Notre Dame Football 2009: Five Things to Watch For

As Charlie and the Football Factory take the field on September 5 to take on Nevada, there are questions that loom overhead in South Bend. This may be the year that defines Charlie Weis’s career at the University of Notre Dame—in fact, this may be the year, with bad results, that may end Charlie Weis’s career in South Bend. In order for a successful season, Weis’s Fightin’ Irish must produce. We’ve compiled five things to look for during the ND season that will define how successful the Irish will be.

• Coverage: The Irish have been beaten in a lot of facets the last couple years. One of the improvements that must be made in 2009 is the defensive coverage. Speed has not been recruited at Notre Dame under Charlie Weis on the defensive side of the ball and it has hurt the Irish. Let’s see if the experienced defensive line and emerging linebacking crew can make some plays for the secondary.
• Clausen: That was a heck of a performance against Hawaii. Yet, Clausen hasn’t shown accurate arm strength in a game. He has lobbed a ball for 45 yards and allowed the receiver to make a play, dumped it to a running back or tight end, or fired the ball over the middle to no one in particular. We cannot even begin to think of Clausen as a Brady Quinn until he –not the receivers—makes plays with the ball.
• The Kicking Game: 14 of 24.That was Brandon Walker’s field goal results last year. That percentage would have been worse had Weis not chosen to keep the offense on the field to avoid watching the kicking game last season. 58.3% for any kicker is unacceptable. The Irish better has a plan in place for this year and it better involve more 3’s.

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• First Game: Notre Dame has not been on a roll for a few years now. The Irish will be tested early and often this year and must respond well. I think the most important game on the schedule this year is the opener against the Nevada Wolfpack. Nevada is going to throw coverages, blitzes and scheme packages unlike they’ll see the rest of the season. If UND can control the tempo of this game and walk away with an easy victory, UND will establish the tempo for the season, and we will have seen great maturity in the huddle.
• The Skills: These are the positions that won the 6 games for the Irish last year. The Irish have three very talented running backs in Armando Allen, Jr., Robert Hughes, and James Aldridge—and also two more freshmen that may receive some time as well. But the Irish will win with its passing game—they have to. Clausen will have Golden Tate and Michael Floyd to each side of him and young Kyle Rudolph in the middle of the field. If the Irish cannot make big plays with these threats, it’s going to be another long season.

This is it Charlie. Do or die. Make or break. And any other cliché to throw in here. Any way you slice it, the Irish must address these five issues if they want to be successful this year. Will this be a 10+ game season that returns the Irish to a hopeful championship in 2010—or another in the stretch of disappointments for the Irish hopeful.

By Ben Barrick
CollegeSports-fans.com Guest Writer