Notre Dame (football only discussion)

[IrishCalves]

John Tenuta to ND.

IrishIllustrated.com - Tenuta to join Irish staff; Lewis to retire

Despite what the article says, most observers feel he'll coach up the LBs while serving as assistant HC on the defensive side of the ball, and that their current coordinator will handle DBs.

 

[three7]

John Tenuta to ND.

IrishIllustrated.com - Tenuta to join Irish staff; Lewis to retire

Despite what the article says, most observers feel he'll coach up the LBs while serving as assistant HC on the defensive side of the ball, and that their current coordinator will handle DBs.

Wonder if Cornflakes feels like someone is looking over his shoulder now?


Hard to believe there weren't some nice DC positions open for Tenuta either. Regardless, this is a good hire.

Even if he only sticks around a couple of years, it will help with the young defensive players' deployment at ND... Tenuta is a top-notch, great addtion.

 

[sandgk]

Wonder if Cornflakes feels like someone is looking over his shoulder now?

Cornflakes?

Hard to believe there weren't some nice DC positions open for Tenuta either.

Another interpretation - this is the position Tenuta wanted all along.

Regardless, this is a good hire.

Agreed. A quality hire.

Even if he only sticks around a couple of years, it will help with the young defensive players' deployment at ND... Tenuta is a top-notch, great addtion.

True, keeping him may end up being more difficult than getting Tenuta to go where he really wanted to go.

 

[three7]

Cornflakes?



ND DC Corwin "Cornflakes" Brown.


Also, a former UM DB.

 

[IrishCalves]

Cornflakes is a reference to Corwin Brown. As for looking over his shoulder, I doubt it. Smart money would be on Corwin taking a head coaching gig somewhere else in the next 3-4 years. He's young, has NFL experience, and he can recruit. Someone is going to see that combo and snatch him up.

I see Tenuta's hiring as an insurance policy for Corwin's departure, but thats just me. 'Til then he can't help but shore up the woeful Irish pass rush (we had 19 sacks last year - Georgia Tech racked up almost half that tally in one game against the Irish).

 

[BB73]

That's a solid hire for Ntre Ame. In a little time, they may get the first letter in that second word back.

 

[GrizzlyBuck]

I agree, Tenuta seems to have a very sharp defensive mind, and if he can rebuild the pitiful NoD defense, what with their exposure, he should definitely position himself for a HC position soon.

Note to NoD fans, even with a great defense, you still usually need some points from your offense to secure a better record than 3-9, although Mr "Schematic advantage" has probably just been biding his time to unleash his immense (pun intended) knowledge on the hapless college coaches.

 

[BB73]

CFN's early look at Ntre Ame for 2008.

cfn

Notre Dame

Why to get excited: The Irish might not be at a BCS level after an abysmal 2007, but there's a huge sigh of relief over the biggest question mark: recruiting. After the tremendous haul brought in by Charlie Weis and his staff, there's reason to get excited about the future as the talent-level is getting to where it needs to be. Yes, last year was a nightmare, but ten starters are back on offense and seven return on defense. As bad as things were, the defense was night-and-day better than it was in 2005 and 2006, but that went totally unnoticed because of the offense's woes. Schedule-wise, four of the first five games are at home with the road game a not-that-bad trip to Michigan State. The two road games to follow the first five games? North Carolina and Washington. In all, the Irish play six teams that didn't go to a bowl.

Why to be grouchy: The team still might be a year away. Because of the relatively light schedule, the final record should be a bit of a mirage to set the expectations way too high for 2009. That's fine, because the team should be much, much better in two years. It'll be better this year, it can't be worse, but the offense isn't go from being completely inept to a juggernaut overnight. There's still a mega-question mark about the offensive line that was abysmal from start to finish. The skill players are there, but will they have time to work?

Cont'd ...

 

[jwinslow]

Russ Lande of The Sporting News looks at how the Defensive Backs fared at the Combine.

Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski was solid on the field, but he did not help himself with his behavior during the bench press. He treated the session not as a job interview but as an opportunity to strut and crow. Zbikowski is a super-tough kid who plays with a chip on his shoulder (that's one of the things we love about him), but he snapped at strength coach John Lott and stormed out of the room after lifting.

DD.comment: Former Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski is one of the best characters in the draft. We've met him a few times (MSG fight & Senior Bowl) and found he's an extremely serious person, but funny, smart and curt - gives one line responses like a 1930's boxing champ....While he could've handled the thing with the lifting coach a little better, we know he takes a lot of pride in his athletic abilty, so we aren't surprised that he was upset after being compared to a glorified waterboy (Rudy) from the 1970's.

Golden Gloves is no Rudy

 

[DaytonBuck]

ESPN Spring Non BCS rankings

1. BYU
2. Fresno State
3. Boise State
4. Utah
5. UCF
6. Tulsa
7. Notre Lame

ESPN

 

[scooter1369]

ESPN Spring Non BCS rankings

1. BYU
2. Fresno State
3. Boise State
4. Utah
5. UCF
6. Tulsa
7. Notre Lame

ESPN

 

[ndboy15]

Still no commits. I'm not too worried though, we were slow coming out of the gate last year.

 

[BB73]

The local paper in Suth Ben discusses the bulked-up O-line.

southbendtribune

ND line under microscope
by: Jeff Carroll

On the list of items that coaches have no conscience lying about, the size of their players is right there with the weekly injury report.

But let us in this case, for argument's sake, grant Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis the temporary benefit of the doubt.

Let's believe him that center Dan Wenger, as Weis testified during his opening spring practice press conference on Wednesday, has packed on 18 pounds since season's end. That left tackle backup Matt Romine matched the feat.

Let's suspend disbelief and buy a 43-pound weight gain by right tackle Sam Young in approximately four months, a feat accomplished, Weis said, without the benefit of any additional body fat. A triumph attained, indeed, "just by adding lean muscle."

The problem is that even granting that these dubious weight gains are true, the accomplishment solves but a fraction of Notre Dame's offensive line woes from a season ago.

Cont'd ...

 

[gbearbuck]

IMO The Tenuta hire was huge. ND has talent in place and has a great reliable mind on "D"... I wonder if it is enough to offset the Weis factor (he's brought high end talent for three years in a row and still cannot put things together... no question the talent is there, now the coaches have to do something with said talent).

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

espn.com

Clausen's growth, leadership key to Irish development

By Adam Rittenberg
ESPN.com
(Archive)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Nineteen years of waiting abruptly ended for Mike Haywood in January, along a road in his hometown of Houston.

Haywood was behind the wheel, while his boss, Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis, rode shotgun. As they headed to their next recruiting visit, Weis turned toward his assistant.

"He made a statement to me and I looked at him and I said, 'OK,'" Haywood said. "Then I sped up because we were running late for our next appointment."

At that moment, Weis hit the gas and accelerated Haywood's career, making him the play-caller for Notre Dame's offense. Haywood no longer just held the title of offensive coordinator, but the game-shaping power that normally accompanies it.

Continued.....