Sorry to drop an non-football comment on top of the spring report, but I couldn't find ND's yellow balls site. Anyway...


For the third time in four years and eighth time since joining the conference, the Notre Dame women's tennis team has captured the Big East Championship.

Congrats.

Now back to our regularly scheduled comments
Jim '72 | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 9:33 am | #

Just a couple of quick notes:

1. It seems to me that there is NO QUESTION who should be starting and getting the vast majority of carries. I felt the same way at the end of last year. That man is Robert Hughes. I think that he is an every down back, and if we use Allen (and can get him outside) as a counter punch, I think we can finally establish a power running game. No offense to Aldridge, but he just isn't close in terms of speed, power, or vision to Hughes.

2. Golden Tate should be starting at wide receiver, and should be catching 5-10 passes a game. He is a real "save the day" type receiver who simply, makes plays. Kamara had a few drops, but is still the best all round receiver in the corp. Grimes has his moments, but George West is nowhere near Tate in terms of getting to the football. Tate is explosive, and is our best deep ball threat. I'm betting by the end of the year our starters should be Karara, Floyd, and Tate. And that is very, very exciting for 2009.

3. Clausen's arm is much, much better. As a matter of fact, he looks better in every way.

4. Did anyone happen to see how ESPN led the Blue-Gold game Sunday morning? They showed the little brawl and said something like "Notre Dame takes last year's frustrations out on themselves". How typical. BTW, I liked the brawl - it's time we showed alittle fire, and it was good to see it come from some young guys.

5. This incoming class already talks like a close-knit group, and will push for play time at alot of positions. I can't wait to see how this is going to play out.

6. I want to beat Michigan so bad I can't sleep at night - in April! I truly think that we can, if we ride Hughes all the way. In my opinion, getting on the Hughes bus (intentional comparison) will make or break our season.

One last thing - I may be a bit of a sucker, but seeing "Notre Dame will rise again" on The Shirt did give me some chills. Great back, front is OK.

Talk to you guys soon, GO IRISH
speakirish | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 9:47 am | #

I missed everything about this weekend. What was the brawl? Why did it happen? Who was involved?
Greg | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 10:42 am | #

For some reason, no one has pointed out how Jimmy locked down on his receiver as soon as he hiked the ball. I guess our secondary didn't pick up on it, but it was really bad. You could watch him just stare at Kamara or Tate and then finally throw 3-5 seconds later. I'm sure that was the reason for the Pick-6. I just felt very uncomfortable knowing that JC was not scanning the field for receivers.
Frommy | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 10:52 am | #

Frommy is exactly correct - JC absolutely stared down his receivers on MOST pass plays. And while he might get away with that during the Blue Gold game, he sure as heck won't get away with it in the fall. My guess, however, is that is correctible and JC will have a good (but not great) year. Go Irish!
Jan | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 11:38 am | #

Mmmm, south dining hall steak and shrimp dinner.
red | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 11:44 am | #

Just a correction...Harrison Smith is not a freshman, he's a sophomore.
flat | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 12:00 pm | #

whoops scratch that...i was looking at the current roster and thought it was last year's. things are really looking up then...
flat | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 12:05 pm | #

Don't mean to be the resident pessimist, but I've said it before and here it goes again: JC just doesn't have "it" at this level---or at least not yet.

Still hoping for the best . . .
ABC123 | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 12:20 pm | #

JC did not have a good game at all-
Makes me very nervous. I agree with all that has been said already...
UND42 | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 12:34 pm | #

Yep. For a kid billed as the LeBron James of high school football, he did not look good Saturday. A less than 40% percent completion rate is not going to cut it. Staring dowm receivers is not good and unless he can learn (not sure if it is leaned behavior or something a QB just has)to scan the field, he will just be an okay but not great QB.
domerva | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 1:39 pm | #

To be fair, Clausen's completion percentage was not helped by a huge number of dropped passes, which I'm sure doesn't shock anybody. Considering that Clausen is just now finally healthy and this is only going to be his second year starting, I'm more than willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. There's no excuse, though, for staring down the receivers. I'm sure that's something that will be worked on.

To answer Greg's question, I'm pretty sure the fight involved McNeil, Ragone, and Olsen. What I read on Blue & Gold is that McNeil threw a punch at Ragone and Olsen stepped in to defend him. While I'm glad that guys are showing emotion, there is definitely a line and I doubt we'd be glad if that happened down at the goal line in the last few minutes of a close game. So let's not be too excited about it.
Jade | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 1:55 pm | #

That pick-6 was the most ridiculous play I've seen a QB make since Dillingham handed off to the BC linebacker. The intended receiver was covered the entire play, yet Jimmy stared at him and stared at him and finally just threw it anyway. That play had pick-6 written on it from the moment the ball was snapped. I hope CW and Powlus show Jimmy that tape 50 times and say "Seriously, what were you thinking?"

