Sorry but I'm not buying all the talk about an Irish resurgence in 2008 until I see proof on the field. Only tangible results will convince me that Notre Dame is headed back towards respectability.
I maybe from Illinois but in one respect I'm a native Missourian - you've got to show me. And brother, do the Irish ever have some showing to do. They've got to validate themselves big-time. At present, their credibility is highly suspect. Until they put up, it's best they shut up.
Last year's 3 and 9 debacle of a season has left countless followers of the Domers shaken and uncertain. They simply don't know what to expect. Their confidence in the Notre Dame brand isn't what it used to be but then again, why should it? The 2007 campaign was a complete train wreck starting with the catastrophe against the Ramblin' Wreck. It only got worse from there.
Late season wins versus lightweights Duke and Stanford hardly put a positive face on a disastrous year. Those victories merely stopped the bleeding. Notre Dame football, circa 2007, was an embarrassing blight on a historic program.
Perhaps the most bothersome aspect to last season's implosion was that as the year progressed, only miniscule improvement seemed to be made. You can live with the occasional disaster if there are signs of growth and development. But if a team demonstrates very little upward mobility from September thru November, then you've got some very serious issues.
And nothing ND did at the end of the 2007 season indicated that they had turned the corner or were on the cusp of a much brighter day.
From the outset of last year, the offense sputtered and failed to establish an identity. Volatility at the quarterback position set a bad tone. The line, which yielded an NCAA record high of 58 sacks, was porous, overmatched and pathetic. The running game was virtually non-existent. The receivers, save for perhaps tight end John Carlson, were of little import because they didn't see the ball enough.
For too long, the offense labored and wheezed and because no significant inroads were made as far as consistently moving the football, doubts understandably linger about ND's ability to put points on the board. Be honest. Does anybody really trust in this offense to carry its' weight?
Yes, Jimmy Clausen is bigger, stronger and healthier. And his slingshot arm appears locked and loaded. But can he translate the brutal beating he took as a freshman into something positive? Can he build on that trying experience and become an accomplished thrower and leader? At this stage, no one is certain how things will shake out with Clausen.
Running back Robert Hughes has the look of a thoroughbred but he's been lightly raced. There's no doubt that in limited action, the 5-11 sophomore has shone brightly with two 100-yard games to his credit. But can he take the pounding of being a featured back and still keep on ticking? That's a huge question.
If the line isn't significantly upgraded, then all bets are off and it doesn't matter a hoot in hell what anybody else does. Just on seasoning alone, the line figures to be more cohesive and stable. Center Dan Wenger opened some eyes with his solid play down the stretch after he replaced an injured John Sullivan. Mammoth tackle Sam Young ( 6-8, 330 lbs ) seems rejuvenated and primed to be a mighty force on the right side. And then there's the massive Chris Stewart ( 6-5, 337 lbs. ) who's starting to come on and could be a revelation at guard.
Those three figure to anchor a line that must make a dramatic and concrete contribution. But again, off the horrendous effort of last year, there's no guarantee that the '08 line will be a strength instead of a colossal weakness.
Finally, we come to the receivers. If Clausen can remain upright and is given sufficient time, his weapons on the outside have the potential to do some damage. Rangy Duval Kamara provides a big target ( 6-5 ) and showed plenty of upside during his rookie season. Highly touted frosh Michael Floyd has impressed in camp with his moxie and moves and looks like a lock to garner some meaningful playing time. Determined senior captain David Grimes provides dependability as does possession receiver Robby Parris. The wow factor is furnished by Golden Tate whose speed makes him a possible homerun threat.
And don't discount the tight end. Though the position has been diminished by the loss of Mike Ragone, Will Yeatman should snare his fair share of balls. Physical freshman Kyle Rudolph could also make some noise at this spot.
But like all other aspects of the offense, the receiving corps needs to step up and do something notable. Potential is one thing. Production is quite another.
Though the Irish defense of '07 had its' moments and at times, showed some grit, it eventually broke down under the crushing burden of trying to cover-up for such a stunningly inept offense. The ND defenders didn't get a whole lot of help from their brethren on the other side of the ball. They basically had to fend for themselves.
That being said, the Domer "D" wasn't exactly first-rate. Under new defensive coordinator Corwin Brown some progress was made but it was hardly pronounced. The Domers revealed themselves to be sorely challenged in the key areas of stopping the run, holding on third down and preventing the big play.
ND's vulnerability to the run, which led to yielding 195.4 yards a game on the ground and a woeful ranking of 96th in the country, was inexcusable. Things would have been even more humiliating if not for the heroic efforts of nose tackle Trevor Laws who amounted to a virtual one-man gang with his 112 tackles.
You couple Law's huge loss with the departure of hardnosed safety Tom Zbikowski, and there are major holes to fill off a defense that wasn't all that stout to begin with. What's more, the most talented returning defender, Darrin Walls, won't be available this fall reputedly because of academic issues.
Hence, ND's stuck with the reality that its defense doesn't feature any true standouts. There's no stud or two to build around. Oh sure, there are productive players like active safety David Bruton and tenacious inside linebacker Maurice Crum who can make a mark but they're not stars. Beyond them, the questions on defense abound.
Can someone, anyone, on the defensive line step up and be a force at the point of attack? Promising Ian Williams will have to make a quantum leap just to be half as good as was his predecessor Laws.
Can someone on the edge, either at end or from outside linebacker, generate consistent pressure on the quarterback?
And who in the secondary, be it Terrail Lambert, Raeshon McNeil or Kyle McCarthy is going to exceed expectations and lend Bruton a needed hand?
That's a lot of what ifs to be dealing with. There are clearly more question marks than sure things or givens.
But there's one hope that Irish fans can cling to. It comes in the form of a fiery coach with a proven track record. A defensive whiz who knows something about putting together an attacking and fearsome unit. His name is Jon Tenuta and his years at Georgia Tech speak for themselves. Tenuta'a charges came at you with abandon and boy, did they ever compete.
Tenuta was brought in expressly to toughen up ND's defense and get it to be more aggressive and assertive. Though Corwin Brown remains the defensive coordinator, Tenuta's voice will be heard and his suggestions will be heeded. He represents a potential change that, in the end, could reap monumental dividends if he can translate his fire and passion to the defenders he schools. His arrival portends a radical adjustment in philosophy.
Overall, the defense isn't without talent but putting it to maximum use will be the issue. And the question.
So call me a cynic. Label me a skeptic. Curse me for being a non-believer. But with some many areas of doubt, with virtually no guarantees to count on and with both an offense and defense marinating in a state of the unknown, I can't buy into an Irish renaissance at the present.
It's going to take a lot more than just talk and hopeful projection to get me to trust in this football team. The memory of '07 and the ineptitude it evokes, won't be easily dispatched from my mind. My confidence has been undermined in both the program and Charlie Weis. It's going to take a whole lot of positive feedback to get it back.
After last year, the Irish aren't entitled to being given any slack. No more benefit of the doubt will be given. The only thing that matters at this stage are wins and losses. Virtually everything else is inconsequential.
The message is clear for ND football. Put an end to the slipshod and indifferent play and start your way back towards national prominence. State your case between the white lines. Get it done on the field. Prove yourselves worthy of wearing an Irish uniform.
Then and only then, will I begin to buy into the Irish mystique again. No longer is having faith enough. I've got to be shown.