Player Post Game Video 9/19

The Defense Wants It Tough

Video Preview & More Interviews

Post Wolfpack Video Post

Nevada Week Update 9/3

Bye Week Update 8/27

Corwin Brown likes what he sees @ Rivals Video

Lewis-Moore from scout team to starter @ Rivals Video

Smith on the depth of the defense @ Rivals Video

Filer off the edge @ Rivals Video

Blanton competing everyday @ Rivals Video

The brothers McCarthy @ Rivals Video

Player Interviews: #31,#58, #7, #41

Sergio Brown leading by example @ Rivals Video

Brian Smith next step captain @ Rivals Video

Clausen working hard @ Rivals Video

Scott Smith keeping the trust @ Rivals Video

Golden, Jimmy, and B.C.S. Speak With The Media

Time to get to work @ Rivals Video

Clausen better for the experience @ Rivals Video

Smith doing the right thing @ Rivals Video

Settin This Stage On Fire

I saw this on Sergio Brown's Facebook page. I'm fucking JACKED!!!

Wu Am I? Tha Chosen Assassin & 100 Watt Warlock

Welcome to another edition of Wu Am I? for the 2009 season. Once again- I am trying to identify the 36 players of impact for the 2009 squad. So without any further bullshit, I open chambers 7 & 8...

Golden Tate #23
Wide Receiver
5'11" 195 lbs.
Junior
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Wu Name: Tha Chosen Assassin

Hailing from Pope John Paul II High School and blessed with the name "Golden," was there any doubt Tate would end up in South Bend? Yes. The Fighting Irish did not offer Tate for quite some time. While the official reason was that ND was waiting on some test scores, this was also the year that saw ND lose the recruiting battle for Aurelius Benn. Were the Irish waiting on a possible flip from Benn? Does it matter? Tate ended up wearing the Blue and the Gold- Benn didn't, and some would say that Notre Dame still came out on top. Benn is a tremendous talent, but Golden had a breakout year last year, and all signs point to a better season in 2009.

Tate only had 6 receptions for 131 yards and 1 TD during his sophomore year, but he showed blazing speed and a knack for going up and getting the ball despite his short stature. He quieted most critics of his game in 2008 as he posted 58 receptions for 1080 yards and 10 TD's. He took his game beyond the fly-route, and became a better overall receiver. The scary part- is that Tate has still not developed fully as a wide receiver. But to think of Golden as an offensive weapon only catching balls, would also be naive. He is a very instinctive runner and I would think that Weis will use him even more in 2009 in the running game. Plus, due to those same skills, Golden can be a very dangerous kick returner. Did I mention how fast he is? 2009 is the time to let the Gold shine.

Brian Smith #58
Linebacker
6'2" 245 lbs.
Junior
Overland Park, Kansas
Wu Name: 100 Watt Warlock

Now, if Golden's recruitment was somewhat of a mystery, Brian Smith's is legendary based on fact. The legacy (father, Chris Smith played fullback for the Irish in the 80's) wanted to go to Notre Dame his entire life. Former Notre Dame defensive coordinator, Rick Minter, didn't think he could use Smith in his system, and the Fighting Irish never offered Brian during the normal office hours. Brian thought the offer may never come, and he committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes in August of 2006. Fast forward a few months. Notre Dame loses out on more than a handful of top-ranked linebacker recruits such as Chris Donald, Malcolm Smith, Martez Wilson, and Lorenzo Edwards. They also get a defection from Justin Tratou to Florida, Corwin Brown replaces the now fired Rick Minter, and voila!... Brian Smith is offered. Hawkeye head coach, Kirk Ferentz warned Smith that if he visited the Irish he would pull the scholarship offer. You know what happened next.

As soon as Brian reported to Notre Dame in the summer of 2007, he instantly became one of the sparkplugs for the entire team. 100 Watt Warlock is perhaps the best fitting name of all of the Wu Am I members. He worked his way into the rotation his freshman year and developed into a pretty good pass rusher on the edge and showed he could cover the pass as well. He was noted for playing with a passion in what was a passionless season. In 2008 Smith was moved from his natural outside position to fill in a need at Mike linebacker. He was the emotional leader of the defense and played inspired football all season. Smith will move once again in 2009 (at least for now), and play on the outside. He should show his true potential this year as he will be allowed to do what he does best as a pass rusher and containment on the edge. He won't win the Butkus award, but he will show the country what kind of football player he really has become. A hard motherfucker that wants to take heads. That's what Brian Smith is, and that is who the defense will need to follow to have the type of season that optimists are projecting.

