So it's officially here. The boys are back out on the field, knocking heads and trying to prepare for the 2009 campaign.
But this year just feels different. No gimmicks. No blustery words like "Whoosh," "Pound it," or "Schematic Advantage."
The head coach has, I think, finally gotten it right.
I've been on a bit of a musical kick this summer. I went to see Cheap Trick, Poison and Def Leppard a few weeks ago, I just got back from Lollapalooza, and I'm going to Aerosmith and ZZ Top in a couple of weeks. So, here's my Media Week Extravaganza, Musical Edition.
Head Coach
Let The Music Do The Talking
Aerosmith
No promises, no specific talk about expectations or changes. No blustery talk about how good this player or that is gonna be. It's time to put it out on the field.
"This isn't about me. This is about us. This is about one group of guys, coaches and players, that have very similar expectations. But it doesn't do much good for me to say them any more. Until we start showing we can back 'em up, it's just hot air."
-Charlie Weis
Quarterbacks
Never Let Me Down Again
Depeche Mode
"I'm taking a ride with my best friend. I hope he never lets me down again. He knows where he's taking me. Taking me where I want to be."
It's no secret that we'll only go as far as Jimmy will take us. I've never really been a big fan of Jimmy personally, but the job is his, and he's now got the street cred from his experience to take this to the next level.
He needs to get past playing the game and learn how to put a team on his shoulders and lead them to victory. Without that crucial talent to lead, he will never get us to where we need to be.
"I think as he's gone through the first year, the aches that went through the first year, developing more the second year, I think now he kind of has the mentality that a lot of those junior/seniors now have, where like they paid their dues and they've learned from their experiences."
-Charlie Weis
Running Backs
Under the Milky Way
originally by The Church
covered by Coheed and Cambria
"Wish I knew what you were looking for.
Might have known what you would find."
Here we are, in year 5 of the Weis era, and we're still looking for a running game. More than any other area, this is where I want to stop hearing about us running the ball and start actually seeing some production on the ground.
"You're going to play against every team that's going to try to stop the pass game? Well, if they try to stop the pass game, then you have to have an answer. And the answer would be to run the football, okay? If you can't run the football effectively, okay, and they shut down the pass game, you put yourself behind the eight ball. That's what we've been spending the whole off-season to get to this point, to try to put us in a position where we're not pigeonholed into what we're doing."
-Charlie Weis
Wide Receivers
Mr. Brightside
The Killers (not from Lollapalooza, I didn't like the quality of available videos)
"I'm coming out of my cage and I've been doing just fine. Gotta gotta be down because I want it all. ... But it's just the price I pay. Destiny is calling me. Open up my eager eyes."
Who isn't uber-excited about the Notre Dame receiving corps this year?
This position is absolutely loaded with talent and star power. A junior receiver with proven breakaway speed. A sophomore receiver who broke every freshman receiving record - and didn't play half the season. A sophomore tight end who was a Freshman ll-American. Add to that a stable of talent ready to step in at any time, and you have a lot of options to throw to.
"This summer Jimmy flew out Golden, Floyd and Rudolph, and they spent one week out on field throwing for about eight hours a day. So they did that on their own. I have nothing to do with that. Duval was already in early summer school, so he couldn't make it out there. But I think that will pay dividends. That type of effort that they did on their own, that will pay dividends pretty quickly."
-Charlie Weis
Offensive Line
Schism
Tool
"I know the pieces fit cuz I watched them tumble down
No fault, none to blame it doesnt mean I dont desire to
Point the finger, blame the other, watch the temple topple over.
To bring the pieces back together, rediscover communication."
New coach, same kids. I've seen this line's potential, but until they learn to open up some running lanes on a consistent basis, this offense will sputter against quality defenses.
"This is going to be the first time we're going to start training camp and we have three units who legitimately play left and right tackle, left and right guard and center. It's encouraging to know we have numbers to start off with."
-Charlie Weis
Defensive Line
When You Were Young
The Killers
"Can we climb this mountain? I don't know. Higher now than ever before. I know we can make it if we take it slow. Let's take it easy. Easy now. Watch it go."
My biggest question mark on the team is the defensive line. We lack depth and elite talent, but there are some huge upsides to this unit as well. And with the new coaches - Randy Hart and Bryant Young - there is so much potential for drastic improvement. I just hope these kids can get the hang of the learning curve.
"We're excited about our youth, our athleticism. I think with youth and athleticism comes some uncertainty as you go in."
-Charlie Weis
Linebackers
Give It All"
Rise Against
"Today I offer all myself to this. I'm living for my dying wish. I give it all, now there's a reason, a reason, to give it all."
In Tenuta's blitz-happy scheme, we need these guys to really come blasting out of the gate. We've developed some depth, and I'm very excited to see what Manti Te'o can do. Brian Smith is a beast.
"Manti is 245 pounds. If you put him and Brian Smith next to each other, you don't really see much of a physical difference[.]"
-Charlie Weis
Defensive Backs
Never Miss A Beat
Kaiser Chiefs (one of the best shows of Lollapalooza - incredible frontman, great music)
"No, they never miss a beat. No, they never miss a beat, never miss a beat, never miss a beat. Never."
With all of the hype around the receiving corps, this is actually the best unit on the team. Our second string would probably start at any other school.
They are so good, in fact, that there weren't any questions at media day about this unit. Everyone knows that we're loaded, and it doesn't matter who we trot out there, they'll be amazing.
""
-Charlie Weis
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Most Intimidating College Football Stadiums
A couple of years ago, one of the ESPN guys did a list of the "scariest" college footballs stadiums. Then went on to list the usual suspects, with no clear rationale.
I think "scary" is the wrong word to use, though, when considering home field advantage. So, with that in mind, I'm going to attempt to put together the most intimidating places to step onto the field. This is, of course, from the perspective of the player, not opposing fans.
There are plenty of factors to consider when considering which stadium is the most intimidating. Size, volume, history, relative closeness to the fans, and the sheer awe-inspiring quality of the venue.
Now, to be fair, I'm considering each of these stadiums at their best - not the week-in, week-out drudgery of the season. I mean, with the exception of very few places, no fan base is going to be crazy every week. And the higher caliber of opponent, the more crazy the stadium is likely to be.
Here's my Top Ten. Let the debate begin.
1. Notre Dame Stadium - "The House that Rock Built"
There are certain places where history weighs down like a mantel. In sports, there is usually one or maybe two stadiums - that tower above all the rest as being truly legendary. Wrigley. Fenway. Lambeau. Madison Square Garden. Notre Dame Stadium.
When you are standing in the tunnel under those 11 Championship banners, looking out an the eleventy-bajillionth straight sell-out crowd, listening to the chants from the most dedicated student section in the country, you can feel the echoes waking up. And while Notre Dame has gotten some flack for not being loud on a week-in, week-out basis, believe me when I say that they really can shake down the thunder like none else.
2. Tiger Stadium - "Death Valley"
First of all, with a name like Death Valley, you expect a certain amount of intimidation. And when you load up Death Valley with a bunch of intoxicated Cajuns, this place gets all kinds of loud. The design, a full bowl with the giant upper decks on either side, keeps it all inside where it belongs. Mostly, though, this stadium is as high as it is by reputation as one of the toughest places to visit - there is no single defining factor here.
3. Beaver Stadium - Whiteout
You want intimidating? How about walking out into a sea of 107,000 people all dressed in white, screaming their damn heads off? Penn State has not only the largest capacity of any college football stadium, but also is designed for intimidation. The double tier towering over the north end zone is just plain scary.
4. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - The Swamp
Yes, Florida fans are loud and obnoxious. And yes, this stadium has a large capacity. But what really makes this stadium intimidating is the design. The steep design makes you feel like the entire stadium is about to collapse in on top of you.
5. Neyland Stadium - "Rocky Top"
This stadium has the best of all worlds, and I'm amazed that it doesn't come off as intimidating. I think it's a function of the Tennessee fans - some of the nicest people I've ever come across when they come to visit us at Notre Dame. The double tiered bowl all the way around, along with the seating capacity of over 104,000, make this a natural fit for the loudest stadium. But volume isn't everything, and so Neyland sits at #5.
6. Bryant-Denny Stadium
Nearly as rich in history and tradition as Notre Dame, Alabama's Bryant-Denny stadium certainly fills with some of the most passionate fans anywhere. But Bryant-Denny really suffers in intimidation factor due to the design. The open end on one side doesn't allow for the clutch goal-line intensity you get in some of the other stadiums (particularly Beaver Stadium, with the 3 tiers, and Notre Dame, with the student section screaming in your face).
7. Lane Stadium
Two words: "Enter Sandman" Sometimes, not having the storied tradition can help.
8. Ohio Stadium - "The Horseshoe"
The double-decked horseshoe of Ohio Stadium makes for one end-zone that is insanely loud, and one that is, well, not. But, the Horseshoe is also one of those legendary stadiums, and so they get a boost for that as well.
9. L.A. Coliseum
Design-wise, the Coliseum is one of the worst in terms of creating noise level or making the fans seem like they are on top of you. But, the impressive visuals of the stadium, and the fact that they have one hell of a football team, help with the intimidation factor. Lighting the Olympic Cauldron in the 4th quarter is pretty impressive.
10. Michigan Stadium - "The Big House"
Although Notre Dame Stadium is loosely based on Michigan's design, Michigan Stadium is flatter and larger than ND, creating a stadium where you may have 107,000 screaming fans, but the noise gets lost at field level because of the design.
I think "scary" is the wrong word to use, though, when considering home field advantage. So, with that in mind, I'm going to attempt to put together the most intimidating places to step onto the field. This is, of course, from the perspective of the player, not opposing fans.
There are plenty of factors to consider when considering which stadium is the most intimidating. Size, volume, history, relative closeness to the fans, and the sheer awe-inspiring quality of the venue.
Now, to be fair, I'm considering each of these stadiums at their best - not the week-in, week-out drudgery of the season. I mean, with the exception of very few places, no fan base is going to be crazy every week. And the higher caliber of opponent, the more crazy the stadium is likely to be.
Here's my Top Ten. Let the debate begin.
1. Notre Dame Stadium - "The House that Rock Built"
There are certain places where history weighs down like a mantel. In sports, there is usually one or maybe two stadiums - that tower above all the rest as being truly legendary. Wrigley. Fenway. Lambeau. Madison Square Garden. Notre Dame Stadium.
When you are standing in the tunnel under those 11 Championship banners, looking out an the eleventy-bajillionth straight sell-out crowd, listening to the chants from the most dedicated student section in the country, you can feel the echoes waking up. And while Notre Dame has gotten some flack for not being loud on a week-in, week-out basis, believe me when I say that they really can shake down the thunder like none else.
2. Tiger Stadium - "Death Valley"
First of all, with a name like Death Valley, you expect a certain amount of intimidation. And when you load up Death Valley with a bunch of intoxicated Cajuns, this place gets all kinds of loud. The design, a full bowl with the giant upper decks on either side, keeps it all inside where it belongs. Mostly, though, this stadium is as high as it is by reputation as one of the toughest places to visit - there is no single defining factor here.
3. Beaver Stadium - Whiteout
You want intimidating? How about walking out into a sea of 107,000 people all dressed in white, screaming their damn heads off? Penn State has not only the largest capacity of any college football stadium, but also is designed for intimidation. The double tier towering over the north end zone is just plain scary.
4. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - The Swamp
Yes, Florida fans are loud and obnoxious. And yes, this stadium has a large capacity. But what really makes this stadium intimidating is the design. The steep design makes you feel like the entire stadium is about to collapse in on top of you.
5. Neyland Stadium - "Rocky Top"
This stadium has the best of all worlds, and I'm amazed that it doesn't come off as intimidating. I think it's a function of the Tennessee fans - some of the nicest people I've ever come across when they come to visit us at Notre Dame. The double tiered bowl all the way around, along with the seating capacity of over 104,000, make this a natural fit for the loudest stadium. But volume isn't everything, and so Neyland sits at #5.
6. Bryant-Denny Stadium
Nearly as rich in history and tradition as Notre Dame, Alabama's Bryant-Denny stadium certainly fills with some of the most passionate fans anywhere. But Bryant-Denny really suffers in intimidation factor due to the design. The open end on one side doesn't allow for the clutch goal-line intensity you get in some of the other stadiums (particularly Beaver Stadium, with the 3 tiers, and Notre Dame, with the student section screaming in your face).
7. Lane Stadium
Two words: "Enter Sandman" Sometimes, not having the storied tradition can help.
8. Ohio Stadium - "The Horseshoe"
The double-decked horseshoe of Ohio Stadium makes for one end-zone that is insanely loud, and one that is, well, not. But, the Horseshoe is also one of those legendary stadiums, and so they get a boost for that as well.
9. L.A. Coliseum
Design-wise, the Coliseum is one of the worst in terms of creating noise level or making the fans seem like they are on top of you. But, the impressive visuals of the stadium, and the fact that they have one hell of a football team, help with the intimidation factor. Lighting the Olympic Cauldron in the 4th quarter is pretty impressive.
10. Michigan Stadium - "The Big House"
Although Notre Dame Stadium is loosely based on Michigan's design, Michigan Stadium is flatter and larger than ND, creating a stadium where you may have 107,000 screaming fans, but the noise gets lost at field level because of the design.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Passing the Bar
So, I've been spending quite a bit of time lately arguing sports at B-dubs downtown South Bend with my friend James from Real Deal Football. Today, I heard some of the most irrational arguments ever from one of the patrons.
So, I'm going to present these arguments to the blogosphere and see if anyone else out there (preferably someone capable of rational thought) is capable of defending these positions.
Irrational argument #1: Notre Dame will lose 5 games this year.
Actually, this guy said five, but then proceeded to claim that the Irish will lose to Nevada, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, USC, Boston College, Navy and Stanford. I count that as 8, but whatever. People with no rational thought apparently suck at math.
Nevada: "Notre Dame won't be able to score on them." Nevada ranked dead last in pass defense last year.
Michigan: "It's a pride game." Okay.
Michigan State: As I think this will be a good game, I'll leave it alone.
Purdue: "Notre Dame always loses to Purdue." Ummm, last I checked, ND won last year.
USC: Again, I'm not going to quibble with this one.
Boston College: "They'll win." Umm, great argument, bud.
Navy: "I always count on Navy every year to beat Notre Dame." Ummm... The most lopsided rivalry in college football?
Stanford: "I just think Stanford will win."
This guy is the king of argument, clearly.
Irrational argument #2: Arkansas will win the National Championship this year.
His only defense of this pick: "I looked at their recruiting." Forget that their recruiting has been ranked #16, #36, #31, #26, and #24 the last 5 seasons. Apparently, their recruiting has been so stellar that they will beat everyone else.
