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So, just how good are the Irish?
By Adam Rittenberg
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Friday, October 20, 2006
During the bye week, Charlie Weis opened his news conference with a point-by-point comparison between the current Notre Dame team and its 9-3 predecessor.
When finished, Weis was asked if Notre Dame is better now than it was in 2005.
“Statistically, you’d have to say it’s too soon to tell,” he said. “This team is moving up at a steady pace, where at the end of the year the answer might be yes.
“But for me to answer that right now … it would be premature.”
Weis’ wavering makes sense.
The first four games provided more questions than answers, as the Fighting Irish went from survivors (Georgia Tech) to dominators (Penn State) to casualties (Michigan) to miracle workers (Michigan State). Notre Dame (5-1) now finds itself in the cruise-control portion of its schedule, taking on five seemingly inferior opponents — UCLA, Navy, North Carolina, Air Force and Army — before visiting No. 3 USC.
Halfway through the season, what do we know about Notre Dame? Have the Irish made progress from last year? Can any conclusions be drawn before the USC game?
Here’s an overview, with help from former Georgia coach and current ESPN college football analyst Jim Donnan.
Big picture
Ranked eighth in the BCS standings, Notre Dame is in line for a second consecutive BCS bowl appearance. But a backdoor entrance into the national championship seems doubtful; it needs at least three undefeated teams to lose, as well as superior 1-loss teams to falter again.
Unable to expunge a 47-21 home loss to Michigan, the Irish are projected by some to end up in the Sugar Bowl against Florida or LSU.
“When you lose at home that decisively, it basically takes you out of playing for all the marbles,” Donnan said. “They’re so far behind now. It would take a total collapse by a lot of teams. I don’t see any way they can do any better than a BCS game, but that’s certainly a tremendous accomplishment.”
Has Notre Dame rejoined the nation’s elite, or do losses like Michigan place the Irish a notch below?
“People are starving for them to be back there,” Donnan said. “They look for reasons for them to be there. But you’ve got to prove it on the field. … To say that you’re a dominant program, you’ve got to beat somebody that’s got an overwhelming defense.
“They’ve got to go out against a team like Florida, Auburn, Ohio State or Texas and put numbers up.”
The offense
Notre Dame’s averages for yards (380.3 ypg) and points (30.3 ppg) are down from last year, but the offense has eclipsed 400 yards and 30 points in each of the last two games.
“We have to get more consistent,” left tackle Ryan Harris said.
Senior quarterback Brady Quinn has been a model of consistency in recent weeks. In his last nine quarters, Quinn is 61-for-83 passing for 661 yards with 7 touchdowns and no interceptions.
“The edge they have that a lot of teams don’t is the quarterback,” Donnan said. “Their team’s got some holes in it like every team does, but it all evens out with Quinn.”
Opposing defenses are more familiar with Notre Dame’s system — wideout Jeff Samardzija’s numbers are down because of double-teams — but Donnan is confident that Weis, whom he called a “superior tactician,” can make adjustments.
The defense
The unit pegged to make or break Notre Dame in 2006 has seen mixed results.
Notre Dame limited Georgia Tech to 10 points in a season-opening win that looks better each week (Tech ranks 13th with a win over Virginia Tech). But big plays and fast receivers have once again hurt the Irish, who made team speed their top off-season priority.
Notre Dame couldn’t stop Michigan’s Mario Manningham (137 receiving yards, 3 TDs), Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson (7 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD) or Purdue’s Selwyn Lymon (8 receptions, 238 yards, 2 TDs).
“They’re better defensively,” Donnan said. “The biggest difference in their team and some of these top five or six is just their overall team speed. That’s a real problem for them right now.”
The schedule
Notre Dame has played the nation’s 22nd-toughest schedule, based on cumulative opposition. The slate is tougher than last year’s (52nd toughest), but it’s hardly the gauntlet many SEC teams face.
“Historically, Notre Dame has played a really tough schedule,” Donnan said, “so they deserve a little pass. It’s not their fault teams like Stanford are down.”
Timing plays a role. Last year, Notre Dame played a Tennessee team mired in its worst season since 1988. Tennessee now ranks seventh nationally.
“That’s the scheduling breaks,” Donnan said.
The last word
Keeping in mind Weis’ weight-room sign that read “9-3 is not good enough,” what would constitute a successful season for Notre Dame?
“I don’t necessarily say they have to beat USC because no one else has, but that would definitely be a prime plum,” Donnan said. “When you win 10 games, I don’t care who you’re playing, that’s outstanding. So realistically, take care of business here the next few weeks, hopefully get in a BCS game and see if you can win.”