A Plethora Of Piñatas

Alright, I don't have any piñatas. But I do have another shit-ton of video for you. (I think I invented the word shit-ton. It makes a man feel good to invent more ways to vulgarize the Enlgish language.)

I'll have plenty- or should say... I will have a plethora of actual written posts coming up after spring ball. Until then, please enjoy the fact that I rip off Rivals.com on almost a daily basis now. Thanks guys!

Mike Anello

Anello always doing extra @ Rivals Video

Darius Flemming

Crash course awaits Fleming @ Rivals Video

Robby Parris

Parris: his time is now @ Rivals Video

Paul Duncan

Duncan playing with confidence @ Rivals Video

Kapron Lewis-Moore

Lewis-Moore making an impact @ Rivals Video

Brian Smith

Smith ready to step up @ Rivals Video

Polish

Every year at this time Irish fans are in a frenzy. Spring football can do that to you. Spring football can do that to you, especially after 16 years since Notre Dame last truly competed for a National Title, and 21 years since they actually won one.

So it's time to break out the polish and buff out those mistakes that plagued the Irish both physically and mentally last year. My friend Domer.mq at the always great Her Loyal Sons blog, posted that we will learn absolutely nothing from Spring football. At first I thought mq was dead wrong. Then I started to really agree with him. Then boys and girls, I realized that like all things (OK almost all things) in life, this is more of a gray area than black and white, and you can still learn from gray. (Except that piece of shit Grays Anatomy. I will never travel to Seattle... ever).

When you polish something, it can work out the flaws or make them stand out even more. That is what Spring ball really is. No position battles will be won or lost as I so foolishly once thought. However, it does help the transition from year to year in that it gives the players and coaches different looks than the previous year provided. Am I losing you? It's 3 AM and I might be losing myself too. So without further bullshit, let me provide some of my commentary on a few questions that Notre Dame has, headed into Spring and for the 2009 season for that matter. Let's plug in the buffer...

Jimmy Clausen and his leadership are in question. Maybe this is the most poignant topic for the team in general. Many Irish fans and haters have called Clausen out for his lack of leadership on a team that desperately needs a leader on offense. This subject has been addressed over and over again from the start of the 2008 season till even now. Do not get sucked into the propaganda that Clausen is developing into a leader. If I were you, I would forget everything that you hear and see from Clausen as far as this subject is concerned.

In high school, the football coaches tried to shove a couple of players down our throat our senior year and called them captains. Only two, instead of the traditional four that our school always had. It took two minutes into the first day of camp for myself and another player to walk up to the front and basically declare ourselves the the "Players Captains" as opposed to the "Coaches Captains." I often wonder if Clausen is that "Coaches Captain" that leads, but is never followed.

This is what will begin to define his legacy as a Notre Dame quarterback. Will these guys follow Jimmy into battle and look to him for that leadership on and off of the field? This is something that will not be answered this Spring and won't be until the Nevada game- or perhaps Michigan.

The defensive scenarios are giving me a headache. There are too many blitz packages and defensive alignments to really have a true grasp at what the depth chart will look like, especially in the spring. Different players names are being thrown around like they own their position. Most die hard fans already know what I am about to write, but it needs to be said. There is no position on defense that is locked down 100%. There might be a player or two (you'll find out in a minute) that are pretty much guaranteed a spot on the field, but that spot may differ from last year. Don't get me wrong. I speculate and have a good time in trying to figure out the depth chart, but Spring football will only inch us closer to a two deep instead of leaping into one.

It amazes me that Irish fans are so confident about our defense. I too am guilty, and we all have some valid reasons as to why we think this way, but here is a bit of truth to take into consideration: There are only two players on the front seven that we can say with absolute certainty that will be playmakers; Brian Smith and Ethan Johnson. Everyone else is still a mystery. The potential is there, but potential is always a tricky subject.

Maybe this is why I am so feverishly promoting Sergio Brown as an everydown safety. The Irish have proven playmakers in the secondary, but have very few in the front seven. I just feel that the defense needs as many playmakers as it can put out there, and it's no secret that I think Brown has more potential than McCarthy.

I could seriously go on like this for another 13 or 14 points. Maybe I should. This team has far too many questions across the board to have many decisions made in April. The offense is a little easier to figure out, at least when it comes to personnel and even then, the Irish still need a left tackle, a 3rd and 4th WR, a second TE, fullback questions- blah, blah, blah. See. How much we learn about this team will be enigmatic if we don't look at the stuff below the surface.

