A Word From Our Sponsor

For those too young to remember, NDNation actually started out as an internet saloon called "The Pub" back in 1999. It essentially began with a bunch of refugees (including Cash, JVan and SEE) from Tom Schlidt's Irish Recruiting Journal after the IRJ was sold to one of the mega sites.

Now back then we actually had to keep it secret so that we could share information and because there was no way to keep anyone out (can you imagine?) We didn't have passwords and so we had to check all of our poster "handles" against our original Pub Patrons list and our Pub Bouncers JVan and Cash (now the Board Ops with El Kabong) and Pub Enforcer Across (now you can see where this started) were the only way to enforce the Pub Rules (number 10 has always been my favorite.) This literally required us to manually delete posters, which we would have to do many times a day during a rough season. If you ever wondered where the backroom came from, it was first a place for verbal brawls... as in "take it to the backroom." You actually had to click on a picture of an old wooden door to gain entrance. That it evolved into one of the best information boards on the web is testament to those who built it along the way. Ah those were the days.

Well, thanks to El Kabong's web programming prowess (who joined us after partering with me on NDHoops.com,) that's no longer necessary. A little history as background, because there were three things that made this site work as both The Pub and NDNation.com.

The first is the community. The Pub and NDNation have always been defined by community, its cast of characters. We are no better or worse than the people who come here. We usually ask you when we make major changes to the site and, as you've seen, try to be as responsive as we can. Like any server, we're always amazed at both the incredible generosity and some times mind numbing rudeness of all those we serve. Guys like Kayo, Bacchus, Across, omahadomer, Tim Kelly, GCND, fightonformorrisey, hobbs (and many more) really are this site to a certain extent.

The second is we're advocates for tradition. We don't want to see the links that bind generations together broken through abuse or neglect. When people see all the "negativity" on NDNation about administration moves, it's simply six generations of Irish fans speaking their collective mind about the possible loss of the "binding links." It's still the one subject I can relate to my Dad about (I know I'm not alone.) And let's face it, six generations are never going to be completely happy. We've somehow evolved as a voice for tradition and, whether it's truly effective or not (please save the emails about how self important we think we are - for whatever reason people here tilt at windmills,) it's become part of who we are. That's why we're going to help realize Tim Kelley's dream of restoring the "Here Come The Irish" chant back at Notre Dame this fall.

The third is we try to do everything from a user's perspective. That's why we linked to other "rival" sites back then (we were the only one's to not "protect our turf") and try to share as much information as possible by giving you the links to all the articles. I actually wore two hats as the Bar Keep and Pub Scrounge (article provider) back then. When we formed NDNation, that philosophy of community and information sharing went into our tag line, "Ask Not What Your Nation Can Do For You..." (the other possiblity, btw, was "One Nation Under God...") Our thinking was that if it's out there, we wanted you to have it and not have to go to another place to "get your fix." We know it works, because that's exactly what we want. We're just one of you junkies taken to the far extreme.

Normally around this time we start our annual donation drive to raise money to run the site (and you probably think this is our annual sappy donation pitch,) but this summer we're going to venture into new territory and try to run this site without donations. We've always been asked why we don't have advertising and the short answer is that there was no way to do it well and we weren't in it for the money. "Pop up ads" and "Smash theMonkey Ads" weren't exactly user friendly. I mean, we didn't want to see them either. Those factors have changed. Ads are now more sophisticated, the models are better and you can delete unwanted Ads from ever reappearing on your site. In other words, we can incorporate Ads without changing any of the ways we bring you information on the site. Second, we think we can run this site without your money and might be able to realize some return for the time we've put into this over the years. I realize this will strike some of our core members as greedy, but you have to understand that this site has been a ten year second job as well as a passion. Actually, it was probably my first job for the first five years (shhh, don't tell The Tribune.)

So, shortly you'll see Ads on NDNation, but we've taken care to make sure that the overall content won't change one bit and that we're upgrading content delivery. For example, our message board rearrangement moves the posts up over an inch more so that there's less scrolling (my big user complaint.) Also, you'll see that our new front page holds three times as many stories, twice as many schedules, has scroll over menus for easier access and direct links to all of our key boards.

Still it's going to be a learning process, and rather than ask permission from you, this time we're simply going to ask for your patience as we do this in the best way that we can. We're not going to focus on "revenue generation" at the expense of who we are. We're going to continue to build who we are and we think that in turn will attract better sponsorship over time and that in turn will create a better community (we want a Guinness sponsorship!) If we can't get decent sponsors, the idea goes. We're not going to become an advertising flea market.

If the model works (i.e. we bring in more money than we need to run the site,) we'd also like to add more community features (suggestions welcome) and as the resident "idea guy" I'm never short on those. I'm sure there are going to be bumps along the way, but bear in mind we visit this site as users the same way you do, so we're always going to look at it through that lens.

The fact is we don't know how or if this model will work, but we're going to do this as best we can and strive for excellence. In the end, we think this will make the site better and more consistent because we can hire someone to help us out rather than have to ask everyone in the backroom for advice on how to hard code something or sneak away from our real jobs to deal with a message board fight (stressful.) If it works, I hope to forget every piece of HTML/CSS/PHP coding I've ever learned (which ain't much) and just focus on writing (which many of you may not see as a benefit.)

And if it doesn't work, we may be back asking for money, but hopefully instead, we'll just ask for your patience and guidance.

Okay I lied, it was more than a word.

If anyone has any experience on the ad side, we'd love to hear from you.

Particularly if you know anyone in marketing at Guinness.

