Tea Leaves, Depth Charts and Comments

There's not much a fan can glean from a depth chart, but we sure try. Here's what struck me as I looked at the early 2008 chart and listened to comments from Weis and the team. This team is clearly Clausen's and Clausen appears ready to make a big leap in terms of maturity both mental and physical. It looks like Armando has been tabbed for significant playing time this year and all of the running backs look like they're ready to fuel a power running game (though Hughes may have gone a little overboard.) Speaking of that, our line certainly looks like it was "beefed" with a running game in mind and I believe that Charlie's move to step away from play calling actually makes this a possibility.

Chris Stewart is a key to this season, that Stewart's dropped to 329 shows great dedication on his part. If he and Young can start blocking downhill, Notre Dame will have a completely different look in 2008 (one can only hope.) Weis is clearly trying to set a tone with comments about ramming the ball down opponent's throats. Imagine what a DE will be thinking by the third quarter after 660lbs of beef have been hammering him for 20 minutes.

I'm starting to like our Wide Receiver situation. Grimes, despite his size challenges, is a very good receiver. Kamara has already proven he's ready to start. Weis's comments about Floyd certainly point to some early playing time as so many have predicted for the kid. Floyd, Gray and Cave (315) are arriving with at least the physical maturity to make a difference.

On the defensive side of the ball the tea leaves point to Notre Dame using a 4-3 look much of the season. Neal practiced with his hand down much of spring, but the real tip off is that John Ryan was supposed to move to DE, but is instead backing up Neal. I think we'll see ND in a 4-3 much this season. Positives on the defense include the reshaping of Emeka Nwankwo into an NFL looking player, Paddy Mullen squatting 600 lbs and no injuries on the rest of the line (I was hoping to see a few more lbs from Richardson.) Justin Brown's topping 270 to add some depth here. I was very encouraged to see Brandon "Coke Machine" Newman show up in such incredible shape. Newman blew away Scouts at the Army All-American game and may yet prove the equal of defector Omar Hunter. Williams showed up at over 300 lbs, with a little extra and Ethan Johnson is in great shape at 275. We only need a couple of these players to exceed early expectations in order to field a decent defensive line or better. Imagine these guys two years from now (in fact, imagine this whole team two years from now.)

I really like the move of Brian Smith inside (then again I like the move of Travis Thomas to LB,) but the move of Harrison Smith to SAM shows you that ND wants a LB with the ability to cover and rush and Smith II is an off the charts athlete (4.3 40) with instincts. You have to get a guy like that on the field. Freshmen Steven Filer and Darius Fleming are coming in with bodies that are ready to play.

Not much to tell about the defensive backs other than Blanton just looks like a play maker, McNeil has a linebacker's body and Slaughter is already showing why Florida made a push for him late in the recruiting season.

While every team has players that "could be" surprising early on, ND at least has those players at the need positions.

BUT!!!!!

Hold your optimism, Vannie's about to tell you why you shouldn't get too excited about 2008.