Irrational argument #3: Georgia will be ranked #4 in the nation by week 2.
To be fair, the preseason AP and USA Today/ESPN rankings aren't out yet. So I don't know how far the Bulldogs will have to jump up to get to #4, but based upon most of the preseason rankings in preview magazine, the Bulldogs will be sitting around 13. And to get to #4, there will have to be losses by several of the teams ahead of them.
Teams that would have to win in week 1 for this to happen? Charleston Southern (Florida), BYU (Oklahoma), Louisiana-Monroe (Texas), San Jose State (USC), Navy (Ohio State), Akron (Penn State).
Irrational argument #4: Lehigh-Lafayette is the 3rd best rivalry in college football.
Army-Navy. Michigan-Ohio State. Notre Dame-USC. Alabama-Auburn. Florida-Georgia. Oklahoma-Texas. Miami-Florida State.
Yes, it's the oldest rivalry in football. But he also lost several credibility points when he said, and I quote: "Third best rivalry? That one between Lehigh and someone else."
'Nuff said.
So, I'm going to present these arguments to the blogosphere and see if anyone else out there (preferably someone capable of rational thought) is capable of defending these positions.
Irrational argument #1: Notre Dame will lose 5 games this year.
Actually, this guy said five, but then proceeded to claim that the Irish will lose to Nevada, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, USC, Boston College, Navy and Stanford. I count that as 8, but whatever. People with no rational thought apparently suck at math.
Nevada: "Notre Dame won't be able to score on them." Nevada ranked dead last in pass defense last year.
Michigan: "It's a pride game." Okay.
Michigan State: As I think this will be a good game, I'll leave it alone.
Purdue: "Notre Dame always loses to Purdue." Ummm, last I checked, ND won last year.
USC: Again, I'm not going to quibble with this one.
Boston College: "They'll win." Umm, great argument, bud.
Navy: "I always count on Navy every year to beat Notre Dame." Ummm... The most lopsided rivalry in college football?
Stanford: "I just think Stanford will win."
This guy is the king of argument, clearly.
Irrational argument #2: Arkansas will win the National Championship this year.
His only defense of this pick: "I looked at their recruiting." Forget that their recruiting has been ranked #16, #36, #31, #26, and #24 the last 5 seasons. Apparently, their recruiting has been so stellar that they will beat everyone else.
Irrational argument #3: Georgia will be ranked #4 in the nation by week 2.
To be fair, the preseason AP and USA Today/ESPN rankings aren't out yet. So I don't know how far the Bulldogs will have to jump up to get to #4, but based upon most of the preseason rankings in preview magazine, the Bulldogs will be sitting around 13. And to get to #4, there will have to be losses by several of the teams ahead of them.
Teams that would have to win in week 1 for this to happen? Charleston Southern (Florida), BYU (Oklahoma), Louisiana-Monroe (Texas), San Jose State (USC), Navy (Ohio State), Akron (Penn State).
Irrational argument #4: Lehigh-Lafayette is the 3rd best rivalry in college football.
Army-Navy. Michigan-Ohio State. Notre Dame-USC. Alabama-Auburn. Florida-Georgia. Oklahoma-Texas. Miami-Florida State.
Yes, it's the oldest rivalry in football. But he also lost several credibility points when he said, and I quote: "Third best rivalry? That one between Lehigh and someone else."
'Nuff said.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Welcome to the blogosphere!
A good friend of mine, and aspiring football coach, just started his new football blog, Real Deal Football. James is very knowledgeable and articulate, and we've had many a sports argument over beers. Please do me a favor and go check out his blog.
He'll be permanently linked on my sidebar, for future reference.
He'll be permanently linked on my sidebar, for future reference.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Offseason
Aaah, the offseason. That black hole between the Blue-Gold game and Training camp. We are forced to sustain ourselves on discussions about scheduling, recruiting, and numerous prognostications. And so, after an extended absence, I'm returning to the blogosphere to add my two cents to the discussion and try to mitigate the boredom of this miserable part of the year.
Scheduling
There have been a lot of grumblings about Notre Dame's upcoming schedule, and (unsurprisingly) I have an opinion on how it is shaping up.
First, the news. The Irish confirmed today that they will be rekindling their rivalry with Army in Yankee Stadium next year. There have also been strong rumors that we will be playing Texas Christian and Tulsa. So, right now the next three years of scheduling looks something like this:
2010 Schedule
S04 PURDUE
S11 MICHIGAN
S18 @ Michigan St.
S25 STANFORD
O02 @ Boston College
O09 PITTSBURGH
O23 @ Navy (NY/NJ)
N13 Utah
N20 Army (Yankee Stadium)
N27 @ Southern Cal
Two games TBD (rumors have TCU and Tulsa)
2011 Schedule
S03 @ Purdue
S10 @ Michigan
S17 MICHIGAN STATE
S24 @ Pittsburgh
O01 SOUTH FLORIDA
O15 Army (neutral site)
O22 SOUTHERN CAL
N05 CONNECTICUT
N26 @ Stanford
Three games TBD
2012 Schedule
OPEN
@Michigan
@Purdue
Michigan State
Oklahoma
Arizona State (Arlington)
Southern Cal
@UConn (Meadowlands or Foxboro)
Navy
@Pittsburgh
Three games TBD
Let's start with 2010. I've heard a lot of rumblings about how craptastic the schedule is, but I couldn't disagree more. First of all, let's eliminate any argument about the traditional opponents - we're not dropping Navy, Michigan, USC, Michigan State, Purdue or Stanford. Now, I've said before (and I'll repeat it here) that I don't see the need to play MSU, Purdue and Stanford each and every year. But, it is what it is, and I'm not going to argue it. Although, it does appear that Stanford is off of post-2012 schedules (for now).
So let's look at the others.
Boston College, the last game in the rivalry, is a quality opponent, and one that has had our number the past couple decades. But, this is a great opportunity with arguably the best Notre Dame team since 1988 to beat them down in spectacular fashion to send them back to perpetual mediocrity.
Pittsburgh is a traditional opponent with a storied history, and I haven't heard anyone claim that they are a weak opponent.
Utah is next. Many people have panned us playing Utah, a MWC opponent, as a part of the "dumbing down" of our schedule. But those people are just plain stupid. Utah's record over the past decade has been truly elite. 10-2, 12-0, 7-5, 8-5, 9-4, 13-0 They are the only team over that stretch to have two undefeated seasons. The fact that they don't have a national championship is simply criminal. Urban Meyer hasn't had an undefeated season at Florida. Pete Carroll only had one at USC. Utah has had two - with two different coaches. This is a well-run program, and arguably one of the toughest games on the schedule.
While we're in the MWC, let's take a look at TCU, another team that people are hating on since the rumors. Let's use the same period for their records: 10-2, 11-2, 5-6, 11-1, 11-2, 8-5, 11-2. I'm sorry, but 4 11 win seasons in 6 years tells me that this program, too, is high quality. Their only losses are to teams like Oklahoma and Utah. And they beat a Stoops-coached Oklahoma team in '05. Now, you can talk about the weakness of the bottom of the MWC, but Utah, TCU, and BYU are BCS-caliber teams. In fact, TCU should be in the Big 12 ahead of Baylor, and Utah and BYU could make an argument to join the Pac-10 conference (they'd certainly be more competitive than WSU, Stanford, Washington, and Arizona).
Army in Yankee Stadium makes perfect sense. Notre Dame - Army is historic, and any true college football fan can appreciate that. Army may not be as competitive as they were back in the 40s, but these two programs (for me) stand for what is good and right about college football. If you are upset about this matchup, you should take your ND jersey off and go root for someone else - we don't want you here anymore.
