.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly knows bottling up Stanford's offense is unlikely.
He just wants his defense to keep points off the board so the 22nd-ranked Fighting Irish don't have to play from behind.
That will be the challenge Saturday when Notre Dame visits No. 4 Stanford, taking on a Cardinal attack led by quarterback Andrew Luck that is averaging 45 points per game.
''We know they're going to get their yardage, they're going to run the football, they're an outstanding football team, they're well coached,'' Kelly said. ''But keep the points down and give us an opportunity offensively to run our offense and not get into a state where we have to play catch up. Anybody that's got to play a lot of catch up against them is in for a tough day.''
Most teams have been playing from behind against Stanford (10-1), which has trailed in only three games all season. Kelly said the Irish (8-3) need to limit Stanford on early downs to get Luck into passing situations.
''It's a matter of us doing a really good job in play-action and knowing when he's going to throw it. Putting him in those positions when he has to throw the football is the most important thing,'' Kelly said. ''First and second down are very crucial for us.''
Getting the ball back from the Stanford offense as soon as possible will help the Irish offense dictate the flow of the game. However, the Cardinal offense has only had 10 three-and-outs all season.
In the past few weeks, Kelly has occasionally employed a defensive look that has no defensive linemen in a three-point stance. This is done in hopes of causing confusion among the offensive line and running backs on which players they're responsible for in pass protection, Kelly said.
Kelly doesn't think his defense can confuse Luck, praising the quarterback's poise under pressure.
A strong running attack averaging 209 yards per game supports Luck and prevents him from facing difficult down-and-distance situations. When Luck does see pressure, Kelly said he still tends to make the right decisions.
''He has the ability to make the throws when he's under duress as well,'' Kelly said. ''To have that you've got to have the skill, but you also have to have the utmost confidence in your ability, and he has all of those intrinsic things necessary to be a great quarterback.''
Defensive coordinator Bob Diaco said Stanford has a number of offensive units that are as good or better than any the Irish have faced, mentioning the line, tight ends and running backs. And then there's their Heisman candidate quarterback.
''He's the driver out there and gets them in the right plays and makes the right reads,'' Diaco said. ''He's going to find your little void area and the receivers and him are in coordination nicely. ... He's got a strong, accurate arm that can make all the throws. He's a special player.''
Senior safety and captain Harrison Smith said Stanford's offense is similar to an option attack in that the Cardinal keep running their plays, hoping you make a mistake.
''Our unit on defense, everybody fills their role and does their job,'' Smith said. ''I think when you turn on the tape and watch Stanford you'll see a lot of teams doing that for most of the game, but then there will be however many plays where one guy's out of his fit or one guy's not reading his key and they'll gash you.''
Smith said having played Stanford last year helps the Irish since the Cardinal offense hasn't changed that much.
''What they do is pretty identical to last year and they've got a lot of the same players,'' Smith said. ''Their style of football is something that you don't see every week in college football. It's good having some experience against them.''
Last year, Stanford defeated the Irish 37-14 in South Bend, shoving the Irish around most of the game. Kelly believes his team has developed since then and is better able to handle a team like Stanford. When the Cardinal bring an extra tight end or offensive lineman into the game, the Irish will rely on their base personnel to match up.
''The game is going to be about those matchups, but more importantly it's going to be about our ability to slow down their running game,'' Kelly said. ''If they can run the football with effectiveness, Andrew Luck will tear you apart.''
