Improved offensive line key to Notre Dame's success
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- It's never a good sign when the head coach ditches his beloved quarterbacks to stare down the offensive linemen during the day's first practice period.
It's even more troubling when, several hours later, the offensive line coach enters an auditorium and gets mobbed by reporters.
This was the sobering scene Tuesday for Notre Dame, which has yet to score an offensive touchdown and boasts the nation's worst rushing offense, averaging minus-4 net yards per game. It doesn't take a Mensa member to spot the problem: an offensive line that has allowed a nation-high 15 sacks in the first two contests.
"It's just inconsistent play by different people at different times," offensive line coach John Latina said. "Where we are right now, nobody can be complacent. That can't be in our vocabulary.
"I would hope our linemen don't feel good where we are right now. I hope that's been on their minds. I promise you, it's been on mine."
Charlie Weis could easily take one look at his flimsy line and one look at valuable freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen and continue to restrain Notre Dame's offense. Jimmy Clausen's development and health are critical for Notre Dame's long-term success, and Weis would be somewhat justified in safeguarding the quarterback, even if it meant keeping dangerous weapons like tight end John Carlson in a pocket-protecting role.
But Weis isn't going to take that route any longer. He has decided to expand the offensive game plan Saturday against Michigan. Jimmy Clausen will start to stretch the field. Carlson, who had 47 catches last year but only has four this season, will assume a greater role as a receiver.
It's the right choice, especially for a coach who refuses to label 2007 a rebuilding season.
"You can't just sit there and take baby steps," Weis said. "I would rather not open it up, but you have to open it up to give you an opportunity to score points. You have to make sure that you don't hang your quarterback out to dry, but you put your team in a position where you can score."
There's risk involved, especially with Jimmy Clausen, who showed poise at Penn State but was managing the game with a vanilla offense. Michigan has been vulnerable to risk-reward plays, but it can still swarm the backfield, especially if Notre Dame's line doesn't improve.
But Notre Dame isn't going anywhere this season unless Weis, who describes himself as "aggressive by nature," runs the offense the way he knows how. An aggressive scheme demands accountability, from the young quarterback to the shaken line to the playcaller.
For Notre Dame, there's no other choice.
"If you make yourself more accountable," Weis said, "usually people follow your lead."
• As Notre Dame searches for some semblance of a running game, freshman Armando Allen creeps closer toward a featured role. The speedy Allen started last week against Penn State and could provide the nation's worst running attack the boost it sorely needs. "I would not consider him a backup," Weis said. "I consider him right in the mix with the rest of those guys." Allen leads Notre Dame with 36 rushing yards, ahead of sophomore James Aldridge (16 yards) and senior Travis Thomas (5 yards). Weis also put all of his starting offensive linemen on notice for the second straight week, though he made no changes to the depth chart. "I spoke to a couple guys who were backups last week and said that if they had done more in practice, they would have been in the game," Weis said. "They were told the same thing going into this week. They have to give you some evidence. If it doesn't look any better in practice than the guys we've got, I'm going with the guys we've got."
Around the non-automatic BCS conferences
• Houston Cougars: Coach Art Briles doesn't expect to name a starting quarterback before Saturday's league opener against Tulane. Both Case Keenum and Blake Joseph played at Oregon, with Keenum putting up the stronger statistics (14-for-27 passing, 179 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception) but Joseph looking more efficient (8-for-12 passing, 1 interception). Joseph started against the Ducks. "I feel good about both of them," Briles said. "This is my 29th season and I have never dealt with this before. I don't lay around at night thinking about who is going to start because it isn't a concern with me. Both of these guys are ready. Both can play." A greater concern is finding a capable backup for running back Anthony Alridge, who had 205 rushing yards against Oregon. Randall Antoine will miss the season after blood clots were found in his legs last week, so Andre Kohn will back up Alridge. "We are OK from that standpoint," Briles said. "It's not a crisis for us."
• Fresno State Bulldogs: Starting running back Lonyae Miller expects to play Saturday at Oregon after sustaining a rib injury in the first quarter against Texas A&M. Miller had four carries for 10 yards before being sidelined. "It's nothing serious," the sophomore told The Fresno Bee. Reserve running back Ryan Matthews also left the Texas A&M game ailing, sustaining a shoulder injury in the third quarter. Matthews, who had 66 rushing yards and a touchdown in College Station, participated in a light workout Sunday, according to The Fresno Bee.
• Northern Illinois Huskies: As if blowing a 31-14 lead late in the third quarter wasn't bad enough, Northern Illinois lost top running back Montell Clanton and standout linebacker Tim McCarthy against Southern Illinois. Clanton suffered a torn ACL, and coach Joe Novak is "95 percent sure" the junior is finished for the season. McCarthy, the team's second leading tackler last year (111), also could be finished after suffering a partial tear of his PCL and MCL. The search for the next Garrett Wolfe now shifts to sophomore Justin Anderson and freshman Chad Spann, an invited walk-on who earned a scholarship less than two weeks before the season opener. "Those kids are going to have to step up," Novak said.
• Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders: Middle Tennessee defensive tackle Brandon Perry likely will miss the rest of the season after suffering a broken foot against Louisville. Perry had four tackles (1 for loss) this season. "It's hard to replace a Brandon Perry, but this gives other guys a chance to step up," defensive end Tavares Jones told The Daily News Journal. "Our coaches have stressed that we have to work as a unit so that we're prepared to fill in when somebody does go down like this."
• Idaho Vandals: Idaho will be without several key players Saturday when it makes the 8-mile trip to Washington State. The Vandals' biggest loss is defensive end Aaron Lavarias, who ranks fourth on the team in tackles after collecting 12 last Saturday against Cal Poly. Lavarias has a high ankle sprain and will miss 2-3 weeks. Josh Shaw and Marcus Pedro are the leading candidates to replace Lavarias, though coach Robb Akey said "any number of guys" could see playing time. Idaho also will be without running back Brian Flowers, out 2-3 weeks with a pulled hamstring.
• New Mexico Lobos: Offensive lineman Tyler Boyett has left the team after not being accepted into New Mexico's X-ray technician program, coach Rocky Long said. Boyett transferred to New Mexico from Mississippi Delta Community College and opted to return home to complete his certification. Lobos senior Major Mosley has returned to the mix at linebacker after an MRI showed he had only a sprained ankle.
• Southern Miss Golden Eagles: Star running back Damion Fletcher was held to a career-low 37 rushing yards on 11 carries Saturday at Tennessee and missed significant time because of cramps. Fletcher needed an IV drip during the game. "It was legs, hands, arms • toes," Fletcher told The Hattiesburg American. "This is the first time I've cramped since early on in high school. I don't know what the deal was." Several Golden Eagles players have had cramps in the first two games, creating a troubling trend. "What's unusual is we didn't have a problem with it in the preseason," Golden Eagles coach Jeff Bower said. "It is a little bit of a concern. We have to keep pushing and they have to assume some personal responsibility."
• Miami (Ohio) RedHawks: Miami coach Shane Montgomery expects to name a starting quarterback before Saturday's game against Cincinnati, but he added that both Mike Kokal and Daniel Raudabaugh could see action. The RedHawks rallied behind Raudabaugh last Saturday at Minnesota before falling in triple overtime. Kokal has started the last nine games for Miami. "[Raudabaugh] came in and gave us a chance to win," Montgomery told the Dayton Daily News. "If we decide to play him Saturday, whether it's in rotating series or at some point of the game, it won't be because Mike Kokal didn't play well." Miami is still awaiting word on the status of running back Brandon Murphy and middle linebacker Joey Hudson, both of whom suffered knee injuries against Minnesota.
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