Michigan State at Notre Dame Preview

Michigan State University
Spartans (3-0)

Ranking: unranked
Head Coach: Mark Dantonio
Coaching Record: 3-0, 1st season (21-17 overall as head coach in NCAA)
Last Year: 4-8 (1-7 Big Ten)
Last Week: Beat Pittsburgh, 17-13

versus



University of Notre Dame
Fighting Irish (0-3)

Head Coach: Charlie Weis
Coaching Record: 19-9, 3rd season
Last Year: 10-3, Lost to Louisiana State in Allstate Sugar Bowl (#17 AP / #19 Coaches postseason ranking)
Last Week: Lost to Michigan, 38-0

Location: Notre Dame Stadium (aka The House That Rock Built)
Date and Time: September 22, 2007 3:43 p.m.
Series Record: Notre Dame leads 44-25-1

Notre Dame Quarterback and Receivers vs. Michigan State Secondary
Jimmy has handled his beating the first two weeks even better than Brady Quinn took his beatings as a true freshman. And his beatings have been far worse. That said, he hasn't been given an opportunity to show his skills as a quarterback.
Michigan State's pass defense is top 20 statistically right now, but they haven't played any heavyweights yet.
Combine all of that with the fact that We went back to training camp this week, and I just don't know what to believe.
Edge: unknown

Notre Dame Running Backs and Tight Ends vs. Michigan State Linebackers
Very similar to the passing game analyzed above, the running backs we have have looked good when given a hole, but haven't been given many holes.
Michigan State's defense has looked good against some lightweight competition.
We were in training camp mode this week.
Edge: unknown

Notre Dame Offensive Line vs. Michigan State Defensive Line
The biggest unknown of this training camp mentality is the improvements on the offensive line.
That said, Rome wasn't built in a day.
We are dead last in sacks given up.
Michigan State is first in the nation in sacks.
Edge: Michigan State

Notre Dame Defensive Line vs. Michigan State Offensive Line
Our defense has struggled late in games, and was beat up pretty good by Michigan's dominant O-line. However, this week's hitting in practice should be exactly what was needed to kickstart our intensity on defense.
Edge: Notre Dame

Notre Dame Linebackers vs. Michigan State Running Backs and Tight Ends
Three weeks. Three big games by opposing running backs. Notre Dame has never shown an ablity to consistently tackle Caulcrick.
Edge: Michigan State

Notre Dame Secondary vs. Michigan State Quarterbacks and Receivers
Michigan State's pass offense has been relatively anemic under their first year signal caller. That said, a true freshman in his very first start gashed us just last week.
Edge: Notre Dame (barely)

Notre Dame Coaches vs. Michigan State Coaches
Quote from last week: "I'm giving Weis the edge this week, but if he can't move the ball on this awful defense, I'm gong to stop defending him against everyone. Including Duke." I like Coach's approach this week, and he's facing a rookie coach at MSU, but I'm a man of my word.
Edge: Michigan State

Quarterback and Receivers vs. Secondary: Edge Unknown
Running Backs and Tight Ends vs. Linebackers: Edge Unknown
Offensive Line vs. Defensive Line: Edge Michigan State
Defensive Line vs. Offensive Line: Edge Notre Dame
Linebackers vs. Running Backs and Tight Ends: Edge Michigan State
Secondary vs. Quarterbacks and Receivers: Edge Notre Dame (barely)
Coaches vs. Coaches: Edge Michigan State

Analysis and Prediction

Notre Dame has never started a season 0-4.

Notre Dame has never lost to an opponent 6 straight times in Notre Dame stadium.

There has been nothing I've seen on the field that leads me to believe that the Irish have any hope of winning this game. They look outmatched. They look undercoached. They look confused and lethargic.

However, having failed so miserably at back-to-back brutal stadiums and feeling like they've let Notre Dame Nation down, they are coming home.

When they emerge from that tunnel, they will feel the true spirit of Notre Dame. As Coach Holtz once stated so eloquently, Notre Dame is special because "people care about you not just because you win or because things go well, but they genuinely care."