Tulsa = craptastic. I've been vocal about my dislike of the San Diego State and Nevada games, and Tulsa is even worse. Unlike the MWC, Conference USA is just sad. Name me one team from this list that has done anything worthwhile in the past couple of decades: Alabama-Birmingham, Central Florida, East Carolina (NC), Marshall (WV), Memphis (TN), Southern Mississippi, Houston (TX), Rice (TX), Southern Methodist (TX), Texas-El Paso, Tulane (LA), Tulsa (OK). If Notre Dame does, in fact, schedule this game, I will be disappointed. It's not as bad as a FCS opponent, but it's close. At least it's not Sun Belt.
So, for all of the complaining, there is really only one bad team on the schedule. And I'll bet that it turns out to be rated one of the more difficult slates in the country next year.
The 2011 schedule right now does suck. UConn and South Florida do not get my juices flowing. Dear god, I hope Jack Swarbrick finds a quality opponent for this schedule. We need one in a bad way.
Moving ahead into 2012, we see a schedule where things are back to what ND fans are used to, and it all turns on one game. The kind of game which is exactly what everyone has been clamoring for - a home-and-home with Oklahoma. That is a sexy matchup. Bob Stoops has restored that program to a perennial power, pulling down 3 straight Big 12 Championships, and playing in the National Championship last year. Arizona State in Dallas should be a good game. We'll have to wait and see how the holes are filled, but I can't see anyone complaining about schedule strength in a year when you have to play USC, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Pittsburgh - potential champions of 4 BCS conferences. (yes, Michigan should be good again by then)
While the 7-4-1 model may have it's issues, if we can get consistent schedules like 2012, sign me up.
Recruiting
Moving on to recruiting, the Irish just landed their 13th verbal commitment in Spencer Boyd.
Defensive end Chris Martin is the jewel of the class so far, but there's a lot of recruiting left, and the Irish could sign over 25 players this year with early enrollees. I'd keep an eye on the recruiting of Seantrel Henderson, who is close friends with current Irish wide receiver Mike Floyd. Most people have counted the Irish out of this one, but I'm not so sure. Also watch Kyle Prater, Justin McCay, and Corey Lemonier. If the Irish can swing any one of these kids to come to South Bend, we'll be set up for a monster recruiting class.
We did miss on a legacy in Nick Montana, but I don't blame the kid for wanting to blaze his own trail, and not compete against his brother and his father's ghost at Notre Dame. Andrew Hendrix is actually ranked ahead of Montana, and I think he's a great fit for Weis' offense.
Prognostications
'Tis the season for preview magazines, so I thought I'd try to pull together a bunch of the preseason predictions for the Irish.
Phil Steele: #7
Phil Steele, in my opinion, is the best of the best when it comes to preview mags. He puts a ton of effort and research into his publication each year, and he's a statistics guru, so he tends to be less biased and more accurate year in year out than most other publications.
Steele has the Irish at #7, which is a very optimistic outlook, and it speaks volumes about how the Irish look on paper this year. With the experience and production we have returning, we are poised for a breakout season.
Sporting News: #18
Sporting News has the Irish sitting at 18, which is probably pretty close to the consensus of most average fans that follow college football. However, there is an interesting article in which one prognosticator believes the Irish could run the table (along with five other schools) to create a huge pileup when it comes time to send teams to the BCS championship game.
Sporting News also has Notre Dame's receiving corps ranked #1 in the nation as well.
Athlon: #24
Athlon has the Irish ranked a little bit lower than most, but still in the top 25. In their preview, they concede that the Irish should be capable of contending for the BCS this year. Athlon seems to sum up the feelings of most fans that see the potential, but are wary of believing in a huge turnaround for the Irish.
Lindy's: #37
Lindy's is, in my opinion, the worst of the preseason magazines. They are full of bias, and don't spend a lot of time bothering with annoying things like statistics and facts. They just kind of throw out their gut feelings for the season, totally manipulated by preseason hype. If someone gave me a copy of this magazine for free, I'd tear it up and use it to line someone's bird cage.
And it has nothing to do with their ranking of the Irish - I just really don't like this magazine.
Average ranking: 21.5
Not horrible, solidly in the top 25, but not spectacular either. Which pretty much describes what most people are expecting from the Irish this year. There is clearly the potential there for a magical season, but experience has told us that Weis will find a way to screw the pooch on this one. I'm a bit more of an optimist, and I think the Irish will be undefeated going into the USC game, making that arguably the biggest game of the entire college football regular season, much like 2005. (Oklahoma-Texas, USC-Ohio State, and Alabama-Virginia Tech are pretty interesting, too)
My preseason Top 10
1. Florida
Heisman winner Tebow's back, and they are loaded with speedy talent across the board. They are the team to beat, no question.
2. Oklahoma
With Heisman winner Bradford back, and his favorite target at tight end back as well,
the Oklahoma offense shouldn't miss a beat.
3. Texas
Colt McCoy may get his shot at the Heisman this year, if Texas can find a running game.
4. Penn State
Paterno lost a lot of talent at receiver, but their QB and running game are intact, as is the heart of their defense.
5. Ole Miss
Houston Nutt + Jevon Snead = an interesting football team. Personally, I expect Ole Miss to remember they are Ole Miss, but I had to put them ahead of the hated
6. Southern Cal
New QB, new defense, but they still just roll in new All-Americans to replace old All-Americans. I believe the Irish will beat the Trojans this year, but until they do, I can't pick the Irish ahead of a team that beat them 38-0 last year.
7. Alabama
Saban can coach - nobody doubts that. And with the lax control over admissions and recruiting, Saban is quietly stocking the cupboards. And Julio Jones is really good.
8. Virginia Tech
Tyrod Taylor is back, and Virginia Tech is poised to improve over last year's Orange Bowl victory. The 'Bama game will be a great measuring stick.
9. Notre Dame
An experienced junior quarterback with All-American potential, two proven All-American caliber receivers, an experienced offensive line, an All-American tight end, an experienced junior running back with lots of quick (and a stable behind him). They'll put up points.
Arguably the most talented secondary in the country. A proven leader at the middle of the linebacking corps. A talented, if young, defensive line.
Should be a very good defense.
The pieces APPEAR to be all in place. Now let's see it on the field.
10. Georgia Tech
Paul Johnson showed that the triple option attack can still be effective in major college football. With talent and speed, this attack becomes real difficult to defend. Add in the fact that you can effectively pass the ball to some talented wideouts, and Tech is ready to roll. Try and get ready for this team on one week's practice.
I've got to get back to work. I'll try to update sooner than a couple of months from now...
Scheduling
There have been a lot of grumblings about Notre Dame's upcoming schedule, and (unsurprisingly) I have an opinion on how it is shaping up.
First, the news. The Irish confirmed today that they will be rekindling their rivalry with Army in Yankee Stadium next year. There have also been strong rumors that we will be playing Texas Christian and Tulsa. So, right now the next three years of scheduling looks something like this:
2010 Schedule
S04 PURDUE
S11 MICHIGAN
S18 @ Michigan St.
