With the 2009 season coming vastly upon us September is not too far away. Its sad to say there are more questions than answers coming into the season.
Offensively can we finally run the Pro Style Offense can Jimmy finally play like a Notre Dame QB should look like? Can we run the football? Can the Offensive Line not look like pansies out there? These are just some of the questions going into the 2009 season.
Starting with the QB position can Jimmy Clausen finally look like the #1 rated High School Recruit and live up to the hype of the LeBron James of High School Football we have so desperately been waiting for. Can he take a snap under center instead of the Spread which as most Irish fans do not like with a passion? Can he finally have pocket awareness and look like a Brady Quinn? From watching highlights of the Blue and Gold game I did not come away with the impression that he will be able to do those things. Dayne Crist better get ready to go play if Jimmy can't handle the pressure of playing QB for the Irish. Let's hope not though.
On to the ground game the Irish have not been able to be ranked in the top 10 in rushing since the days of Saint Lou Holtz's attack of the Brooks Brothers, The Bus, and all them thoroughbreds he had back in the day. The past 2 years we have been ranked 108th in the NATION in rushing which is UNACCEPTABLE! IF YOU CAN'T RUN THE FOOTBALL YOU CAN'T WIN FOOTBALL GAMES! Unless your Peyton Manning of course. Can we finally average 150 or 200 yards on the ground with Armando Allen, Robert Hughes, Jonas Gray, or Cierre Wood. Can the running backs finally hit the hole and go up field and not go down on the first hit? That was the only bright spot in the Blue and Gold game but let's see it against Boston College and USC.
But the one thing we are most excited about are the receivers and might I say this is the finest group of studs we've had starring Golden Tate and Michael Floyd. Need I say more they will be in the top 3 in the nation in every category and I look for Michael Floyd to win the Bilenikoff Award this year. Both will be All-Americans let's just hope Jimmy or Dayne can get them the ball this year. I look for Kyle Rudolph to be mentioned in the John Mackey Award running this year as well he looks like a horse in practice like a young Ken MacAfee or Derek Brown. I'm excited to see Mike, Golden and Kyle look like studs out there.
Have I forgotten one thing the Big Uglies, or lack there of who have been utterly pathetic and pansies out there. One thing I would love to see is Frank Verducci light a FIRE under Sam Young's butt and make him a road grader. That being said, I just hope we can keep Jimmy on his feet, and be able to run the football. I think Frank Verducci's patented Zone Blocking Schemes will work real well this year. I have seen film of what he makes the O Line do and its the most physical I've seen. But questions remain can we run the football and keep Jimmy clean. Can we look like physical, mean, road graders out there or will we look like pansies?
On to the Defense, which will be much improved with Jon Tenuta moving to the Defensive Coordinator spot. We are switching back to the 4-3 Defense instead of the 3-4 that was not good. Let's hope his Blitzkreig defense can work like a charm.
The defensive line is very young but very talented in top recruits. But can they stop the run and rush the quarterback? Can we finally get a few sacks a game and wreck havoc in the backfield. I will reserve judgement on this group til I see that we can finally look like a defense to be wreckoned with.
On to the linebackers this group is quite possibly next to the receivers is the most talented. With some guy named Teo'o coming in, Steve Filer, Darius Flemming, Kerry Neal, Brian Smith, Zeke Motta, Toryan Smith,and Carlo "I like to knock the snot outta people" Calabrese. I would not be surprised if this group looks the part of the 1988 linebacking core of Wes Pritchett, Michael
Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar. I would look for in this group to be Brian Smith at Mike, Steve Filer at Will and Manti Teo'o at Sam and say hello sacks and disrupting offenses. I'm real excited about this group a bunch.
The defensive backs will be good as well. With Darrin Walls coming back from his leave of absence will pay dividends in that role of a shut down corner. RJ Blanton will be a STUD this year he will probably be in the top 5 in interceptions he reminds me of Champ Bailey. With Gary Gray and Raeshon McNeil backing them up. Safety's losing David Bruton to the NFL will be missed controlling center field. But Kyle McCarthy is coming back at strong safety. But the safety's will be the most watched in practice to see who will be the free safety.
This team has 10 of 11 starters coming back on Offense and 6 coming back on Defense. But ultimately will this be Charlie Weis' last year as the Head Coach of Notre Dame if we don't win 9 or 10 games this year the Notre Dame Faithful will be calling for his head. Irish fans are hoping this team will finally break out in '09. GO IRISH!