And we do. I'll be there tomorrow, but not to cheer for my team. Sure, I'll go through all of the motions, dancing the jig and doing leprechaun arms. But more importantly, my family needs me. I'll be there to support my brothers out on that field who came to Notre Dame for the same reasons I did. I know the pride that these players have in their school. I know that they feel the weight of history firmly on their shoulders. And I know that they came here so they could pursue excellence in everything for the glory of Notre Dame.

I'll be there. And so will 80,000 strong of the Notre Dame family.

Tomorrow is about more than X's and O's. It's about more than winning or losing. It's about pride. And tomorrow afternoon, at 3:30 p.m., when those golden helmets run out onto the field, the Fightin' Irish faithful will shake down the thunder.

Forget predictions. Forget scores. Forget statistics lke rushing yards and sacks given up. Forget breakdowns and matchups. This game is about waking up the echoes and restoring our pride.

What 'tho the odds...

We need a decider...

I'm all about accountability. I think that when people screw up, they should be called to the table to answer for their mistakes.

However, after reviewing whatever I could find on Saturday's loss, I must say I'm disappointed a little in this coaching staff's (and worse, this fan base's) failure to show any kind of loyalty to the players that lay their bodies on the line every week for this program.

I understand pulling Clausen late in a blow-out to give the backup some meaningful reps. I'm willing to give the coaches the benefit of the doubt on that one.

But the rest of the substitutions and changes throughout the Michigan screams to me of a coaching staff who is struggling with player development and identification of player's core competencies. Weis talks all the time in his press conferences about trusting what he sees on tape, but then he trots out 18,000 different offensive linemen on Saturday, shuffling them from position to position willy-nilly. We can't seem to give any one running back more than 2 carries in a row. We play six corners with seemingly no regard for who earned a starting position in training camp. We punish players for mistakes by yanking them in favor of someone else after penalties or mistakes. And we don't have any clear depth chart at receiver.

This team looks like the Keystone Cops because nobody knows who is going into battle with them on any given play.

I know that developing team chemistry takes time - time spent together. This is particularly true on the offensive line. And between a quarterback and his receivers. Running backs need to develop a feel for the game and where his holes and cut back lanes will develop. And corners need to get a feel for the tendencies of receivers they are covering.

In order for this team to make any progress, and to begin to win some games, Coach Weis needs to display some leaadership (and some of that accountability he speaks so much of) by naming a solid 2-deep depth chart, and then sticking to it, barring injury. This is a rebuilding season, and he needs to identify who his starters are, and then step up to the plate to protect them when they falter.

A former coach who shall remain nameless used to throw his players under the bus with the media, blaming their lack of production for his failures as a coach. But, he didn't yank players every time they screwed up. Weis does a decent job of protecting his players from media criticism, but he also needs to learn, especially this year, to forgive some mistakes.

This entire program feels to me like it is in full-on panic mode. Everyone inside the program seems to be running around like chickens with their heads cut off. And that all comes from the indecisiveness of the head coach.

I hope that at the end of this week, Coach Weis will make some tough decisions on who is going to play in the game, and give those players a chance to succeed. To develop chemistry.

I hope that Coach's return to training camp is the equivalent of hitting the reset button on this season. I hope that he gives ALL of the meaningful reps to his starting QB. I hope that he gives ALL of the meaningful reps to his starting running back. And I hope that he identifies his starters on the offensive line (as well as a set plan for subbing in backups) and then STICKS TO IT!!! He needs to find his starting corners and his nickel back and his dime back. And let them play their positions.

He needs to tell his players to listen to the advice of The Rock of WWE (WWF?) fame:

Know your role. And shut your mouth.

Demetrius Jones' defection this week was a clear signal to the public that despite Weis' maniacal control of media access to his program (which, by the way, I absolutely LOVE in our head football coach), there is dissent within the ranks. And the lines of communication from player to head football coach are not running at optimum levels. Any good football coach (with the weird and more than kind of creepy exception of Pete Carroll) scares the hell out of his players. Mine always did. I've known some of Holtz' former players, who have told me how much of a hardass he could be. And from all of Weis' quips in his press conferences, that is the type of coach he not just strives to be, but seemingly cherishes being.