S25 STANFORD
O02 @ Boston College
O09 PITTSBURGH
O23 @ Navy (NY/NJ)
N13 Utah
N20 Army (Yankee Stadium)
N27 @ Southern Cal
Two games TBD (rumors have TCU and Tulsa)
2011 Schedule
S03 @ Purdue
S10 @ Michigan
S17 MICHIGAN STATE
S24 @ Pittsburgh
O01 SOUTH FLORIDA
O15 Army (neutral site)
O22 SOUTHERN CAL
N05 CONNECTICUT
N26 @ Stanford
Three games TBD
2012 Schedule
OPEN
@Michigan
@Purdue
Michigan State
Oklahoma
Arizona State (Arlington)
Southern Cal
@UConn (Meadowlands or Foxboro)
Navy
@Pittsburgh
Three games TBD
Let's start with 2010. I've heard a lot of rumblings about how craptastic the schedule is, but I couldn't disagree more. First of all, let's eliminate any argument about the traditional opponents - we're not dropping Navy, Michigan, USC, Michigan State, Purdue or Stanford. Now, I've said before (and I'll repeat it here) that I don't see the need to play MSU, Purdue and Stanford each and every year. But, it is what it is, and I'm not going to argue it. Although, it does appear that Stanford is off of post-2012 schedules (for now).
So let's look at the others.
Boston College, the last game in the rivalry, is a quality opponent, and one that has had our number the past couple decades. But, this is a great opportunity with arguably the best Notre Dame team since 1988 to beat them down in spectacular fashion to send them back to perpetual mediocrity.
Pittsburgh is a traditional opponent with a storied history, and I haven't heard anyone claim that they are a weak opponent.
Utah is next. Many people have panned us playing Utah, a MWC opponent, as a part of the "dumbing down" of our schedule. But those people are just plain stupid. Utah's record over the past decade has been truly elite. 10-2, 12-0, 7-5, 8-5, 9-4, 13-0 They are the only team over that stretch to have two undefeated seasons. The fact that they don't have a national championship is simply criminal. Urban Meyer hasn't had an undefeated season at Florida. Pete Carroll only had one at USC. Utah has had two - with two different coaches. This is a well-run program, and arguably one of the toughest games on the schedule.
While we're in the MWC, let's take a look at TCU, another team that people are hating on since the rumors. Let's use the same period for their records: 10-2, 11-2, 5-6, 11-1, 11-2, 8-5, 11-2. I'm sorry, but 4 11 win seasons in 6 years tells me that this program, too, is high quality. Their only losses are to teams like Oklahoma and Utah. And they beat a Stoops-coached Oklahoma team in '05. Now, you can talk about the weakness of the bottom of the MWC, but Utah, TCU, and BYU are BCS-caliber teams. In fact, TCU should be in the Big 12 ahead of Baylor, and Utah and BYU could make an argument to join the Pac-10 conference (they'd certainly be more competitive than WSU, Stanford, Washington, and Arizona).
Army in Yankee Stadium makes perfect sense. Notre Dame - Army is historic, and any true college football fan can appreciate that. Army may not be as competitive as they were back in the 40s, but these two programs (for me) stand for what is good and right about college football. If you are upset about this matchup, you should take your ND jersey off and go root for someone else - we don't want you here anymore.
Tulsa = craptastic. I've been vocal about my dislike of the San Diego State and Nevada games, and Tulsa is even worse. Unlike the MWC, Conference USA is just sad. Name me one team from this list that has done anything worthwhile in the past couple of decades: Alabama-Birmingham, Central Florida, East Carolina (NC), Marshall (WV), Memphis (TN), Southern Mississippi, Houston (TX), Rice (TX), Southern Methodist (TX), Texas-El Paso, Tulane (LA), Tulsa (OK). If Notre Dame does, in fact, schedule this game, I will be disappointed. It's not as bad as a FCS opponent, but it's close. At least it's not Sun Belt.
So, for all of the complaining, there is really only one bad team on the schedule. And I'll bet that it turns out to be rated one of the more difficult slates in the country next year.
The 2011 schedule right now does suck. UConn and South Florida do not get my juices flowing. Dear god, I hope Jack Swarbrick finds a quality opponent for this schedule. We need one in a bad way.
Moving ahead into 2012, we see a schedule where things are back to what ND fans are used to, and it all turns on one game. The kind of game which is exactly what everyone has been clamoring for - a home-and-home with Oklahoma. That is a sexy matchup. Bob Stoops has restored that program to a perennial power, pulling down 3 straight Big 12 Championships, and playing in the National Championship last year. Arizona State in Dallas should be a good game. We'll have to wait and see how the holes are filled, but I can't see anyone complaining about schedule strength in a year when you have to play USC, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Pittsburgh - potential champions of 4 BCS conferences. (yes, Michigan should be good again by then)
While the 7-4-1 model may have it's issues, if we can get consistent schedules like 2012, sign me up.
Recruiting
Moving on to recruiting, the Irish just landed their 13th verbal commitment in Spencer Boyd.
Defensive end Chris Martin is the jewel of the class so far, but there's a lot of recruiting left, and the Irish could sign over 25 players this year with early enrollees. I'd keep an eye on the recruiting of Seantrel Henderson, who is close friends with current Irish wide receiver Mike Floyd. Most people have counted the Irish out of this one, but I'm not so sure. Also watch Kyle Prater, Justin McCay, and Corey Lemonier. If the Irish can swing any one of these kids to come to South Bend, we'll be set up for a monster recruiting class.
We did miss on a legacy in Nick Montana, but I don't blame the kid for wanting to blaze his own trail, and not compete against his brother and his father's ghost at Notre Dame. Andrew Hendrix is actually ranked ahead of Montana, and I think he's a great fit for Weis' offense.
Prognostications
'Tis the season for preview magazines, so I thought I'd try to pull together a bunch of the preseason predictions for the Irish.
Phil Steele: #7
Phil Steele, in my opinion, is the best of the best when it comes to preview mags. He puts a ton of effort and research into his publication each year, and he's a statistics guru, so he tends to be less biased and more accurate year in year out than most other publications.
Steele has the Irish at #7, which is a very optimistic outlook, and it speaks volumes about how the Irish look on paper this year. With the experience and production we have returning, we are poised for a breakout season.
Sporting News: #18
Sporting News has the Irish sitting at 18, which is probably pretty close to the consensus of most average fans that follow college football. However, there is an interesting article in which one prognosticator believes the Irish could run the table (along with five other schools) to create a huge pileup when it comes time to send teams to the BCS championship game.
Sporting News also has Notre Dame's receiving corps ranked #1 in the nation as well.
Athlon: #24
Athlon has the Irish ranked a little bit lower than most, but still in the top 25. In their preview, they concede that the Irish should be capable of contending for the BCS this year. Athlon seems to sum up the feelings of most fans that see the potential, but are wary of believing in a huge turnaround for the Irish.
Lindy's: #37
Lindy's is, in my opinion, the worst of the preseason magazines. They are full of bias, and don't spend a lot of time bothering with annoying things like statistics and facts. They just kind of throw out their gut feelings for the season, totally manipulated by preseason hype. If someone gave me a copy of this magazine for free, I'd tear it up and use it to line someone's bird cage.
And it has nothing to do with their ranking of the Irish - I just really don't like this magazine.
Average ranking: 21.5
Not horrible, solidly in the top 25, but not spectacular either. Which pretty much describes what most people are expecting from the Irish this year. There is clearly the potential there for a magical season, but experience has told us that Weis will find a way to screw the pooch on this one. I'm a bit more of an optimist, and I think the Irish will be undefeated going into the USC game, making that arguably the biggest game of the entire college football regular season, much like 2005. (Oklahoma-Texas, USC-Ohio State, and Alabama-Virginia Tech are pretty interesting, too)
My preseason Top 10
1. Florida
Heisman winner Tebow's back, and they are loaded with speedy talent across the board. They are the team to beat, no question.