So no. We won't learn who the 22 starters will be coming out of spring. We will however, have a better idea about who they might be after a little polish. And with a schedule like Notre Dame's this year- a little polish could go a long way into make this season shine.

Editors Note: This is what 4 AM feedings will do to a person.

Video Frenzy...

Ian Williams

Williams feels the difference @ Rivals Video

Brian Smith

Smith wants captain status @ Rivals Video

TAH-NOO-TAH!!!

Tenuta breaks down the linebackers @ Rivals Video

Randy Hart

Hart: We got a long way to go @ Rivals Video

Coach Weis

Weis talks spring surprises @ Rivals Video

PRACTICE

Open practice offers inside look @ Rivals Video

Interviews Galore... #3, #7, #12, #23, #58

Mike Floyd returns to action.


Golden Tate is glad Floyd is back.


Jimmy is happy Floyd is back too... duh.


R.J. talks trash?


Brian Smith is tougher than Charlie Weis.

Link-O-Rama 12/13

Since news is kind of scarce and time is a hot commodity during the holiday season, I will give you a small list of Links that you need to check out.

• Charlie Weis is a tough bastard. So tough, that he probably damaged his other knee himself. Now 2 surgeries await Chuck.
• Her Loyal Sons breaks down the youth movement at Notre Dame in 2 parts. Part I Offense. Part Deaux Defense.
• Three freshman and one sophomore were named to CFN's All Freshman Team and All Sophomore Team.
• Looking for some last minute gifts?
• Mike Floyd is back in action. Somebody was missing him.
• We talking about practice? Practice?
• Remember to sign up for the Bowl contest to win a free t-shirt.
• If you are actually going to Hawai'i, please read this summery to help you along the way, or just read it because you want to be there.
• The only weapon that Michigan had, just left.
• Brian Smith is practicing and is ready to go. Dance lessons for the haka will be followed by a kick in the nuts. Thank-you.

Shit. They're out.

Brian Smith and Mike Floyd are gone for the season with knee sprains suffered in the win over Navy.

They should be out 4 weeks with a return likely in the bowl game.

(Per Weis presser).

Give Him A Different Number

This was an interesting quote from Charlie Weis at his press conference...

“I’ve had a whole entourage of guys wanting to be the next two-way player, Paddy
Mullen, Pat Kuntz, John Ryan, Brian Smith. There’s a lot of guys that want to be
that guy.”

Brian Smith is the most intriguing name in the bunch. As completely jacked up as he is during the game, I would love to see him line up at fullback and smoke a Boiler defender. I realize that the chances of him changing his number to #2 for this game and playing FB are slim to none, but wouldn't you headbutt your mom if he did?

BTW- He has the genes to do it. His father played FB for the Fighting Irish.

Chris Smith running against Boston College in the Liberty Bowl in 1983.

Wu-Banga Tuesday... Therapy

Therapeutic. That's what a win over a big rival feels like for the next week. It doesn't last long with another rivalry game coming up for the Irish.

So here we go with another Wu-Banga MVP edition:

David Bruton. The man was everywhere for the Irish against Michigan. People can say what they want about the game and how those fucking skunkbears "gave ND the game." FUCK THAT! Bruton took what he wanted with 15 tackles (1.5 TFL) a forced fumble inside the 5 and an interception inside the 5 as well. David Bruton's new name is "Mr. Impossible The Redzone Killah."

Brian Smith. Javon Ringer carried the ball 43 times for 282 yards against Florida Atlantic last week. Brian Smith has to, and will step up and make Ringer wish he got hurt against FAU. In the first two games, Irish opponents used a pass spread and a run spread as their primary offensive attack. MSU is more of a traditional power offense, meaning nothing more than they like to line up in a "I" formation or double tight "ACE" and run the shit out of the ball. Look for Smith to be everywhere the ball carrier is and bringing a lot of violence with him.

Defensive Madmen

Practice with David Bruton.



Brian Smith wants to hit your grandma.

Beer Olympics VS. AK-47

You will, no doubt, see the following pics on a lot of different blogs and websites soon enough as they have already surfaced at The Big Lead. Good for them. Somehow they manged to survive a 3-9 season, stay in good standing academically, and party like a rock star (even if it might be a rock star from an 80's pop band). I'm positive that I see no AK-47's being shot in the air in the background or a stacks of mad cash.

OR...

Save the holier than thou speech for your wives, kids, and parents.