Soon, the football players will cease their “voluntary” workouts and dust off their jock straps in anticipation of spring football. With the annual Blue-Gold game just under two months away, Clashmore Mike will look at three separate areas of focus for the 2010 football team as spring practice commences in just under a month. These three areas of focus were major problem areas that plagued the 2009 squad nearly all season and should targeted for improvement this spring. The first is expected and unexpected personnel changes.

Offense

The hiring of Brian Kelly and his new staff, who will implement their own flavor of spread offense, will throw a big wrench in what is usually a simple matter of fitting current players into vacant positions left open through graduation and those bolting early to the NFL. With Kelly’s offense, there will be more reliance on the passing game which impacts the quarterbacks, wide receivers, and offensive linemen (because of increased emphasis on pass protection). This year’s offense will be missing last year’s record-setting and record-breaking quarterback, the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner, and three offensive linemen (both tackles and the center).

Substituting those positions out of a highly-potent offense is like taking the tequila out of a margarita and still expecting it to remind you of Jimmy Buffett. And because the offense will be plugging in players at so many crucial positions they will arguably be under more scrutiny than the defense this spring by Notre Dame staff and the passionate fanbase.

Quarterbacks

Obviously, most of the attention on offense will be directed at the one taking the most snaps. Dayne Crist is the leading candidate to be that guy, although he’s recovering from an ACL injury at a rapid enough rate that could allow him be under center the majority of the spring. Besides his bum knee, the only other problem with Crist is that he’s unproven— he’s never started a game for the Irish and he’s only totaled 38 minutes of playing time in his first two years. On top of that, he’s learning a new offensive system—-albeit an easier system to learn than Weis’ pro-style offense.

Crist may be the starter by default, but of all the quarterbacks who will be on the roster in the spring—Crist, Montana, freshman Tommy Rees, and possibly current wide receiver John Goodman—Crist is the one who fits Kelly’s offense the best. So the real question might be “Who is likely to backup Crist on the depth chart?” This may be the first year since 2005, when David Wolke and Evan Sharpley fought for the backup spot behind Brady Quinn, that there will be such a stark drop-off in talent and development from the starter to backup. Quarterbacks coach Charlie Molnar will certainly have his work cut out for him.

Running Backs

The running back position is pretty cut-and-dry this season. Unless something drastic happens, the odds are fairly good that Armando Allen will keep his starting job. I think the real question at running back is “Who stays?” and “Who goes?” The running game will certainly not be absent from Brian Kelly’s offense, but it isn’t utilized as much as it was for Weis’ offense, and certainly not in the same way. Kelly’s offense is more suited for speedier backs like Allen and Theo Riddick and not as well for bigger backs like Robert Hughes, Jonas Gray, or Cierre Wood.

There are also a couple of other backs like Steve Paskorz and Cameron Roberson who will be seeing very limited action, if at all. Obviously, it was necessary for Weis to stock up on running backs, but now that Brian Kelly is here, who will be seeing meaningful time in the backfield? Will Cierre Wood switch to the other side of the ball? Does Riddick move to wideout and contribute on Special Teams exclusively? Much like the quarterback position, the majority of the focus may not be on the starter, but on the backups and how things shake out.

Wide Receivers

The wide receivers will be a very fun group to watch this Spring. With Golden Tate gone, Mike Floyd will most definitely step up into the primary receiver roll. But again, as with the other positions, who will step up behind him? In Kelly’s offense, there is almost always two wide receivers on the field at the same time and sometimes as many as four or five. Shaquelle Evans is a player who has shown signs of promise, but only has 33 minutes of playing time under his belt. John Goodman was a surprising contributor last season, notching one touchdown (from Crist) in mop-up duty against Washington State. But, if Goodman moves to quarterback to give some depth, his ability to catch footballs is moot. Roby Toma, Deion Walker, and Barry Gallup could all see some action this season, but none of them have really shown anything noteworthy, with Toma surprisingly leading that bunch in productivity.

Finally we come to Duval Kamara. He has been somewhat of an afterthought these past two seasons after a promising freshman year. It appears Duval has regressed significantly and it’s hard to explain why. If Kamara can pull himself together and have a Mo Stovall type of senior season, he could definitely help the team with his modest experience and help himself if he’d like to play at the next level, which, at this point is a long shot at best. As Brian Kelly’s offense relies heavily on the passing game, the progression of this position could mean a highly explosive offense, or one that continues to sputter throughout the season.

Offensive Line and Tight Ends

The offensive line and tight end positions are in a very unique situation this season. Notre Dame will return both offensive guard and starting tight end positions and will look to replace both offensive tackles and the center. However, if Dan Wenger can get his act together, Notre Dame might just find itself only needing to replace both right and left tackles, which is a bit less daunting. Matt Romine could fill that right tackle spot, but he has been battling injuries through most of his career and he is certainly not a lock at that position.

It’s encouraging to see that all of Notre Dame’s tight ends are coming back and this is exactly the type of offensive system that could see Kyle Rudolph finally get the recognition he deserves as being an elite pass-catching tight end. If Mike Ragone can get to 100% following his knee injury a couple of years ago and someone like Tyler Eifert can provide quality depth at the position, the tight ends are easily in the best shape of any position on the team. The biggest positive aspect that these two positions have going for them is quality depth. It’s encouraging to see that Weis didn’t leave the cupboards bare when he left. As long as Brian Kelly can continue to recruit at these positions, the Irish should be able to avoid another 2007 disaster.

Defense

Besides the safety position, the trend on defense is not that the Irish have untested players, but rather that the Irish have highly-talented players who are not performing to their potential. No position is more guilty of this than the defensive line.

Defensive Line

As the Irish transitions yet again to a 3-4 base defense, there are likely to be changes along the line that will see Kerry Neal and Darius Fleming shedding some pounds and moving back to an outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid position. Ian Williams, Ethan Johnson, and Kapron Lewis-Moore could prove to be trouble for any opposing offensive line if they can be coached to provide consistent pocket pressure. However, come spring and summer, the name of the game for the defensive line will be technique and, perhaps more importantly, conditioning. If Brian Kelly’s offense performs as it should, expect the defense to be on the field a majority of the game. This definitely could spell disaster if the line isn’t conditioned properly. Also necessary will be a fresh rotation of players, which puts a lot of strain on the depth at this position. And while that depth is promising, it is untested.

