Notre Dame Football 2012: How Irish Defense Plans to Stop Toughest Competitors

The gauntlet of a schedule that Notre Dame is challenged with navigating is filled with explosive offensive attacks, each of which the Irish defense must find a way to halt.

Among the high-octane offenses that defensive coordinator Bob Diaco must gameplan for are the Oklahoma Sooners, Michigan Wolverines and USC Trojans, among others.

Just how will the Fighting Irish keep those offenses contained?

Let's take a look.

Michigan Wolverines

One of Brady Hoke's first hires, after being named head coach at Michigan, was that of offensive coordinator Al Borges.

That hire was significant due to the radical changes it would bring to the Wolverine offense. Borges scrapped former head coach Rich Rodriguez's spread option attack in favor of a traditional, pro-style scheme.

The new system sputtered and looked useless against the Fighting Irish defense for three quarters last season, before the Irish secondary forgot how to defend the pass, allowing four passing touchdowns in the final quarter.

So what plan does defensive coordinator Bob Diaco have for the Wolverines this season? Likely nothing much different from last season's gameplan.

First and foremost, quarterback Denard Robinson must be contained. The Irish should, and most likely will, employ a four-man front with an outside linebacker and defensive ends in contain on passing downs. This takes away Robinson's ability to escape the pocket and scamper up the sideline.

It's not a secret that Robinson is a mediocre passer, making it an obvious strategy to force him to throw the football.

Should Notre Dame keep Robinson under 100 rushing yards, an Irish victory may very well be in the making.

USC Trojans

Because Trojan quarterback Matt Barkley decided to return to school for his senior season, rather than enter the NFL Draft, the offense in Troy became what may be the nation's most potent attack.

Head coach Lane Kiffin, who served as the Trojans' passing game coordinator and offensive coordinator for two seasons under former head coach Pete Carroll, employs a traditional Power-I scheme.

Matt Barkley typically lines up under center, with a fullback and tailback behind him in a two-wide set.

The scheme utilizes play-action, including a variety of bootleg passes. For Notre Dame, it's not a matter of stopping the Trojan offense. It's a matter of slowing it down, at best. 

It's paramount that the Irish defense recognizes formations and sticks to its assignments, particularly when the Trojans run play-action.

Unfortunately, Notre Dame lacks the athletes in the secondary to compete with the Trojan receivers, so expect the Irish defense to use a number of zone blitzes in an effort to confuse Barkley and create turnovers. 

And should Bob Diaco be bold enough, he may even load the box and blitz Barkley to get in his head.

Oklahoma Sooners

Bob Stoops' Oklahoma squads have come to be known for their high-powered offenses. Stoops' favored scheme is a pro-set, with elements of the spread mixed in.

This season's Sooner offense will be lead by senior quarterback Landry Jones, who has come under fire from the press during his time in Norman. Last season alone, Jones threw 15 interceptions, but countered that ugly figure with 29 touchdown passes.

Altogether, Jones has accounted for 41 interceptions during his career at Oklahoma.

The strategy here is obvious: attack Landry Jones relentlessly. It's similar to the Irish's plan against Matt Barkley, but it comes with less risk due to Jones' penchant for turning the ball over.

The meeting with the Sooners will be a memorable one for the Irish front seven, as Stephon Tuitt, Manti Te'o and Co. will have its cross-hairs on Landry Jones during every passing down for four quarters.