Spring ball is here, and that means new faces for new places on the roster. Whether it be John Goodman and Deion Walker showing that they belong in the receiver rotation, or Kapron Lewis-Moore staking an early claim for strong side defensive end. The battle for playing time begins in spring. Old timers getting one last chance. Young pups shown that they’re growing into vicious attack dogs faster than expected.

The Irish have not had this type of overall (on paper) talent since Weis has been coach, so this could be an interesting spring. The battles to watch:

Goodman and Walker vs Kamara and Parris for WR playing time.
Duncan vs Romine to protect Clausen’s blind side.
Trevor Robinson vs damn near entire offensive line (he could factor in at guard or tackle).
Lewis-Moore vs Morrice Richardson to snack on quarterbacks.
Kerry Neal vs John Ryan at the other DE.
Motta vs Fleming to sneak some playing time in at SAM linebacker.
Filer vs Posluszny to crack skulls at WILL linebacker.
Walls vs McNeil/Blanton for cover boy status.

The competition is REAL this spring, as Weis is gonna have the boys get after it a la Pete Carroll.

And gentlemen,

This is what the weak look like if they can’t handle it.

Spring is in the air, and ND spring practices are a little more than a week away. It will be the first look at this years edition of the Fighting Irish, and (as always) we wonder about what our eyes will see. A team that will bring back the winning? Or a team that keeps up the losing? Will a star emerge that follows in the footsteps of the legends of the past? Or are the days gone when a player like Rocket Ismail rules Notre Dame stadium? Can Notre Dame stand on top of the BCS mountain? Or is that spot reserved for the new world order? Finally, what of the echoes that are supposed to reverberate within our eardrums? These practices will give us a glimpse of what is in store for 2009, and could begin to answer the bigger questions (like those above) that continuously cloud the minds of every Notre Dame fan. Let’s get started with the 5 that matter for now:

#1

Who Is The Biggest Question Mark?

Notre Dame football fans are at a loss. This team is believed to have talent on par with Holtz-led teams (many were championship contenders), but the product on the field isn’t even close. Too many losses, too many times looking like a bottom tier program. Losing to Syracuse is akin being in high school and pooping your pants in front of that hot blonde senior who was your dream girl. Don’t know if that is even possible to recover from.

Is the talent overrated? Is the talent too young a key positions? Are the wrong coaches leading the program? These are all questions that must be answered in a positive manner, or we better get used to the fact that the only great Irish football to see (anymore) is on ESPN Classic.

Here are some guys in question:

Jimmy Clausen? The quarterback and leader of this team. He calls the shots in Weis’ offense, and it is up to him to produce. Brady Quinn became a star in his 3rd year, and Clausen needs to follow suit or do even better. His shoulders have to be stronger than Atlas’s, because he is carrying this team.

Sam Young? So may starts, so little impact. This is a guy that was a top 10 player in his class, yet had to be moved from left tackle (kissing serious NFL dollars goodbye) because he cannot handle the speed rushers. The offensive line needs strong bookends, and if Young does not possess the athleticism that he was once thought to have, he needs to use his mammoth size to help the run game.

Matt Romine? Another highly regarded tackle recruit. He is supposed to have the athleticism and quick feet to play left tackle. He has battled injuries so far, but I believe this team will be better if he beats out Paul Duncan. Notre Dame needs more lineman that can do more than win a chicken wing-eating contest.

Armando Allen? The quickest and fastest of the running backs, he needs to prove he can do it every down. James Aldridge is a bigger bust the Crystal Clear Pepsi, and Hughes looked like a tortoise at times last year. Allen is the best chance for big plays.

Kapron Lewis-Moore? I was surprised to see his name where it was on the spring depth chart. I have heard that he has serious natural ability, and a pass rush is one of the things that Notre Dame desperately needs.

Ian Williams? A hoss run-stuffer in the middle, his future appeared bright after his freshman season. He has a chance to make an impact once again-teaming up with the super-quick Ethan Johnson (in the 4-3 alignment) to show that the Irish interior is tougher that has been shown.