So, he needs to be the decider. Decide who plays. Decide who doesn't. Tell everyone else it's his way or the highway. And then be accountable for it if he's wrong.

Because either he's a coach who understands how to identify and develop talent (which I still fervently believe), or he's a fraud who rode other people's coattails to the top. Either way, it's time for him to decide where he is going to lead his team, and then lead them there.

If I'm right about him, he'll lead us (sooner rather than later) to the promised land.

If I'm wrong, we will crash and burn in a most spectacular fashion, and be back to square one.

But if we stick with this wishy-washy mediocrity that has infected the program since the days of Davie, we'll continue to be what we have been for the past 20 years: an also-ran.

Decide. Implement. Accept the consequences.

We are worse than Duke...

That's right folks, Duke got themselves a win (against a Big Ten team nonetheless), and we are still staring at a bagel in the win column.

I didn't get a chance to watch the game, as I was a groomsmen in a friend's wedding. Normally, I'd be miffed about having a wedding on gameday and no way to catch even part of the game. But now, I'd like to thank him for sparing me that particular torture.

This is a dark day in Notre Dame football, and one that I am no longer placing on the shoulders of Tyrone Willingham. In fact, I have decided that I am turning the page on the Willingham era, and I will never utter his name on this blog again. The failures of this team are approaching such historical and monumental proportions that a lack of seniors on the team no longer suffices to explain this level of incompetence on offense.

Coach Weis is the head football coach, and also serves as the offensive coordinator. He will be the first to tell you that he is responsible for the performance of the organization that he is in charge of. As coordinator, he is also directly responsible for the performance of every aspect of the offense.

I respect and admire Coach Weis.

I believe that though recruiting he has done what is necessary to build a program capable of long term success.

I believe that he is a man of integrity that understands how to win and lose with class and character.

I believe that he understands the game of football incredibly well, better than any other coach in the college ranks.

I believe that he is a great leader and manager.

I believe that he is the right person for the head coaching position at Notre Dame, now and in the future.

But Weis talks all of the time about accountability. And now it's time to hold him accountable. At this point I have to question Coach Weis' ability as a teacher and motivator.

I agree with Coach Weis that he needs to go back to a training camp mentality, and re-install our basic packages - from an X's and O's standpoint. But he needs first to identify why he so utterly failed to teach them properly in the training camp he already had. If he just goes back to do the same installation, we'll get the same results. Identify the problem and fix it.

More importantly, he needs to find a way to get these kids excited again about playing the game. From what I have seen of yesterday's game, Weis' NFL approach to the game is insufficient to motivate 18 year old kids. Those players looked confused and demoralized yesterday, and showed no signs of the passion which makes Notre Dame football great, and which has inspired the greatest fanbase in the history of sport. Weis needs to learn from his young and energetic defensive coordinator, and spend some time talking to Coach Holtz about delivering a halftime or sideline speech. Maybe he should take some drama classes in the offseason. He needs to spend more time inspiring his players, like he did back in 2005 with "Pass Right."
He needs to remind these kids that this is a game and that they have to have some fun out there. He needs to inspire some passion for the game and get the team to display some of that promised nastiness.

It's time for Coach Weis to step up to the plate and earn his paycheck.

I don't care if we lose next week - in fact, I expect it. But Weis had damn well find a way to keep his quarterback on his feet and move the ball on the ground. And to establish an identity. If he can do that, winning will eventually follow. And he can stop making me look a fool for defending him every week.

Because if he can't find a way to do something right - and I mean THIS WEEK - I'm done being a Weis apologist. This is your last chance, coach.

Why computers are better than people at this whole prediction thing...

I was flipping through the only two rankings I can find that rank all of Division I-A: The Sagarin Computer rankings and the Sports Illustrated power rankings.