Sounds like we haven't shaken our case of the dropsies. This has been an ongoing problem the past 2 years, especially in big games. Who is our receivers coach, and is it time to start talking about what he could be doing better? I haven't watched the whole video yet, were the starters dropping the ball or the back-up guys?

The bad plays make me think the offense is bad, the good plays make me think the defense is bad. I sure hope I'm wrong on both accounts come the fall.

I'll end on a positive note: Robert Hughes is quickly becoming my favorite offensive player. Here's to him trucking for 250 yards against the skunkbears.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 2:24 pm | #

Robert Hughes is already my favorite offensive player. It was a pretty easy decision since he's the only one who is consistently good. I could watch him run over people all day.
Jade | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 2:33 pm | #

I agree somewhat w/ a previous comment about George West not seeming to make as much happen at the WR position, but he also had - to me - one of the most memorable non-highlight moments of the game. Did anyone else see him level a defender on a block for the running back? I think it was a DB, I think Hughes was the runner, and I wanna say it was the first half. I know WR's have to be play-makers, and I'm not saying that should keep him high up on the depth chart, but I love seeing a great block (and he flat-out clobbered the guy) & I'm curious whether or not anyone else saw it.
baIrish | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 3:04 pm | #

Why all the negative vibes?
Catching a football:
Both palms up and facing away.
Both thumbs perpendicular to raised forefingers.
Bring together. Viola a catching triangle.
Now if you can't do that get the F*** off my field
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 4:04 pm | #

God help us if we don't have sticky hands and a strong offensive line performance on 9/6 against SD State. And given their offensive retooling and issues at QB, Clausen will have a lot on the line when Michigan comes calling a week later. Here's hoping we're pleasantly surprised.

On the plus side, Tenuta looks very tactically engaged in the practice videos seeing him asking players to repeat a drill or call out points of emphasis ('eyes!eyes!eyes!') made me realize there's a fine line between going through the motions, and really working to improve on every play, every rep. Hopefully the guys have crossed that line and here's hoping for great things.

Lastly, although I've been as disappointed as anyone in what's happened on the field, from a fan's vantage point CW seems to be making all the right moves as 'CEO' of the program - in particular, recognizing and attempting to address his own weaknesses and mistakes. That's all I expect out of a leader and I believe it will manifest in-game sooner or later. The guy is bright, competent, and committed; and in the end, he will deliver.
indy | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 4:15 pm | #

There should be a lot of attention the coahces give the WRs during summer ball. There hands, technique and separation need to drastically improve. That said, nice finish by Tate and Kamara at the end of the scrimmage.

It's OL, DL and WRs as the areas in most dire need of constant development between now and next fall.
Andy | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 4:21 pm | #

It's April 21st and this much negativity already?
Save some for September, boys.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 4:29 pm | #

Just to add to the cheery comments JC seems to throw off his back foot a lot as well...
nylarch | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 5:43 pm | #

i also saw jimmy clausen kick a dog on campus on friday. oh, and he didn't use the sidewalk, opting instead to walk on the newly-cut grass outside of the student center. also, a power bar wrapper fell out of his pocket and he didn't pick it up.

jeez, guys give it a rest. april is the time for optimism - at least hold off until august. go take a look at the 2008 shirt, take a deep breath, and come back with a clear head.
Schultz | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 6:46 pm | #

I attended the game and watched Clausen throw with velocity and accuracy... when our receivers would drop a perfectly thrown pass their was no negative emotion from Clausen... he kept cool... a bunch of times he stepped up in the pocket and threw a nice ball to a secondary receiver... he is our QB of the future and he is improving every day
Vin | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 7:04 pm | #

Schultz, was that a berry power bar, or a peanut butter power bar? I mean, that could make the difference in this whole season!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 8:27 pm | #

Clausen is STILL in his first year at college folks. Keep that in mind.

I have all the confidence in the world that he will do nothing but improve under Charlie's direction. Remember, Quinn had two years of starting experience, and it still wasn't until a couple games into Weis's first year that he really took off and started playing at another level. I see no reason why Clausen can't do the same (and remember, Clausen actually got hit MORE times last year than Quinn ever did, which really says something, about him and the Oline).
Brad | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 9:27 pm | #

Those sophomores may be super someday soon, but it's hard to judge the team from this spring game. The most I can say is that the offense scored, but not at will (good news for the defense) and the defense made some nice stops, but not dominating (good news for the offense).
BigE | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 9:31 pm | #

Most of the sites I read say the recivers catch everything in practice. Don't understad the dropsies. Those and penalties just kill drives. Do we have one of the biggest O-lines in football? All the guys are 300+. Really liking an I formation w/ Hughes and Aldridge or Hughes and Schwapp. Could take a lot of pressure off JC.
honesta | Email | Homepage | 04.21.08 - 11:11 pm | #

Out of curiosity, did anyone just enjoy going to the Blue and Gold game as opposed to being hypercritical of every player, every play?

