Gametime: Irish vs San Diego St.

The Irish open up tomorrow at home against the San Diego St. Aztecs, with kickoff set for 2:40pm central standard time.

San Diego St. is not a good football team. I'm sure they will play hard and likely have a few athletes, but this is not a team the Irish should even play a close game with. San Diego St. lost to a very good D1-AA team in Cal-Poly last weekend, 24-22. They gave up 270ish yards rushing and only had about 50 themselves on the ground. They pass the ball a lot on offense, and don't play much defense. Their best players are in their WR, RB, and Defensive Back units.

It doesn't take a brainiac to know what the Irish are going to attack the Aztecs: on the ground. The Irish have said they are going to be a running team this season, and this is the perfect team to test run our ground attack on. I fully expect all 3 Irish running backs (#5 Armando Allen, #33 Robert Hughes (sophmores), and #34 James Aldridge (jr) ) will all get at least 10 carries in this game. I predict the Irish will have 300 yards rushing, and about 225 passing. Jimmy will throw 2 TDs, 1 Int, and then we will have 4 rushing TDs from the backs (Armando with 1, Hughes with 2, Aldridge with 1). Jimmy's passing TDs will be to Duval Kamara (soph WR) and Will Yeatman (TE, junior).

Jon Tenuta (pictured) and Corwin Brown's defense will create 3 turnovers (2 ints, 1 fumble), as well as racking up 4 sacks and 2 celebration penalties. The energy on the Irish defense will be crystal clear to all observers.

Final Score - Irish 45 Aztecs 17

Tenutacious D

The 2007 Irish defense finished 39th in the country in total defense, about 28th against the pass in the nation, and about 55th against the run. This was the best Irish defensive performance since 2003, sadly. The defense gave up fewer big plays that past years, and was generally better than 2006 team, which gave up 40 points 3 times, including a 38 point performance by North Carolina (pre-Butch Davis). Only two teams scored 40 points against the 2007 Irish, ironically both being service academies (Navy & Air Force - both with top 5 running games in the country last season).

Giving up 40 points is hardly the best measure of a defense. Rankings against the pass and against the run can also be misleading, especially when opposing offense preferred and were successful using one attack instead of the other. However, no matter which way you view the numbers, the 2007 defense was clearly improved under first year Defensive Coordinator, Corwin Brown. The 2007 Irish finished better significantly better against the pass, and about the same against the run, while giving up fewer points and fewer 40+ point games.

Now enter new co-Defensive Coordinator, Jon Tenuta. Tenuta had previously been Defensive Coordinator at Georgia Tech for the past 6 years. Much has been written about Tenuta, including a spring post on this blog. During his time in Atlanta, Tech's defense compiled some DECENT stats:

• Top 30 in the Nation in defense - yards allowed, defense - scoring, and sacks for the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 seasons.


• 2007 Tech Defense led the nation in sacks, averaging 3.5 per game; in addition, the unit finished 4th in the nation in tackles for loss.

These accomplishments at Georgia Tech are extraordinary, given that theTech program did not have elite athletes like the surround SEC or ACC schools may have had. Certainly there was talent at Tech, but that talent is a rung below what the Irish have in the Sophomore and Freshman classes, as well as what's coming into the program.

As if Irish fans need anything else to fire them up, a few quotes from Tenuta surfaced at a charity golf event recently:

Such was the reaction when new Notre Dame assistant head coach for defense Jon
Tenuta told the crowd of local Irish-backers on Friday that, this fall, the
team will "blitz about 80 percent of the time."

(in reference to the '07 Tech defense's success)

"We did it with an attacking, ball-hawking defense that brings it all the
time," said Tenuta, who will share responsibilities with last year's
defensive coordinator, Corwin Brown, a fragile alliance in which who has the
final word is not clear.

"That's the same way we're going to play up here. It's not three
yards and a cloud of dust any more, it's all this spread stuff. We're going to
try and confuse the front five and never let the quarterback set his feet."

Hard not to get excited about that as the season rapidly approaches (6.5 weeks until first college games on August 30th, 7.5 weeks until Irish open against San Diego St on September 6th).

So remember, when at some point this fall or next fall, you begin to hear about the surge in talent at Notre Dame, don't forget the biggest "signing" we had all off-season - Jon Tenuta.

