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If there was one weak link in Notre Dame last season, it was without question the ground game. If you look at the national rankings, on offense: 67th in scoring, 92nd in rushing, 34th in passing, 61st in total yardage.

Defense: 23rd in scoring , 50th in rushing, 54th in passing, 50th in total yards. 2010 was also the first year since 1971 that the Fighting Irish failed to produce a 100 yard rusher in any single game. And the fourth consecutive year without a 1,000 rusher.

Redshirt sophomore Cierre Wood hopes to change all that. He took over the job in week 6 when Armando Allen suffered a career ending injury. It was a tough way for Allen to go out. He was an underrated back. He’s on more all-time ND record lists than you would believe, and his place on those lists is much higher than you’d expect.

Wood filled in quite admirably though, posting over 600 yards on 5.1 ypc.

Go here for our season preview of the 2011 ND offense

Go here for our season preview of the 2011 ND Defense

For* Wood, it’s feature back time now.

“20 carries to me that’s just 20 big plays. they molded me to be that,” he said after the spring game.

Jonas Gray will back him up, and he’s one of the fastest players on the entire team. But that’s it as far scholarship running backs go. Freshman Cam McDaniel will have to step in at get some carries because depth at tailback is RAZOR THIN.

But it all starts and ends with Wood, and his taking it up a notch this season.

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