SEE, Cash, JVan, El Kabong

ND FOOTBALL AT THE CROSSROADS

Lou Holtz coached at Notre Dame for eleven years before the University orchestrated his departure in 1996. Four head coaches have presided over the eleven seasons that followed, including a one-week stint by George O’Leary. These campaigns have resulted in a 78-56 overall record (Holtz was 100-30-2), four losing seasons, no season with fewer than three losses and a 0-7 record in bowl games. As we look forward to 2008 and beyond, Notre Dame football stands at a crossroads.

The question is whether Notre Dame will ever be able to recapture past glory. Many people scoffed at the notion that the college football landscape has changed and the Irish can no longer compete against schools with lower academic standards. They argued that success at Notre Dame was more a function of the right coach, and cited historical examples such as Holtz and Ara Parseghian to support their case.

This argument seemed plausible until last season, when Charlie Weis produced the worst Irish team in a half century. Weis had raised the hopes and expectations of Irish fans with a successful debut in 2005, but his teams’ performance has declined ever since. In retrospect, the 2005 season is somewhat similar to Tyrone Willingham’s first team in 2002 – a veteran team that came together under a first year head coach but could not sustain its early success.

The difference in the state of the program after three years of each coach is that Weis’ roster is stocked with a wealth of young talent while Willingham’s poor recruiting efforts left gaping holes in the depth chart. Next year’s freshman and sophomore classes are the best such back-to-back groups in 18 years, but last season’s dismal results undermined Weis’ credibility and reputation to the extent that he must prove he is the right coach to lead them. A 3-9 record and a series of utterly futile performances have placed him on the proverbial hot seat, at least in the eyes of disgruntled alumni.

What went wrong in 2007?

Several factors contributed to the awful season in 2007, not all of which can be laid at the feet of Weis. Graduation losses depleted the offense and decimated the defensive line, and Willingham’s poor recruiting left Weis precious few options to replace them. Most people expected a more competitive team, however, and the Irish were simply an embarrassment.

First, the 2007 offensive line was terrible. This was due to a combination of factors exacerbated by a lack of overall depth: young players that were forced to play before they were physically ready, older players with limited talent and at least one key starter that was trying to play through injuries. Despite these elements, the unit was poorly coached and made untold mental errors. Weis attempted to correct the problem after the third game of the season, but it was really six months too late.

Second, Weis mishandled the quarterback situation. Jimmy Clausen was the heir-apparent to succeed Brady Quinn in Weis’ offense, but the freshman from California was not ready to play on September 1 despite his early enrollment in January. In retrospect, the decision to postpone minor surgery on his elbow until after spring practice was a mistake. This should have been done in February. The entire quarterback competition in the spring accomplished nothing and pleased no one.

Weis was left without a reliable option heading into the season, and he attempted to compensate by employing game plans built on smoke, mirrors and multiple quarterbacks. It would be a gross understatement to say that each plan backfired. After a 33-3 drubbing by Georgia Tech in the season opener, Clausen was pressed into service and promptly beat to a pulp. By early November, Notre Dame had been defeated by Navy and blown out by Air Force and other more notable foes. Only marginal success against even worse competition in November allowed the Irish to escape 2007 with a shred of dignity.

Third, Notre Dame’s special teams were atrocious. When he was first hired, Weis maintained that special teams were one of the easiest areas to fix while rebuilding a team. This low hanging fruit turned out to be rotten, though. The Irish did not have a reliable place kicker, coverage teams allowed significant yardage and the return game was a disappointment despite Tom Zbikowski’s brave efforts on punts. Weis also botched the recruitment of kicker Kai Forbath two years ago by unnecessarily exerting pressure for an early commitment. Forbath settled for UCLA where he has been outstanding.

Finally, Weis has been unable to deliver on his promise to field a tough, nasty football team. Opponents used to be sore for weeks after playing Notre Dame, but that is not the case anymore. The Irish do not punish people with a clean, hard hitting defense. Safety David Bruton and tackle Trevor Laws are among the exceptions, but the unit has an inordinate share of soft, slow and undersized players.

A bruising offensive line used to be the hallmark of Notre Dame football, but this defining characteristic has steadily declined under Weis. It remains to be seen whether he can recapture it. While recruiting has been on the upswing, there are still questions at the tackle position.

The overall lack of physicality and uninspired play has raised questions about Weis’ coaching acumen that must be answered in 2008. Since he has made no changes to his staff during the off-season, he must believe that he has the right people to turn around Notre Dame’s fortunes.

Outlook for 2008

Despite last year’s meltdown, expectations should be set high for Weis this season. The Irish had better talent than their 3-9 record suggests, and this year’s schedule has been watered down to a level that would make even Holtz sound overconfident. Additionally, several opponents that were formidable in 2007 face their own rebuilding jobs in 2008. Notre Dame returns 18 starters from its last game against Stanford and adds several talented freshmen.

Despite these positives, the team has several serious weaknesses. The defensive line lacks depth and the starters are just average now that Trevor Laws has departed. Nose tackle Ian Williams is the lone player with star potential, but he is still a year or two away from that level and there is virtually no one to spell him during games. Unfortunately, teams should be able to run against the Irish. Help from incoming freshmen won’t begin to make a difference until 2009.

Inside linebacker is another concern. Maurice Crum returns, but he lacks the size and speed to be a difference maker against good competition. Junior Toryan Smith is the primary candidate to play along side him, but he needs to master the subtleties of the position during the offseason. The Irish have a number of linebackers on the roster, but none appear to be on the verge of taking the next step.

The strength of the defense is at outside linebacker and in the secondary. Kerry Neal and Brian Smith showed great promise as freshmen and should be even better in 2008. Both can pressure the quarterback but need to improve in pass coverage. The secondary returns three starters and will benefit from strong competition at every position. The main area of weakness is the lack of run support from the cornerbacks, who must be more physical in their play.