2. Oklahoma
With Heisman winner Bradford back, and his favorite target at tight end back as well,
the Oklahoma offense shouldn't miss a beat.
3. Texas
Colt McCoy may get his shot at the Heisman this year, if Texas can find a running game.
4. Penn State
Paterno lost a lot of talent at receiver, but their QB and running game are intact, as is the heart of their defense.
5. Ole Miss
Houston Nutt + Jevon Snead = an interesting football team. Personally, I expect Ole Miss to remember they are Ole Miss, but I had to put them ahead of the hated
6. Southern Cal
New QB, new defense, but they still just roll in new All-Americans to replace old All-Americans. I believe the Irish will beat the Trojans this year, but until they do, I can't pick the Irish ahead of a team that beat them 38-0 last year.
7. Alabama
Saban can coach - nobody doubts that. And with the lax control over admissions and recruiting, Saban is quietly stocking the cupboards. And Julio Jones is really good.
8. Virginia Tech
Tyrod Taylor is back, and Virginia Tech is poised to improve over last year's Orange Bowl victory. The 'Bama game will be a great measuring stick.
9. Notre Dame
An experienced junior quarterback with All-American potential, two proven All-American caliber receivers, an experienced offensive line, an All-American tight end, an experienced junior running back with lots of quick (and a stable behind him). They'll put up points.
Arguably the most talented secondary in the country. A proven leader at the middle of the linebacking corps. A talented, if young, defensive line.
Should be a very good defense.
The pieces APPEAR to be all in place. Now let's see it on the field.
10. Georgia Tech
Paul Johnson showed that the triple option attack can still be effective in major college football. With talent and speed, this attack becomes real difficult to defend. Add in the fact that you can effectively pass the ball to some talented wideouts, and Tech is ready to roll. Try and get ready for this team on one week's practice.
I've got to get back to work. I'll try to update sooner than a couple of months from now...
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Blue-Gold preview
OK, so I've been a little slow on the uptake in blogging recently, due to a recent promotion at work. Soon, I will be traveling the country for my law firm, training other attorneys about various aspects of their jobs. I'm really excited about this new opportunity, and can't wait to start traveling. For the next month or two, though, blogging is going to be sporadic at best while I get my replacement (a NDLS classmate) up to speed and settle into my new responsibilities.
That said, I'm going to try to piece together where we stand headed into the Blue-Gold game today (which I should be attending, work permitting).
Offensive Line
It all begins and ends here. For years, offensive line play has been a weak link on our team, and it is the most important piece of the puzzle to have consistent offensive success. Latina, for all of his success prior to his stint at ND, just couldn't get the job done. It seems like all he taught the players to do was cut block.
With Frank Verducci stepping in, my hope is that we finally have the kind of guy that can get these guys motivated to win one-on-one matchups. They are talented enough to be a great unit, but need to take that next step this offseason.
I especially want to see improvement on running plays - even in a zone blocking scheme, you can attack the defense. I want to see a mean, nasty attitude coming off the line and taking the fight to the defense, rather than waiting for them to come to us.
Paul Duncan looks good going into his 5th year, and should provide the rock we need outside on pass protection. Sam Young should also be solid at the other tackle position, and I hope the coaching change can take his play to the next level.
Eric Olsen is the heart of this line, and brings the passion and nastiness we need on the line. Hopefully he steps up as a leader and lights a fire under his teammates.
Sam Young has been solid, but in his last year as a starter, it's time to start blowing people up. If he wants to impress NFL scouts, he needs to play to the level he was expected as the #1 overall recruit out of Florida his freshman year.
Tight Ends
I like our Tight End situation this year. We are returning our starter from last year (Kyle Rudolph), and he's going to be pushed by an upper classman who was also highly touted coming out of high school (Mike Ragone). Also, true freshman Joseph Fauria is making strides as well. We can finally run more two tight end sets, which opens the offense a little more.
Receivers
Of course, any discussion of our receiving corps starts with Golden Tate. I'm not sure what the numbers are on his track speed, but he has incredible football speed. Armando Allen is fast, and Golden ran him down from behind after getting a pancake block on the kick return against Hawai'i.
As a true freshman, Floyd destroyed the record books, and he has a lot of room to grow. He is the clear second option, and it doesn't seem like anyone is going to challenge him for that starting role.
Where this competition gets interesting starts at the third slot. Goodman, Parris, Walker, Kamara, and West are all battling to get on the field. That competition, by all accounts, has raised the bar for all of them. Robby Parris has been singled out by Coach Weis, and Walker and Goodman both have a chance. Kamara looked to be back to form, but then suffered a hamstring injury. West appears to have fallen down the depth chart, but he's capable of working his way back up.
Running Backs
Armando seems to be the clear #1 going into this season, which is an improvement from the running back by committee we've had the last couple of years. Of course, that doesn't meaan that the other backs won't see the field, but I think Armando has finally learned to translate his speed into effectiveness on the field.
Robert Hughes isn't resting on his laurels behind Armando, and since he's a completely different type of back, he could almost be considered a starter in the more pound-it tye of packages.
What's interesting to me is to see how the guys behind them factor in. Jonas Gray looked good in limited action last year, and Cierre Wood is a 5-star recruit coming in from high school.
Also, James Aldridge is healthy, and would be our starting fullback, if we started a game in that package. Weis would also play him as tailback in a pound-it type of package, against teams like Nevada and Michigan State.
Quarterbacks
Jimmy Clausen is the starter. Let's not go crazy about Dayne Crist yet. However, since we've burned Dayne's redshirt year, there's no reason that he can't push Jimmy. If he wins the battle, great! But, I don't think he will. What's nice is that for the first time since Weis has been here, we have two legitimate QB's that can start a game. In 2007, we had two starters, but neither of them were that great.
Also, we have Nate Montana as a 3rd option, who can try to develop his skills. He certainly has the bloodlines. Also, John Goodman is a good QB aswell, but is more likely to see the field as a QB.
Defensive Line
I'm not sure what to make of our defensive line yet. Ian Williams is a clear cut starter inside, and it looks like there is a battle for the other inside slot. Hafis Williams has the other slot right now, but Brandon Newman isn't going to just roll over. Tyler Stockton and Sean Cwynar are also in the mix.
I think we may end up with a 3-man rotation for the two slots, with Ian Williams eating up the most minutes.
At defensive end, we have a lot of options. Ethan Johnson and Kapron Lewis-Moore are the listed starters right now, but I'm guessing that several players will rotate in and out depending on the situation. Richardson, Nwankwo, Ryan, Wade, and Neal will all get considerable minutes. This competition could make this a strength on our team.
Linebackers
Brian Smith appears to be stepping into the leadership role for the linebackers. He is a freak of an athlete, and will be the rock of this defense at the weakside linebacker. Darius Fleming's athleticism has him starting at the strong side, but I'm curious to see how the competition plays out. Incoming freshman Manti Te'o will light a fire under these guys over the summer.
Inside, Toryan Smith has stepped up his game, and appears to be the hard hitter we need against pound it teams, to take the pressure off of the tackles. He won't be used in passing situations, however, as he is a bit of a liability in coverage.
Scott Smith could get some time at linebacker as well, which would be kind of awesome, with the 3 Smiths.
Defensive Backs
I am really excited about this group.
