Checking the Tape: ND @ Pitt 2011

Since our last post, the Irish have won twice, first beating then-#15 Michigan State 31-13 in Notre Dame Stadium, and this weekend going to Heinz Field and defeating Pittsburgh 15-12.  During the Michigan State game, the Irish offense continued its trend of moving the ball successfully but turning it over.  Against Pitt, the ND offense struggled to move the ball at times, but ultimately converted for touchdowns on two key drives that allowed them to escape with the win.  Below, we will take a look at how they managed to score, and what they can take away from this game for the coming weeks.

Early in the second quarter, senior running back Jonas Gray broke loose for this 79-yard touchdown run.  

As we take a look at the play, we can tell that this was a good design by Brian Kelly and the coaching staff, combined with a well-timed play call.  The pre-snap alignment shows that the Panthers are in their base 3-4 defense, and the trips left formation for the Irish forces the ROLB (or nickel back) to line up well outside the offensive tackle, effectively eliminating him as a factor.  Note also that the left DE lines up about a half-yard off the line of scrimmage, giving the right side of the Irish OL both some room to work with and some idea of what he might be up to.


On the snap, the left defensive end stunts to the inside, while the NT slants to his left toward where the DE vacates.  This simple defensive line twist, designed to create pressure and confuse the OL, actually plays right into Notre Dame's hands.  The LDE slants himself right out of the play, and RG Trevor Robinson crashes down and combines with the center to double-team and neutralize the NT.  Irish LG Chris Watt pulls and kicks out the OLB, who is there to set the edge and drive the play back to the inside.



Well, on this play that LOLB keeps contain, but there are no waiting defenders inside to make the tackle.  Like we recently saw in this post, gap discipline and playing within the scheme are essential to stopping the run and preventing big plays.  Here, the LILB reads run and bursts up the field - right through the gap already being filled by the stunting LDE.  The result is that both the DE and ILB burst upfield and go right by Jonas Gray.



From here on out it is just excellent effort and ability by the young man.  He flat out embarrasses the safety with a little juke and then accelerates past the defense (watch number 18, the safety coming over from the far side, slow down and underestimate him, only to realize too late that Gray is now behind the defense and gone).  Additionally, Michael Floyd, the receiver on the right side, simply eliminates his matchup corner from the play, as he does an incredible amount of the time.  Floyd is just a joy to have on this team, due to both his ability and his effort.
On this play, the ND offensive line executes well: the double-team by Robinson/Cave eliminates the NT and shields the backside gap defenders out of the play, and Chris Watt kicks out the LOLB and creates a lane for Gray to run through.  Once he got to the second level, Jonas Gray made some outstanding moves and turned on the juice to take it the distance.  But it was a combination of a clever/fortunate playcall directed right at the defensive stunt, combined with the lack of gap discipline by the Pitt defense, that sprung Gray into the secondary.