Linebackers

Much like the defensive line position, the linebackers will be tested in their versatility. This group lost Scott Smith, who didn’t see much action last year, Toryan Smith who had marginal playing time, and Harrison Smith who, according to Brian Kelly, will be moving back to his original position of safety, which has more than one fan cringing. However, in Diaco’s 3-4 defense, they have likely gained Kerry Neal and Darius Fleming, as stated above.

To lead the group, Brian Smith and Manti Te’o are back, and will undoubtedly be the starting middle linebackers. But, again like most of the other positions, behind the four starters is a lot of untested talent. With the inexperience in the secondary, especially at the safety position, and the previous lack of production along the defensive line, it could be up to the linebackers to provide leadership and consistency throughout the season. It is crucial that players like Steve Filer, David Posluszny and Anthony McDonald ready themselves to be called upon if needed.

Secondary

Of all the other positions on the team, the secondary is unquestionably the weakest. While the cornerbacks aren’t in horrible shape this year, only losing Raeshon McNeil and special teams standout Mike Anello, their performance the past two years has been underwhelming, to say the least. After a promising showing in his sophomore year, Darrin Walls dipped a bit in production this past season, and his experience and leadership will be sorely needed in a secondary that is sure to be picked on throughout the year.

The real battle this spring could be on the other side of the field between Robert Blanton who has shown flashes of greatness and toughness throughout his career, and Gary Gray, whose play on the field hasn’t really lived up to his hype coming out of high school. The only other non-freshman cornerbacks on the roster are E.J. Banks and Jamoris Slaughter. The former hasn’t had a lick of playing time and the latter may make a switch to safety, depending on the situation.

The safeties are in a league of their own this off-season—and not in a good way. Besides Harrison Smith, who has been known to struggle in pass coverage, the only other safety on the roster who has seen more than 10 minutes of playing time is Zeke Motta, who saw a whopping 11 minutes last season. Losing Kyle McCarthy may have a greater impact on the secondary in 2010 than losing Tom Zbikowski after the 2007 campaign. Outside of Harrison Smith and Zeke Motta the only other safeties on the roster who aren’t incoming freshmen are Leonard Gordon and Dan McCarthy.

Because of the lack of depth at this position, we may end up seeing the staff jockey around with personnel and switch someone like Jamoris Slaughter from the cornerbacks or even someone from the offense switch sides of the football and lend a hand (perhaps Cierre Wood). Because of the additional time the defense will likely be on the field, and the lack of depth in the secondary as a whole, the safeties could once again find themselves being an Achilles’ Heel of the entire team.

Final Observations

Across the entire roster this spring, “Who starts?” may be less of a question than “Who is going to provide reliable depth?” At nearly every position, the number one spot on the depth chart should already be determined, it’s the backups that will really be fighting for position. On offense, Notre Dame will have the tools to field an explosive attack that should be capable of scoring points quickly.

This lack of emphasis on offensive ball control will mean the defensive starters will be on the field much longer than usual. In order to make sure that there are constantly fresh, experienced, and talented players on the field, each position must equip itself with a bevy of well-trained backups. This also means that excellent physical conditioning will prove to be a very precious commodity this fall in Notre Dame Stadium.

Check back soon for the next Spring Football Focus Part II: Conditioning.

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This article is © 2007-2010 by De Veritate, LLC and was originally published at Clashmore Mike. This article may not be copied, distributed, or transmitted without attribution. Additionally, you may not use this article for commercial purposes or to generate derivative works without explicit written permission. Please contact us if you wish to license this content for your own use.

However, when you’re the head coach at Notre Dame, the level of exposure is altogether different. This job comes with arguably more pressure than at any other NCAA school. After he was fired, former head coach Charlie Weis made it clear that coaching in South Bend presents additional complications when it comes to national scrutiny. Even though this was the first time that Weis publicly proclaimed his displeasure for the nationwide interest in the Irish, he certainly has mentioned it before, citing times when he’s had to sign autographs for Irish fans while being out with his family.

Now that Weis has been replaced by Brian Kelly, the former head coach at the University of Cincinnati, the nation’s eye turns upon him. Before Kelly was even announced as Notre Dame’s new head football coach, he was introduced to the pressure that comes with the job. After he changed the background of his Twitter account to Notre Dame Stadium, changed his website to UND.com (the official website of Notre Dame Athletics), and changed his biography to, “Thrilled to be the coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish…,” not only did Kelly receive a ton of additional followers to his updates, but his page was flooded with numerous Irish fans voicing their pleasure over the recently leaked news of his hiring and numerous Cincinnati fans letting him know that they were *ahem* disgruntled, to say the least.

Because of the relative failures of the three previous coaching staffs, Brian Kelly and his yet-to-be-appointed staff will have even more additional pressure to succeed. It almost feels as though some Notre Dame fans and foes are already expecting Kelly to fail, even though his resume is quite impressive. Questions about his defensive aptitude have already been raised and his defensive acumen will be under heavy scrutiny when spring practice rolls around next year. Additionally, the manner in which he handled his hiring process left many current Cincinnati players displeased with their former coach.

Totaling the added scrutiny, exposure, and (unhealthy) interest that Notre Dame brings to any coach and the impressive record that Kelly brings in to Notre Dame, his hiring could be a recipe for glorious achievement or, as Bob Davie, Ty Willingham, and Charlie Weis can attest to, humiliating failure. For the sake of the University, the fan base, and Jack Swarbrick, let’s hope it’s the former and not the latter.

Welcome to Notre Dame, Brian Kelly. It won’t get any easier.

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This article is © 2007-2010 by De Veritate, LLC and was originally published at Clashmore Mike. This article may not be copied, distributed, or transmitted without attribution. Additionally, you may not use this article for commercial purposes or to generate derivative works without explicit written permission. Please contact us if you wish to license this content for your own use.

In late 2004, when Notre Dame fired Ty Willingham and subsequently whiffed on landing Urban Meyer, some people thought the Notre Dame “settled” with Charlie Weis. While most Irish fans cannot come up with a consensus #1 candidate to replace Weis, some are worried that Notre Dame may be in the process of whiffing once again with Bob Stoops, Brian Kelly, or Gary Patterson. And while it may have been ideal for Notre Dame to get a wink and a nod from the successor to Weis before he was let go, it was likely next to impossible for that to happen, especially considering the fact that the football season wasn’t over. Given their recent history of relatively poor coach hirings, Notre Dame cannot afford to be trigger-happy when it comes to finding a successor to Weis. These next few weeks will define Swarbrick’s tenure as Athletic Director at Notre Dame—just as the firing of Ty Willingham and Charlie Weis’ contract extension defined Kevin White’s legacy—and Swarbrick cannot afford to rush the process and hire the wrong candidate.

