Player Post Game Video 9/19

The Captains, Captain. TAH-NOO-TAH Grinds His Teeth.

For the video today, you have the captains doing their captain thing and John Tenuta twisting in agony as he is forced to speak with the media.

Video Bonanza: Skunkbear Hunting Season

Post Wolfpack Video Post

Nevada Week Updates

Fall Camp Updates... It's Actually The Bye Week

The evolution of Jimmy Clausen @ Rivals Video

Clausen ready for Nevada @ Rivals Video

Aldridge minding his Ps and Qs @ Rivals Video

Parmalee sees fall progress @ Rivals Video

Parmalee sees fall progress @ 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? Fearless Overlord & Spunky Misunderstood Genius

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 9 & 10...

Jimmy Clausen #7
Quarterback
6'3" 218 lbs.
Junior
Westlake Village, California
Wu Name: Fearless Overlord

You all know the recruiting story of Jimmy Clausen, and the story of his now infamous commitment to Notre Dame. Fuck everyone else. Seriously. Jimmy had two of the best statistical years for any freshman and sophomore quarterback in Notre Dame history with two of the youngest teams in Notre Dame history. At times, Clausen has looked like the real deal with a cannon arm, and pinpoint accuracy that rivals any former Irish signal caller. Jimmy's weakness has been his decision making in key situations. Sometimes those poor decisions were due to being gang-raped by opposing defensive lineman, linebackers, defensive backs, mascots, concession workers, etc. Some, were due to a belief that he can make any pass a completed pass. What ever the cause of the error, it generally resulted in an Irish loss. This was a young quarterback.

The excuses are all gone. Jimmy may still have to run for his life this year, but the general consensus is that Notre Dame should have a much improved run game and pass protection due to a very veteran line that still has vast potential. I have always said that I don't like comparing former years and former players to the current year and current players, but the similarities of this 2009 team are frightening close to the 2005 squad. Jimmy will have better overall talent around him catching passes. I honestly think that Jimmy will have a better statistical year than Quinn had in 2005. Can he cut down on the mental errors and prove that he can lead this team? That will be the difference in at least two games in 2009; "Did Clausen lead them to victory?" I believe he can- and will. Fuck U$C.

James Aldridge #34
Fullback
6'1" 225 lbs.
Senior
Crown Point, Indiana
Wu Name: Spunky Misunderstood Genius

James was part of the 2006 recruiting class that boasted 28 players, a number #8 ranking nationally, and the first early enrollees in Notre Dame history with Aldridge, Stewart, and West all enrolling in January. James was a beast during his High School career and earned a Five star rating. However, he suffered a knee injury during his senior year and it never fully recovered until last spring. The expectations for a 5 star are always astronomical, but for a 5 star running back heading to Notre dame early- there were a lot of expectations. By all accounts, Aldridge looks like the player Irish fans were yearning for. He has a tremendous burst through the hole and enough shake and speed to make the long run. After leading the irish in rushing in 2007, he took another backseat to Allen and Hughes in the rotation in 2008.

Now this has me really pumped. Remember RPN? Remember what a Charlie Weis offense looks like with an athletic fullback? Rolling. That's what they were. With Schwapp at fullback, the Irish lost speed and pass catching ability. How many times did we see the ball carrier reach the edge of a stretch play or a sweep before the fullback- and then get crushed? Too many times. Asaph was not suited for the speed of the defenses facing the Irish. By all accounts, James is really embracing this new role to help the team. I fully expect the Fighting Irish offense to a lot more dynamic with an athletic talent at fullback. For another example, look at what those Trojan commie bastards do with Stanley Havili at fullback. It's impressive. Just watch it. Watch how things just come together, and after everyone gives the credit to the new line coach, the other running backs, the passing game- everything else- rewind and look what James Aldridge did in his Senior year. In the end, this is why he came to Notre Dame.

