Unfriendly Skies

We lost to Navy, we were blown out by Air Force. Once again our defense proved completely ineffective stopping a significantly slower, smaller, and less talented offense. And that was only the start of our problems. We couldn't move the ball consistently on offense and really only gained yards late in the game after Calhoun had called off the dogs. I am, once again, completely speechless. There is just no explanation for how poorly we have played this season. Say what you want about our difficult schedule, even with our youth and inexperience we have more talent than Stanford, Duke, Air Force, Navy, Purdue, and Michigan State. I look at next year's schedule and see no fewer than nine wins based on talent alone. Anything less, to me, would be a failure. In fact, I think an eleven win season is very do-able. Then I think about this year's performance and lack of improvement and believe we will be lucky to go 0.500.

Some will point to Clausen's play as a bright spot. I thought he made a couple of very good throws. I think his arm strength was improved, but still has some more room to grow. I think he needs to become more consistent and I think the success he had was really only after Air Force stopped blitzing, giving him some time to find receivers down field. Of course, it would have helped Clausen to not have several dropped balls. I also thought Allen and Aldridge ran tough again, when given room by our absolutely terrible offensive line.

The fifth year seniors, save Laws, have cashed it in. Not one of them have provided leadership to a team in desperate need of it. Laws has played out of his mind, but he alone hasn't been able to hold other players accountable for their effort (or lack thereof) on the field. I never thought I would see what I saw on Saturday, Tom Zbikowski not hustling to the ball. In fact, save the first drive, our defense really played largely uninspired football. There are some exceptions: Bruton, the aforementioned Laws, Walls, Brian Smith, Kuntz. But for the most part I did not see the effort I expect from players who wear the blue and gold.

And it was no different on offense where, even taking out the sack yardage, we managed to average fewer than three yards per carry against a defense we outweigh by 40+ lbs per man up front. There is just no excuse for it. At one point I saw Chris Stewart get stoned by a defensive end on Air Force who he outweighed by close to 80 lbs. Eighty freakin' pounds! Just lean on the guy. And it wasn't that Stewart was out-quicked, he was stood up, pushed back, and rendered utterly ineffective. That isn't talent, that isn't size, that isn't strength, that is a lack of will, determination, and heart.

I don't have the energy, effort, emotion, or time to write about the schematic blunders of this game. It was similar to the Navy game, run all the way down the field and then try three inexplicable passes to score, ultimately settling for a field goal. The first four offensive possessions put us in a hole we were never able to recover from. It's just pathetic.

And now Weis seems (and I stress seems) to be blaming the players for their lack of taking what he teaches and applying it to the field. He says he has been able to teach football at every level, to every different type of experienced student (although one could argue he has never had a team this inexperienced before). This is a slippery slope he is dealing with. The players and coaches are down and defeated, pointing the finger elsewhere at them isn't the thing to do. I empathize with him, he has tried everything he knows but still cannot explain the differences between what he sees in practice and on the field in a game. I do not envy his position, you can't beat them when they are down, but you can't allow them to continue to deliver the lackluster performances they are displaying on the field each weekend.

These guys need something to play for, they need the fans' and students' support, they don't need to hear boo's or see empty seats in the stands, something I never imagined would happen at a Notre Dame home game. We aren't out there working in practice every day. I understand there is a lack of effort by some players but we need to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. And Weis needs to find those who aren't playing hard every down and call them out on it. Some public humility may go a long way. And if they don't respond it may be time to get some younger players more experience.

I don't know what else to say. This season needs to get over quickly. These guys need a fresh start. I am uncertain about the future of our program under Weis. Like I said last week (link here), I want him to succeed because of the person he is, but I am not sure he can get is pointed back in the right direction. I don't see what an off-season and fall camp of more practice can do to improve a team that hasn't been able to improve all season. I can only hope for the best...and take solace in tOSU losing after walking through a terrifically easy schedule.