2009 Season Climax

The 2009 Irish football season has reached its climax. After a heartbreaking loss to USC in what was billed as their biggest game this season, the Irish bounced back to break another streak with a win against BC. With five games to play, the Irish have past the crest in the hill and should coast towards the ultimate conclusion of the season: the bowl game.

The Irish sit at 5-2 and are currently ranked #23 in the BCS standings. The Irish are predicted to win out to finish 10-2, but with the way this team has been playing, I'm not so sure. Regardless, Charlie needs these games to prove the Irish are legitimate contenders again. Even though a National Championship is out of reach, I would love to finish 11-2 which should rank us in the Top 10. In addition, the golden boy Jimmy Clausen has a great chance to win the Heisman and Golden Tate should run away with the Biletnikoff.

All things considered, the 2009 ND Football season can still rank as one of the best ever, topping Weis' 2005 and 2006 success.

-DH

Time

Can you taste it? With every autumn in South Bend comes a bottle of fruitless optimism (only 50 calories!), leaving a bitter and foul winter aftertaste. Will this year be any different? USC has beaten Notre Dame seven straight years by an average of 27 points. Why are we to think this year is any different? Are we making too much of this game? Time. That’s the answer. Only He will tell.

Listen to the experts, everyone’s talking about the Irish offense versus the Trojans defense, which are both top-10 units. All I hear is how Notre Dame hasn’t faced a defense as tough as USC’s yet this year, and if we struggle against teams that bad defensively, how can we possibly move the rock against Carroll Almighty. What no one mentions is the “caliber” of offenses USC has faced this season. Take a bite out of this nifty chart. I made it myself. USC’s opponents thus far:

Rank (offense)
San Jose State - 117
Ohio St - 85
Washington - 74
Washington State - 119
California - 49

On average, USC has been facing the 89th ranked offense in college football. You don’t think SC has some inflated numbers this year? No doubt, this defense is phenomenal, but they have not faced the likes of our very own Weisian juggernaut that is Jimmy & Co. Whoever came up with the term Weisian needs to tarred and feathered. I have trouble staying away from it though; it makes him sound like he has accomplished something great. Like invent the crossing route or something.

The key to the game I believe is the running game. We need to have just one speckle of a running game to keep USC honest or else Jimmy is going to be eating the high weeds of Notre Dame Stadium all afternoon. They will simply drop 7 back in coverage, keep the safeties deep, and just wait for the Front 4 to get to Clausen. We must have the ability to run the rock – that’s on you O-Line.

On the other side of the ball, we must be able to moderately contain their rushing attack, forcing the true freshman Matt Barkley to win the game with his high school arm and teenage brain. This is something we failed to do against Michigan (the reason for that awkward 1 behind the 4). Right now, our defense is not good. To say they are underachieving is to say that Keanu Reeves is an actor “with range.” They are below underachieving. We are currently nuzzled in quite cozy at the 100th spot in total defense in between Hawaii and Ball State. Let that sink in.

Meanwhile, the top 3 teams in the polls (granted, they are Best of the Best) are ranked #1, 2, and 4 defensively. Not one of the top-5 teams in the nation gave up more than 14 points this past Saturday, and they were facing the likes of Florida, LSU, and Ole Miss. But, in the words of Stephen A.: “HOWEVAAHH” (however)!!!! There is hope. Currently we are a modest 49th against the run, well above the likes of Va Tech (62), Miami (66), and LSU (70). Will this be enough to slow SC down? Will we be able to consistently move the ball against the Trojans? Step up, baby!

Irish win. It’s about time.

So, let’s hear what you got. This blog has less traffic than Middletown at 2 in the afternoon.

rabes

Now or Never

Charlie will have to use all the weapons in his artillery this weekend to take down the Trojans. This might be the best team Charlie's ever had at Notre Dame and is easily Weis' best chance to beat the Trojans. If he doesn't succeed, Weis may very quickly become the hunted, and find himself on the retreat out of South Bend.

-DH

What Just Happened

I found myself asking this question nonstop while watching the Irish squeak out a 37-30 victory on Saturday over Washington. The game displayed all facets of offense and defense; the good, the bad, and especially the ugly. Furthermore, there were so many individual plays that left me clueless. It was an instant classic, for arguably all the wrong reasons.

