Notre Dame Football: 7 Potential Pitfalls against Michigan

Notre Dame arrives at the odd uniform bowl in Ann Arbor a surprising 3.5 favorite against rival Michigan despite a putrid loss to South Florida a week ago.

The Irish's season began with very high hopes, and those hopes were, to a large degree, deflated by the sloppy play against the Bulls.

For the Irish to get back on track and return the season to the direction that everyone thought it was heading in, Brian Kelly's second season as head coach beating Michigan and first-year coach Brady Hoke is a must.

Here are seven things that could keep Notre Dame off the plan.

1. Special Teams

In the Game 1 loss to USF, Notre Dame fumbled a punt inside their own 25, missed a chip shot field goal and averaged only 27.1 yards net per punt.

In a potentially close game with a dangerous runner across the field, field position is key. Punting will be important and must be better than it was a week ago.

In receiving punts, it's been fairly well proven that the offense will gain yardage, so fair catch. Or just get away from it and let it bounce. You just can't put the ball on the turf.

Kick-off coverage needs to make a tackle at the first hit, not allow the runner to bounce off and reach the 30-yard line consistently.

The usually sure-footed David Ruffer has to make kicks inside 35 yards.

Good teams have good special teams. Notre Dame has been weak in the kicking game for years, and to beat good teams, this has to improve.

2. Commit to the Run

Michigan has to control the clock to beat Notre Dame. The Irish offense will move, and unless they fail at protecting the ball, will put points on the board.

Notre Dame can beat Michigan at the point of attack and can also by running the ball—keep Denard Robinson off the field.

The Irish ran the ball well against a decent South Florida front to the tune of 117 yards on 29 attempts. Cierre Wood, alone, carried 21 times for 104 yards and a touchdown. Irish runners averaged four yards per carry and can expect similar success in Ann Arbor.

If the Irish fail to reach 100 yards rushing, leaving Michigan even at 1-1 will be difficult.

3. Coaching, Coaching, Coaching

There is more to coaching than screaming.

Granted, if I were in Kelly's shoes last Saturday, I probably would have had to be pulled off of T.J. Jones by the assistant staff...and it may have taken the jaws of life to pry my hands from his neck...

But I digress...

When the team runs out onto the field, they have to be ready to play. Mentally tough, focused and believing that they will win.

Not that they can win or could win or should win...but that they are physically going to beat Michigan into submission.

And that every man on that team owes it to every other man to do his part. Make his play.

The x's and o's will be in place. The scheme against USF was perfect. The Irish should have beaten USF going away. Execution and preparation were lacking, and the Irish were left holding a loss.

The same could easily happen this weekend if Kelly doesn't have the team ready to play.

4. Ignore the Shamrocks

So recently, the Irish in green jerseys hasn't really worked well for Notre Dame.

The last time the Irish went with "throwbacks," it was a very regrettable blow-out loss in the 1977 "Trojan Horse" uniforms to USC.

So now, Notre Dame dons throw backs to the Kuharich era? A 17-23, four-year period in which Notre Dame never fielded a .500 team? Couple that to the fact that three of the last four times the Irish dropped their opener, they ended the season with a losing record...

Well...what more is there to say really?

5. Quarterback Play

It's easy to pile on Dayne Crist.

He was let down by his teammates by several drops in key situations, however, Crist failed to rally his troops and settle the team down.

His end-zone interception included a blown read that was telling of his performance in the game. He missed many reads, was late with several throws and completed passes that were thrown to the wrong receiver read.

Many times, even when he was right, he was wrong.

He was yanked at the half, and Tommy Rees ignited the Irish.

Rees will get the start against Michigan, and he has to avoid the nerves and mistakes that plagued Crist.

6. Tackle Denard Robinson

A year ago, Denard Robinson single-handedly beat Notre Dame. Robinson gained 9.2 yards every time he ran the ball; the rest of the team averaged two yards per carry. Robinson rushed for 258 yards; the rest of the team managed 30. Robinson ran for two touchdowns and passed for another.

Removing Robinson's 502 total yards of offense, last year, Michigan amassed a grand total of 30 yards.

Robinson can beat you.

But if you contain Robinson, you beat Michigan.

He is literally the only way that Michigan can beat Notre Dame, unless Notre Dame beats themselves.

Make Michigan Win

Protect the ball.

Don't commit stupid penalties.

Play clean.

Notre Dame proved the theory that it is not possible to win a game where you lose the turn over battle 5-0 last week.

Despite outgaining South Florida by nearly 300 yards and entering the red zone six times, the Irish lost.

Fumble at the 1-yard line returned 95 yards for a touchdown.

Fumbled punt just outside the red zone.

Consecutive personal foul penalties that allowed USF to kick an easy field goal.

Interception in the end zone.

Interception at the 5-yard line that bounces off of a receiver's helmet because he's not prepared for the ball.

Missed 35-yard field goal.

If you correct those mistakes, and only give ND field goals on those red-zone trips, it's a 22-point swing.

Rather than a 23-20 loss, you are looking at a 31-13 win.

Good teams don't beat themselves.