In particular, I was curious where the rankings had Notre Dame and Michigan relative to each other.

n the computer ranking, Notre Dame was consistently ranked ahead of Michigan, whereas in the human ranking Michigan was ahead of Notre Dame.

And the more I thought about this, the more the human rankings bugged me.

Michigan started the season ranked in the top 5. Notre Dame was stuck somewhere in the 40s, if I recall correctly.

Notre Dame played top 15 teams back-to-back, one of them an away game in front of 110,000 fans.

Michigan played a I-AA opponent and an unranked team, both at home. losing both.

Based upon what these two teams have done on the field this season, by what rationale could you rank Michigan ahead of Notre Dame?

Notre Dame has a bad rushing offense, and a mediocre passing offense. Michigan has a pass defense that is horrible, and a rushing defense that isn't much better. Notre Dame's defense has been good against the pass, bad against the run. Michigan's offense has been decent wth the run, and not so good with the pass.

But more importantly, Notre Dame has faced a much higher caliber of opponent through the first two games. Statistics are a little misleading this early in the season, but I defy anyone in the country to convince me that Georgia Tech and Penn State do not have, at minimum, top 15 defenses (if not top 10, or even top 5). And Notre Dame has struggled on offense as a result. Alternately, I defy anyone in the country to make a case that Michigan's opponents are top 10 offenses. Oregon may be pretty good, but you can't convince me that Appalachian State's offense would be top 15 in Div. I-A.

What I'm trying to say here is that Notre Dame's offense has struggled against top defenses. Michigan's defense has struggled against pedestrian offenses. In the end, Notre Dame is simply better prepared going into this game than Michigan is.

Which is why the computers are better. The only reason that Michigan is still ranked ahead of the Irish in the human polls is that they were so overhyped, that they have much further to fall down the rankings.

I expect Notre Dame to come out early, hit Michigan in the mouth, and turn the crowd of 110,000 Michigan bandwagon fans against the home team.

Notre Dame will find an offense against this Michigan defense, mark my words. Michigan sucks. Michigan is possibly the worst defense in the BCS conferences right now (except for maybe Louisville). And they will get embarassed again Saturday afternoon.

Notre Dame at Michigan Preview

University of Notre Dame
Fighting Irish (0-2)

Head Coach: Charlie Weis
Coaching Record: 19-8, 3rd season
Last Year: 10-3, Lost to Louisiana State in Allstate Sugar Bowl (#17 AP / #19 Coaches postseason ranking)
Last Week: Lost to Penn State, 31-10

versus



University of Michigan
Wolverines (aka Skunkbears) (0-2)

Ranking: Started 5th, currently unranked
Head Coach: Lloyd Carr
Coaching Record: 113-36, 13th season
Last Year: 11-2, Lost to Southern Cal in Rose Bowl (#8 AP / #9 Coaches postseason ranking)
Last Week: Lost to Oregon, 39-7

Location: Michigan Stadium (aka The Big House)
Date and Time: September 15, 2007 3:36 p.m.
Series Record: Michigan leads 19-14-1 overall, 10-7-1 in the Big House

Notre Dame Quarterback and Receivers vs. Michigan Secondary
Notre Dame Running Backs and Tight Ends vs. Penn State Linebackers
Weis is probably doing cartwheels this week looking at the Michigan defense. Yes, out offense has been anemic to say the least, but we faced Penn State (currently ranked 1st in rush defense, 2nd in total defense in the country) and Georgia Tech (8th in total defense). And while those numbers may be skewed by playing us, both teams were highly touted defenses coming into the season.
Michigan, however, played a considerably weaker slate to start the season, opening with an historic loss to I-AA foe Appalachian State. Then last week, they were blown away by unranked Oregon.
Our true freshman QB looked poised and confident last week, if a little hamstrung by playcalling and blown protections. This week, Charlie can finally open up the playbook, and put Jimmy's arm on display for the whole world to see.
The reason? Michigan is 116th in the country in pass efficiency defense, 109th in rushng defense, 108th in total defense, and 101st in scoring defense. In short: Michigan's defense sucks. Yes, our offense sucks, and when we have the ball, it will often seem like a contest to see who can suck more. However, the caliber of our first two opponents has prepared us better for this game.
Edge: Notre Dame for both

