By David Haugh
Irish Sports Report
It had all the trappings of a typical first date. Big moments. Peak anxiety. Loads of perspiration. Hints of embarrassment. High expectations of the next encounter.
An opening-day 49-27 thumping of Indiana on a sweltering September afternoon did provide some fairly accurate compass points.
The Irish will continue to rely significantly on the running game, after piling up 327 rushing yards against the Hoosiers.
Quarterback Rick Mirer will likely have a Heisman-like season, after completing 11-of-17 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown. Mirer also stepped out of Coach Lou Holtz’s “rocking chair” attack and scooted for three touchdowns, including two on an option play that paralyzed IU’s defense all day.
The receiving corps is deep and dangerous. Mirer hit seven different targets against IU including non-starting tight end Irv Smith who steamrolled his way for a 58-yard touchdown reception. Smith had company on his back for nearly 30 of those yards.
The backfield trio of Jerome Bettis, Rodney Culver and Tony Brooks will concuss a lot of defensive players.
Indiana had almost as many missed tackles as they had tackles.
The defense is going to be, well, familiar. After being more than generous in surrendering 21 points a game last season IU rang up the scoreboard for 27.
Was it the Hoosiers’ potent offense featuring tailback Vaughn Dunbar (33 carries, 163 yards), or was it another case of a porous defense?
Holtz sounded concerned.
‘I don’t think we’re tackling well as a football team and I’m really worried about our strength up front,” Holtz said after the Hoosiers piled up 418 yards total offense. “They did some things we had trouble adjusting to, but you expect that from a young football team.
Outside linebacker Devon McDonald was more succinct. “We didn’t play that good on defense at all, said McDonald, who had six 44 tackles. “There are always jitters. I had them. It’s just something about football. But it’s still no excuse. Each game is a stepping stone and we have to get better.”
Notre Dame’s secondary may be up to the challenge.
The Irish perimeter nabbed four interceptions – and had a fifth bounce off Greg Davis’ pads – against IU. The biggest moment came when linebacker Demetrius DuBose raced 49 yards for a touchdown with an errant Trent Green aerial with the Irish trailing 3-0.
“Without some big plays from them on defense, we’re right in it,” IU coach Bill Mallory said in reference to the Irish turnovers.
Being opportunistic makes an average defense acceptable. And some members of the offense have faith.
Like senior offensive guard Mirko Jurkovic.
“We (offense) got lucky today (against IU) that our defense came up with a big play to get us back into the game,” Jurkovic said. “But if we expect that every week, we’re going to be in it deep. It doesn’t matter who you are playing against as long as you stay square and keep your pads low, you should be able to run the ball.
“The first three series we looked terrible out there. Three plays and out. We can’t do that.”
The Michigan game presents an opportunity for the Irish to leapfrog in the national polls. A win over a more-experienced, massive, lightning-quick Gary Moeller-coached team could thrust the youthful Irish into national championship conversations.
But the game approach won’t vary. It can’t, according to one of the Irish leaders.
“You’ve got to go into every game thinking it’s a national championship game,” Jurkovic said. “Because when it comes down to it, it is. You lose and you’re out. But it’s too early to talk about having a personality.”
Maybe not.