Currently, the Notre Dame fan base reminds me of Veruca Salt from Roald Dahl’s beloved classic “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” You remember her, right? She’s the girl who had her father wrapped around her finger. She had a whole factory of workers furiously unwrapping Wonka Bars to find her a golden ticket. All the while, her father—played by Jack Swarbrick in our scenario—is hoping the Golden Ticket turns up so his daughter will stop yelling at him.

The fact is, like it or not, the University, the current players, the fan base, and the media have no other option but to wait for Swarbrick to make his decision on who Weis’ successor will be. Part of the frustration lies in the fact that Notre Dame, as storied as the program is, can no longer lure away anyone it wants and going through a coaching search makes this painfully obvious to Irish fans and foes alike. With as many false “sources” and “leads” that this story has already gotten from mainstream media and how many blatantly incorrect “scoops” that have been circulated on the internet, it’s apparent that the Notre Dame fan base and the rest of the nation doesn’t want to wait to find out the identity of Weis’ successor.

Notre Dame fans have been waiting for 15 seasons for their team to return to national prominence. Whomever Swarbrick chooses to take the helm at Notre Dame will have unbelievable pressure thrust upon them to produce favorable results—quickly. Given the relative failure of the last three hires, perhaps quicker isn’t necessarily better.

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This article is © 2007-2010 by De Veritate, LLC and was originally published at Clashmore Mike. This article may not be copied, distributed, or transmitted without attribution. Additionally, you may not use this article for commercial purposes or to generate derivative works without explicit written permission. Please contact us if you wish to license this content for your own use.

The 2009 season is nearly over and the outcome of the match up with Stanford will have little to do with the future of Charlie Weis at Notre Dame. Whether he is retained for next season or let go, the decision of Weis’ fate has already been made by President Jenkins and Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick. And as rumors swirl about Brian Kelly, Brian Billick, and Jim Harbaugh as Weis’ possible replacement—should he be let go—one thing is certain: Notre Dame must have a head football coach that has an understanding of the particulars of being successful at Notre Dame.

The head football coach at Notre Dame must be a person who arrives on the job with a firm grasp of what it takes to be successful. And as the coach at Notre Dame, not only do you have to deal with the never-ending, intense scrutiny that comes with the most high-profile position in college football, but you also must be ready to make decisions that not only affect an offense or defense, but an entire team. That understanding only comes from having spent time at the position, and, through no fault of his own, that’s where Notre Dame went wrong with Charlie Weis.

For now, Irish fans must wait to learn of the fate of Charlie Weis and the entire program. The firing of Weis could leave a disastrous wake including the dismissal of several great assistant coaches, the loss of several high school recruits to other schools, and a mass exodus of All-American players to the NFL, headlined by Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate. However, retaining coach Weis could delay the inevitable and set the development of the entire football program back a year or more—years that could be spent retrofitting the current team to the schematic needs of a new coach.

Whether Weis is roaming the sidelines in South Bend next year remains a mystery to everyone outside of those involved with the inner-workings of the University. If Weis remains at Notre Dame for a probationary sixth season, he must fully embrace the role of a head coach. He must stop trying to outsmart his opponents while outsmarting his own team in the process. He must put his faith in his assistants and coordinators to do their jobs. And above all, he must take ownership of his position and make decisions for the team without polling his friends in the NFL and beyond. If Weis is relieved from his position, a viable candidate must be found who has a long history of possessing these qualities.

A leader who makes bad decisions is not as harmful as a leader who makes none.

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This article is © 2007-2010 by De Veritate, LLC and was originally published at Clashmore Mike. This article may not be copied, distributed, or transmitted without attribution. Additionally, you may not use this article for commercial purposes or to generate derivative works without explicit written permission. Please contact us if you wish to license this content for your own use.

Almost halfway through his junior season, Jimmy Clausen has felt the pressure of his high-profile position for the past two and a half seasons as the country has watched him develop from a freshman, with a “deer-in-the-headlights” look on his face through most games, to a quarterback with refined talent and a front-runner for the Heisman trophy. But has Jimmy Clausen lived up to, not only the history of his position, but the immense potential he had when he announced his intentions at the College Football Hall of Fame to play for Charlie Weis? As good as Jimmy Clausen may be this season and as good as he will be next year, if he decides to return to Notre Dame instead of taking an early exit to the NFL, the pressure on him is especially great for two very monumental reasons and neither of them is under his control: hype and history.

Jimmy Clausen was arguably the most successful quarterback Notre Dame had ever seen before he even stepped foot on campus. Clausen had a staggering 42-0 record as a starting quarterback in prep school. He amassed 10,677 yards passing for a California state record 146 touchdowns. His senior year, Clausen was named the USA Today “Player of the Year” and he won the 2006 “Hall Trophy”—the Heisman Trophy for high school football. He was so heralded coming out of high school that just about every recruiting analyst tabbed him as a “once-in-a-generation quarterback,” poised to eclipse the careers that his brothers Rick and Casey had at Tennessee.

Despite the inordinate amount of hoopla surrounding his verbal commitment to Notre Dame and his subsequent “championing” of the Notre Dame name, Jimmy Clausen had a rude introduction to NCAA FBS football during the 2007 season. However, Charlie Weis had no problem prognosticating that by his junior year, Jimmy Clausen would be as good as, if not better than, Brady Quinn was in his junior season. Through his freshman and sophomore seasons, which were fairly pedestrian, the hype surrounding Clausen continued to circulate, which caused most Irish fans to reconsider their collective anointing of Clausen as “The Chosen One.”

We are now in the middle of Clausen’s junior season and the apparition in Charlie Weis’ crystal ball is becoming more and more a reality. As Clausen continues to display the arm strength and pinpoint accuracy that made him so famous in high school, the buzz surrounding Clausen has progressed beyond hype and has morphed into those concerned with college football, from professionals who write about it to fans who argue about it, comparing Clausen to Notre Dame’s most recent successful quarterback—Brady Quinn.