At corner, we have 4 players that I think would start fo nealy every other Division I school battling it out for two spots. McNeil and Blanton are currently listed as the starters, but I think Darrin Walls will win back his spot once he shakes all the rust off. And Jamoris Slaughter will see plenty of the field as well.
At safety, I think things are a little more settled. I don't see how you can keep Harrison Smith off the field, as he's a playmaker. And Kyle McCarthy seems to hav separated himself as a clear #1.
That doesn't mean we lack depth, however. Sergio Brown has proven he can play at a high level, and Dan McCarthy is just itching to get on the field with his brother.
*****
I dub this defense the No-Names. If we were in a nickel defense, we could have on the field at one time: Richardson, Johnson, McNeil, McCarthy, McCarthy, Williams, Williams, Smith, Smith, Smith, and Smith. That's ridiculous.
That said, I'm going to try to piece together where we stand headed into the Blue-Gold game today (which I should be attending, work permitting).
Offensive Line
It all begins and ends here. For years, offensive line play has been a weak link on our team, and it is the most important piece of the puzzle to have consistent offensive success. Latina, for all of his success prior to his stint at ND, just couldn't get the job done. It seems like all he taught the players to do was cut block.
With Frank Verducci stepping in, my hope is that we finally have the kind of guy that can get these guys motivated to win one-on-one matchups. They are talented enough to be a great unit, but need to take that next step this offseason.
I especially want to see improvement on running plays - even in a zone blocking scheme, you can attack the defense. I want to see a mean, nasty attitude coming off the line and taking the fight to the defense, rather than waiting for them to come to us.
Paul Duncan looks good going into his 5th year, and should provide the rock we need outside on pass protection. Sam Young should also be solid at the other tackle position, and I hope the coaching change can take his play to the next level.
Eric Olsen is the heart of this line, and brings the passion and nastiness we need on the line. Hopefully he steps up as a leader and lights a fire under his teammates.
Sam Young has been solid, but in his last year as a starter, it's time to start blowing people up. If he wants to impress NFL scouts, he needs to play to the level he was expected as the #1 overall recruit out of Florida his freshman year.
Tight Ends
I like our Tight End situation this year. We are returning our starter from last year (Kyle Rudolph), and he's going to be pushed by an upper classman who was also highly touted coming out of high school (Mike Ragone). Also, true freshman Joseph Fauria is making strides as well. We can finally run more two tight end sets, which opens the offense a little more.
Receivers
Of course, any discussion of our receiving corps starts with Golden Tate. I'm not sure what the numbers are on his track speed, but he has incredible football speed. Armando Allen is fast, and Golden ran him down from behind after getting a pancake block on the kick return against Hawai'i.
As a true freshman, Floyd destroyed the record books, and he has a lot of room to grow. He is the clear second option, and it doesn't seem like anyone is going to challenge him for that starting role.
Where this competition gets interesting starts at the third slot. Goodman, Parris, Walker, Kamara, and West are all battling to get on the field. That competition, by all accounts, has raised the bar for all of them. Robby Parris has been singled out by Coach Weis, and Walker and Goodman both have a chance. Kamara looked to be back to form, but then suffered a hamstring injury. West appears to have fallen down the depth chart, but he's capable of working his way back up.
Running Backs
Armando seems to be the clear #1 going into this season, which is an improvement from the running back by committee we've had the last couple of years. Of course, that doesn't meaan that the other backs won't see the field, but I think Armando has finally learned to translate his speed into effectiveness on the field.
Robert Hughes isn't resting on his laurels behind Armando, and since he's a completely different type of back, he could almost be considered a starter in the more pound-it tye of packages.
What's interesting to me is to see how the guys behind them factor in. Jonas Gray looked good in limited action last year, and Cierre Wood is a 5-star recruit coming in from high school.
Also, James Aldridge is healthy, and would be our starting fullback, if we started a game in that package. Weis would also play him as tailback in a pound-it type of package, against teams like Nevada and Michigan State.
Quarterbacks
Jimmy Clausen is the starter. Let's not go crazy about Dayne Crist yet. However, since we've burned Dayne's redshirt year, there's no reason that he can't push Jimmy. If he wins the battle, great! But, I don't think he will. What's nice is that for the first time since Weis has been here, we have two legitimate QB's that can start a game. In 2007, we had two starters, but neither of them were that great.
Also, we have Nate Montana as a 3rd option, who can try to develop his skills. He certainly has the bloodlines. Also, John Goodman is a good QB aswell, but is more likely to see the field as a QB.
Defensive Line
I'm not sure what to make of our defensive line yet. Ian Williams is a clear cut starter inside, and it looks like there is a battle for the other inside slot. Hafis Williams has the other slot right now, but Brandon Newman isn't going to just roll over. Tyler Stockton and Sean Cwynar are also in the mix.
I think we may end up with a 3-man rotation for the two slots, with Ian Williams eating up the most minutes.
At defensive end, we have a lot of options. Ethan Johnson and Kapron Lewis-Moore are the listed starters right now, but I'm guessing that several players will rotate in and out depending on the situation. Richardson, Nwankwo, Ryan, Wade, and Neal will all get considerable minutes. This competition could make this a strength on our team.
Linebackers
Brian Smith appears to be stepping into the leadership role for the linebackers. He is a freak of an athlete, and will be the rock of this defense at the weakside linebacker. Darius Fleming's athleticism has him starting at the strong side, but I'm curious to see how the competition plays out. Incoming freshman Manti Te'o will light a fire under these guys over the summer.
Inside, Toryan Smith has stepped up his game, and appears to be the hard hitter we need against pound it teams, to take the pressure off of the tackles. He won't be used in passing situations, however, as he is a bit of a liability in coverage.
Scott Smith could get some time at linebacker as well, which would be kind of awesome, with the 3 Smiths.
Defensive Backs
I am really excited about this group.
At corner, we have 4 players that I think would start fo nealy every other Division I school battling it out for two spots. McNeil and Blanton are currently listed as the starters, but I think Darrin Walls will win back his spot once he shakes all the rust off. And Jamoris Slaughter will see plenty of the field as well.
At safety, I think things are a little more settled. I don't see how you can keep Harrison Smith off the field, as he's a playmaker. And Kyle McCarthy seems to hav separated himself as a clear #1.
That doesn't mean we lack depth, however. Sergio Brown has proven he can play at a high level, and Dan McCarthy is just itching to get on the field with his brother.
*****
I dub this defense the No-Names. If we were in a nickel defense, we could have on the field at one time: Richardson, Johnson, McNeil, McCarthy, McCarthy, Williams, Williams, Smith, Smith, Smith, and Smith. That's ridiculous.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Irish Blogger Gathering: A New Beginning
So, I've been on hiatus for a while, for good reason. Things at work have been crazy, I went on vacation, and there may be a lot of changes in store for me in the near future (promotion, anyone?). But, I couldn't shirk my duties as a member of the Irish Blogger Gathering, so here are my answers to Subway's questions:
1. Take your temperature. A) What sort of things are you looking for the team to work upon to help the 2009 season? Group improvements, players improvements, new fertilizer... whatever. As general a question as you will find. B) Same question, but instead of just the 2009 season- the future of the program as a whole.
A) There are a few things that I'm looking for this year. Fist, I'd like to see Jimmy Clausen start acting like a leader and a Notre Dame man. He came in with a punk-ass attitude, and I'd like to see him take a hint from his predecessor, and start leading by example. First in the weight room in the morning, last out of film review at night, keeping his nose clean and being confident, not cocky. Also, I want to see the major jumps in production that you usually get between sophomore and junior years. If that happens for even a small majority of that class, this offense will be SICK.