While the defensive front seven suffers from a lack of elite talent and pure numbers, the same is not true along the offensive line. Dan Wegner, Eric Olson, Chris Stewart and Sam Young enter their third season and their level of play will indicate how well the staff has coached and developed them. Paul Duncan and Mike Turkovich are each in their final year of eligibility, and they should be no worse than competent. The single greatest improvement and stabilizing force in the line this year should come from Young, who is expected to return to health after struggling with nagging injuries last season.

The offensive line is a “no excuses” area for Weis this year. Notre Dame desperately needs a running game and must be able to protect the quarterback from the relentless poundings of the past two seasons. Irish fans can only hope that Weis sees fit to expend his energies in this regard as opposed to drawing up nifty game plans and passing schemes with his quarterbacks. The best thing he can do for his signal caller is equip him with a solid running game and protect him in the pocket.

Another question mark is the development of the wide receiver corps. Young players have passed older ones on the depth chart, but their unfamiliarity with the offense combined with poor pass protection severely limited their productivity. Another weakness in 2007 that begs for improvement is the inability of the receivers to block effectively in the running game. There is considerable talent on the roster at this position (including incoming freshmen), but as with the quarterback it is still a very young group of players.

Speaking of the quarterback position, it is fair to expect Jimmy Clausen to build strength and add muscle after a spring and summer of conditioning. He will have a better command of the offense and appears to be a capable leader. The main question for 2008 is how fast Clausen and his young receivers will be able to develop the chemistry and timing needed to be successful.

Clausen’s continued health is also critically important. Although the Irish still have Evan Sharpley available as an experienced backup, the senior is really a stop-gap measure in the scheme of things. Incoming freshman Dayne Crist is the real heir apparent to Clausen, but Weis would like to keep him out of game action this year.

There is no doubt that Notre Dame’s offense will improve upon the futility of 2007 and its overall ranking as one of the worst units in college football. The question is how much progress can be made between January and September. Unlike the defense where several problems are driven by talent deficiencies, the only ceiling on offensive improvement is the speed of player development. This unit will definitely be formidable in 2009, but it needs to be able to outscore some opponents in 2008 if the Irish hope to have a winning season.

The last major area that Weis needs to address is special teams. There are two significant problems within this category: the overall approach by the coaching staff and the kicking game. Weis first tried to place responsibility for the schemes and overall approach in the hands of assistants who lacked the requisite experience, and last year he made his entire staff responsible for this phase of the game. Neither approach worked. Despite the glaring need for an experienced special teams coach, it does not appear that Weis plans to do anything other than rearrange the deck chairs again this season.

The lack of a competent kicker will continue to hurt Notre Dame barring unprecedented improvement by one of the current roster candidates. The Irish did not play many close games last year, but a few of them may be decided by a field goal in 2008. It’s obvious that Weis had no confidence in his kickers beyond 30 yards, and even the short kicks caused fans to hold their collective breath.

Short kickoffs also cost the Irish valuable field position, which is a bad circumstance for a struggling defense. The coverage units also performed poorly with the notable exception of walk-on Mike Anello and Bruton. There is no clear answer as yet for the kicking problem, but there is plenty of talent to draw from to improve the coverage and return teams. Weis must figure out how best to coach and motivate them after two years of lip service.

A winning season is the objective expectation for 2008, while fans can argue regarding the number of wins necessary for Weis to keep his job. The defensive unit is neither big nor fast, but the players must improve their tackling and develop the mindset that they will punish the ball carrier. The offense will produce as many points as the line will allow. Weis must utilize his stable of running backs and develop fundamental competencies rather than spend excessive hours and resources on clever schemes that Clausen will not have time to execute.

For these reasons, Notre Dame football is truly at a crossroads. The young talent on the roster was attracted by Weis’ initial success and NFL pedigree, and he was able to restore the program to a highly competitive level in the short term. In order to take the next and most difficult step in the restoration process, he must prove that last season was an aberration. If he expects to continue to attract talented recruits and create a sustainable base for long term success, Weis must remove all doubts regarding his capability as a college head coach.

Why is 2008 critical for Weis if it appears that the team may be even better in 2009? It’s a matter of credibility, not only among the current players who bought into your program but also to attract top newcomers. Opposing coaches show no mercy on the recruiting trail or on the field when a rival program is down, and there is little chance to compete for elite players if you are trying to explain consecutive sub par seasons.

Another consideration is that the current squad needs an infusion of confidence after a painful season. A poor start coupled with a repeat of past mistakes will undermine their development and make any sort of miracle turnaround in 2009 much less likely. Besides, continued talk of the next season only works on the north side of Chicago.

A bounce back season in 2008 capped by a bowl victory should be where the bar is set. Ultimate failure by the Weis regime and the current administration would render a subsequent recovery very unlikely, unless the NCAA and university presidents were to finally place academic integrity above greed on their priority lists. Don’t bet on it.

IRISH WIN STINKER AT STANFORD

Notre Dame closed its most forgettable season in nearly a half century with a 21-14 victory at Stanford in a mistake-filled game by both teams. The Irish committed four turnovers and squandered several scoring opportunities, while the defense had just enough fuel left to stop the Cardinal in the final seconds. Notre Dame won because it was the more talented team, and individual performances by Trevor Laws, Tom Zbikowski, Robert Hughes and Duval Kamara were enough to offset poor blocking on offense, tackling on defense and decision-making by the quarterback.

Hughes ran for 136 yards, including a 42-yarder to open the game. The Irish fumbled inside the Stanford ten yard line to end that threat, and fumbled again on the first play of its next possession. The Cardinal returned the favor later in the first quarter when Zbikowski picked off a tipped pass and returned it to the Stanford 14. Jimmy Clausen scored on a sneak two plays later to give Notre Dame a 7-0 lead.