Throughout his career, Jimmy Clausen has been, and will continue to be, compared to Brady Quinn. This is especially difficult because Quinn played a scant three years ago. To put it succinctly, Irish fans have been spoiled by Quinn—and rightly so. Nobody expected Quinn to be as good as he was at the beginning of his junior year and it was even more surprising because the Irish had not had a very successful quarterback for nearly a decade. There were few expectations for a truly good quarterback before Quinn had his breakout junior year: not because the tradition of the position had diminished, but because it had been almost a dozen seasons since the Irish fielded a more than competent passer. However, despite all of the accolades that Brady Quinn garnered while he played at Notre Dame, he will be forever discounted from being a truly great quarterback because he never possessed a signature win.

Brady Quinn’s biggest game at Notre Dame was the loss in 2005 to USC. He never won a big bowl game for Notre Dame and he never defeated USC. The same can be said for Jimmy Clausen. He has not had a signature win for Notre Dame: he hasn’t beaten USC and hasn’t won a notable bowl game. No matter how many records Clausen breaks and no matter how he elevates his play while donning an Irish uniform, he will never be labeled as a great quarterback until he delivers a significant win for Notre Dame.

Is this fair?

Jimmy Clausen (and Charlie Weis, for that matter) has failed to deliver on the national stage for Notre Dame. At the end of the season, both may depart—one leaving voluntarily for greener pastures, a bigger stage, and a hefty contract worth millions, and the other being asked to leave for not producing desirable results. It would be naive to think that the matchup against USC this weekend has little bearing with either Clausen or Weis’ future at Notre Dame or the legacy they ultimately leave behind. Lose, and it will only be another notch in a long line of disappointments in marquee games for this program. But win, and this game will be remembered as a moment in the long history and never-ending hype surrounding Notre Dame football when a good player and a good coach delivered on their potential to be truly great.

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This article is © 2007-2010 by De Veritate, LLC and was originally published at Clashmore Mike. This article may not be copied, distributed, or transmitted without attribution. Additionally, you may not use this article for commercial purposes or to generate derivative works without explicit written permission. Please contact us if you wish to license this content for your own use.

Most Irish fans entered this season calculating that an 11-1 or 10-2 season would be a realistic final record for this football team. After all, the Irish were returning a heavily experienced offensive line, a seasoned quarterback, a stable full of talented running backs and wide receivers, and one of the best secondaries in the nation. However, even though we are only four games into the season, there are several events that have transpired and several weaknesses that have been revealed about this football team that begs the question, “Are the expectations we had coming into this season the same expectations we should have a third of the way through?” This article is the second in a two-part series addressing this very issue. In case you missed it, yesterday we had some guest writers from The Subway Alumni Show give their opinion on this very subject. You can read their thoughts right here in Part 1.

When addressing this subject, I believe a definite distinction needs to be made between the expectations for this year’s football team and the expectations for Charlie Weis—because they are two different things that have often been convoluted in the minds of the Irish faithful. It is these expectations surrounding Charlie Weis that have been magnified by two things.

First, anticipation for success under Weis is high for the very same reason that hopes for success has been high for every other Notre Dame coach that came before him—tradition. Historically, Notre Dame has fielded many great teams, but like Sprout said in yesterday’s article, if you judge how successful a team or a season has been based on their winning a National Championship, then Notre Dame has had 11 successful seasons, and I just don’t believe that that’s the case. However, the coach at Notre Dame is expected to consistently field elite teams. The other reason projections for Charlie Weis have been and continue to remain high are because of the hype and experience surrounding him when he was hired. It’s the same reason that people have great hopes for Jimmy Clausen and why fans forecasted great things for Ron Powlus when he came to Notre Dame. Charlie Weis had the coaching pedigree and a reputation of being an offensive genius. It is for these reasons that fans still desire a high level of coaching excellence and I can’t say I disagree with them. However, if Charlie Weis were to win a National Championship, these expectations for him and his coaching staff will only be pushed higher still.

On the other hand, expectations for a football team are very different in nature. They are based on skill, experience, and development rather than legend and reputation. On paper, this Irish football team is anticipated to be very good. They have skill and experience—the past several seasons have taught us that. However, the one x-factor in this year’s squad is development and this is where expectations for an entire team and the coaching staff intersect.

Coming into this season, Irish fans expected a potent offense, a productive passing and rushing offense, and a stout offensive line. However, they also anticipated solid tackling and secondary play as a result of the team’s high level of experience. However, four games into the season, needless penalties, sloppy tackling, poor defensive pressure that leads to poor secondary coverage can do nothing but lower expectations among realistic fans. Close games against Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue cause bystanders to question whether or not Notre Dame can beat teams like Washington, USC, or even Pittsburgh.

While hopes have fallen at this point in the season, the majority of this does not fall on the team, but on the coaching staff. When expectations for a football team meet or exceed those for a coaching staff, then that program is achieving success. However, when expectations for a football team are lower than those of the coaching staff, then that program is not succeeding. Currently, the 2009 football team is in the latter category.

All is not lost. The season is not over. Like Eric mentioned in yesterday’s article, most of the problems seen on the field can be corrected by positive personnel development which stems from effective coaching from both Charlie Weis and his assistants. It’s far too early to be calling for the removal of Charlie Weis. However, at the end of the season, it will be necessary to not only make an emotional decision on whether or not Charlie Weis is still the man for this job, but it’s also necessary to look back and ask, “Were the expectations for this football team met?” Not only were they met from the standpoint of wins and losses, but were they met from the standpoint of development? The ultimate success of a football program is not how much talent they started with, but how much development in skill and discipline they ended with and that goes beyond wins and losses.

Similar Posts:

• For Better or Worse: Re-Evaluating Irish Expectations (Part 1)
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This article is © 2007-2010 by De Veritate, LLC and was originally published at Clashmore Mike. This article may not be copied, distributed, or transmitted without attribution. Additionally, you may not use this article for commercial purposes or to generate derivative works without explicit written permission. Please contact us if you wish to license this content for your own use.

