that will be great to see tommy z knock some red and yellow helmets off this november
the man | Email | Homepage | 05.20.07 - 4:09 pm | #

I wonder if Zibby will be returning punts again this year? He was never the same after he took that late hit last yr.
jeremy52 | Email | Homepage | 05.20.07 - 6:18 pm | #

Not suprised about TT. Guys on the team have always said they thought TT was the best running back on the team. I think he would have had a few 1,000 yard seasons by now if he didn't have fumble problems his first season.
ted | Email | Homepage | 05.20.07 - 6:31 pm | #

I always thought DW was better than TT. I would not mind seeing TT show his "real" stuff though. It would sure be nice to have some breakout receivers to take some pressure off the running game.
GB | Email | Homepage | 05.20.07 - 6:49 pm | #

Speed camp, huh? Wasn't that last year?
Alex | Email | Homepage | 05.20.07 - 7:03 pm | #

I am neither clever nor smart enough to understand the WNBA. I guess Ruth Riley has had a good run. I am so proud of Ruth and what she has accomplished at ND and in the WNBA. Again, not sure why she is in Poland of all places. Wish her the very best with now a fleeting career in a suspect profitable organization. Remember it’s $$$.

Now on to TT. My, a fifth year at ND trying out for the NFL as a RB while spending his senior year as a LB. Can he: one, contribute to ND and two, can he get drafted? I guess I’m being honest. I don’t think so.

I predict great things for Zibby. Stay focused son, there is $$$ at the end of the year.
Subway Alumni | Email | Homepage | 05.20.07 - 8:27 pm | #

I think it's way too early to guess about TT's draft status, but I'll go ahead and predict that he'll get over 1000 yards rushing in 2007. I realize there are a lot of talented running backs on the team, but I think Thomas is going to have a great year.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 05.20.07 - 9:56 pm | #

Article from Cleveland re: Quinn

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/n...blawg.php? id=59

Nduke's dad set it all up.

"Ndukwe went to a camp at Notre Dame that summer, and Ndukwe's father didn't like what he saw from the quarterbacks -- both the ones at camp and the ones already on the roster. Believing strongly that Quinn would fit well at Notre Dame, Mr. Ndukwe called Crabtree and asked if he should speak up on Quinn's behalf.

"I said he should do that," Crabtree said. "Mr. Ndukwe made his selling point and by the end of July, Brady was in South Bend for an official visit with Coach (Ty) Willingham. They never saw him throw a football live, which is an ironic thing. They offered him a scholarship and that's where he went."

Good thing Ty didn't look at the tapes or he wouldn't have offered. Even losers get lucky sometimes.
ThE LoSt BoY | Email | Homepage | 05.20.07 - 10:50 pm | #

I'm with Pat. There must be a reason TT was the starter ahead of DW until he fumbled a couple times to start off the season. Several years later I hope we'll see why.

With 1000+ yards and the measurables NFL scouts look for TT may find himself getting a shot to make an NFL team a year from now. Should be interesting to watch.
jaisn | Email | Homepage | 05.20.07 - 11:08 pm | #

Don't get too fired up, it's actually his brother that writes most of the stuff for him.
RC | Email | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 1:38 am | #

I am neither clever nor smart enough to understand the WNBA. I guess Ruth Riley has had a good run. I am so proud of Ruth and what she has accomplished at ND and in the WNBA. Again, not sure why she is in Poland of all places.

Most WNBA players head to Europe or Japan to play during the fall and winter. For example, after Sue Bird's Russian team won their league title, she promptly got on a plane back to Seattle to sign a one-year contract with the Storm.
DJ | Email | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 8:34 am | #

Another thing to note about TT's ability to get drafted: If he has a 1000+ yard rushing season, most NFL people will say that it was only 1 year, and they are not sure that it is legit.

However, TT played LB for a year and was a multi-year special teams captain, so his ability to get picked up in late rounds or possibly as a free agent when people consider he can tackle and play some special teams, should also be taken into account.

I think the NFL will like TT's physical style of running as well as his tackling/special teams contributions. Assuming he's healthy and productive all season, I don't think there's any way he won't get at least a free agent chance to prove himself in the NFL.

Hopefully, ND will pound teams this year and by the 4th quarter ND's physical play will allow ND to have a wide open running game once other teams have been worn out.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 11:13 am | #

I was trying to think of which teams we play that are susceptible to a "pound-it" style of running attack.