Stanford bounced back on the next series with a 69-yard scoring drive to tie the game at seven as the first quarter came to a close. The Irish continued to struggle in the second period. Clausen hit Kamara for 37 yards to the Cardinal 12, but Asaph Schwapp fumbled the ball away on the next play. Later, a tipped punt gave the ball to Stanford inside Irish territory, and Anthony Kimble scored his second touchdown of the game moments later for a 14-7 Cardinal advantage with 2:54 remaining before halftime.

A holding penalty appeared to derail the next Irish possession, but a 44 yard burst by Junior Jabbie on a screen pass moved them into scoring territory. Travis Thomas tied the game at 14 with 48 seconds left, but the half was not quite over.

Stanford moved to midfield and attempted a Hail Mary pass in the final seconds, but David Bruton intercepted the ball near the goal line. Bruton handed the ball to Zbikowski as he was being tackled, and Zibby took off with a convoy of fellow Irishmen. After a series of laterals that reminded fans of the amazing Cal-Stanford band play 25 years ago, Zbikowski covered the final 20 yards and crossed the goal line. Unfortunately, a penalty against Notre Dame away from the ball negated the touchdown, and the half ended at 14-14.

Neither team put points on the board in the third quarter, but the Irish had an excellent chance after Zbikowski's 60-yard punt return to the Cardinal 31. Three plays netted negative yardage, but a roughing the punter penalty gave Notre Dame another chance.

The Irish were robbed on the ensuing series when a spectacular touchdown catch by David Grimes was inexplicably overruled by the replay officials. A subsequent 44 yard field goal attempt by Brandon Walker was no good, but Stanford's Derek Belch returned the favor on the first play of the fourth quarter when he missed a 20-yard attempt. Belch was 0-4 on the day, although the other three kicks were from long range.

Just when it appeared that neither team could score and win the game, Hughes took off on a 44 yard romp to the Stanford eight yard line. The freshman covered the remaining distance in two carries to put the visitors on top by 21-14 with six minutes left. An excellent kick return by the Cardinal against the typically inept Notre Dame special teams gave them an opportunity to tie the game in the game's final moments.

After driving inside the Irish ten, Stanford's shot at overtime fizzled as two runs gained only three yards and two passes were dropped in the end zone. Notre Dame walked away with its third win against nine losses.

Here's a review of the key questions that determined the outcome:

Can ND avoid a bone-headed play early on? - No, the fumble in the red zone killed the first drive.

Will Robert Hughes get 20 or more carries? - Almost. Hughes did get 18 carries, but he made the most of them.

Can ND’s OLB’s keep contain on Pritchard? - Not really. Pritchard escaped for many sizeable gainss, but he was knocked out of the game on one of them.

Can ND’s receivers hold onto the ball? - Yes, if you forget the atrocious call by the replay officials.

Can ND win the net sack contest? - No, but Clausen did a poor job of getting rid of the ball.

The Irish looked horrible on offense for most of the day. They suffered numerous sacks and negative plays, but were able to win this game on the strength of a few big gains by Hughes, Jabbie and Zbikowski. Stanford was equally inept, and both teams were hurt by missed field goals.

Notre Dame fans and players should be pleased to close this season with a pair of victories, but these performances provided no basis to predict great things in 2008. Many talented underclassmen return, but the Irish were not competitive in September or October and were only 2-2 against creampuffs in November.

Overall, there was little improvement this season in terms of the offensive line, tackling on defense and all facets of special teams play. Coach Charlie Weis must make adjustments in his approach and is certain to make changes in his staff, but it will take an extraordinary effort for Notre Dame to become a fundamentally sound and competitive football team next year. Fortunately, they have a full nine months to figure it out.

IRISH LOOK TO END SEASON ON POSITIVE NOTE

The following article was written by omahadomer. (please note that ND won when Vannie was out of the country.)

History

The Stanford Cardinal and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish face off in what promises to be an interesting game despite the two squads having only five wins between them this year. This will be the programs’ twenty-second match-up. Notre Dame owns a 15-6 advantage in the series.

Notre Dame’s first win against Stanford came in the 1925 Rose Bowl as Rockne’s Four Horsemen defeated Pop Warner, Ernie Nevers and the Indians (yes, politically incorrect nicknames existed even at Stanford) 27-10. The teams began meeting with some regularity in 1988, the year of ND’s last national championship.

Despite ND’s advantage in the series, it is laced with painful losses for Irish fans. In 1990 despite the Irish being in control for the first half, Stanford rallied to win 36-31 over top-ranked Notre Dame. In 1992 the highly ranked Irish jumped out on the Cardinal 16-0 only to see the Bill Walsh-led visitors score the last 33 points of the game.

Stanford’s last win in the series was a 17-13 affair in a monsoon in Palo Alto in 2001. That game also featured a Cardinal rally as Bob Davie’s squad was controlling the action and leading 13-3 before allowing future ND coach Tyrone Willingham’s team to score two late touchdowns to win 17-13. Although Davie’s coffin had long been nailed shut, that contest helped to bind it closed with a thick layer of duct tape.

Unfortunately, that game may have affected the fate of both programs negatively. That win gave Willingham a 3-2 mark over Notre Dame and was part of a 9-2 regular season campaign that did much to enhance his credibility as a candidate for the Notre Dame job. Willingham, who notched a reasonably impressive 44-36-1 mark as Stanford’s head man, had built a nice niche and probably would have continued to enjoy reasonable success had he stayed in Palo Alto. He was ill-suited for the more highly charged environment of the ND job, however, and neither program has recovered fully from his departure from Stanford.