Toryan Smith and Jimmy... The Odd Couple

Practice spotlight on Toryan Smith

Spotlight on Toryan Smith @ Rivals Video

Jimmy Clausen

Clausen strong in experience @ Rivals Video

Oppurtunity, Progress, & Second Chances

Paul Duncan

Duncan savoring second chance @ Rivals Video

Jimmy Clausen

Clausen sees Spring progress @ Rivals Video

Hafis Williams

Opportunity excites Williams @ Rivals Video

Dayne Crist

Crist looks at big picture @ 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.

Player Interviews... Crist Is A Skinhead

Player interviews...
Dayne Crist

Crist: Friendly competition at QB @ Rivals Video

Deion Walker

Walker: His time is now @ Rivals Video

Kapron Lewis-Moore

Lewis-Moore: Topping the depth chart @ Rivals Video

Ethan Johnson

Johnson: Speed is my strength @ Rivals Video

Jimmy Clausen

Clausen: Building on the bowl win @ Rivals Video

Darrin Walls

Walls: Good to be back @ Rivals Video

Steve Filer

Filer: Ready to play @ 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.

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.

For Heaven's Sake

Today's installment of the WU AM I? series includes two former 5 star prospects. We were all yelling, "Thank Heaven" at the time and should do so again in the future.

James Aldridge #34

Running Back
Junior
6' 1" 222 lbs.
Junior Crown Point, Indiana
Wu-Name: Excessive Wizard

James Aldridge should be a star a Notre Dame. Before Cierre Wood committed to the Irish in April, James was the only 5-star rated running back Notre Dame had signed since the internet recruiting service era began back with the incoming class of 2002. If only recruiting stars predicted the future that lays within the stars.

James has battled injury after injury since his senior year. If you followed James' career in high school, there was a huge difference in his explosiveness and ability to break tackles last year as compared to his last fully healthy season during his junior year in high school. He led the team in rushing last year, but saw his production take a big dip in the last few games due to an emerging Robert Hughes.

Uhhh.... Fuck all that. Every year is a new beginning and James is healthier now than at any point since he arrived at ND in the spring of 2006. With all of the Irish's weapons at tailback this year and with what should be an improved offensive line from a running perspective, James will produce. He will have fresh legs and the will to prove himself to the world. Look out! Aldridge is seeking a break out year, and I think that he may have one.

Jimmy Clausen #7
Quarterback
6'3" 212 lbs.
Sophomore
Westlake Village, California
Wu-Name: Fearless Overlord

Only Ron Powlus knows this kind of hype. Jimmy Clausen was hailed as the best high school quarterback to come out of California since John Elway. Well, at least he didn't go to Stanford. Jimmy was tabbed as a "5-star, can't miss prospect" since his sophomore year in high school. ESPN did a story on him that year and in turn helped start the fire.

It's quite unfair really. Unfair to expect a kid to dominate as a true freshman. Couple this in with an elbow injury and surgery and having limited reps in the spring and summer because of said injury. And he did fine. Fine for a freshman at Notre Dame of ALL places. He, of course, did not dominate. But he did show ND Nation that the best was yet to come with some very solid play behind a very shaky line. He had a better completion percentage and a better touchdown to interception ratio than Irish Legend, Brady Quinn.

What Jimmy is now, is the starter of this team after winning out over Evan Sharpley last year. He has a season under his belt and took a lot of shots both physically and mentally from foe and media. He is bigger and has more experience around him this year than last year at the skilled position. He is truly better.

Two things can make this year great for Jimmy: 1. His offensive line must give him time IN THE POCKET. 2. The running game must be more effective on 1st down. If these things can happen, than watch for a quarterback that looks more like Quinn during his Junior year. That is a bold statement, but I just watched Pulp Fiction.

Post-Game Pressers

Clausen

Weis

B.S., Gold, Chemistry, And The Godfather

TAH-NOO-TAH

Golden Tate

Jimmy Clausen

Coach Weis

Clausen Tries To Live Up To The Quinn Legend... And Hair

Perhaps a bit too shaggy. Where's Scooby?