Let me begin by saying I'm a huge Notre Dame fan. I go to games and the ones I don't go to I watch every play of on TV. I knew going in to this year that things were going to be tough. However, I didn't imagine things would be this bad. The following are my thoughts on where things stand and where things are going.
Offense:
3 returning starters- They lost a ton of talent... the best QB in college football, two very good receivers, a very solid college running back, and three dependable lineman. That's a lot for any team to get past. Of those lost starters, the decision of Darrius Walker to go pro was a terrible one. Then again, maybe he saw something many of us didn't. So that's what they lost. How about what they have?
Offensive line: The lone returning starters are John Sullivan (a 5th year senior center that is solid) and Sam Young (a monster left tackle that started as a true freshman last year). The rest of the offensive line is horrible and consists of 2 juniors and 1 sophomore. As a unit the offensive line is disgustingly horrid. Notre Dame can't run or pass protect. This, without doubt, is the main reason for their offensive woes. With every guy on the line 6'4" or bigger and all but one weighing in at over 300 lbs the fact that they can't block anyone is a tragedy. All but Sullivan will be back next year so one can only hope they will learn how to block at some point in time.
Receivers: The possible bright spot is all-american candidate John Carlson (a very good college tight end that will play on Sundays next year). The remaining receivers are undersized (both starters are 5'10" on a tall day), and under-talented. Their ability to get open, on rare occasions when time to throw has been provided, has been inept at best. Outside of Carlson, all are underclassman and could be back next year.
Running backs: Who knows? There is youth in fullback Schwapp and halfbacks Aldridge and Allen. But just how talented they are we won't know until the offensive line provides some blocking.
Quarterback: Clausen will be fine. Chances are good that he'll be beat up this year, but again until the offensive line gives him time and the receivers can get open he won't have much of a chance to showcase his #1 high school prospect potential. This year he'll be on the run and will go through the typical struggles of a starting true freshman QB. The future, in this case, is very bright for Clausen and the Notre Dame offense. The departure of Demetrius Jones (week 1 starter) will only be a factor if Clausen and Sharpley are injured. Jones was a WR in the making anyway. Good, quick feet but couldn't throw a football to save his life (see: Carlyle Holiday).
Offensive side note: There are only 4 seniors (and 7 juniors) on the entire offensive depth chart for Notre Dame. Look for ND to spend this season going through growing pains and bust out in a year or two.
Defense: They can't tackle. That will be a problem if they can't get it fixed. Someone must have told them that diving at ankles is the correct way to tackle. Last time I checked it was not. They are undersized and lack talent. They are more experienced than the offense with 9 seniors on the depth chart (7 starters) but with Notre Dame's achilles heel being it's defense the past couple years having these guys back doesn't appear to be such a great thing. Top 10 CB prospect Gary Gray was injured and will miss this season and that certainly doesn't help the secondary. Look for DE Tervor Laws and LB Maurice Crum Jr. to be the only bright spots in the ND defense this year. Laws will surely be playing on Sundays next year but more likely as a DT. With 16 freshman and sophomores on the depth chart the future could be brighter but their lack of size and speed will continue to be a factor.
Special Teams: Zbikowski will have to try to carry the load returning punts. That is if the defense can tackle anyone. We've all seen his ability as a punt returner and hopefully can at least get ND's offense in decent field position. Then when they turn it over the opposing offense will have to work for it or when they go 3 and out the standard of dismal place kicking set in years past may have a 20% chance of putting 3 on the score board. Punter Geoff Price is excellent, but he's a punter so who cares? I'd rather not have to see him on the field and watch the offense score touchdowns.
Coaching: Oh Charlie! I love ya, but what are you doing? Three different QBs playing a significant amount of time and three different offenses in three weeks. I can only hope you're trying to find a shoe that fits, but isn't that what all the time leading up to week 1 is for? He turned Brady Quinn and Jeff Samardzija into all-americans, but isn't anyone next? At some point in time coaching needs to take the blame. An offensive line that can't block and a defense that can't tackle looks like poor coaching to me. Get it together man. For those of you who think Weis' seat is hot... forget about it. He'll be at ND for years to come. I have complete faith he'll turn it around.
Overall prognosis: ND stinks. They have played a tough schedule with more to come. However, they do have Air Force, Navy and Duke as winnable games and UCLA, Stanford, and Boston College as possible wins if they can get it going by then. I look for 4 wins this year and a bright future for this team. This is a rebuilding year. How well Charlie can recruit and reload will be a big factor in future success and the way things are going right now recruiting this year may not be so easy. However, they do have verbal commitments from from some top players already which include some much needed speed on defense.
Go Irish!