Stanford improbably hired Buddy Teevens, then the owner of an 11-45 mark as a Division I-A head coach, and he won only 10 games in three years on the Farm. Then came Walt Harris, a much more accomplished coach, but he won only six games in two years and after apparently annoying nearly everyone in Palo Alto was let go in favor of former Michigan QB and University of San Diego coach Jim Harbaugh. Notre Dame, as is well known, released Willingham after he went just 11-12 in his last two years. Charlie Weis then led ND to BCS bowls his first two years but is suffering through a dismal third year due in significant part to Willingham’s passive recruiting that left the Irish squad nearly bereft of upperclassmen.

2007 Campaigns

As for this contest, on paper the teams look fairly even. Their two opponents in common are the two southern California Pac 10 schools. Improbably, each team owns a 1-1 record. Stanford’s 24-23 win over USC will certainly go down as one of the greatest upsets in college football history. The Irish put forth a dismal effort two weeks later losing to USC 38-0. However, the same evening that Stanford pulled the shocker against the Trojans, ND defeated UCLA 20-6, a team that routed Stanford 45-17. Employing the transitive property, Stanford is 39 points better than ND if their USC performances are accounted but ND is 38 points better than Stanford if their UCLA performances are considered.

Stanford, as it always does, has a good number of highly skilled athletes. Some are familiar to those who follow ND recruiting. Fifth year senior Mark Bradford, who made the twisting catch in the end zone to defeat the Trojans, was an ND recruit. ND recruit Erik Lorig, who reportedly was lured to Stanford after being promised the lead role in the spring production of Hamlet, plays defensive end for the Cardinal.

As thin as is ND’s squad, the Stanford roster is thinner yet and has been riddled with key injuries. Senior QB TC Ostrander, who lit up the Irish secondary as Stanford nearly pulled a stunning upset in 2005, suffered a seizure and has played only sparingly since. The more mobile but less consistent and accurate Tavita Pritchard has played in his place and assured his place in Stanford lore by engineering the victory over USC in his first start.

But Stanford is a veritable MASH unit. Future NFL defensive tackle Ekom Udofia went out with a season-ending injury in the Washington game and his absence probably helped to contribute to a weak WSU team hanging 33 points and 561 yards on Stanford. Starting left tackle Allen Smith was lost for the season in the Oregon contest. Stanford has also lost a starting linebacker, tight end and fullback to season-ending injuries and has had its best cornerback and top receivers hobbled at various times. Injuries have forced Harbaugh to give four different tailbacks significant carries. The worst loss in the running department was probably Toby Gerhart who tore through San Jose State for 140 yards on just 12 carries but was lost for the season. One bright spot here for Stanford is that true frosh Tyrone McGraw has played well and Stanford may get starter Anthony Kimble back from a shoulder injury.

Match-ups

Several match-ups favor ND. Both teams are poor against the rush allowing 4.3 yards per carry and over 180 yards per game on the ground. But ND’s passing defense is legitimately good as the Irish hold teams to only 5.7 per passing attempt and just over 160 yards per game in the air and rank highly in pass efficiency defense. Stanford on the other hand allows 8.1 per pass and almost 275 passing yards per game and is towards the bottom in every significant pass defense category.

On offense Stanford is superior statistically, though ND’s season box score is weighed down considerably by its opening trio of games before Weis turned to more physical practices. Though hardly a juggernaut, ND has outgained three of its opponents since then. Against Duke, ND defeated and outgained an opponent by more than 100 yards since winning over Army 41-9 to close out 2006's home season.

Matching up ND’s offense against Stanford’s defense, ND should be able to move the ball both through the air and on the ground. However, one impressive defensive statistic is that Stanford has notched 30 sacks thus far. Clausen is vastly more poised and accurate since returning to action, as evidenced by his six touchdowns against zero interceptions over the last two games. It will be important to keep him off his back, however, and ND’s best chance to do this is to pound on Stanford’s depleted defensive front with its huge backs. A strong interior running game will force Stanford to commit safety help to the run and severely limit its defensive options. Freshman Robert Hughes was impressive against Duke gaining 110 yards on 17 carries and also did well in the passing game, effectively picking up the blitz and snagging a pass reception for 13 yards. He clearly has earned significant playing time in the season’s last contest.

Matching up Stanford’s offense against ND’s defense, the Cardinal will undoubtedly try to run the ball. Pritchard is dangerous on the run and Stanford’s victory over USC owes a great deal to his legs as he flummoxed the Trojan defense by several times breaking contain and rushing for first downs on plays that appeared dead. Since the USC game, teams have generally limited Pritchard’s running but it will be critical that he not be allowed to break contain and keep drives alive. With a completion a percentage hovering around 50% and only four touchdowns against seven interceptions, Pritchard probably cannot beat ND as a pocket passer.

If ND sees Ostrander instead, heavy blitz packages are indicated as he has been extremely sack prone and the Cardinal offensive front has given up 42 sacks and might yet equal ND’s horrifying total of 53 sacks allowed. Even in the two conference games that Stanford has won (one-point victories over USC and Arizona) the Cardinal has been outgained by significant margins and probably lacks the firepower to win the game without some assistance from the Irish.

Special teams are relatively even, except for place kicking where seemingly every team enjoys an advantage over ND.

Intangibles

The intangibles are hard to assess. Stanford is depleted and licking its wounds but probably benefited from taking last week off. Still, the Cardinal may be looking ahead to next week and a realistic opportunity to take the Axe back from a suddenly reeling California squad. ND for its part cannot take too much comfort in the Duke win. This contest has some nasty parallels to the season ender against Syracuse in 2003 where the Irish, fresh off of a 57-7 thrashing of the Cardinal, played listlessly losing the next week 38-12.

Still, Weis and company have done an admirable job of keeping the team’s focus through a dark, dark season. ND got a huge shot of confidence from physically dominating Duke and Stanford is only the second sub-.500 team that the Irish have faced. Stanford for its part removed itself from bowl contention by losing what appeared on paper to be a winnable game against WSU and may have difficulty keeping its concentration.