Here are the five most ridiculous plays from Saturday:


5. HOW FAR CAN YOU GO

At the end of the 3rd quarter, the Irish capped off a 93 yard scoring drive with a field goal. I didn't even know that was possible. To make matters worse, the statistics indicate the Irish accumulated 117 yards on that one drive! Can someone please tell me how did we not score a touchdown?


4. #1 FANTASY PICK-UP

Freshman kicker Nick Tausch booted FIVE field goals on the day! FIVE! With a performance like that, lets hope the days of losing to Syracuse on a missed field goal are over. While I love putting points on the board, I would much rather score TDs. The Irish drives resulting in field goals were 49, 58, 72, 76, and 93 yards. Convert those to TDs and the Irish would have put up 50 points in regulation.


3. THE BULLDOZER

Junior running back Robert Hughes could easily be credited with the play of the game. Not only did Hughes rush for 70 yards and the game winning TD, but the 2-point conversion run was by far the most impressive. As soon as Hughes ran smack into the back of O-Line, I turned to my dad sitting next to me and rattled off a slew of curse words. Yet, by the time I turned back to the action, Hughes was in the end zone (or was he?) and celebrating.


2. THE FORWARD PASS

Irish signal caller Jimmy Clausen almost threw away his Heisman hopes with one pass. What the hell was he thinking! It was the most idiotic play I have seen in a a few years (since maybe where's the ball John Ryan, 2007 - that's for you OC). Somehow, Clausen's atrocious turnover was swept under the rug and trampled on by another dramatic finish. Or maybe it was his stat line: 23-31 for 422 yards and 2 TDs - 1INT (catch the ball Allen!!!!).


1. THE BALL STOPS HERE

Heading into the game, the Irish had proven they couldn't stop anyone (except Nevada who coincidentally put up 779 yards of offense Saturday). Following an opening drive TD for Washington, I knew it was going to be a long day for the defense. But who knew they would stop the Huskies on 10 possessions from inside the 5 yard line!! It was a new side of this defense I was stoked to see! It's what ultimately won the game for the Irish. Had Washington gone up two scores, I would have doubted an Irish comeback.


Bottom line, while it didn't appear the Irish deserved to win, they did. And I would rather win ugly than lose pretty any day of the week. And there were a few things I learned; Weis will always take the points. Our offense can move the ball at will. I am glad for the bye week, as I can rest my heart as there is no end in sight for dramatic finishes, and our next game just might be the most dramatic of the year.


OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Golden "Fair Catch" Tate (thanks Rabes)

As an all-around weapon for the Irish, Tate alone turned small passes into big gains. He racked up 244 yards and a TD on nine catches! What I love best was his desire to get into the endzone. He broke two tackles to score a TD and attempted a five yard dive to the end zone in OT. But with the way the Irish offense was settling for FGs, I don't blame him.


DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Defensive Front Seven

The defense was terrible between the 20s, but they played with the bend, not break mentality. Give credit to the defensive line lead the charge in those goal lines stands. T'eo was all over the field making tackles in his first start. Outside of the roughing the snapper (didn't know that was a penalty) call, the Irish played a smart game, though they gave up 457 yards of offense.


-DH

Which Way?

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program heads into Saturday's game standing at the crossroads. Rewind to last year. The Irish emerged through the "Big Ten" stretch of their schedule with a 3-1 record. However, the Irish soon stumbled in some games they should have won: a 29-24 throw away victory to North Carolina and a 36-33 heart breaking overtime loss to Pittsburgh at home. These two games set the tone for a 6-6 season. (Don't get me started on Syracuse)

Fast forward to the present. For the second straight season, the Irish have accumulated a 3-1 record through their "Big Ten" stretch. Washington now stands in front of us and the road winds in two directions. At the beginning of the season, Washington looked like a cakewalk. However, a new coaching staff has roused the potential in the Willingham recruits. (I've heard this story before)

The Irish must win this game to avoid falling in a rut that would derail their season. A loss Saturday and the USC game looks hopeless and a sub par .500 record would soon follow. A win over Washington and the Irish will carry a 4-1 record and a little momentum into their off week preparation for the Trojans.

Where we go from here is up to us - and Jimmy's big toe.

-DH