The Running Game Is Back

Charlie Weis wasn’t kidding when he said he wanted to get the running game going. Tailback Darius Walker rushed on five of Notre Dame’s first seven plays today against Purdue. He had 58 yards in the first quarter alone. The Irish surpassed 100 rushing games before halftime.

That was part of a balanced offensive attack that spurred the Irish to a 28-7 lead and showed the benefits of playing against a vulnerable defense. Believe me, Purdue’s defense is vulnerable. Still, the Boilers can move the ball and the Irish have their own defensive liabilities, most of which don’t involve hard-hitting cornerback Terrail Lambert, who again showed his knack for making big plays by forcing and then recovering a fumble in the second quarter.

That wound up as a Notre Dame touchdown when Jeff Samardzija scored on a 6-yard run off a fake field goal attempt.

Yes, Weis is sneaky.