As difficult as this season has been, both programs are probably on the right track. Harbaugh has the look of a real coach about him and Stanford is an improved squad this year and is a realistic pick to make a bowl game next year. ND for its part has a long to-do list in the off season but clearly has the emerging talent to be a New Year’s Day bowl team next year if Weis makes the necessary coaching adjustments.

Five Questions

Can ND avoid a bone-headed play early on? Recent games have been marred by poor decisions or plays that have turned games against the Irish. ND barely averted a huge disaster against Duke when punter Eric Maust somehow fielded a snap that sailed over his head and got away a kick that saved 50 yards of field position.

Will Robert Hughes get 20 or more carries? Hughes clearly is ND’s hottest runner right now and has tremendous feet and vision for a big back. If Hughes gets 20 or more carries, ND will win.

Can ND’s OLB’s keep contain on Pritchard? ND had some success against Duke lining up in an even (four-man) front and may do so again against Stanford. In any event, keeping Pritchard in the pocket will be crucial.

Can ND’s receivers hold onto the ball? ND’s receivers have cold dropped at least a dozen passes in the last two games. Really only George West has caught the ball consistently as of late. Carlson, Parris, Grimes and Kamara must do much better catching the ball with their hands and controlling the pigskin.

Can ND win the net sack contest? In ND’s two victories, the Irish have won the sack battle by a total of 7-5. In ND’s nine losses, the Irish have been outsacked 48-7. Any questions?

Prediction

Notre Dame 28 Stanford 21

YOUTH IS SERVED

Our Duke postgame wraupup is courtesy of poster NCIrish

“The future’s so bright I gotta wear shades.”

Well maybe things aren’t that good yet, but for one Saturday, the Notre Dame Nation was able to enjoy a win. Freshmen Jimmy Clausen & Robert Hughes led the youth movement as the Irish picked up their second win of the season and sent the seniors out with a 28-7 victory over Duke in their final home game in Notre Dame Stadium.

Clausen threw for 192 yards and three touchdowns (for the second consecutive week) and Hughes added 110 yards on 17 carries & a touchdown as the Irish took a 28-0 lead late into the 4th quarter until a late score by the Blue Devils ruined the shutout.

The biggest and happiest story on this day, however, might have been Trevor Laws putting the final stamp on his career at Notre Dame. The Laws-led defense held the Duke offense in check all day and never let them string together any substantial drives. Laws finished the game with 7 tackles and a sack as he capped off what will certainly go down as one of the most outstanding careers for a defensive lineman in Notre Dame history.

The game got off to a sluggish start for both teams as they traded missed field goals and two punts apiece in a first quarter that looked more like a pillow fight than a football game. Notre Dame had a chance to take an early 7-0 lead after a Clausen to John Carlson completion for 41 yards gave the Irish the ball at the Duke five yard line. It was quickly negated as an unnecessary Excessive Celebration penalty was called on Carlson and set the Irish back to the 20 yard line. They failed to move the ball after that and missed a 31 yard field goal to spoil one of their better opening drives this season.

The second quarter was more of the same for both teams as numerous penalties on Notre Dame, including a fooling Illegal Motion penalty on a 4th & 2, stalled an Irish drives. Late in the quarter, Notre Dame took advantage of a Blue Devil turnover to get on the board. After Hughes converted a 4th & 1 with a twenty four yard gain, Clausen hit David Grimes with pinpoint pass between two defenders for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. The Irish quickly added to their lead after another Blue Devil turnover. Clausen threw a soft toss to Duval Kumara in the corner of the end zone and the Irish had all the points they would need.

The second half saw the Blue Devils continue to struggle on offense while the Irish ground game began to assert itself. Hughes, Armando Allen & James Aldridge shouldered a mid third quarter drive that saw the Irish gain 68 yards on 11 rushes capped off by a 13-yard Hughes touchdown run.

With the game decided at the start of the fourth quarter, Notre Dame continued to control the line of scrimmage and Robert Hughes added a 32 yard scamper that set up the 3rd Clausen touchdown pass of the game. Clausen hit John Carlson on a 10 yard pass that sent Carlson out with a score in his last home game. Then it was time for a little fun as Coach Weis inserted Tommy Zbikowski at quarterback and he ran a few plays from the Spread offense. A late fumble by Travis Thomas allowed Duke one last chance on offense and they took advantage against a scout team Irish defense. Backup quarterback Zach Asack took it in from six yards out to give the Blue Devils their only points of the afternoon.

Let’s review BillShakespeare’s keys to the game:

Will Weis effectively balance the passing and running attacks? Weis’s commitment to the ground game was something that surely made many Irish fans happy. The ground attack kept Duke on their heels and allowed Clausen extra time to find receivers.

Can the Irish avoid putting Clausen in must-throw situations on third down? The success of the running game combined with some new found mobility from Clausen allowed Notre Dame to find success going 9-18 on 3rd down.

Will Re'quan Boyette wear down the Irish defensive line? Boyette and teammate Justin Boyle never got on track and were never a factor after the Blue Devils fell behind 14-0 at the half.

Can the Irish hold Eron Riley under 100 yards and out of the end zone? The vertical part of the Duke offense was held in check. Riley was limited to 3 catches for 50 yards and was denied a touchdown on a good defensive play by Darren Walls.

Which team will make a big special teams play? Neither teams’ Special Teams were a factor in the game. The missed field goals looked like they may be important early, but the Duke turnovers made them irrelevant.

Overall, it was a good effort and a sorely needed win for a program that hasn’t had many positive things happen for it this season. The penalties and dropped passes were certainly negatives in a game that should have been decided much earlier. Notre Dame handled a team they were expected to so that’s a positive to build on but they must continue to develop for the future.

