| Notre Dame DB Nicky Baratti and his teammates look to slow down Miami's high-powered offense in Saturday's Shamrock Series at Soldier Field. (AP) |
The Notre Dame-Miami rivalry in the late 1980s and early 1990s almost served as a mini-combine for NFL scouts.
Future early-round selections such as Michael Irvin, Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland and Cleveland Gary for the Hurricanes and Tim Brown, Todd Lyght and Rick Mirer for the Irish lined the field.
In Saturday’s Shamrock Series in Chicago, a large assembly of scouts may only be focused on one side of the ball. A high-octane Hurricanes’ offense that has averaged more than 600 yards in the last two weeks will try to put up points against a stifling Irish defense that has allowed nine points combined over its last two games.
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly is wary of the Hurricanes’ penchant for producing explosive gains. Miami QB Stephen Morris had four completions of 40 yards or more in last week’s win over NC State, including a game-winning 62-yard touchdown to WR Phillip Dorsett. Morris set an ACC record with 566 yards. A week earlier against Georgia Tech, Morris threw for 436 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown to Dorsett.
“They're looking for one-on-one matchups,” Kelly said. “They're trying to stretch the football down the field. This will be a challenge for us. But it's not just for our four guys in the back end. It's (about the) linebackers being in the right place and getting pressure on the quarterback.”
Miami’s up-tempo offense may also impact Irish defensive coordinator Bob Diaco’s game plan. The Hurricanes have 12 scoring drives of two minutes or less this season. A quick tempo could prevent Diaco from frequently rotating NGs Louis Nix III and Kona Schwenke, DEs Kapron Lewis-Moore and Sheldon Day and OLBs Prince Shembo and Ishaq Williams.
“They're going to use tempo to try to keep personnel groupings (off the field) but it works both ways,” Kelly sad. “That means they can't change personnel either. It changes things for our personnel groupings going in, but it definitely limits them as well. We're prepared to play no matter which way it happens.”
Nix III, a Jacksonville native, originally made an oral commitment to Miami before committing to Notre Dame roughly 24 hours after the departure of former coach Charlie Weis. Nix III, a Hurricanes’ fan growing up, committed to Miami in 2007 before deciding on Notre Dame in December of 2009.
“It excites me that I could have been there right now and playing Notre Dame,” Nix III told UND.com.
Golson to start, Rees ready if needed: Despite being lifted by Kelly in the second quarter of the 13-6 win over Michigan, redshirt freshman Everett Golson will start against the Hurricanes. Golson had two passes picked off in the first 25 minutes of the game, including an interception by Michigan S Thomas Gordon in the end zone. Junior Tommy Rees, who replaced Golson, finished 8 of 11 for 115 yards.
Golson is regarded for having more athleticism than Rees, though the junior has a greater grasp of the playbook. Kelly would like to see Golson become more comfortable in making checks from the run to the pass at the line.
“When you start to go from run to pass, you've graduated to the next level,” Kelly said. “You've gone from the 101 to the 201 level. We're not there on all circumstances, we are on some. He's still cooking. He's still learning how to get to that next level of making those checks.”
Te’o in the mix for early Heisman consideration: Notre Dame ranks third in FBS in turnover margin (2.25 per game). It’s unlikely the Irish would be among the nation’s leaders in the category if LB Manti Te’o declared early for the NFL Draft at the end of last season. Of the 13 turnovers forced by the Irish defense through three games, Te’o has played a role in seven of them.
Earlier this week, Te’o ranked fourth in CBSSports.com Heisman Straw Poll. Former Michigan DB Charles Woodson won the Heisman Trophy in 1997 and remains the only defensive player ever to win the prestigious award.
“It's definitely very exciting and it was very humbling at the same time,” Te’o said. “I'm very grateful for all of the support.”
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