Will Irish Eyes be Smiling this Fall?
By Doug Upstone
Being a Notre Dame football fan or supporter just isn’t as much fun as it used to be. Coming off regular seasons of 3-9 and 6-6 respectively, its put up or shut up time for the sometimes Fighting Irish. Will this finally be the year Charley Weis and quarterback Jimmy Clausen make Notre Dame football relevant again?
Weis might be on par with “the most interesting man in the world” who occasionally drinks Dos Equis beer, just in the gridiron sense. Weis came to South Bend as this larger than life character and sold everyone with his bravado and New Jersey tough-guy attitude. He was reported offensive genius behind the New England Patriots (until the next one came along) and was never shy about taking credit for Tom Brady’s growth and success.
Weis was 9-2 and 10-2 in his first two seasons, utilizing former coaches Bob Davie’s and Ty Willingham’s recruits as upperclassmen. In retrospect, Willingham’s firing makes more sense today, as the Irish have lacked talent from its junior and senior classes the previous two years.
Weis made a fundamental mistake to start, he should have preached patience like current president Barack Obama did on the campaign trail. That’s easier said then done with the Subway Alumni and big financial backers; however it would have gone a lot further than making promises he hasn’t kept.
Jimmy Clausen was to be the great savior, partnered with the perfect coach under the Golden Dome. This is a critical year for the junior Clausen also. His freshman season he was overwhelmed and played behind an offensive line that couldn’t keep an army of ants out of the backfield, let a lone a 300-pound defensive lineman. Clausen was much improved last season, but had several forgettable outings, like those against Boston College (0-17) and USC (3-38). Though Clausen had a spectacular game in the Hawaii Bowl, legends are not made around South Bend playing football in Hawaii on Christmas Eve.
BetUS.com has Notre Dame at Ov8.5 win total, which doesn’t sound like BSC material, unless they change the schedule back to nine games.
Offensively, Notre Dame has a chance to really be productive. Clausen can wing the pigskin and reports have greater dedication to making better throws, plus positive signs of improved accuracy, especially on out-routes and balls thrown in seven to 15-yard range outside the tackles. Golden Tate and Michael Floyd should be heard of a great deal as receivers and sophomore Kyle Randolph has the look of the next Notre Dame tight end who will end up playing Sunday’s once his college career is complete. This group of pass catchers is arguably the best in the country.
Notre Dame could pass the 8.5 win total, if the power running game returns. The Irish have averaged sickly 110 and 75 yards per game the last two seasons. To be taken seriously, the four returning offensive linemen must play like men, with the Irish averaging at least 150 yards per game, with a stable of above average running backs.
What will determine Weis’ fate probably is something he’s not a big part of, the Notre Dame defense. Six starters return with a load of uncertainty. Three returning lettermen are in secondary, meaning only three starters in the front seven. The Fighting Irish should be better in blitzing defense in year two of defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta’s style. Though far more athletes are on the two-deep roster, many are sophomores and juniors without a great deal of experience. In many top-flight programs, that would not be an issue, however Notre Dame hasn’t been in the class of elite football programs for some time.
Jeff Makinen of StatFox.com isn’t convinced the Irish are on the rise until they prove it. “Notre Dame has proven to be overrated year after year. Weis is 29-21 and 23-26-1 against the spread, not coach of the year material. Clausen has gotten a large amount of publicity, with what kind of results on the field? Ron Powlus (former Irish QB) was supposed to be great; I’m seeing similarities between the two quarterbacks. I’d bet Under until you see a reason to change.”
The schedule appears to be conducive to success, at least right today. Nevada, Washington, Boston College, Navy and Connecticut should all be winnable encounters at Notre Dame Stadium. Michigan will be improved, nevertheless is about where the Irish was last season after 3-9 campaign and Purdue brings in a new coach, giving Weis two shots at road wins. Washington State is rebuilding off 2-11 season and will meet the Irish in San Antonio, as showcase for potential Texas recruits to come to northern Indiana to play football and earn an exceptional education.
If Notre Dame is truly a better team, they win those eight games, period.
Concerns start with Michigan State, who continues to get better under coach Mark Dantonio and they have won and covered six straight in South Bend. Do the Irish finally put up a fight?
November road games at Pittsburgh and Stanford could be BCS berth games. The Panthers defeated Clausen and company 36-33 in overtime last season and they will give Notre Dame full attention with a bye week to follow. Coach Weis’ crew could catch a break in season closer against Stanford, who will have played Oregon, USC and bitter rival Cal in the previous three weeks.
For many followers and detractors of the Blue and Gold, the benchmark matchup is USC. The last three games have been losses by total score of 120-27 and it could have been worse. The Trojans are on 7-0 and 6-1 ATS roll against Notre Dame, but look to be the most vulnerable in years with three starters back on defense and new assistant coaches taking over. This doesn’t mean USC is reverting back to pre-Pete Carroll days, just the slightest opportunity for Weis to regain much of his lost stature.
The season will be a success if the Irish earn BCS berth. One rung down on the acceptability scale would be 9-3, with USC upset. Anything less could mean sorry Charlie.
Best educated guess is the Irish get to nine wins and cover the Over.