B) This is a more interesting question. My expectations for this year are insanely high. I keep hinking about all of the factors involved, and I can't help but see this as being the beginning of a long run for the Irish back in the elite. A big part of this long-term hope comes from one man - Bryant Young. Not because he has the potential to be a great coach and leader (which I think he will), but more because of what it says about the long-term health of our program. Weis has taken the view that he will be here a while, and is grooming Bryant Young as a coach. He hired a veteran statesman on the D-line, so that Young could grow and eventually replace him. This kind of long-term continuity, growth, and planning could pay major dividends for the University. It's doing things the right way.
2. It remains to be seen if I will be traveling to the spring game. My wife may have objections to yet another birthday of hers being used for a game that essentially doesn't count. (I know, I know- she just doesn't get it.) Don't you think it's about time that the spring game was televised? You know ESPN is dying to get inside that stadium for a live broadcast. I don't think it would interfere with the NBC contract, and if it does- why aren't they televising this?
As an annual attendee to the Spring Game, I could honestly care less about whether it's televised, personally. However, I do see the benefit of the exposure this early, especially as it informs the voters in the preseason polls. Of course, ESPN would be the beast we'd have to sell out to, as spring games are not network TV material. But assuming we could get assurances of front page coverage, I think it would be a great tool in recruiting and shaping preseason perception.
3. What position battle will be decided this spring? Which one will have to wait for summer/fall?
I think the only position battle that will be decided this spring is the QB. Weis will give Crist the chance to legitimately show what he can do against Jimmy, but I think JC's mechanics solidify him as the starter moving forward.
The rest of the positions I think will be open well into the summer. There are only a few places I see as locked down - Tate and Floyd at receiver, Young on the O line, Williams on the D line, and Brian Smith as inside LB. The rest of the spots have too many talented players competing for me to hazard a guess.
4. If you could change anything about the way spring practice/ Blue-Gold Game is done- what would it be?
I'd like to see them get away from the strange scoring rules and actually get out there and play a game. 1st on 1st and 2nd on 2nd, with the rest of the team split evenly for subs. Play it out, and let us see how it goes. This goes for silly rules protectng the QB as well. Obviusly, we want to avoid injuries, but at least let the defenders wrap up the QB.
I like Subway's idea of bringing in another team to scrimmage against, as well.
5. Name your 5 favorite players and change their jersey number. Tell us why...
Jimmy Clausen - #7 to #10. As I said before, I'd like to see Jimmy try to emulate Brady, and be a true leader, rather than just a talented QB.
Ian Williams - #95 to # 50. I'd like to see this, complete with cut off jersey and attitude, to emulate Zorro. We need some nasty inside on defense.
Eric Olsen - #51 to #00. Just because.
Golden Tate - #23 to #25. This kid is the new rocket. Did you see him run down Armando Allen on the kick return, AFTER a pancake block? Raw speed.
6. Last year two sophomore's won the MVP awards for the Blue-Gold Game (Harrison Smith and Robert Hughes). Predict who this years MVP's will be using the same criteria. (Same class- 1 OFF. & 1 DEF.).
I'm going to predict a return to form, when you knew who the best players were, and expected them to be the MVP every time. Therefore, I'm going to pick:
Jimmy Clausen, QB (could be Tate, but he'll miss a lot for baseball)
Darrin Walls, CB (could also be B. Smith or I. Williams)
1. Take your temperature. A) What sort of things are you looking for the team to work upon to help the 2009 season? Group improvements, players improvements, new fertilizer... whatever. As general a question as you will find. B) Same question, but instead of just the 2009 season- the future of the program as a whole.
A) There are a few things that I'm looking for this year. Fist, I'd like to see Jimmy Clausen start acting like a leader and a Notre Dame man. He came in with a punk-ass attitude, and I'd like to see him take a hint from his predecessor, and start leading by example. First in the weight room in the morning, last out of film review at night, keeping his nose clean and being confident, not cocky. Also, I want to see the major jumps in production that you usually get between sophomore and junior years. If that happens for even a small majority of that class, this offense will be SICK.
B) This is a more interesting question. My expectations for this year are insanely high. I keep hinking about all of the factors involved, and I can't help but see this as being the beginning of a long run for the Irish back in the elite. A big part of this long-term hope comes from one man - Bryant Young. Not because he has the potential to be a great coach and leader (which I think he will), but more because of what it says about the long-term health of our program. Weis has taken the view that he will be here a while, and is grooming Bryant Young as a coach. He hired a veteran statesman on the D-line, so that Young could grow and eventually replace him. This kind of long-term continuity, growth, and planning could pay major dividends for the University. It's doing things the right way.
2. It remains to be seen if I will be traveling to the spring game. My wife may have objections to yet another birthday of hers being used for a game that essentially doesn't count. (I know, I know- she just doesn't get it.) Don't you think it's about time that the spring game was televised? You know ESPN is dying to get inside that stadium for a live broadcast. I don't think it would interfere with the NBC contract, and if it does- why aren't they televising this?
As an annual attendee to the Spring Game, I could honestly care less about whether it's televised, personally. However, I do see the benefit of the exposure this early, especially as it informs the voters in the preseason polls. Of course, ESPN would be the beast we'd have to sell out to, as spring games are not network TV material. But assuming we could get assurances of front page coverage, I think it would be a great tool in recruiting and shaping preseason perception.
3. What position battle will be decided this spring? Which one will have to wait for summer/fall?
I think the only position battle that will be decided this spring is the QB. Weis will give Crist the chance to legitimately show what he can do against Jimmy, but I think JC's mechanics solidify him as the starter moving forward.
The rest of the positions I think will be open well into the summer. There are only a few places I see as locked down - Tate and Floyd at receiver, Young on the O line, Williams on the D line, and Brian Smith as inside LB. The rest of the spots have too many talented players competing for me to hazard a guess.
4. If you could change anything about the way spring practice/ Blue-Gold Game is done- what would it be?
I'd like to see them get away from the strange scoring rules and actually get out there and play a game. 1st on 1st and 2nd on 2nd, with the rest of the team split evenly for subs. Play it out, and let us see how it goes. This goes for silly rules protectng the QB as well. Obviusly, we want to avoid injuries, but at least let the defenders wrap up the QB.
I like Subway's idea of bringing in another team to scrimmage against, as well.
5. Name your 5 favorite players and change their jersey number. Tell us why...
Jimmy Clausen - #7 to #10. As I said before, I'd like to see Jimmy try to emulate Brady, and be a true leader, rather than just a talented QB.
Ian Williams - #95 to # 50. I'd like to see this, complete with cut off jersey and attitude, to emulate Zorro. We need some nasty inside on defense.
Eric Olsen - #51 to #00. Just because.
Golden Tate - #23 to #25. This kid is the new rocket. Did you see him run down Armando Allen on the kick return, AFTER a pancake block? Raw speed.
6. Last year two sophomore's won the MVP awards for the Blue-Gold Game (Harrison Smith and Robert Hughes). Predict who this years MVP's will be using the same criteria. (Same class- 1 OFF. & 1 DEF.).
I'm going to predict a return to form, when you knew who the best players were, and expected them to be the MVP every time. Therefore, I'm going to pick:
Jimmy Clausen, QB (could be Tate, but he'll miss a lot for baseball)
Darrin Walls, CB (could also be B. Smith or I. Williams)
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