The Irish travel to Palo Alto next Saturday night to take on a Stanford Cardinal team that upset Southern Cal earlier in the season. While both teams have struggled this season, they will be playing in what amounts to a bowl game. The Irish need a quick start next week to avoid falling behind against a team that won’t lie down like the opponent they played today.

IRISH LOOK FOR SECOND WIN ON SENIOR DAY

Our Duke preview is courtesy of BillShakespeare

Notre Dame closes its home schedule Saturday and looks to spare its sparse senior class the embarrassment of a winless home slate. There is hope for the Irish this week, as they face off against a Duke team that, unlike any of the first ten Irish opponents, is currently under .500.

Inexplicably, Duke’s season mirrors Notre Dame’s in many respects. Both teams have faced top-5 schedules and both teams have emerged with exactly one victory; moreover, each team’s victory came despite being grossly outgained in terms of total yardage. If not for a barrage of miscues by UCLA and Northwestern, this weekend’s matchup would be a battle of winless teams.

Whereas Duke reports no injuries this week, Notre Dame has a few bruises. Most notably, Pat Kuntz is out at nose tackle, putting a significant burden on freshman Ian Williams to handle most of the snaps there. Elsewhere, John Sullivan is inactive for his final game in Notre Dame Stadium. Dan Wenger will slide over to center, and Irish fans hope the Wenger-to-Clausen exchange will be seamless on Saturday and for years to come.

For a third straight game, the Irish will trot out an athletically superior squad. Unlike Navy and Air Force, Duke does not employ a gimmicky offense, which should be a welcome respite for a Corwin Brown defense that surrendered a combined 87 points to the Academies.

It will be interesting to see whether either team is able to establish the running game. If one team can run effectively and control the clock, it will go a long way in determining the outcome between these two evenly matched teams. Neither team’s performance provides much confidence in this regard - Duke is the only Division 1-A team with a worse rushing offense than the Irish.

Notre Dame’s Offense vs. Duke’s Defense

Very few teams have had a hard time scoring against the Blue Devil defense. Northwestern is the only opponent Duke has held under 24 points, and six teams have posted more than 40.

In last week’s game, Tashard Choice lit up the Blue Devils for 170 yards on the ground; earlier in the year, Navy and Clemson also treated the Duke line like a sieve. On the other hand, UConn and Virginia Tech picked them apart through the air, so there are many ways this defense can be slain.

Can Weis manufacture a balanced game plan, or will the Irish be too reliant on one facet? Many would like to see a heavy lean towards the running game, and Weis will most likely deliver healthy servings of James Aldridge and Armando Allen from the get-go. However, the Duke secondary is inexperienced and less talented than most of the defensive backfields the Irish have faced thus far.

Kamara returns to the line-up, and he will have a physical advantage over every Blue Devil defending him. Similarly, Duke lacks a corner that can keep up with a burner like Golden Tate, and this could be the game where he is once again used as a deep threat. As a unit, the Irish receivers will have to avoid the drops that plagued them against Air Force.

Duke’s Offense vs. Notre Dame’s Defense

Since Kuntz will be inactive, Notre Dame’s already porous rush defense (103rd in the nation) will be stretched thin. However, Duke has managed less than 50 ypg on the ground. Resistible Force, meet Moveable Object.

Enter Re'quan Boyette. This 5'10, 210-pound bowling ball is capable of wearing down a defense, particularly a defense that lacks depth. It remains to be seen whether Duke will commit to a running game that has been a failure throughout the season. Boyette and Justin Boyle, the team's two leading rushers, have combined for just 504 yards in ten games. The team has only three rushing touchdowns to its credit.

Versatile quarterback Thaddeus Lewis has put up good numbers (19 TDs) but is prone to turning the ball over (10 INTs). Like the Irish quarterbacking crew, Lewis has spent much of the season on his backside, as Duke has surrendered 40 sacks on the year. Lewis is mobile enough to avoid some pressure but has not proven to be a threat to take off and run with it.

Eron Riley is the Blue Devils’ most dangerous offensive weapon. The 6’3, 200-pound receiver has nine touchdowns this season, including at least one in five of the last seven games. In addition to Riley's receiving duties, Duke has tried to get him the ball in other ways, either on trick plays or by bringing him into the backfield, a la Percy Harvin. Riley hasn't had much success on these plays, but don't be surprised to see him run an end around or two Saturday, based on the success Air Force had with misdirection plays.

Negating Riley's physical presence will be one of the top priorities for Corwin Brown's defense. The safety on his side of the field will likely be in double-cover mode for much of the afternoon.

Special Teams

Jabari Marshall is a dangerous kick returner. He averages 25 yards a return and has one touchdown on the year. Leon Wright has been a solid though unremarkable punt returner.

Kevin Jones has gotten a workout punting for the Blue Devils, and he averages 39 yards a boot. Nick Maggio took over placekicking duties midseason and has yet to miss. However, his longest attempt was from 40 yards, so his range is an unknown at this point.

Notre Dame has special teams issues of its own. The lack of confidence in the kicking game does not bode well for the Irish if this game is decided in the final few minutes or goes to overtime. At punter, Geoff Price is doubtful, although Eric Maust is not a substantial downgrade.

It would be encouraging to see more life from the Irish return teams. Allen and Tate have the physical tools to be dangerous, yet lengthy returns have been few and far between. Allen in particular has seemed to run past his blockers on multiple kicks when holes seemed to be developing.

Summary

Make no mistake about it – Duke is not a good team. The Irish have not been a good team either, but they do have the ability to play up to a higher level than the Blue Devils. Say what you will about the leadership of this year's seniors, but I'm certain the underclassmen would like to send them out with a victory.

If talent prevails, the Irish should win. Then again, that has been the case many times this season.

