Run Kelly, Run

In the Blue-Gold game on Saturday, the final tally for offensive play was 51 rushes and 59 passes. That didn't really reflect what we have seen from the Irish in terms of practice in regards to a run-pass ratio and I didn't expect it to. Offensive coordinator Chip Long wants to keep people guessing as much as possible and he also is trying to figure out the identity of his offense after discovering more of the strengths of his personnel. They'll continue to install his offense this summer, but I'm sure there will be tweaks to what they did in the spring based on what they've seen from the players in the spring.

It's undeniable that three of the best offensive players on the team all play running back. In fact, if I were to rank the top 10 on that side of the ball for Notre Dame, they would all be in there. They've got three good ones that are capable of being quality starters.

If you add up their totals from the day, Dexter Williams, Josh Adams, and Tony Jones Jr. combined for 180 yards on the ground on 25 carries (7.2 yards per carry). That's pretty darn good when you consider the offensive line is still working to come together. It shows what kind of potential Notre Dame has to run the ball this season.

It's a cliché to say that teams need to run the ball and stop the run to win football games because it's not always the case. Sometimes teams can win by giving up a ton of rushing yards and relying on the passing game to manufacture points. It's not inconceivable, but when I look at how this current Notre Dame team is built after watching them this spring, I can't help but think that the Irish need to be a walking football cliché.

Their best bet to win is to run the football to utilize their talented backfield and stopping the opposition from running almost goes without saying. No matter what tempo Long chooses to utilize, he needs to get his best players the football as much as possible. That includes quarterback Brandon Wimbush using his legs to create in the running game as well.

BK's teams rise and fall if they do or don't run the ball

Brian Kelly's team have run the football well at times, but it's never been consistent enough over the past seven seasons. It's too bad that this is the case because his record shows that his team hasn't been coming out on the right side of things when they don't run the ball well.

His team has suffered 31 losses at Notre Dame. The other team has rushed for more yards in 24 of those losses (77%). 20 of those 31 losses were in what I would classify as marquee games. It includes games against traditional Power 5 rivals (Michigan State, Michigan, Stanford, and USC) and other national powers (Clemson, Florida State, Ohio State, LSU, and others). In 15 of those 20 losses (75%), Notre Dame has run for less yards than their opponent.

If you flip it the other way, Kelly's teams have won 15 marquee games during his seven seasons. I'm confident that it's not a coincidence that Notre Dame has had a positive rushing yards differential in 11 of those 15 games (73%). It's not all running the ball well because they have to stop the run on defense too, but it's undeniable that good results come when his teams have the rushing advantage.


Tulsa out-gained Notre Dame on the ground by 79 yards to help them upset the Irish in 2010. A crushing loss in the 2011 opener will be remembered for the bad weather and a costly red zone turnover, but it can't be ignored that South Florida ran for more yards with the Irish only rushing for 117 that day.

In back to back losses in the late season collapse of 2014, Northwestern (+52) and Louisville (+130) were better running the ball than the Irish. Duke came in as big underdogs last season and rushed for 55 more yards to help earn the win in South Bend. NC State handled running (and play-calling) in the hurricane better than Notre Dame last season too. They rushed for close to 100 yards more.

This doesn't even include games against Navy when they have upset the Irish a couple of times. It's probably not fair to because they have the rushing edge against just about everyone they play. However, it is worth noting that if any team rushes for 261 yards more than you like Navy did in 2010, it's not a great sign for your offense or your defense.

The key to beating SC?

Everyone knows that the only way Notre Dame is going to beat USC is to win the battle up front. The four times they have beaten the Trojans while Kelly has been coach, they have been +67, even, +127, and +64 in rushing yards. The three times they have lost to SC? -178, -101, and -53.

Teams can run the ball in different ways. Schemes don't have to be the same to get similar results. Auburn spreads teams out and they ran for 271 yards per game last season. Bob Davie and New Mexico ran a version of the triple option and rushed for 350 yards per game to lead the nation. Both of those teams finished near the bottom in the nation in passing offense and Notre Dame doesn't have to be that run-heavy to win games. Balance is a good thing.

The offense can and should be balanced, but there is no doubt that Notre Dame has been more successful when they have an edge in the running game over the opposition. Currently the Irish may have their deepest backfield since Kelly has been in South Bend. Let's hope they take advantage of that depth because the end result is likely going to mean more Ws this fall.