John Walters

When you get right down to it, every offense is an option offense.

On every play, you have the option to run or pass.

You have the option to line up under center or take a shotgun snap.

You have the option to go with a huddle or no-huddle.

The option to punt or "go for it."

The option to "pound 'em" or trick 'em.

What Notre Dame's offense may not have the option to do this Saturday afternoon vs. Michigan is wait until the fourth quarter to awaken. In the first three quarters vs. San Diego State last weekend, Notre Dame gained an average of 18 yards per drive on its 12 offensive possessions. Four of those dozen drives, in fact, went for zero or negative yardage.

Only two drives went longer than 21 yards. The first went 51 yards but ended in a missed field goal by Brandon Walker near the end of the first quarter. The second, the most impressive march of the day before San Diego State's game-changing fumble with 11:23 remaining in the fourth quarter, went 73 yards. It terminated with Robert Hughes' fumble at the 3-yard line.

All of that against a depleted and below-average Aztec defense. So what do the Irish expect to do against a Wolverine defense that returns seven starters from a unit that both blanked and humiliated them a year ago and held them to a season-low — and might we add, abominable — 79 yards of total offense.

You have the option to be concerned … or extremely concerned.

The first option the Irish head coach, Charlie Weis, and his deputy play-caller, Mike Haywood, might want to exercise on Saturday is to unseal the playbook. Last week, one can only hope, the Irish were sandbagging in terms of formations and simplicity.

For example, the Irish ran the ball 34 times. Not one of those rushing plays was a counter or trap. In other words, whatever side that quarterback Jimmy Clausen turned to upon taking the snap from center Dan Wenger was the direction in which the play was headed. You can either do that or simply yell "Left!" or "Right!" across the line of scrimmage to the opposing linebackers.

Perhaps it was an aberration. Or perhaps the Irish wanted to keep the blocking schemes and run plays simple for two reasons: 1) to simplify the offense for its underclassmen backs or 2) to keep Michigan from seeing too much.

The Irish passed the ball 34 times as well (Viva l’equilibre!). Of those 34 pass attempts, only three were thrown between the hash marks, i.e., down the middle-third of the field. Yesterday Clausen explained why that was so.

Special feature Irish pride Check out some of Notre Dame's cheerleaders throughout the years.

"Last week (the Aztecs) played a lot of post safety," the sophomore quarterback, who was 21-of-34 for three touchdowns and 237 yards, noted. "When teams play post safety, the corners are pressed outside. You pretty much have to throw the ball outside the hashes because there's a safety in the middle of the field between the hashes. You can't really throw the ball right at the safety because he's either going to intercept it or kill the receiver who is running down the middle of the field."

We may be oversimplifying this, but that sounds as if the Irish were taking what the defense gave them. However, if you're Michigan defensive coordinator Scott Shafer and you have two returning starters at cornerback, including one of the nation's very best in fifth-year senior Morgan Trent, you’re more than happy to have the Irish nibble at the corners, no?

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