I think having A. Nuss back the O line, on the whole, will be a good move.
Shadow Hawkins | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 8:55 am | #

Is Chris Stewart so bad that they are trying freshmen D-linemen before playing him? Or is there an injury involved here? You'd think the guy's sheer size would at least make it harder for DE's to run around him when he misses his blocks like the others.
Irish4eva | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 8:58 am | #

RE: PSU game.

When I mentioned the D blocking better than the O on the TD return, no one really picked up on it.

I think maybe the staff has decided to try some D players in the high risk spots. A little late, but a good move.

Teardown season continues . . .
ThE LoSt BoY | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 8:58 am | #

Nuss probably isn't fast enough to excel on D-line and with all the guys coming in next year on defense he has more value as an offensive lineman. I wonder if this move is precipitated by a Robinson decision?
Chris Stewart played the good soldier last spring when he was switched to nose tackle. Maybe he just is not in good enough shape to pull out and pick up a blitzer or throw a trap block. It seems like most of the guys from the past 2 years could play guard or tackle and the juggling, while currently disruptive, may be the best way to see which position is the best fit for each player. I would expect Wenger to revert to his center position next year as he will have more playing experience then either Bemendorfer or any of the incoming freshmen. I haven't seen Bartley Webb on the field either. I thought he had potential having seen him play on TV while in hig school. Still. all these guys are young for offensive linemen and could still make quantum leaps next year.
psdo51 | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 9:25 am | #

in all honesty, does anyone think we're going to be a whole lot better next year? we're still going to be extremely young. i think until clausen's third season (not that we're entirely dependent upon him, but just as a time reference) we're going to struggle mightily, but then we'll turn into a rather elite team.
query | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 9:25 am | #

The easiest way to see how playing time helps offensive linemen develop is to watch Mike Turkovich. He's getting better by the game. He had some terrific blocks against MSU.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 9:28 am | #

Unrelated, but I just learned that the longest losing streak in Fighting Irish history, eight in a row, strangely coincided with John F. Kennedy's late rally that landed him in the White House. It occurred between October 1st and November 19th, 1960.

So on the one hand, the pride of American Catholic football was in the dumper, but on the plus side, the unthinkable event of a Catholic becoming President was happening.

Is there some event of momentous significance for American Catholics going on now that I'm unaware of to redress this awful O-ferness?
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 9:47 am | #

Mit Romney becoming President??

Oh well maybe I'm tinking of BYU.
Dana Payne | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 9:54 am | #

Or thinking
Dana Payne | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 9:55 am | #

Has ND ever had a Mormon player?
Dana Payne | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 9:56 am | #

When we were courting Urban Meyer he wanted an 'exception' rule that allowed a few morons every year, but Notre Dame refused to lower the academic standards. That said I'm sure we've had our share of morons play for us over the years
Matt | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 10:07 am | #

Pete Carrol trying some Meyer's tactics? i for one am worried about the quote from Hunter..."for right now." what the f is that?

USC chasing Irish commitment
Posted: Thursday September 27, 2007 07:01AM ET
When Pete Carroll talks, recruits listen. Even ones already committed to Notre Dame. Buford's Omar Hunter visited with Carroll over the phone Tuesday and received an offer from the coach of top-ranked Southern Cal. That doesn't mean the blue-chip defensive tackle has changed his mind about heading to South Bend. "I'm sticking with Notre Dame for right now," Hunter said. Buford coach Jess Simpson said several schools, including Florida, Tennessee and Auburn, still contact Hunter, who is ranked as the sixth best defensive tackle in the nation by Rivals.com and the No. 78 prospect overall.
PM | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 11:05 am | #

On Stewart: He is a guard, not a tackle, so taking on DEs would not be his bag, at least not in pass-protect. What really seems to ail our OTs is lack of quickness and communication involved in setting up the protection - thus unblocked guys outside or the OT lunging as a DE blows past him. Stewart does not seem to have the lateral quickness needed to address that issue. As to OG play - I am pretty sure he would be playing if he earned it. With rougher practices and injuries, he may get his shot soon in any event.

I think there is some real progress on the line. When all the incremental improvements start to add up, you may just see a leap in play this year.
Thundershaker | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 11:08 am | #

i for one am worried about the quote from Hunter..."for right now." what the f is that?