By Adam Rittenberg
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Friday, October 20, 2006
During the bye week, Charlie Weis opened his news conference with a point-by-point comparison between the current Notre Dame team and its 9-3 predecessor.
When finished, Weis was asked if Notre Dame is better now than it was in 2005.
“Statistically, you’d have to say it’s too soon to tell,” he said. “This team is moving up at a steady pace, where at the end of the year the answer might be yes.
“But for me to answer that right now … it would be premature.”
Weis’ wavering makes sense.
The first four games provided more questions than answers, as the Fighting Irish went from survivors (Georgia Tech) to dominators (Penn State) to casualties (Michigan) to miracle workers (Michigan State). Notre Dame (5-1) now finds itself in the cruise-control portion of its schedule, taking on five seemingly inferior opponents — UCLA, Navy, North Carolina, Air Force and Army — before visiting No. 3 USC.
Halfway through the season, what do we know about Notre Dame? Have the Irish made progress from last year? Can any conclusions be drawn before the USC game?
Here’s an overview, with help from former Georgia coach and current ESPN college football analyst Jim Donnan.
Big picture
Ranked eighth in the BCS standings, Notre Dame is in line for a second consecutive BCS bowl appearance. But a backdoor entrance into the national championship seems doubtful; it needs at least three undefeated teams to lose, as well as superior 1-loss teams to falter again.
Unable to expunge a 47-21 home loss to Michigan, the Irish are projected by some to end up in the Sugar Bowl against Florida or LSU.
“When you lose at home that decisively, it basically takes you out of playing for all the marbles,” Donnan said. “They’re so far behind now. It would take a total collapse by a lot of teams. I don’t see any way they can do any better than a BCS game, but that’s certainly a tremendous accomplishment.”
Has Notre Dame rejoined the nation’s elite, or do losses like Michigan place the Irish a notch below?
“People are starving for them to be back there,” Donnan said. “They look for reasons for them to be there. But you’ve got to prove it on the field. … To say that you’re a dominant program, you’ve got to beat somebody that’s got an overwhelming defense.
“They’ve got to go out against a team like Florida, Auburn, Ohio State or Texas and put numbers up.”
The offense
Notre Dame’s averages for yards (380.3 ypg) and points (30.3 ppg) are down from last year, but the offense has eclipsed 400 yards and 30 points in each of the last two games.
“We have to get more consistent,” left tackle Ryan Harris said.
Senior quarterback Brady Quinn has been a model of consistency in recent weeks. In his last nine quarters, Quinn is 61-for-83 passing for 661 yards with 7 touchdowns and no interceptions.
“The edge they have that a lot of teams don’t is the quarterback,” Donnan said. “Their team’s got some holes in it like every team does, but it all evens out with Quinn.”
Opposing defenses are more familiar with Notre Dame’s system — wideout Jeff Samardzija’s numbers are down because of double-teams — but Donnan is confident that Weis, whom he called a “superior tactician,” can make adjustments.
The defense
The unit pegged to make or break Notre Dame in 2006 has seen mixed results.
Notre Dame limited Georgia Tech to 10 points in a season-opening win that looks better each week (Tech ranks 13th with a win over Virginia Tech). But big plays and fast receivers have once again hurt the Irish, who made team speed their top off-season priority.
Notre Dame couldn’t stop Michigan’s Mario Manningham (137 receiving yards, 3 TDs), Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson (7 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD) or Purdue’s Selwyn Lymon (8 receptions, 238 yards, 2 TDs).
“They’re better defensively,” Donnan said. “The biggest difference in their team and some of these top five or six is just their overall team speed. That’s a real problem for them right now.”
The schedule
Notre Dame has played the nation’s 22nd-toughest schedule, based on cumulative opposition. The slate is tougher than last year’s (52nd toughest), but it’s hardly the gauntlet many SEC teams face.
“Historically, Notre Dame has played a really tough schedule,” Donnan said, “so they deserve a little pass. It’s not their fault teams like Stanford are down.”
Timing plays a role. Last year, Notre Dame played a Tennessee team mired in its worst season since 1988. Tennessee now ranks seventh nationally.
“That’s the scheduling breaks,” Donnan said.
The last word
Keeping in mind Weis’ weight-room sign that read “9-3 is not good enough,” what would constitute a successful season for Notre Dame?
“I don’t necessarily say they have to beat USC because no one else has, but that would definitely be a prime plum,” Donnan said. “When you win 10 games, I don’t care who you’re playing, that’s outstanding. So realistically, take care of business here the next few weeks, hopefully get in a BCS game and see if you can win.”
