Clausen's well-being tops spring agenda
Running backs will be taken to the ground. Blocks will be carried out to the whistle. Tackling, not two-hand touch, will be the rule.
Yes, this Notre Dame spring practice session, which kicks off this afternoon, will be more physical.
"Without doing those things," Irish coach Charlie Weis said Wednesday, "I think we'd leave ourselves short."
One area where the Irish are already short is at quarterback, where returning starter Jimmy Clausen will at times be the only scholarship QB at practice. Backup Evan Sharpley is enjoying a breakout season for the Irish baseball team, and will miss some practice time.
"Evan Sharpley's hitting too many home runs," Weis joked.
Clausen, who weighed 194 pounds last year as a freshman, but is up to 212 this season without adding body fat, will be the one player who is largely untouchable.
"I think our biggest issue is that nothing happens to Jimmy," Weis said. "That's probably the thing that could ruin our practice the easiest if something would happen to him."
The at-times absence of Sharpley, however, will allow Jimmy Clausen to take more snaps.
"Every rep that he can take is a meaningful rep," Weis said. "He can't take enough."
And in terms of improvement, Weis is looking at mental progress from the sophomore.
"There's a laundry list," Weis said.
Like Sharpley, sophomore receiver and outfielder Golden Tate and punter and pitcher Eric Maust will likely spend time away from the practice field.
"I'm not going to hurt the baseball team and take them off the baseball field," Weis said, adding that he will be in contact with baseball coach Dave Schrage to figure out a schedule later in spring.
At running back, James Aldridge is listed at starter, ahead of Armando Allen and Robert Hughes.
"They all want to be the guy, and it's turned into a very healthy situation," Weis said.
Weis likened this spring session to his first in 2005.
"I think the players are definitely going to feel a great sense of urgency," Weis said. "This isn't going to catch anybody off guard."
Squibs
* Defensive end John Ryan had right shoulder and sports hernia surgeries and will miss the spring. Also, walk-on receiver Kris Patterson is out with a right knee problem.
Ryan underwent shoulder surgery the Wednesday after the 2007 season ended.
"He had a double-whammy," Weis said. "He's running around pretty well, but he's going to be held out for spring."
* Receiver Robby Parris (sports hernia surgery), offensive guard Mike Turkovich (appendectomy) and nose tackle Ian Williams (left ankle infection) will be slowed during spring but will participate.
* Receiver Duval Kamara and defensive lineman Paddy Mullen will at times miss practice time because of academic scheduling conflicts.
* Weis also tweaked the honorary spring game coaches system this year, with a former player from each decade coaching the April 19 game. They are: Jim Morse (1950s), Terry Hanratty (1960s), Terry Eurick (1970s), Allen Pinkett (1980s), Bryant Young (1990s), Ryan Grant (2000s).
* Due to scheduling problems, Weis did not make the trip to Virginia Tech to talk to special teams guru Frank Beamer. Weis, along with special teams coordinator Brian Polian, will visit Tuesday.
Beamer's Hokies teams have consistently displayed some of the nation's best special teams play.
"They make game-changing plays to win football games," Weis said. "He must be a heck of a lot smarter than me. I'm going to try to go tap into that brain of his to see if I can get a couple of answers."
* Ryan and classmate Morrice Richardson, both linebackers last season, have been moved to defensive end.
* Junior Luke Schmidt, who worked at tight end during practice late last year, will spend a lot of time at that position this spring.
"Luke's greatest strength has been with the ball in his hands," Weis said. "He's not the same body type as, like an Asaph (Schwapp, the incumbent fullback starter). We're trying to put Luke in a position where he can get on the field."
Weis said that Schmidt had worked his way into position to see the field a great deal last fall, but "got banged up" at the worst possible time.
"This'll be a golden opportunity for him," Weis said, "especially with that position being thin in numbers until reinforcements arrive."
Junior Will Yeatman is suspended from spring practice after a driving under the influence arrest this winter. Highly regarded freshmen Joseph Fauria and Kyle Rudolph will not arrive until the summer.
* Offensive tackles Sam Young and Paul Duncan are back at their original positions from last season - Young at right tackle and Duncan at left tackle. They had switched midseason, and Weis revealed Wednesday that it was largely because Young had been suffering from a right wrist injury that hampered him at right tackle, where Weis believes he is a better fit than on the left side.
Weis also is hopeful that sophomore Matt Romine can push Duncan for playing time, if not the starting spot protecting Clausen's blind side.
"He better push him," he said. "Right now, Paul's definitely first."
* Early enrollee freshmen Sean Cwynar, a defensive end, and Trevor Robinson, an offensive lineman, are assimilating well to college so far, Weis said.
"It's been a smooth transition for both of those guys so far," Weis said.
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