Are the irish having problems running the ball?
I can comfortably say, for the first time in a couple seasons, that the Irish are not having trouble running the ball. Frank Verducci was brought in to fix up an offensive line that had been positively woeful in 2007 and 2008, and so far, so good. Through the first three games, the Wildcat was used as a change of pace to varying degrees of effectiveness (rather blah results on two plays versus Nevada, two red zone touchdowns against Michigan State). Against Purdue, things got a little desperate, as Armando Allen was unable to play and Jimmy Clausen was limping around on one leg. The Irish moved their number one receiver, Golden Tate, back to his high school position of running back and actually ran some zone read options with the more mobile red-shirt freshman Crist. It seems like Allen should be ready to go for Saturday’s game – he was a late scratch at Purdue – which should serve as a big help for the Irish. If he doesn’t go, junior Robert Hughes got the majority of the carries again