Steve Filer? This is a guy that needs to play. He is skilled enough to play linebacker for anyone. He once ate an entire Crave Case (White Castle Sliders can weigh you down by an additional 30%), and still ran a 4.5. He can help dispel the notion of Irish defenders being slow.

Raeshon McNeil? I believe that Darrin Walls will make it known once again that he is a stud, so that leaves one corner spot open. Blanton is a player, but McNeil was probably the most consistent corner last year-leading the team in break-ups. But his coverage is still too soft, and he sometimes gets eaten up because of it. If he is better in tight coverage, the Irish secondary could be lethal.

Harrison Smith? This guy shows athletic ability by running a legit 4.4. Does he have the range and change of direction required to be a free safety? The coaches think so.

A coaching staff member? Notre Dame is considered to have talent. Weis will have to reassert his offensive prowess, because that side of the ball has been under-performing. Verducci will have to make the offensive line tougher, and actually able to knock down defensive lineman. Hart will have to find the pass rush in the Bermuda Triangle where it has been lost.

The Irish have many individuals who are question marks. If some can answer those questions, the Irish have the chance to be the team we all hope they can be.

Spring is in the air, and ND spring practices are a little more than a week away. It will be the first look at this years edition of the Fighting Irish, and (as always) we wonder about what our eyes will see. A team that will bring back the winning? Or a team that keeps up the losing? Will a star emerge that follows in the footsteps of the legends of the past? Or are the days gone when a player like Rocket Ismail rules Notre Dame stadium? Can Notre Dame stand on top of the BCS mountain? Or is that spot reserved for the new world order? Finally, what of the echoes that are supposed to reverberate within our eardrums? These practices will give us a glimpse of what is in store for 2009, and could begin to answer the bigger questions (like those above) that continuously cloud the minds of every Notre Dame fan. Let’s get started with the 5 that matter for now:

#2

Can Clausen become the leader the team needs in his 3rd year?

For all the questions that surround Charlie Weis and his coaching/motivation abilities, it is far more important for the Irish to have a leader on the field. The Notre Dame players need a peer that that they can lean on or take a scolding from. As great as Holtz was for the last championship team, guys like Tony Rice and Pat Terrell were leaders that influenced what happened on the field. It was no coincidence that those team members fought for each other as though they were brothers. That is the atmosphere conducive to winning it all.

In Weis’ offense, the leader must be the quarterback. No player has more responsibility, and no player directly effects the games outcome as much as the most important player on the field. The last time Notre Dame has a leader at this position (Brady Quinn) the results were 2 straight BCS bowl trips. Again, not a coincidence. Brady made the big throws and inspired comebacks. He was such an important part that the Irish would have been a sub .500 team without him, and had 10% more body fat. Basically, he was Bobby Brown, and the other guys were the rest of New Edition.

A new leader emerges (sort of)

Clausen was recruited because of his pedigree (Has a quarterback ever had a better high school career?), and his swagger. It was he who turned off some Notre Dame fans by announcing his decision at the college football Hall of Fame. It was he who announced his desire to win 4 championships. It was he who flashed enough ice for even Jacob the Jeweler to think he was too diamond-crazy. And it was he who Weis banked on to take over for Quinn and lead the program.

Entering his 3rd year, we have seen flashes from Jimmy Clausen. The fast learning rate, the quick release, freakish accuracy, and NFL-arm. The toughness when he is being knocked around as if he were married to Tommy Lee. A leader when things are going good. We have also seen the “what the?” moments. The bad reads, and questionable interceptions. The shrinking into the background when things are going wrong. The lost boy.

To be honest, this is what we should have been seeing. No quarterback succeeds without taking their lumps. Brady Quinn wasn’t the guy we remember until his 3rd year. He was busy throwing picks and incompletions. He couldn’t even figure out how to stand behind center (he stood like he was sitting on the can) for 2 years. Then he ate a whole bunch of honey (his secret weapon), and was introduced to Mr. Weis. It transformed him completely. That, combined with the respect he won for being a leader during the tough times, made the Irish a quality team.

Clausen is slightly ahead of where Brady was going into their 3rd years. Another year of film study and working on mechanics should make him even better on the field. Hopefully, he is using this time to build an even stronger relationship with his teammates as well.

That would mean a world of difference for the Irish.