Notre Dame Offensive Line vs. Michigan Defensive Line
As I said last week, I won't be giving the edge to our offensive line against anyone until they prove that they deserve it. They spit the bit last week again against Penn State, costing this team a chance at victory. The defense had kept us in the game, and Jimmy had placed us in position to score, when the O-line's sucktitude ruined it for everyone. So, as bad as Michigan's defense is, I just can't in good conscience give us the edge here.
Edge: Draw

Notre Dame Defensive Line vs. Michigan Offensive Line
Even more surprising than the sucktitude (my word of the day) of Michigan's defense s the ineptitude of Michigan's offense. The Michigan O-line, while not as bad as ours (not by a long shot), is absolutely horrible for the amount of experience and depth they have. They are giving up 2 1/2 sacks a game to bad defenses. Our defense will be far better than either Oregon or Appalachian State, and Michigan only scored 7 against Oregon last week. Laws will take on the All-American Jake Long, which should be an interesting matchup, and is too close to call. Kuntz will feast on this interior line, though.
Edge: Notre Dame

Notre Dame Linebackers vs. Michigan Running Backs and Tight Ends
Our rushing defense is ranked 100th in the country (just 9 spots ahead of Michigan), and hasn't shown a consistent ability to stop the run, especially late in games. However, this defense has shown up early in games, and if our offense can sustain some drives, I expect that number to increase dramatically over time. All that said, Hart is the best running back in the country, even better than Tashard Choice. He doesn't fumble, and almost never gets stopped for a loss. He's not a burner, but he'll get 4 yards a carry damn near every time he touches the ball. And he's pissed off - so pissed that he guaranteed victory for his team this week. That alone should piss off our defense enough to key off on him, but he'll get his yards no matter what we do.
Edge: Michigan

Notre Dame Secondary vs. Michigan Quarterbacks and Receivers
Pass defense has been one of the bright spots for the Irish this season. Michigan's passing offense had been passable under Henne (although not spectacular), but now Henne is injured and their true freshman QB will start. ND's 32nd ranked pass efficiency defense will not be forgiving to the young quarterback. If Michigan is going to win this game, they'll have to do it on the ground. Unless, of course, Manningham goes buck-nutty on us again, catching 10 passes for like 300 yards and 5 touchdowns. Ugh. Deja vu...
Edge: Notre Dame

Notre Dame Coaches vs. Michigan Coaches
Because of the coachng missteps the last couple weeks, my gut reaction for this matchup was to favor the opposing coaches. However, by losing to a Division I-AA opponent, Carr has taken bad coaching to a whole new level this year. I'm giving Weis the edge this week, but if he can't move the ball on this awful defense, I'm gong to stop defending him against everyone. Including Duke.
Edge: Notre Dame

Quarterback and Receivers vs. Secondary: Edge Notre Dame
Running Backs and Tight Ends vs. Linebackers: Edge Notre Dame
Offensive Line vs. Defensive Line: Draw
Defensive Line vs. Offensive Line: Edge Notre Dame
Linebackers vs. Running Backs and Tight Ends: Edge Michigan
Secondary vs. Quarterbacks and Receivers: Edge Notre Dame
Coaches vs. Coaches: Edge Notre Dame

Analysis and Prediction
Finally, an opponent more on our level. Yes, Michigan is a preseason top 5 team who is angry and embarassed and loaded with experience. Woopty-friggin-doo.
Michigan sucks.
Monumentally, historically, unprecedentedly sucks.
All that said, Michigan simply doesn't lose 3 straight games in the Big House. It just doesn't happen.
Until now.
Notre Dame is going to find an identity on offense against a defense that is demoralized and in complete disarray. Weis finally can get some breathing room, as Michigan does not have a linebacker the caliber of Dan Connor or Philip Wheeler. We'll find a running game, and that will energize our passing game. We've been there, done that as far as playing in front of 100,000 plus screaming fans. It won't rattle us again.
We're not going to blow 'em out - Hart is too good for that - but we will win.

