If healthy, Clausen will still be starter
SOUTH BEND – Charlie Weis hasn’t changed his thinking.
If freshman Jimmy Clausen is healthy, the Westlake Village, Calif., native will be Notre Dame’s starting quarterback Saturday.
The freshman suffered a hip pointer during the Irish’s 33-19 loss to Purdue and was replaced in the third quarter by junior Evan Sharpley, who led Notre Dame back into the game.
“Both guys are going to get reps,” Weis said. “I don’t know if it will be equal. First of all, I’m not 100 percent sure what Jimmy is going to look like. He’s supposed to be set and ready to go. I have to see that, you know.
“Some guys are set and ready to go, and they don’t play for another two weeks. Other guys that are set and ready to go, they’re ready to go that day.”
Weis said he didn’t even script Tuesday’s practice for the quarterbacks because he needed to see what Jimmy Clausen can do on the field.
One thing Weis did rule out Tuesday is the possibility of running a two-quarterback system.
With both Jimmy Clausen and Sharpley having similar attributes, Weis didn’t see the advantage.
“They’re fairly similar in their style of play, so I think, you know, one has got to be one, and one has got to be two,” Weis said.
Sharpley completed 16 of 26 passes for 208 yards, two touchdowns and one interception Saturday. Jimmy Clausen was 18 of 26 for 169 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Grimes questionable
Junior wide receiver David Grimes, Notre Dame’s leading pass catcher this season, left Saturday’s game with an injured right ankle.
Weis said Grimes is healthier than he anticipated but left him at “50-50” for Saturday.
Weis wasn’t planning on practicing him Tuesday. Grimes has 15 catches for 117 yards.
Punter gets punted
Of all the struggles Notre Dame has had this season, none might be more surprising than fifth-year senior punter Geoff Price.
Touted as a preseason All-American and one of the top punters nationally, the Hurst, Texas, native has been replaced less than halfway through the season.
Price is healthy, Weis said, but sophomore Eric Maust has officially replaced him on the depth chart.
This and that
Sophomore right guard Dan Wenger is also questionable this week. … Senior defensive end Justin Brown is probable for Saturday, but has been replaced by fifth-year senior Dwight Stephenson Jr. as the starter opposite Trevor Laws. … Sophomore James Aldridge has officially been named the starting halfback, with Travis Thomas, Armando Allen, Junior Jabbie and Robert Hughes all being listed as “OR” backing Aldridge up. … Armando Allen has also returned to the kick-return depth chart, replacing starting cornerback Darrin Walls.
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