Wants, not needs…

Again it’s simple - last week, stop Bell = a Notre Dame victory; this week stop Denard Robinson = a Notre Dame Victory.  At halftime of the Michigan State game, I knew there would need to be adjustments made, and I was just hoping that they would be minimal.  The Irish were playing well, executing their game plan and most importantly, they were winning.  As we move onto Michigan, I would like to see much of the same.

For the most part I’ll take a win and I don’t really care how it comes.  Brian Kelly and I are not always on the same page on everything as it pertains to players, game management, etc., but we are at least in the same book.  There are some things I would expect or at least like to see this weekend…as long as the Irish win.

With zero receptions and not many more passes even thrown his way last week, I would think we will hear Tyler Eifert’s name a bit more this Saturday night.  Although it is encouraging that Notre Dame can win against a top ten team without relying exclusively (or even at all) their All-American tight end, I do not what it to become a trend.

Notre Dame had 122 net rushing yards using multiple backs:  Wood-56, Atkinson-43, Riddick-30, and Golson – 7, outrushing Michigan State’s monster back Le’Veon Bell-77.  I’ll take the overall rushing win but I hope to see at least one 100-yard rusher this weekend.

Everett Golson was 14 - 32 passing for 178 yards against the Spartans.  Not a great completion percentage, but obviously good enough to win.  Golson throws a good number of passes out of bounds, and yes, I would prefer out of bounds passes to interceptions, but let’s convert some of those out of bounds tosses into completions.

We did see dome “big chunk” plays against Michigan State, but I am still waiting on the “Big Wow” plays - kick off, punt, interception or fumble return for a touchdown, a 80+ yard run for a score, a big blocked kick - something that takes your breath away or at least takes you back to the days of the Rocket and Tim Brown.  These of course are in no way needed for a win or even a good game, but boy do we love them.

I want a blow out with excitement, but I need a win.