Notre Dame 28
Michigan 21

What we need here is a plan...

2007 statistics to date:

Rushing Offense: -4 yards (last in NCAA - 119th)
Passing Offense: 137 yards (107th in NCAA)
Total Offense: 133 yards (last in NCAA - 119th)
Scoring Offense: 6.5 points/gm (117th in NCAA)
Sacks Allowed: 7.5/gm (last in NCAA - 119th)

That's right, folks. The Notre Dame Fightin' Irish are dead last in the country in rush offense, total offense, and sacks allowed.

We're worse than Florida International. Worse than Temple. Worse than even Duke.

Laying Blame

So who do we have to thank for these criminally embarassing numbers on offense?

If you listen to Coach Weis, he'd take all the blame on himself. As well he should. But remember that this is the man that created Tom Brady and called every offensive play for 3 Superbowl Champions. Sometimes he gets too cute with his playcalling, or too arrogant, or too cavalier. But he is still one of the best offensive minds in the country. I'm not willing to let the buck settle here just yet.

It would be easy to blame the skill players out there on the field. Call Jimmy Clausen a fraud, or Travis Thomas untalented. Say that John Carlson is overrated, or that the receivers aren't very good. But if you are really honest with yourself, watching tape, this isn't the problem. Physically, the players out there on the field have what it takes to not just win, but obliterate most of the competition. Jimmy's mechanics and decisionmaking are impeccable. Armando Allen's speed, Parris' hands, and even Thomas' athleticism aren't seriously in doubt. Carlson didn't just forget how to be an All-American tight end since last year.

What about the offensive line? On the surface, we appear to have hit our target. Last in rushing. Most sacks given up. Aha! You can't run the ball if the players don't open holes, and the quarterback, no matter how talented, can't win the game from his ass.

But the fault doesn't lie here. These kids aren't some undersized, underachieving no names. Sullivan is an All-American at center. Sam Young was the #1 offensive line recruit in his class. It's not a talent issue - we have so many 4 and 5 star offensive line recruits on out roster that nearly every team in the country would kill for the raw talent we have on our roster right now.

The next logical place to lay the blame would then be our offensive line coach, John Latina. He has all of this talent, and yet our offensive line is poisoning the rest of the team with their ineptitude.

Now we're getting a little closer. Latina has been our offensive line coach for three years. Surely, he has had enough time to coach these kids up, and get them ready to play.

Time is of the essence...

The problem is, he hasn't had 3 years to coach these kids up.

You see, offensive linemen take time to develop in college. Rare is it that a player comes out of high school ready to take his place in the trenches. Sam Young is a rare find in that regard. As a general rule of thumb, the average offensive line recruit can expect to spend their first two to three years of college eating, lifting, and learning the offense, so that they are physically and mentally ready to start.

Each year, any coach worth his salt in the college game would want a starting line comprised of something like two or three seniors and 5th years, and two or three juniors. That way, he can develop players coming in while maintaining a level of experience on the line from year to year.

Everyone that has ever followed recruiting knows that not every kid pans out. Some kids drop out, others just can't cut it in the college game. There is a natural selection process. Therefore, to have a rotation of 2-3 starters each class, there should be 3-4 recruits brought in each class to account for such natural attrition.

Breakdown (literally) of Notre Dame's offensive line recruiting

You see, the starting left guard and tackle, Paul Duncan and Mike Turkovich, are the only scholarship offensive line upperclassmen on the roster, other than 5th year Sullivan. And they are juniors. There are NO - zip, zero, none, zilch, nada - true senior offensive linemen on scholarship. Not one.

When recruiting at a position like offensive linemen, there should be enough recruited offensve line players in the upper classes in any given year to make up a full line, with a couple of backups. You should never be forced to start an underclassman - they should only start if they earn it.

