A little over 24 hours after Notre Dame's 35-21 win over Purdue and we've had some time to process exactly what we witnessed Saturday.
The first thing is that Notre Dame's defense, against a potent passing offense with a good systematic foundation, is in trouble. Not everywhere, mind you, but in certain spots. The linebackers still need to improve -- and no one knows what will happen once the Irish play some run-first teams which would force Notre Dame to use a 4-3 defense. So far, the Irish have lived in nickel and dime, using quicker defensive backs to mask potential problems. So it could get interesting once the Irish reach Navy.
That said, Notre Dame might have a cornerback controversy at some point. Junior Terrail Lambert is playing himself into a starter's role which could cause issue once Notre Dame needs to switch out of nickel. Irish coach Charlie Weis effectively called Lambert a starter Sunday because Notre Dame plays so much nickel. Rick MInter, though, is doing a credible job with what he has to work with and Notre Dame shouldn't struggle defensively the rest of the year except for Navy -- option plus coaching plus a talented team could equal a close game -- and, of course, USC and the bowl game.
Last year, much was made of "bend but don't break defense." Looks like Notre Dame might be back to that. Biggest problem there -- the defense broke against Ohio State last year.
Offensively, Notre Dame is coming around although it played a very young secondary in Purdue. More experienced cornerbacks would have adjusteed to senior wide receiver Rhema McKnight. But a good half against Michigan State translated into a good game versus Purdue and next thing you know, confidence will be high enough that the offense will fully believe in itself again. Once it does that, you'll see numbers equal to or better than last year.
Weis focused on the run game and it improved drastically. It should help the confidence of junior Darius Walker and give teams a bit more to think about when planning for Notre Dame.
What it comes to is this -- like it or not, this team has many of the same characteristics as the 2005 squad. Talented offense and some suspect spots on defense. But that is because its future best players -- freshman cornerback Darrin Walls, junior middle linebacker Maurice Crum Jr. and Lambert -- are still growing into their roles. Too bad for a guy like Tom Zbikowski, the defense's current best player who is being asked to do a bunch for both the defense and special teams this year. A tough kid with a lot of stamina, one might wonder if at some point all he's being asked to do -- there are times where he seems to be dropping to a linebacker's role -- will wear him out.
The best thing for Notre Dame: Stanford. Sorry, but the Cardinal are awful. This should be nothing more than a confidence builder for the Irish heading into their bye and then a game against UCLA.
Other quick things to note:
- Look out world, Tyrone Willingham might actually be able to coach. Willingham is 4-1 at Washington this year and close to cracking the Top 25 (28th in the AP poll and 31 in the coaches' poll). Plus, he's doing it with far less talent -- notice Notre Dame's drubbing of Washington last year. It also beat decent teams in UCLA and Fresno State and played then-No. 15 Oklahoma tough. This week, though, the Huskies travel to USC. It plays well there and maybe Willingham's got something.
- Here's the take from Lenn Robbins of the New York Post on Saturday's game: http://www.nypost.com/seven/10012006/sports/no_defense__but_victory_sports_lenn_robbins.htm
- I'm sure you've heard about it by now, but anyone find it funny Illinois tried to plant a flag in Spartan Stadium after the Illini upset Michigan State on Saturday. Here's two reasons: the obvious Notre Dame flag plant last year which set off the Minnesota flag plant which begat the Big Ten condemning those things and the fact that Illinois -- which barely had a Division I-A football program last we checked -- tried to do it. With Michigan up next, John L. Smith and the Spartans could be in for a long, long 2006.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette
I agree with your concerns about ND's defense. However, I think it's a combination of a lack of personnel and a very mediocre DC. Last year was somewhat excusable, but, the defensive scheme should've been totally changed during the offseason. How much worse would ND have fared this year incorporating an attacking, blitzing defense?
Posted by: Storm | October 03, 2006 at 09:50 AM