It's a basic football fact that Notre Dame hopes to capitalize on Saturday against Navy.
The guy delivering the extra dimension is quarterback Everett Golson. Preparing for his athleticism will give the Navy defense headaches.
Last year, when Tommy Rees took a snap, two things were going to happen ? he would hand the ball off, or throw it. 2D. A boring way to run an offense.
Golson adds a few Ds. When he has the ball, the first-time starter could run; keep the play alive with footwork that makes him elusive; use the arm that made him the No. 6 all-time national high school leader in touchdown passes thrown; or, hand the ball off.
A 4D approach to the game.
Those extra Ds could add some drive to an Irish ground game that is in a precarious position as the season begins. With last year's top rusher, Cierre Wood, (1,102 yards, 9 TDs) suspended for the first two games, the more possibilities the better.
Theo Riddick and George Atkinson, the guys expected to carry the bulk of the load on the ground against Navy, had 17 carries for 90 yards and two touchdowns between them last season.
Experience is lacking. Those extra dimensions will come in handy.
"It's a whole 'nuther dynamic to our offense," Irish left tackle Zack Martin said of Golson's mobility. "It gives the defense something else to game-plan for. They can't just sit there. Rushing three and dropping eight, with a running quarterback he's going to take off. There will be open lanes. It's another aspect of our offense the defense has to game-plan for."
"It's a big change," Atkinson said of the new skills at quarterback. "(Golson) is definitely a threat passing, he has a great arm, and he can run it. (The defense) will have to have somebody keying on him. When they're keying on him, they'll forget about us. That's when we'll have to hit 'em.
"He's a great tool, weapon, for the offense."
"It's going to open (the run game) up, but it's also going to open up the passing game because he's able to extend plays," said Riddick. "You'll see a lot of that Saturday."
So much energy and attention was focused on the quarterback position during preseason camp, that the running backs toiled in relative anonymity. Besides the addition of Golson, the new look of the Irish offense will have the running backs also used as slot receivers ? hybrids, so to speak.
"When camp started, (offensive coordinator) coach (Chuck) Martin said, 'Make us want to run the ball,'" Atkinson said. "We have to have production in the run game."
Last year, Notre Dame averaged 160 rushing yards and scored 25 touchdowns. This new look is a move to open up the attack.
"Being a hybrid, you're getting reverses ...," Riddick said of just one of the many possibilities. "It's a whole new ballgame."
No big deal, though. The concept is pretty basic.
"It's just getting the ball in our hands in open spaces," said Riddick.
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