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying we shouldn't be critical; especially after I think of how it was to sit through many of those games at the stadium last season. But I think there is much to look forward to with this team and, as it is still spring, we should keep looking forward with some hope.
Jesse | Email | Homepage | 04.22.08 - 12:14 am | #

we can be critical... they sucked last year

they still have large room for improvement

i did like ian williams and the work of our linebacker's

Best Play of the Day: Clausen stepped forward from pressure and hit grimes across the middle, unfortunately they hardly had any other plays over the middle

i also think fighting in spring is good cause it means they're hungry.... fighting in fall means they hate each other
mike | Email | Homepage | 04.22.08 - 12:41 am | #

Brad,
I basically agree with you, but just to quibble, Clausen's in his second year b/c he started last January and was here for spring training last year.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 04.22.08 - 10:12 am | #

Sounds like Theo Riddick--a 4-star RB--will be committing tomorrow.

Hopefully we can hold on to these guys as well as we did last year's recruits.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 04.22.08 - 11:18 am | #

My questions for the game were:
1. Can we run the ball?
2. Can Clausen manage the game and using more of the playbook?
3. Has coaching improved play, especially OL and DL?
4. Are we minimizing mistakes?
5. How well is Tenuta's coaching impacting the defense?
6. Is special teams improving?
7. Are we seeing improvement in the team with increasing experience and depth?
8. Is the team playing with energy and fight?
9. Are we creating opportunities with our defense?
While improvements need to be made and the freshmen will have an impact, I was pleased overall.
Cierre Wood's commitment was great work by the coaching staff.
Brian | Email | Homepage | 04.22.08 - 12:15 pm | #

I think there's room for hopeful skepticism, or perhaps critical concern tinged with optimistic cynicism, going into any season in which Navy is looking to extend their win streak.
indy | Email | Homepage | 04.22.08 - 2:35 pm | #

Anyone else worried that both Stewart and Young are getting beat in the picture above????

I just noticed that and with all the talk about or O-line this past year we have a picture of two of them getting beat.
bengalsfan8888 | Email | Homepage | 04.22.08 - 4:50 pm | #

I have to say, I am still optimistic with this season. We all knew Robert Hughes is a great player but I am still waiting on armando allen that kid can run watch out guys. James aldridge, I am only disapponted that he is not at 100% with his ankle problem but once he is ready, I see the running game being our greatest stength this year I hope we commit to it. Go irish
Jean | Email | Homepage | 04.22.08 - 5:10 pm | #

bengalsfan8888-

You're kidding, right? You're worried about a single photo from a single play taken out of context at a glorified scrimmage game in April?
kmf | Email | Homepage | 04.22.08 - 6:01 pm | #

Bengals

Looks like the DLine is slanting; SY's head is in front.

If 59's defender shoots through and over runs, 33 cutsback.

Why not look for this play on the und.com film section and see if they lost yardage.

If they did, I believe the guys in white are on scholarship, too.

Hopefully we continue to get better everyday.

Stay positive/stay focused!
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 04.22.08 - 6:24 pm | #

bengals,

No one is getting beat on that play. It's a slant to the left, both Stewart and Young are in fine position, looking at that one picture.
champ | Email | Homepage | 04.22.08 - 10:24 pm | #

Nice to see Laws get some credit - especially from SI.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com.../ content.9.html

Happy Trails, Trevor. Hope you end up on a winner.
ThE LoSt BoY | Email | Homepage | 04.22.08 - 10:44 pm | #

I just thought it was funny that people were talking about the O-line and the one picture of the site has 2 of them getting beat.

I don't know what anyone is looking at, stewart is in terrible position in that play, it looks like he is about to fall over. Young is a little better but in a perfect world both their heads should be on the other side, so the defender would have to back door to get to the running back which would mean they would never make the play.

To the person who said if they get beat the running back would cut it back, well then I guess every play should go for big yardage since even if half the line gets beat they can cut it back, that may happen once in awhile but your not going to make a living off of that.
johnp5959 | Email | Homepage | 04.22.08 - 11:16 pm | #

Did you guys commenting on this photo watch the UND video, or are you just talking out of your @$$3$. SY only got beat on like 3 plays the entire scrimmage, and generally dominated the entire time. This play actually went for a good gain, the player everyone is so quick to point out is beating CS (who admittedly is way to0 high in this photo) is too far away to make the play on Hughes.
Kyle | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 2:27 am | #

Re: Trevor Laws
CFN's analysis of draft prospects ranks him 3rd behind Dorsey and Ellis:

3. Trevor Laws, DT Notre Dame
112 tackles as a senior. For a tackle. Again, 112 tackles in one season. While he's not necessarily a tackle to build a defense around, he has the drive and the fire to become a bear of a starter and a phenomenal second interior option next to a bigger established starter. Very active and with a great motor, he can be used in a variety of ways and will still produce. At only six-feet tall, he's a bit of a bowling ball and he isn't a good interior pass rusher, but he'll make plays and will always keep working.
CFN Projection: Second Round
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 6:45 am | #

Ragone's one catch aside, we need Will "DUI" Yeatman back badly.
Aaron | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 10:28 am | #