accomplished the feat.
The Hurricanes nearly scored twice early on deep passes to WR Phillip Dorsett, but the redshirt sophomore dropped both. After adjusting to Miami’s speed, the Irish defense tightened. Flushed out of the pocket often and forced to throw on the run, Hurricanes QB Stephen Morris was 18 of 35 for 201 yards. In last week’s win over NC State, Morris had an ACC record 566 yards.
“If you can play cover two in three-cloud like they do and get pressure with a four-man rush, then you’re going to be tough to beat,” Miami coach Al Golden said.
Golson sharp after missing first three plays: Irish redshirt freshman QB Everett Golson was benched for Notre Dame’s first three offensive plays by Kelly for showing up late to a team meeting Friday.
Golson lost track of time while meeting with one of his professors and arrived at the team meeting several minutes late.
“I didn’t handle it the way I should have,” Golson said. “I understand that it was a violation of team rules.”
Golson responded by passing for more than 150 yards and rushing for 51 in the first half. Golson nearly scored on a 9-yard run early in the first quarter but his elbow hit the ground as he stretched for a touchdown. But he connected with TE Tyler Eifert on a 23-yard completion on a back shoulder fade along the left sideline late in the first quarter. It lead to a 22-yard field goal by Kyle Brindza.
Golson didn’t need to throw the ball much in the second half as the Irish controlled the ball with their rushing attack. Notre Dame called runs on 16 of their first 18 offensive plays after halftime and gained 197 yards rushing in the third quarter.
When Miami rolled its coverage toward Eifert to double-team him, it created open creases for the Irish running backs. Wood finished with 118 yards on 18 carries. Atkinson led the Irish with 127 yards on 10 carries, including a 55-yard touchdown late in the third.
“It just brings another guy out of the box to open up more lanes for us,” Wood said. “It’s just pick your poison, really.”
Unbeaten at Soldier Field: Notre Dame remained undefeated in 12 trips to Soldier Field (10-0-2). The Irish have allowed 39 points in their first five games. Notre Dame has not surrendered fewer points over their first five games of a season since 1975. The Irish are 5-0 for the first time since 2002.
(For more on the game, check out CBSSports.com's Eye on College Football blog here)
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