Indeed, in Weis' two full classes, he recruited 10 offensive line players (6 then 4). He understands the importance of the offensive line to the offense, and wants to make sure his line is deep and talented. So when his full classes are juniors and seniors, he'll have enough in the upper classes to field two full lines.

In the previous class (the transition from Willingham to Weis, this year's juniors), it was all Weis could do to sign a couple of decent offensive line recruits after Willingham's lackluster recruiting efforts. Only two recruits at O-line is weak, as t assumes bascally that both will develop into quality starters and not transfer out, but can be acceptable for a down year in offensive line recruiting, especially during a transition.

But Ty only recruited two offensive linemen during his last full season of recruiting. As stated, two linemen per year is unacceptable for a single year, much less back-to-back recruiting years. And both of them transferred out of the program (natural attrition).

However, even that failure of recruiting could have been overcome if Ty signed a reasonable amount of linemen the year before (this year's 5th years) so Weis could redshirt some kids and fill out the lineup. But that previous year, Ty signed (you guessed it) 2 offensive linemen.

What this means is that over a 3-year period, Notre Dame signed only 6 total offensive line recruits. Barely enough to field one full line. And 2 2/3 of those recruiting cycles were under the watchful recruiting eye of Tyrone Willingham.

Of the 6 players recruited over that 3 year period (comprising our junior, senior, and 5th year classes), only 3 remain on the team. Both Kadous and Incarnato left the program, leaving us devoid of senors. And Ryan Harris played all four years, and couldn't return for a 5th year even if he wanted to. The other 3? Our starting center, left guard, and left tackle (for better or for worse, as we don't have any other options).

What this means is that no matter what, Coach Weis (and Latina) were going to have to rush offensive linemen through their development to round out the starting 5. As we said before, offensive linemen don't usually develop fully until their junior year.

Blame all around

What this all means is that Tyrone Willingham's lazy recruiting continues to plague this program, and he is the root of all of our offensive problems this year. And when combined with the fact that Notre Dame doesn't accept junior college transfers, which is what every other BCS school does when there is a hole to fill, we are essentially screwed.

However, this doesn't get Coach Latina off the hook. Willingham created the problem, it was Latina's job to fix it. He knew he had to get 5 guys ready to play this season, and he knew all along what he had to work with. He failed.

It also doesn't relieve Coach Weis. He's the offensive mind, the one that signed a 10 year contract. He is responsible for creating an offensive gameplan that overcomes these weaknesses. He failed.

And it certainly doesn't relieve the players on the field from their responsibility as well. They've been practicing this stuff for years. They are physically capable. By virtue of their academic reputation, I'm willing to believe they are mentally capable. And as I said a couple weeks ago, they are bigger than the D-lines they are facing. But they have given up 15 sacks, and haven't opened up holes to give their running backs a chance. They've failed.

This is a dark day for Notre Dame football.

Change is Gonna Come

Ty's recruiting failures which have left us with so few options on the O-line have finally come home to roost. Weis may not admit it, but it is a rebuilding year. We'll improve slowly but steadily all year long. The schedule gets easier from here on out (exceptng SC), and that should eventually start translating into some wins.

From great adversity comes great strength. By pushing up the learning curve for all of these underclassmen, the future of Notre Dame's offensive line is looking bright. Remember those 3 remaining offensive linemen in the upper classes? Next year we'll have 7. The year after that we'll have 10-12. And lots of invaluable gametime experience together to boot. And in addition to all that built in experience, we'll be transitioning from mostly 3 star players to 4 star players with a couple of 5 stars mixed in for good measure.

The wholesale changes Weis has brought to this program means that when the sun comes out, it's coming out to stay. No more recruiting holes. No more graduation hangovers. No more rebuilding. Just reloading.

The adults are in charge now.

So buckle up, Irish fans. The development of this offensive line (and the rest of the team) is going to be a long and bumpy ride. But when we arrive at the promised land, it will have been well worth it.