Notre Dame Spring Football 2008

Spring brings new beginnings, both to the flowers and trees, but also to the mosquitoes and other annoying insects. Which will be a more appropriate analogy for Notre Dame Football this spring?

So far, here's the run down on the major occurences since the end of last season (which ended on a two game winning streak):

- Bill Lewis retires as Secondary coach, making way for famed Defensive Coordinator Jon Tenuta to join the staff as Defensive LB Coach and essentially co-Defensive Coordinator with Corwin Brown (although not officially).

- Jimmy Clausen gains some pounds - now fully able to lift weights due to his elbow healing, Jimmy reportedly weighs in about 15 pounds heavier than the end of last year, at a solid 212 pounds

- The Offensive Line has bulked up, led by RT Sam Young packing on about 20 pounds to weigh in a 330 pounds. These guys are finally maturing physically, and also mentally by all accounts

- The #2 recruiting class in the nation was signed in February. This fall will definitely see the arrival of arguably the best recruiting class in Notre Dame history. Time will tell if they pan out, but I'd rather be #2 in the rankings of high school recruits than #20.

- A new Charlie Weis emerges - the formerly gruff, interview declining and "arrogant" Weis has been replaced by someone who is more open, humble, and grounded. Players over to his house for dinner, more meetings with prominent ND alumni, and even Weis relenquishing play calling duties come this fall, all add up to a man who knows that the 2007 season was his one free pass.

- Secondary and Running Back Depth - With the infusion of talent the past three years, arguably the two positions where Notre Dame is the healthiest in terms of numbers and talent is the secondary and running back. This depth never was achieved under Willingham or Davie at either positions.

What are the most important Papal tidbits stemming from spring practice?

1. Jon Tenuta - His hiring was bigger than any recruit we got in our #2 rated class in February. Known for his relentless blitzing and aggressive defense, his knowledge and fire will greatly help a defense that needs direction. Tenuta shut down the Irish when he coordinated the Georgia Tech defense during 2006 and 2007, and decided to leave when knew Yellow Jackets coach Paul Johnson was introduced. His defenses at Georgia Tech never were outside of the top 30 in total defense or total rushing, and in 2007 his Georgia Tech team led the nation in sacks. Not only will his knowledge help, but also passionate yelling during practice (be wary of F bombs):

2. Jimmy Clausen - Weis says that he is ahead of Brady Quinn at the same age. Hard to argue, especially since Jimmy had a better Freshman season than Brady did, by most accounts. He didnt play as much as Brady, but had better numbers during his minutes, despite playing fresh off an injury. Jimmy has gained weight, is taking the reins of the offense, and is clearly the man. No QB controversy will allow Jimmy to focus on absorbing as much from Coaches Weis, Haywood, and Paulus. Look for him to have a solid year, with flashes of brilliance, but also flashes of youth. 2009, this guy will be ready to go, trust me.

3. Lets Get Physical, Physical - After not practicing "tackling to the ground" (aka, full tackling) last spring or last August in camp, the Irish have taken a new approach to try and address the lack of toughness last season. Now the Irish are hitting and tackling full speed in practice, compared to a half tackle of sorts last year. Basic fundamentals of tackling, blocking, and hitting were awful nearly the entire year. Weis has learned that at the college level, to be a good hitter and tackler, you have to practice doing it, unlike the Pro level. Practices are leaps and bounds more physical this year, as evidenced by a few "scraps" here and there between players, which Weis later called "a positive thing":

4. The Talent is Maturing - The past three recruiting classes have been ranked in the top 7 in the country. The only other programs consistently ranked at the top with us are Florida and USC over the past 3 years. Obviously those programs are well ahead of the Irish. They are ahead of the Irish due to their 4th and 5th year players, not their 1st thru 3rd year players, however. Too many 1st and 2nd year players saw the field last year for the Irish, and it showed. Hopefully that fire of a season, combined with physical and mental maturity that naturally comes between the ages of 18 and 20, will allow these kids to take the quantum leaps in their game. Many players see their biggest improvement between year 1 and 2 of their playing time. Time will tell if this hold true for the Irish in 2008.

Jimmy Clausen is a man, the offensive line is beefed up. The defensive backs are all over the place, 10 deep. The linebackers blitz every play and can get to every quarterback but ours in practice. The WRs look like pro-caliber talents out there, and heck, we have 3 bonafide NFL runningbacks.

Oh wait, its spring ball. Seriously though, yall have to try this Kool-Aid - so good.