The bigger picture

[johnnd05]

I'm going to have more to say on this later in the week, and I already mentioned in my blog post on Floyd's commitment, but let me just reiterate that the fact that Floyd committed to ND - or at least made his commitment to ND public - after THAT game speaks volumes about the morale of the team, especially among the younger players. There's a lot that Weis is doing wrong, but it seems clear that there's at least a significant core of his players who haven't quit on him and in fact are excited about the future, and that suggests that there are some pretty important things that he's doing right as well.

Obviously it's going to take some time for the fruits of this season to be borne, and those fruits might turn out to be rotten after all. But Floyd's verbal suggests that my biggest worry - that lots of players had quit on Weis and/or were so disheartened by this season that it would have lasting damage - might have been mistaken.

Thoughts?

 

[SoCalDomer]

If no one commited after this game, I doubt it would be a big deal or be a surprise.

The fact that Floyd commited after this weekend is HUGE. Your choice of where to go to college is so much bigger than how many games the team won before you got there.

This also is another reason why talking about Weis' firing is non-sense. Comparing his wins-losses to Ty's and concluding he deserves to be fired is silly. Apparently, there are great talented young players who want to play for him. Their opinion should speak volumes about whether we should believe Weis can turn it around. I hope he does.

 

[BeatSC]

I think some of these kids want to be the catalyst in one of the biggest college football turnarounds in recent memory. I think it speaks volumes about the following of ND football that a 1-7 Irish team is still being televised nationally whether home or away. I think this is a big element of the ND recruiting process. Unparalleled exposure and following.

On another note; I don't think the national media give ND enough credit for maintaining their academic standards while the USC's of the world will let in borderline illiterate athletes into their program.

 

[piyachi]

I think people have been down on the program the entire year, and also think it's silly and irrelevant. Hey even the poodle said everyone could see this year coming three years ago. The recruits buy what Weis is selling, and they are certainly closer to the program than (almost) any of us on these boards. For those who saw that espin movie about Paul Bear Bryant and how he was brutal at the training camp to re-do his team should realize this is the season we are experiencing. Sure we are tearing down the building....because we are building one much better in its place.

GO IRISH

 

[johnnd05]

This also is another reason why talking about Weis' firing is non-sense. Comparing his wins-losses to Ty's and concluding he deserves to be fired is silly. Apparently, there are great talented young players who want to play for him. Their opinion should speak volumes about whether we should believe Weis can turn it around. I hope he does.

Just a quick point on this. While I do pretty much agree with you here, I also think it's important not to use recruiting as too much of an excuse for CW. He's got to get the job done ON THE FIELD, and the extent to which his team has failed to do that this year has been simply inexcusable. Do I think this has been an aberration, and that he'll turn it around? Probably. But if recruiting were the WHOLE story, then Ron Zook would have won multiple MNCs at Florida. There are no free passes on Saturday afternoons.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I'm convinced the young kids are positive & it sounds like RJ Blanton had a lot to do w/ pushing Floyd to announce publicly. That being said, my concern lies in the 5th Yr. Srs & the true SRs. Have they been so mentally & physically beat down that they're psyched out & are doomed to finish w/ a whimper.

I want these kids to win ALL four of the remaining games on the schedule. They desperately need some positive momentum going into the off-season to build a positive foundation to next year. The last time ND finished their season by winning the last game they played was 2001. Unfortunately, that season led to a coaching change which may or may not have disrupted the team. Then again, 2002 started out pretty good.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

The bigger picture..CW can recruit, if I could recruit as good as him, I would be worth millions. The only question I have about CW is how well he can develop players. This year is not a good measuring stick b/c all the tough games, young players, etc. Next year will tell us a lot about this team's furture.

 

[benneboy]

Some of you guys have the memory of a goldfish. Can Charlie develop players? I think Jeff Samardzija, Brady Quinn, Stovall, and perhaps even Rhema Mcnight might disagree with you there. These guys were all mediocre football players before Charlie came to town. The o-line is another issue but that will be taken care of by next year either through more experience along the line or a reworking of the staff.

 

[Newc]

Benneboy, I think you've got a point there. Quinn was far from what he was when he left before Weis got there and Jeff was absolutely unheard of before the Weis offense "arrived". However after that game on Saturday I can't help but begin to question Charlie a little bit. Now I think I have been one of those fans that has been patient and tried to understand the whole changing of the gaurd among the players and given the Irish the benefit of the doubt when it came to their struggles, but this is a little far into the season for the coaches to still be trying to figure out this team.

While I have never coached football, I did play for 7 years and could not understand at times the playcalling of Charlie and have come up with a three sided theory. The offensive players either have no confidence in themselves, Charlie has no confidence in the offense or Charlie is really mis-calling these games. With all three though, the common link is coaching.

Now while you will not hear me calling for the firing of Weis at all, this issue is the biggest speedbump that Weis faces. And before those who disagree with me jump all over me, notice how I said speedbump, because I do honestly believe that is all it is. Maybe we do need to just get through this season and use it as a building block, allowing Weis to go into the off-season with a clear view of what he has and who will be our QB, the uncertainty which I believe has killed this team from the beginning, and develop a plan of attack that will allow the Irish to come out swining in '08.

I will say Weis is getting the recruits that we need to make this program a monster, but the confidence of this entire team is such a crutch that will plague us no matter how much talent we get.

I fully think the ship will get righted, but I really think that Charlie needs to sit down and think long and hard about what he is doing here and how he is going about things.

 

[domerfor life]

I just think Weis made alot of mistakes this year. Some people tend to forget that he is inexperienced. I think he can get the job done, but he has to adapt to the college game. He also has to become a better teacher or hire someone who can get the job done. I, for one, think he really needs a college OC IMO. That's just me though.

 

[ryno 24]

weis is doing his job recruiting he just needs to stay patient and put in the players that are going to help along the line.


We need to beat navy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SoCalDomer]

Just a quick point on this. While I do pretty much agree with you here, I also think it's important not to use recruiting as too much of an excuse for CW. He's got to get the job done ON THE FIELD, and the extent to which his team has failed to do that this year has been simply inexcusable. Do I think this has been an aberration, and that he'll turn it around? Probably. But if recruiting were the WHOLE story, then Ron Zook would have won multiple MNCs at Florida. There are no free passes on Saturday afternoons.

I agree, no excuses on the field. What I meant was that Weis appears to be working hard to turn things around. While I hate comparing Ty and Weis, the fact that Ty did not appear to be turning things around (by sub par recruiting and effort) makes the win-loss comparison near-sighted. It doesn't take into account the reasons Ty got fired at the point he did. Again, no excuses and I'm not reigniting the "why did we fire Ty" theories.

 

[AZic11]

but the confidence of this entire team is such a crutch that will plague us no matter how much talent we get.

That is why these last 4 games are so critical to the success of this program. If we can end this season hot, there will be a new momentum and a new confidence the players can take with them into the offseason, and this offseason is where this team can take big steps towards the future.

 

[JeremyND07]

I have no doubt in Weis and Brown's recruiting ability and it amazes me what Brown has done with the very little talent that we have on defense...add depth and Brown will turn the d around. I think our biggest need this off season is getting a young Corwin Brown type O-Line coach...someone to fire these guys up and get us moving in the right direction! With the talent we get in recruiting on the O-Line there is NO reason for the sub par play the last 5-6 years!!!!!!