In other articles, Hunter was quoted as saying that he was sticking with ND "as long as Weis and Brown are there." Relax.
DJ | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 11:44 am | #

Thanks.
PM | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 11:46 am | #

I understand that James Aldridge was caught from behind by a MSU LINEBACKER during his long run last game. I'll say it again...the tailbacks look/run like fullbacks or look like they are running in dry sand. Where are Armando Allen's moves/quickness/speed. In fact...where is Armando Allen??
jim / redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 12:08 pm | #

Aldridge got clipped earlier in the run slowing down his momentum. Besides, it still was our longest run of the Weis era by someone not named Brady and not on a fake punt.
PM | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 12:12 pm | #

Bruce Feldman of ESPN had a little blurb in today's column about another highly touted sophomore following Rueland out the door.

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/ ...e=feldman_bruce
Chris M | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 12:14 pm | #

Hey, nothing against Armando and his excellent speed, but come on! Would you honestly give up the workhorse that is Aldridge just because he got run down by a linebacker? If I recall, there were times that Jerome Bettis got caught from behind by an opposing LB, and no one is questioning his carreer (either NFL or ND).

I wouldn't trade Aldridge for anything. The three core guys we have right now (Aldridge, Allen, Hughes) are the future of the HB's this team is going to have for 2008 - all three of them bring something different to the field, and they compliment each other nicely. The fact that Aldridge ripped off the run because he saw the hole created by our "gelling" (oh, how I hate that word) offensive line should be cause of celebration, not one of consternation because he got caught from behind 35 yards AFTER he was tripped up near the line of scrimmage.
chrisnd | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 12:18 pm | #

Chris M, your link didn't work. Who is Feldman talking about?

On to another OT comment - has anyone noticed that since [NAME REDACTED] has lost two straight games while "building up men of character" in Washington, (including a loss to McSweatervest that was worse than Charlie's Fiesta Bowl loss to OSU, and a drubbing by a UCLA team that was schooled by Utah), that the comparisons in the media between Charlie Weis and [NAME REDACTED] have stopped? Just thought it was interesting what people have to say (or more importantly, what they DON'T say) when the truth finally starts to rear its ugly head?

Just my observation.
chrisnd | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 12:27 pm | #

Here's the comment from Feldman:

"Sources tell us another highly touted sophomore from Notre Dame's 2006 recruiting class is set to follow TE Konrad Reuland out of South Bend very soon. More later on that."
Chris M | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 12:31 pm | #

Hmm....Raeshon McNeil??? Just guessing.
PM | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 12:37 pm | #

rumors that Chris Stewart is tranferring...
Okiedomer | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 12:40 pm | #

The rumored departee is Chris Stewart, been around for about a week, not offical.
psdo51 | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 12:44 pm | #

Wow, that would be pretty disheartening. I really wanted to see the big man come to fruition on an ND line.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 12:55 pm | #

Great. Does anybody else want to transfer? Maybe Clausen and Sharpley can transfer and leave Armando Allen to take direct snaps from the spread (again).
Cole Gannon | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 12:59 pm | #

If we have a win over Perdue on Sat,
things might settle down with all the
transfer talk.
john | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 1:37 pm | #

Corwin Brown needs to get on the phone immediately to Omar Hunter. After he does that, he needs to make sure this defense doesn't give up 30+ points for the 7th straight game. Progress please!

Really excited for the game, though. I hope our young DBs play like studs and zibby knocks the sprite right out of lymon.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 1:54 pm | #

If recruits/players weren't smart enough to know that this was a 4-8 year...or that they would have competition for playing time...how did Admissions let them into the University?
jim / redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 2:19 pm | #

Jim
Allen is very fast but a strong breeze knocks him over. Which is why he was not on the return team last game

Look for the staff to try to get him more space until he gets stronger...next year probably.
domerplayer | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 4:58 pm | #

That Paul Duncan is still an O line starter indicates that the kids on the second tier of the depth chart are a long way from being productive. I hope they get some game experience and have an incredible offseason in the weightroom as we are already gearing up for '08. Duncan may be the greatest kid who's ever lived, but he, along with Sullivan, have been uber-underachievers this year.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 09.27.07 - 5:30 pm | #

I agree with domerplayer. Allen is what used to be referred to as a "scatback". I would love to see him hit a crease and get to accelerate. It is very difficult for freshman to come in and have the physical maturity to play well. You have a few exceptions but remember that most of these kids are 18-19 years old and playing against men. See what happens in a few years. I believe Corwin is doing some damage control on the phone. If I was Hunter I would have to look at immediate PT, there is no doubt that he would get a good long look on the DL next year. That is one saving grace for the recruiting class for next year, many will be able to challenge for playing time and I think that the fact that CW is playing so many young players lets these recruits know that they can contribute quickly.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 8:36 pm | #