Here at Clashmore Mike, we will be doing a two-part look at Irish expectations and what changes, if any, need to be made based on the first third of the season. For part 1, we’ve reached out to fellow Notre Dame analysts Sprout and Eric over at The Subway Alumni Show. Individually, they gave their opinions on the idea of Irish fans shifting their expectations:

Sprout

I subscribe to the belief that any team can beat any team if they prepare and play properly. The ranking in front of your name doesn’t always mean you’re guaranteed a victory —just ask USC or Ole Miss or Penn State about that. Notre Dame has the talent and the depth to run with anyone on their schedule. Are they going to have their backs to the wall in several of those games? Yes. If they end up 10-2 are they going to be a top-five team? Doubtful. Does that mean this season will be a let down or all for naught? Absolutely not.

What I do think needs to change for Irish fans are their expectations of what Notre Dame football means. Football, like anything else, is cyclical. To say the Irish should never lose to a certain team simply because they are Notre Dame comes across as arrogant. That doesn’t mean I agree with every loss they’ve had recently…but things happen. If perfection is what fans expect from Notre Dame, then by my count Notre Dame has only ever had 11 successful seasons. It’s a wonder anyone is a fan to begin with based on all that failure.

All sarcasm aside, the college landscape is very different for Notre Dame than it was 20 years ago and it seems people are having a hard time admitting that. It’s harder to recruit. It’s harder to schedule. (A big part of the reason Notre Dame was able to schedule so many big name teams in a single season during the Holtz era was because a majority of those teams were independent also. Once everyone jumped ship for conferences, recruiting became a lot more complicated.) And to expect to be the best team based on Notre Dame’s history alone doesn’t cut it for me. It just doesn’t seem reasonable.

Overall though, I think the issues run deeper than just Notre Dame fans, but I’ll use us as the example. The way college football is currently setup is for that of failure. We have to expect a perfect season because that’s the only measure of success anymore. In any other sport, on any level, losing a single game does not hold as much weight as it does in college football. Why is that? It’s a recipe for disaster. A playoff system has to be put in place. As outrageous as ESPN’s conference realignment piece was—that was aired earlier this year—and regardless of how tongue-in-cheek they were being, a system like that makes sense for college football. And it’s under that system, in my opinion, that Notre Dame has the best shot at winning a National Championship again.

Eric

Since my counterpart took his answer to the much larger issue of the college football landscape, I’ll stay within the shadow of the Golden Dome and explain why I believe the Irish and their fans are still able to meet expectations of an 11-1 or 10-2 records.

I think most college football predictions can be pretty outrageous—like Lou Holtz’s 13-0 (upsetting Florida in the National Championship) prediction. But when Lou presented his argument he brought up the point that from the top of the schedule to the bottom, Notre Dame would field the better team athletically each week. Now some can make the argument (enter Mark May) that Notre Dame is not athletically superior than USC this year, but I disagree. I understand USC reloads faster than any school in the country, but losing players like Sanchez, Turner, Cushing, Matthews, Maualuga, and Moala—along with others—has played a huge role in closing the gap this year on USC and in my opinion are too many losses, especially on defense to be seen as superior to Notre Dame. Having virtually our whole offense back this season along with almost all of the key pieces on defense, it becomes easy to understand Lou’s bold prediction. Notre Dame should continue to field the better team in each of it’s games this year, barring of course the dreaded injuries.

As we all know, it’s not just who has the better team on paper and who’s ranked higher—that’s why they play the games (see Appalachian State vs. Michigan). It’s more about coming into each game prepared, focused and ready to execute at the highest level on every down of every possession. A pretty big request to expect out of some college “kids,” so we prepare ourselves for the miscues and the letdowns. To me, that is why so many people brushed off Lou’s prediction. He was simply calling for perfection, something that is so rarely seen in any sport, let alone in college football. However, with a down schedule for the Irish in ‘09, a prediction of say 10-2, or even mine of 11-1, doesn’t seem to be so far-fetched.

Since the early slip-up against Michigan, followed with some close call victories against Michigan State and Purdue, I understand why some fans want to adjust their expectations. To make the excuse of this team not being ready for life in the top 10 or the top 5: I disagree. A mature Brady Quinn took Charlie Weis’ offense into the top 10 before and I think we can all agree that Quinn and company had less talent than the current players. Even with Mike Floyd out for what looks to be the season, I think that this group of kids should be and will be able to perform well enough throughout the remaining games to keep on winning.

There are some negative aspects that the team is currently facing (poor tackling, poor pressure by the defensive line, poor secondary coverage, and needless penalties), and although we are nearing mid-season already, I find that those are all correctable problems. People easily forget that players progress throughout the season and I don’t believe it’s too much to ask of our defensive line to improve upon their pressure or our linebackers to tackle better. The pieces could fall into place very easily for the Irish. If the defensive line is able to create better pressure consistently, the secondary’s job becomes easier since the opposing quarterback won’t have all day to make up his mind. Both of these things will then lead to players being in the right position to make the right plays. I think Notre Dame is fortunate that the negative aspects that have come out of our first four games are so few and seem to be easily correctable.

Overall, it will continue to be on the players and coaches to stay focused on their performance and improvements each week. Just because we should be beating the Washington State’s and Boston College’s this year doesn’t guarantee a victory. Will we see an 11-1 season? I believe so, but then again I predicted Brady Quinn was going to be able to win a game or two for my Cleveland Browns.

Once again, our thanks go out to Sprout and Eric at The Subway Alumni Show for allowing us to pick their brains on this topic. Make sure to check out their Purdue recap and Washington preview episode where they answer a few more questions we asked them to cover on video. Also, Part 2 of this topic will be covered tomorrow, right here on Clashmore Mike.

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• For Better or Worse: Re-Evaluating Irish Expectations (Part 2)
• Curb(ing) Your Enthusiasm
• 2009 Season Predictions Survey

This article is © 2007-2010 by De Veritate, LLC and was originally published at Clashmore Mike. This article may not be copied, distributed, or transmitted without attribution. Additionally, you may not use this article for commercial purposes or to generate derivative works without explicit written permission. Please contact us if you wish to license this content for your own use.

Those words echoed a feeling of hope that the future for the Notre Dame football team was bright and it brought temporary ease to the gruesome year that the Irish had just a season before. In his introductory press conference, Charlie Weis spoke promises of an improved football program and an improved attitude throughout that program and for the first two years after he was hired, he delivered on his promise. But what many sports enthusiasts didn’t count on in 2005 was a surprisingly good team—a team that was poised to break out and compete heavily against every team they faced.