GT -- ordinarily is not, but we managed quite a running game against them last year in the opener, and they lose Anoai and one of their LB's.
UM -- um, no.
PSU -- they are moderately physical, but lose Poz and others from their front 7.
USC -- um, no.
MSU -- they are weaklings. We will run for 500 yards.
BC -- see MSU
Purdue -- see MSU
UCLA -- they had a dominant front 7 last year; I suspect they'll have a similar performance this year, though they lost at least one of their great DEs.
Last 4 games -- all pansies.

Unfortunately, I'd say the early part of our schedule isn't highly susceptible to a power running attack. GT, UM, PSU, UCLA, and USC are all capable of shutting down the run -- especially when they face average WR's and can devote another safety to run support.

That's precisely why the deep ball must be part of our arsenal: to free up the running game. For what it's worth, Clausen is the only one of the four QB contenders that throws an excellent deep ball. The other 3 throw average to poor deep balls.
NDDL99 | Email | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 1:02 pm | #

As one correction -- Frazer absolutely has the arm strength to throw a good deep ball. But, raw arm strength is only part of the equation.
NDDL99 | Email | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 1:05 pm | #

What's the official date Weis reveals the top two QBs?
Felipe | Email | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 1:46 pm | #

Real Soon Now. :)
Mr. Wednesday | Email | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 2:02 pm | #

Felipe:

I believe it is May 30.
Jade | Email | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 2:17 pm | #

May 30 is when he will tell the players who the top 2 QBs are. It could be a few days later before we, the public, hear anything.
Gabe | Email | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 2:54 pm | #

You've got to figure if Weis tells the QB's on the 30th that he'll release the names to the public before the weekend. Too much chance of it leaking over the weekend if he doesn't put it out by the 1st.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 4:31 pm | #

Im sure Charlie will keep a tight lid on everything and release the names appropriately. As a former college athlete, I know that rumors and leaks to the press about playing time are locker room killers.
Felipe | Email | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 4:59 pm | #

ND's running game will go only as far as its offensive line will allow it. ND's offensive line will go only as far as its coaching will develop it. And that is the concern. The challenge will be even greater if the ND passing game is not as adept as it was last year because of new faces in the skill positions.
PZ | Email | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 5:34 pm | #

Since we seem to be bouncing around the radar screen and things are a little slow, this is a decent analysis of the situation:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/ne...tory? id=2869113
Courtesy of our friends at ESPN.
Subway Alumni | Email | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 8:48 pm | #

Ted--

I heard the same thing my freshman year on campus ('04) from some people in the program--they claimed that TT would be our best RB by far if he could hold onto the ball.

Of course, this was still when Walker was a relative unknown, but I trust these guys' opinions. If only we had a passing game to help him out a bit...
Tony | Email | Homepage | 05.22.07 - 12:27 am | #

If I recall correctly with respect to the QB situation, Weis said he would tell the players first and release the information shortly thereafter to the press since it gets out anyway.

My guess is it's Clausen and Sharpley. DD and Frazer may have more physical potential (is that the conventional wisdom? I don't claim to know) but if Chuck Weis is true to form he will go with the guy who adjusts with the correct audible or makes a good read during progressions over a guy who can scramble or throw it into band camp. Clausen is obviously a man of technique and Sharpley has had a year in the bullpen to learn the system so there's your cut, gents.

I do expect us to come out attempting to establish a power game this year, not only because we're young at wideout and QB, but because that seems to be Charlie's game.

I don't know about anyone else, but it's the defense I have higher expectations for this year. I would not be surprised if they get much, much better under Mr. B. A 'Power' game always looks a lot better when 17 points wins it.
indy | Email | Homepage | 05.22.07 - 10:21 am | #

Maybe the first public announcement will be at the Monogram Club Dinner on May 31. If I hear anything there, I'll pass it on pronto.
ND67Aquajock | Email | Homepage | 05.22.07 - 2:25 pm | #

PZ,

Agree - lack of OL development is scary. No OL power = no power run.

Have any OL eclipsed Schwapp on max bench press?

indy,

With you on ES + JC. Game management, reading the D, and good judgment will be key.
ThE LoSt BoY | Email | Homepage | 05.22.07 - 5:37 pm | #

I'm sorry, I love Zibby, but he better be in speed camps all summer ... how many TDs in the last two years have gone right over his head? It's never just one person's fault, I know that well, but the first thing you learn in Pop Warner is "Safeties never get beat deep." He always struck me as too anxious to run up and plug the run ... OLB, anyone?
djb | Email | Homepage | 05.25.07 - 12:51 pm | #