Michigan Week! Early Look at the Wolverines and Fighting Irish

I am thankful this is a short week, because otherwise I really don't think I'd be able to handle the wait until Saturday afternoon.  I'm both excited and nervous as hell, because after watching Denard Robinson highlights it has become quite apparent that if the Irish had trouble containing Tate Forcier and Robert Marve, it is going to be a nightmare on Saturday.  The name of the game is controlling the edge against the Michigan speedster, and while Manti Te'o and Carlo Calabrese manned the middle well against Purdue, the outside linebackers and safeties coming up in support are going to have their work cut out for them.

As good as Michigan's performance was Saturday, don't forget that offense was not the problem last year for Rich Rod, especially in the first half of the season.  They went up and down the field against everyone they played, but that pesky defense was the Achilles heel.  It obviously helps a run-based team with a porous defense to jump on their opponent 14-0 in the first quarter, which is exactly what the Wolverines did to limit the Huskies' options on offense.  Robinson was brilliant, accumulating nearly 400 yards of total offense and turning the ball over zero times despite having it in his hands the majority of the game.  UConn tailback Jordan Todman was limited to 105 yards rushing, but did it on only 20 carries, good for a 5.3 average.  Considering Armando Allen and Cierre Wood bested that in their 2010 debut, I'd like to think there will be some production on the ground for Irish. 

While Robinson ran roughshod over the Huskies, neither running back was particularly potent, as Vincent Smith (14 for 51, 3.6 ypc) and Michael Shaw (15 for 48, 3.2 ypc) combined for a shade under a hundred yards.  It could be the fact Randy Edsall's defense was keying on the backs that freed up more room for the quarterback dashes, but watching the highlight reel it didn't seem like the maize and blue offensive line was getting a particularly consistent push on the Husky front.  Robinson's completion percentage was ridiculous on Saturday, going 19 for 22, and while they weren't particularly difficult throws in most cases, he kept the defense honest with them.  When you consider how Marve was repeatedly throwing across his body to the middle of the field with no one in gold helmets making him pay, the Irish secondary will need to be active if/when ol' Shoelaces is forced to throw.

Michigan is going to put up points, so it'll be up to Dayne Crist and the offense to take that next step against a beatable defense.  The touchdowns were there against Purdue, but a few missed reads, some blown assignments and a critical fumble kept the score from ticking above 23.  I've got no crystal ball, but I don't think 23 points is going to win on Saturday unless a monsoon rolls in and stops both sides in their tracks.

A couple factors of note going into Saturday:

• Michigan didn't turn the ball over against Connecticut, despite a sophomore quarterback making his first career start. I'd like to think that means the odds favor a couple drops on the ground, but perhaps Robinson is just that secure with the rock.
• Connecticut was driving in the second half and dropped the ball at the goal line instead of scoring to make it 24-17. Notre Dame was driving and dropped the ball at the goal line instead of scoring to make it 27-3. If those plays turn out differently, I think people would have a slightly different opinion of how this game was going to be played. I'm fine with how things turned out, though, as it gave Notre Dame more reps in meaningful series against a mobile quarterback. You can't have enough practice in a new system when you've got the Rich Rod spread n' shred coming to town.

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A couple of injury notes going into the game, as it appears receiver Roy Roundtree and safety/linebacker Carvin Johnson will likely miss the game.  Roundtree was a non-factor against UConn, grabbing one ball for negative one yard, but any hits to the depth of the Michigan defense are going to be felt.  Johnson had two tackles against Connecticut.

On the Irish side, Prince Shembo and Darius Fleming are going to be monitored this week to attempt to ward off any of the cramping that plagued them Saturday.  Last word on Jamoris Slaughters' ankle is that he'd be back at it today or tomorrow, but no update on that.

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The line on the game opened at Notre Dame either -4.5 or -5, but has already dipped to -3.5 on some books.  Look for it to be comfortably under a field goal by the time kickoff rolls around.

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Unrelated to Michigan in any way, but with all the talk about Boise State being worthy or unworthy of a championship shot, why doesn't Notre Dame step up and help out a fellow barnstormer?  Three game series: One in South Bend, one in Boise and one in Denver at Mile High.  I realize the schedule is getting a little full for the rest of the decade, but there are still some slots where the Irish can fit the Broncos in.