It is now 2009, besides those two, what most people would call “good years,” the Irish had two lackluster years including a 3-9 2007 campaign and a 7-6 2008 campaign. Fall camp is underway and even though most fans are fairly optimistic about the upcoming season, some cynical fans are waiting on the edge of their seat for the Irish, or Charlie Weis, to implode and provide a reason for them to call for the coach’s departure from South Bend.

This upcoming season should look surprisingly similar to the scenario that took place in the 2005 season. That year, the team was loaded with some decent talent that were at the peak of their collegiate careers. That, coupled with the new coaching philosophies instilled by Weis and his original team of position coaches (of whom only Ianello, Parmalee, and Polian remain) and an ideal schedule for a young, talented team allowed the 2005 squad to come just a few plays shy of vying for the BCS Championship. Am I saying that this year’s team could be playing for the national title? Yes. Is it likely that they will? No. But given the circumstances, there is little evidence to doubt that they are capable of doing so.

For the past two seasons, Notre Dame fans, myself included, have reassured themselves that the sterling classes that Weis and his assistants were bringing into Notre Dame were going to change the face of Notre Dame football for this generation. But it was also common belief that the bevy of fresh talent needed a few years to mature and develop into collegiate players and that the Notre Dame program would be two or three years removed from national prominence.

This is the year that the first true Weis-recruited class will come to fruition. Sam Young, James Aldridge, Chris Stewart and others are no longer the heralded freshman, but upperclassmen that will lead this year’s squad onto the field Saturday after Saturday. You can’t judge the effectiveness and prominence of a recruiting class until they have matured and, as Lou Somogyi wrote, this is the year in which that first class will be judged.

This is also the turning point for Charlie Weis as a head coach. Even though the 2007 season was much worse than it should have been, most fans gave Weis a pass on the season, chalking the poor performance on the field up to the Great Quarterback Derby of 2007, the lack of effort on the defense, the lack of cohesion on the offensive line, and the lack of a consistent running game, or Weis learning to coach technique and mechanics instead of schematics. Much like the 2005 season was a showcase of Charlie Weis’ capability of coordinating experienced football players, 2009 needs to be a showcase of his ability to coach raw, fresh-out-of-high school talent into truly technical football players. And even though the Irish are still probably at least a year from being a pre-season title contender, this is the season that Charlie Weis needs to show that he can take a team from a rough 3-9 campaign to a national powerhouse.

Weis himself made it clear in his media day session with the press that this is the year in which the talking of an improved team and an improved attitude stops and more focus will be placed on bringing the results to the field. His players echo that same attitude. If this team needs to exemplify one thing this year, it is a “put up or shut up” attitude because this is the year that Coach Weis, his assistants, his staff, and his players do not get a pass on a sub-par season.

Was the Hawaii Bowl last year the break-out game for this current 2009 team that the Pittsburgh game was for the 2005 squad? Are this year’s personnel poised to have a break-out season like 2005: Charlie’s first year at Notre Dame? The program needs a breakout season, Charlie Weis needs a breakout season, the University needs a breakout season, and the fans desperately need a breakout season.

The seniors of this team are the same players who were freshman the last time the Notre Dame football program was poised for a great season. Much has passed since then and for Charlie Weis, much has been learned. It truly is time for Coach Weis to put his money where his mouth is. Talk is cheap and I don’t think that anyone associated with the football program would have any reservations in agreeing with me and that, in itself, bodes well for this season.

Similar Posts:

• The Problem With Hype and History
• Facing an Angry Mob: The Future of Charlie Weis at Notre Dame
• Should a Rivalry Dictate a Season?

This article is © 2007-2010 by De Veritate, LLC and was originally published at Clashmore Mike. This article may not be copied, distributed, or transmitted without attribution. Additionally, you may not use this article for commercial purposes or to generate derivative works without explicit written permission. Please contact us if you wish to license this content for your own use.

Team Anchor

This player is an anchor for their respective side of the ball. More than leading with skill, this player should be an emotional leader and also be a consistent performer at their position.

Offense

Andy: Jimmy Clausen – As much as I hate to admit it, this season must be the season that Jimmy Clausen finally matures into the type of player that commands respect and is able to coax the best possible performance out of those around him. Thus far, fans have witnessed potential and flashes of brilliance: the time is now for Clausen to finally develop into a true leader of an offense.

Anthony: Jimmy Clausen – Quarterback Jimmy Clausen must be the anchor of this team. There is no more important leadership position on a football team than quarterback and Clausen needs to come into his own this year. He is a two-year starter with loads of talent, but hasn’t consistently played up to his potential. The 2009 Irish squad will only go as far as his leadership takes them.

Jon: Sam Young – Sam Young will enter this season having started every game for the Fighting Irish for the past three seasons (38 games). He is the unquestioned leader on the offense in terms of experience. However, it’s time for Sam to step up as the emotional leader for the offense and what better time than now? I look for Sam to close out his somewhat disappointing career at Notre Dame with a strong season. Hopefully, he’ll ride some momentum into the post-season this year. If he plays up to his potential this season, he could prove to be a solid first round pick in the 2010 NFL draft.

Michael: Jimmy Clausen — While Sam Young has the quiet confidence and leadership of the offensive line, Weis’ offense is quarterback-centric. All roads lead from Jimmy Clausen. Clausen’s third year starting must display maturity and a thorough knowledge of the playbook—as Quinn did—for this team to dominate. Ten returning starters ease the pressure. I expect Clausen to show real leadership, make the right calls, and eliminate any costly mistakes.

Defense

Andy: Brian Smith — As Smith is the unquestioned emotional leader of this defense, I don’t think there’s any likelier candidate for an anchor position than his. While he is able to amp up those around him, it’s vitally important that Smith’s play becomes much more consistent and productive for him to truly lead the Irish defense into battle on Saturday afternoons in the fall. I expect him to rise to the occasion.

Anthony: Brian Smith – In the same way that Clausen must come into his own, it is time for Brian Smith to take on a larger leadership role on his side of the ball. Smith has proven to be an exceptional athlete with loads of potential, but he needs to move beyond leading by example to being the vocal leader of the defense. If Smith can keep this unit energized, the Irish defense will significantly elevate their level of play.

Jon: Brian Smith – Even though Brian Smith is a junior and Kyle McCarthy out-ranks him in terms of seniority and experience, Brian’s leadership on the field has been well documented this off-season. Moving over to middle linebacker should help solidify his position as the anchor of the defense and hopefully his play this season will live up to the hype. I have no doubt it will. One thing is for sure—when looking for the most emotional player on the defensive side of the ball, look no further than Brian Smith.

