No seismic shift for Spartans

Floyd, Allen on track for MSU contest

September 15, 2009, 9:48 PM

By: Eric Hansen

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Charlie Weis hinted Tuesday that any depth-chart shuffling in the wake of Saturday's upset loss to Michigan would be more subtle in nature than seismic.

What pleased the Notre Dame football coach the most, though, were the moves he didn't have to make in preparation for Saturday's home game with similarly stinging Michigan State (1-1).

The Spartans, who haven't lost at Notre Dame Stadium since 1993, fell at home this past Saturday to Central Michigan, 29-27.

Weis said Notre Dame starting halfback Armando Allen and the second-leading receiver in the nation (by receiving yards), Michael Floyd, were both on a trajectory to be 100 percent by Saturday and certainly looked the part Tuesday afternoon.

Both players suffered injuries late in the fourth quarter in Ann Arbor -- Floyd, a cut under his right kneecap that required 15 stitches, Allen an aggravation of an old thigh injury that consigned him to the sideline when the Irish (1-1) were trying to kill clock, holding a 34-31 lead.

"I thought it was a lot worse than it was at first," said Floyd, who was teased by his teammates constantly in practice Tuesday. "I thought I saw white at first, and I thought that was bone. I'm doing fine now. I'm able to cut, bend, run -- do everything.

"Coach Weis tried to kid me about how hockey players in Minnesota go right back in after they get stitches. Well, I am from Minnesota, but I'm no hockey player. But I'm back, so that should make him happy."

In other personnel matters:

  • Senior fullback James Aldridge is likely to miss his second straight game with a sprained right shoulder, but he did participate in some noncontact drills Tuesday.
  • Weis said freshman linebacker Manti Te'o's push for a larger role hinges on how quickly he can absorb the nuances of the Irish defense -- given the 430 yards ND gave up Saturday, he apparently has plenty of company.

    Te'o, ND's top-rated defensive recruit since the end of the Lou Holtz era (1996), has played roughly one quarter in each of Notre Dame's first two games and has four tackles, including one tackle for loss.

    "It's just a matter of time," Weis said. "But the more confidence he has that he knows what to do all the time, then he'll be able to play a little bit less inhibited."

  • Michigan State presents the Irish defense with its first smashmouth-style opponent, which means ND will be spending more time in its base 4-3 defense, and perhaps there will be some personnel tweaks on the defensive line.

    One of them figures to be more playing time for offseason surprise Kapron Lewis-Moore, a sophomore defensive end who did not see action last season.

  • Allen is coming off a career-high 139 rushing yards, but his absence with an injury late in the Michigan game illustrates Weis' need to establish a solid No. 2 behind him.

    Sophomore Jonas Gray had elevated into that role, but a lost fumble in the Michigan game puts him back in "prove it" mode. Gray finished with zero net yards on three carries against the Wolverines.

    Weis increased Gray's reps Tuesday to try to help him get his confidence back.

    "I think that it's important to get somebody back in the flow right off the bat," Weis said. "What you don't want to do is to let this procrastinate and go on."

  • Senior punter Eric Maust averaged a respectable 40 yards per punt Saturday at Michigan, but his 28-yarder in the fourth quarter helped give the Wolverines great field position for the game-winning drive.

    Freshman Ben Turk has been pressing Maust in practice.

    "We actually revisit it every week," Weis said of flip-flopping the depth chart at punter. "Last week, we gave Ben half the punts, and he was behind the other guy. Just because he has not played doesn't mean we wouldn't punt him. We'll do it again this week like we did last week."

  • Backup center/guard Dan Wenger missed the media-viewed portion of practice Tuesday with an undisclosed injury but is expected back Wednesday.

Quick kicks

  • Weis is 7-9 versus Big Ten teams.
  • The Irish are one of seven teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision that haven't allowed a sack this season.
  • Irish wide receiver Golden Tate was unaware he had leaped over 1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown into eighth place on ND's career TD reception list Saturday.

    "I've never seen him play, and I've never had a chance to meet him," Tate said. "But I know what he's accomplished, and that's quite an honor."

    Brown is being honored at Saturday's MSU-ND game for his impending induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

    Brown had 12 TD receptions, one more than Irish sophomore Michael Floyd. Tate has 13, with former ND All-America tight end Ken MacAfee next on the list (15). Chicago Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija holds the Notre Dame career record with 27.

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