The following questions will help determine the winner of the game:

- Will Weis effectively balance the passing and running attacks?
- Can the Irish avoid putting Clausen in must-throw situations on third down?
- Will Re'quan Boyette wear down the Irish defensive line?
- Can the Irish hold Eron Riley under 100 yards and out of the end zone?
- Which team will make a big special teams play?

Prediction

Corwin Brown's defense will bend but not break against the Duke attack. The Irish offense will control the clock but won't score in bunches, which will keep the game close throughout. A late touchdown against the tired Duke defense will ice it, and though it won't be a pretty game, the Irish seniors will go out with a victory.

NOTRE DAME 26 DUKE 16

DIFFERENT WEEK, SAME RESULT

Our AFA recap is courtesy of poster HarryOliverIsGod

For the second consecutive week a service academy came into Notre Dame Stadium and left with a victory. Only this Saturday, the score wasn’t close.

Behind quarterback Shaun Carney and versatile Chad Hall, the Air Force Academy easily handled Notre Dame 41-24 to drop the Irish to an all-time record 9th loss of the season. Carney threw two touchdowns and Hall piled up 272 all-purpose yards, including 142 on the ground, to turn a close game at halftime into a rout.

Notre Dame, which had a distinct size advantage at every position, rushed for just 58 yards on 38 attempts while Air Force gained 285 yards on 63 carries. Irish freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen had arguably his best game by throwing for 246 yards and three scores despite numerous drops by his receivers.

Once again turnovers cost the Irish. On the opening play, Clausen found tight end John Carlson for a 28-yard gain before the All-American fumbled, leading to an Air Force field goal. Late in the first quarter, fullback Asaph Schwapp and Clausen muffed a handoff that ricocheted off Schwapp’s leg and into the hands of Air Force’s John Rabold, who stiffed-armed Clausen on his way to the end zone staking Air Force to a 10-0 lead.

Early in the second quarter, the Irish started a drive at their own 37 and moved the ball effectively to the Air Force 11, behind eight runs and just two passes. But the drive stalled there after the Irish inexplicably attempted three consecutive passes, all which fell incomplete, and settled for a Brandon Walker 28-yard field goal.

After Notre Dame’s defense made a fourth down stand on Air Force’s next possession, the Irish offense once again ran the ball right down the field and capped the drive when Clausen floated a two-yard touchdown pass to Carlson. Suddenly, it was 10-10 with Notre Dame’s offense and defense playing fairly well.

That all changed on the next possession.

Air Force answered the consecutive Irish scores with an impressive seven-play, 66-yard scoring drive that lasted just 1:23. Almost effortlessly, Air Force maneuvered right down the field, scoring on a well-executed reverse to Spencer Armstrong that left most of the Irish defense blocked out of the play. The eight-yard touchdown run put the Falcons up 17-10 at half.

After playing well for most of the first half, the Irish defense completely collapsed in the second half. On the opening possession of the third quarter, Carney found Mark Root wide open for 26 yards after no Notre Dame defender covered the Falcon receiver. Carney then completed the 67-yard touchdown drive with a seven-yard pass to Sean Quintana to push Air Force ahead 24-10.

The Notre Dame offense stalled for the remainder of the third quarter. When Carney hit Keith Madsen for a 10-yard touchdown late in the third to put Air Force ahead 31-10, the game was all but over.

To revisit JVan’s keys to the game:

Will the Irish ground game force the Falcons to change their defensive alignment? No. The Irish running game gained just 112 rushing yards, not including sacks, and was abandoned in the second half when the game was out of hand.

Will the Irish defense be able to neutralize Chad Hall? No. While Hall didn’t score, he owned the Irish defense all day en route to 272 all-purpose yards. Hall was even more effective as a decoy on several of the Falcons’ scoring plays.

Can Weis limit Clausen’s passing attempts while increasing his productivity? No. Instead of a steady diet of running plays, the Irish ran 38 times and had 40 passing attempts. While Clausen had a solid game and didn’t turn the ball over, the Irish needed to establish a consistent running attack, and they did not.

Will Notre Dame be able to contain the defensive perimeter and tackle effectively? No. Once again, the tackling was atrocious. Early in the game the Irish neutralized the Falcons spread running game, but that quickly ended by the start of third quarter as Air Force had an easy time gaining nearly 300 rushing yards.

Can Notre Dame avoid obvious passing situations on third down? No. The Irish again struggled on third down, converting just 4-of-15 with most of those attempts being more than six yards.

Will the Irish defense force turnovers and negative plays? The defense did force two turnovers, but it wasn’t near enough to offset the poor tackling and dominant performances by Carney and Hall.

Can Notre Dame make a field goal? Yes, but it didn’t matter much in the end.

For Notre Dame fans, this week was almost exactly the same as watching any other loss during this trying season. The Irish were incompetent in almost every aspect of the game. The offense couldn’t rush the ball against an undersized opponent, the wide receivers dropped far too many passes, the offensive line couldn’t keep Air Force from pressuring Clausen all day, the defense fell apart after halftime, and the Irish shot themselves in the foot with sloppy turnovers. On top of those miscues, Weis failed to stick with the run on several first-half drives when it appeared to be working and didn’t attempt enough downfield passes until the game was out of reach in the fourth quarter.

Perhaps the most alarming part of Saturday’s loss was the way Air Force adjusted its game plan and the Irish did not. The Irish defense played fairly well in the first half, but got absolutely punished in the second half. Meanwhile, the Irish offense did not make effective halftime adjustments to exploit their size advantage and superior talent. In all, it was like watching a rerun of losses one through eight.

The Irish face Duke next week in the home finale before heading to California for the Stanford game Thanksgiving weekend. A one-win season, which seemed completely ridiculous in August, is certainly now a possibility.