Michael: Brian Smith – As a legacy, Brian Smith grew up on Notre Dame and responded to pressure with heart in his first two years. The defense will feed off of his passion and love for the school. Expect Smith to anchor the defense whether inside or outside. He’ll call the formations and provide leadership for an attacking defense. The Irish defenders will play with heart in 2009 due to his leadership.

Team Cornerstone

This is the most important athlete on the field for their respective side of the ball. If this player does not perform up to standards, Notre Dame will have a hard time winning close games.

Offense

Andy: Sam Young — While conventional wisdom ought to dictate a pick of Paul Duncan for this slot (and there are convincing arguments to be made), I have to pick Sam Young as the offensive cornerstone for the 2009 Irish offense. The entire offensive line’s play is going to be crucial for anyone to see success next year—whether passing or running the ball—and Young must finally live up to his potential in turning the front five into a fine-tuned machine. It’s time his play finally develops some sense of consistency and that he is able to sustain relevance on every down.

Anthony: Offensive Line – On offense, the success of the Irish won’t be determined by a single player. Rather, the production of the offense will be directly linked to the offensive line. The Irish have plenty of weapons at the skill positions. With Clausen distributing the ball to a deep group of receivers, a host of talented tight ends, and a stable of highly recruited running backs, the offense will only go as far as the offensive line play allows. To have a BCS season, Notre Dame needs a high level of performance out of this unit.

Jon: Running Backs – While I’d like to pick Jimmy Clausen or Paul Duncan for this category, I can’t. Rather, I think the little extra that will push this year’s squad from ordinary to extraordinary (that’s right, I said it) will be the success of the running backs. Armando Allen, Robert Hughes, and Jonas Gray—coupled with James Aldridge at fullback—will play a large role in determining if this offense can post big numbers on opposing defenses. If the Blue-Gold game is any indication of their potential, this offense may not be so pass-heavy next season. It may finally be time for the running game to play a pivotal part in keeping defenses honest by pounding the line of scrimmage.

Michael: Paul Duncan — Paul Duncan must show he can protect Clausen’s backside against the opponent’s top pass-rushers without help. His dominance at left tackle will allow the Irish to utilize all their weapons, freeing up a tight end. He will be integral to a successful Irish running game.

Defense

Andy: Harrison Smith — Harrison Smith’s transition to free safety is one of the most important off-season personnel changes period. A dominant force is needed to control the middle of the field and it looks as if last season’s emergence of Smith as a potent young gunner should ease his migration. Following in the footsteps of safeties like Tom Zbikowski and David Bruton, Smith must deliver consistent play to avoid a drop in production at this crucial position.

Anthony: Ian and Hafis Williams – On defense the Irish need productive years from Ian and Hafis Williams. This doesn’t necessarily need to come in the form of sacks, tackles for a loss, etc., but defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta’s scheme requires tenacious play by the interior defensive line. Ian and Hafis will be counted on to stuff the run as well as provide push up the middle. Notre Dame’s defense must be able to stop the run with seven. If the Irish can get this production from the interior defensive line positions, the defense will open up, utilizing the assets of a strong secondary, and perform at a much higher level.

Jon: Harrison Smith — Again, the popular choice for this category would be the play of the defensive tackles and you cannot underestimate their role in making the Irish defense a force to be reckoned with. However, another very important part of the defense is the secondary and a big part of their success will depend on how well Harrison Smith transitions to the free safety position. If he transitions well, the Notre Dame secondary could be one of the most talented and strongest, depth-wise, in the nation. If he transitions poorly, the secondary may prove to be the weak link in an otherwise very strong chain—a link that opposing offenses may look to expose. The only positive, should Harrison Smith not be up to the challenge, is that behind him in the depth chart is a capable Sergio Brown, and he should see some playing time regardless.

Michael: Ian and Hafis Williams — What a perfect time for Bryant Young to return to South Bend! Both Ian and Hafis Williams will benefit from his All-Pro experience and coaching and veteran coach Randy Hart. The defensive line will be counted on to limit opponent’s ground games. That will force teams to pass, playing into the strength of the Irish defense—the secondary. With few experienced QBs among our opponents, Notre Dame’s rivals will try to exploit the run. Expect cornerstone play from these two up the middle.

Break-Out Player

This player should be highlighted for their potential to become an integral part of the team. What excites Notre Dame fans most in watching young talent develop is observing a player exceed expectations and perform at a high level (e.g. Golden Tate in 2008). This is a player to watch next season.

Andy: Ethan Johnson — Johnson is poised to become the most devastating pass-rusher since Justin Tuck was harassing opposing quarterbacks. His speed and technique at the line of scrimmage are incredible and he looks to be progressing rapidly in a defense that seems tailor-made for his skill set. Bryant Young’s arrival will only help accelerate his development and maturity.

Anthony: Armando Allen — Armando Allen finally looks to be comfortable playing in head coach Charlie Weis’ offense. He is a back with top-end speed and quickness, exceptional hands, and game-changing ability. If the Blue-Gold game was any indication, his vision and patience have both improved and he has finally learned to utilize his speed. He is also the best back in pass protection. If Allen can play at a high level and get the ground game going, the sky is the limit for the Irish offense.

Jon: Jonas Gray — If Jonas Gray can be a complete running back in Charlie Weis’ offense (i.e. blitz pickup, identifying defensive schemes, etc.), I think he could be poised to become a consistent contributor to this year’s offense. Even though I believe that Armando Allen will get the majority of the touches out of the backfield, Jonas Gray could prove to be a reliable second option when Allen needs a breather. Robert Hughes has been a fan favorite, but despite some solid performances at the end of the 2007 campaign, his running has been fairly lackluster thus far. If he continues to disappoint, Jonas Gray could receive some heavy consideration as the thunder to Allen’s lightning.

Michael: Ethan Johnson — Ethan Johnson will provide the outside edge rusher that pressures opponent’s QBs, forces mistakes, and puts opponents in holes with sacks. Expect him to benefit from Tenuta’s attacking defense and Hart and Young’s tutelage. With few opponents returning starting quarterbacks, look for Johnson to take advantage of the inexperience. I wonder if he and Justin Tuck will be comparing notes over the course of the season.

Most Improved

Just as the title says, this player should be the most improved player from last year’s to this year’s squad. Not necessarily the best performer on the field, or the one to put up the biggest numbers, this player should develop from under-performance last season to playing an integral part in the team’s success this fall.

Andy: Armando Allen — Armando Allen is poised to become the difference maker in this year’s Irish team and it’s not hard to see why. With a new position coach, improved offensive line play, and returning experience in the passing game, Allen should be the first and second-down back for the majority of the season. His fundamentals and technique look better than 2008 and his trademark quickness is still present. Look for Allen to dominate with Weis calling the plays.

Anthony: Sam Young – After three years as a starter, Sam Young is poised to have a strong senior year. Young was arguably the most heralded offensive line recruit in the country his senior year of high school, but has yet to play up to his potential. Young must perform at a high level to pave the way for the Irish ground attack as well as protecting Clausen. If newly-hired offensive line coach Frank Verducci can harness Young’s talent, he could secure status as a top pick in the 2010 NFL draft.

Jon: Harrison Smith — Every report that came out of spring practice said that Harrison Smith’s transition from outside linebacker to free safety was nearly flawless. With his new position, Smith will be poised to contribute to the defense on a full-time basis, as opposed to a part-time outside linebacker in Notre Dame’s speedier defensive package last season. Just as he did during the Blue-Gold game, I expect to see him terrorize opposing offenses and consistently pressure quarterbacks in Tenuta’s new blitz-heavy defense when he’s not providing extra pass support.

Michael: Armando Allen – With an experienced offensive line and improved coaching, Armando Allen should benefit the most from the increased emphasis on the running game. With Allen developing into a complete back with the speed that is required in Weis’ dynamic offense, Armando may well double or even triple his 45 yards per game from 2008. Look for Allen to score Irish TDs in punt and kickoff returns this year as a young Notre Dame team reaches maturity.

Most Valuable Player

This player should be the most impressive statistical leader and a strong candidate for a post-season team award.

Andy: Jimmy Clausen — Provided all the progress being made in the running game and along the defensive front translates into tangible performance on the field in the fall, Clausen is in a unique position to become an elite college quarterback in 2009. Throwing to all the same targets as last season, Clausen should be productive in the passing game if the Irish can finally keep teams honest running the ball. The only thing holding Clausen back at this point is himself.

Anthony: Armando Allen — Again, Armando Allen. Allen has the potential to be an all-purpose yardage machine—running, receiving, and as a return specialist. If he plays up to his potential, he should provide a huge boost for Notre Dame’s offense and special teams.

Jon: Michael Floyd – Even though Golden Tate has the biggest game-breaking potential on the offensive side of the ball—the majority of opposing defenses will key in on Tate with two defenders—Michael Floyd should benefit the most from the mismatch. Couple his pure athleticism with Jimmy Clausen’s improvement this off-season and Floyd will be poised to have a record year for the Fighting Irish.

Michael: Jimmy Clausen — Jimmy Clausen’s QB rating (23rd) ranked just behind NFL draft prospects Mark Sanchez (21st) and Josh Freeman (22nd) in 2008. Clausen had as many TDs as Matthew Stafford (25, tied for 17th) and his completion percentage was nearly the same as well (60.9% vs. 61.4%). Clausen should cut way down on his interceptions (17 in 2008). With as deep and talented a wide receiver corps as any in the nation, an improved running game and a mature, experienced offensive line will make this an unpredictable offense. Weis will expand the playbook further now that Clausen is entering his third year starting. Surrounded by weapons and with an additional year to mature, Clausen’s junior year will look light-years better than his sophomore outing.

Summary

The players featured above have been highlighted as integral pieces in this year’s squad. They will be major factors that determine whether the 2009 campaign will live up to Notre Dame standards or if the Fighting Irish will be playing in another low-tier bowl game at the end of the season. However, this list isn’t all-inclusive and we’d like to know what you think! Leave your comments and let us know your picks for each of these categories. One thing is for certain—whether we are right or wrong, this should turn out to be, at the very least, a very exciting season for Notre Dame football and the Irish faithful.

Similar Posts:

• A Clashmore Mike Roundtable: Critical Elements to Irish Success in 2009
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This article is © 2007-2010 by De Veritate, LLC and was originally published at Clashmore Mike. This article may not be copied, distributed, or transmitted without attribution. Additionally, you may not use this article for commercial purposes or to generate derivative works without explicit written permission. Please contact us if you wish to license this content for your own use.

When I awoke and got around to unfolding my copy of the South Bend Tribune, I was met with a proverbial smorgasbord of articles pertaining to anything from the improved rushing game to coverage of the ND/Japan try-outs by former Notre Dame players. Then I read over an article that annoyed me to no end and lead me to the inevitable conclusion that certain people simply refuse to let some things go.

I realize that articles like this are published for only two possible reasons:

1. To attract controversy and invite speculation.
2. Provide opportunity for people to suspend logic in favor of beating a dead horse.

To the South Bend Tribune’s credit, Jim Meenan has managed to do both, as is apparent by the sheer volume of meaningless comments that the article has garnered.

The other problem I have with this article regards timing. I understand the fact that Weis’ job security was in question last season after the drubbing at the hands of USC and heading into the Hawaii Bowl. Maybe the time to do an article like this was then? Even though this article was poorly done and in bad taste, the fact that the Tribune decided to run it on the cusp of summer break only serves to make me think that the Tribune has no problem in conducting themselves unprofessionally if doing so results in increased exposure.

This is a new season and, by all signs exhibited at the Blue-Gold game, this staff should field an improved team, even though it’s hard to come to any concrete conclusions about a team from a scrimmage. It’s time for the Notre Dame media and fans to stop beating a dead horse and leave the subject of Coach Weis’ job security alone until the end of the 2009 season. Hopefully, by then it will no longer be an issue.

Similar Posts:

• Live Coverage of the 2009 Blue-Gold Game
• Facing an Angry Mob: The Future of Charlie Weis at Notre Dame
• Should a Rivalry Dictate a Season?

This article is © 2007-2010 by De Veritate, LLC and was originally published at Clashmore Mike. This article may not be copied, distributed, or transmitted without attribution. Additionally, you may not use this article for commercial purposes or to generate derivative works without explicit written permission. Please contact us if you wish to license this content for your own use.