Notre Dame Football: 2008 Position Group Preview

It's the offseason so there isn't a lot to typically talk about. Last offseason a win prediction survey was conducted regarding the upcoming season win predictions (click here). Obviously most folks were a little overly-optimistic, myself included. The same will be done this year, likely sometime after the Blue and Gold game in April.

In the meantime, a little look at where the Irish stand at each position is in order. In many cases the offseason is a time to discuss the break-out players for next season, e.g. Heisman hopefuls etc. With the youth at most positions on the Irish roster this is more of a risky endeavor naturally leading to an analysis on a position-by-position, rather than player-by-player, basis...

Quarterback:

The talent at quarterback for the Irish is exceptional. While it wasn't readily apparent in the win-loss column, Jimmy Clausen performed pretty well in his first season. He put up better numbers than Brady Quinn did in his, even while spending much of the time running for his life. Admittedly, he made multiple freshman mistakes, but that's exactly what he was, a true freshman. His arm strength is still suspect, but it is tough to tell if that is primarily due to his lingering arm injury and/or the beating he took while on the field.

Evan Sharpley will likely never be a great starting quarterback but he is a capable backup. He tends to force the issue, often times throwing into tight spaces and/or having too much confidence in his arm. But he was also trying to play catch-up for most of his playing minutes last year.

Dayne Crist is somewhat of an enigma. After last season most of those following recruiting are waiting to jump on the Crist bandwagon. Some are quick to dismiss Clausen already, forgetting that he was much more highly rated and recruited than Crist one short year ago. It is tough to overlook the obvious, however. Crist has all of the physical tools to be a great quarterback. But he must develop his game-improve his understanding of offensive philosophy, work on his accuracy on the out and intermediate over-the-middle routes, and learn to play more from under center-if he wants to contribute early.

The fact of the matter is Notre Dame can win football games with all three quarterbacks. While none of the current roster quarterbacks have proven they can put the team on their back and win a game down the stretch in the final minutes, at least two have the potential to turn into those types of players. The important thing for their continued development is to take pressure off them by controlling the clock and developing the running game.

Quarterback isn't a break-out position for the Irish, yet. But with continued development at this position over the next two seasons the pass-happy offense Head Coach Charlie Weis used with Tom Brady and Brady Quinn could return. The immediate and most pressing factor in the development of this position will be if Weis can build a running game to allow them to develop at their own pace rather than throwing them to the wolves with an offensive line that can't protect them.

Offensive Backfield:

Running back is probably the deepest position on the Irish roster in terms of very little talent drop-off among the first three backs. James Aldridge, Robert Hughes, and Armando Allen would start for 95% of the teams in the country. Jonas Gray only adds more depth to the position. Additionally, the talent is diverse, with Aldridge and Hughes being powerful, inside runners and Allen being a much faster, quicker back. All three are tough to bring down and had they been more utilized last year may have helped spur the Irish on to more victories. The rushing totals (and averages) Aldridge, Hughes, and Allen put up last year are more than respectable as shown here.

That isn't to say all three backs don't have room for improvement (as discussed here). But the depth, talent, and competition at this position should pay huge dividends for the Irish over the next two years. Many are quick to jump on the Hughes bandwagon after a few very good games late in the season. It is important to remember the level of competition the Irish were facing in those games. It is also important to remember that Aldridge and Allen both averaged around four yards per carry in 2007. All three are very capable backs with different attributes that should be utilized by a good offensive gameplan. The running back position, with improved offensive line play and more opportunities, will be a break-out position for Notre Dame in the 2008 season.

At fullback the Irish have the bruising Asaph Schwapp and the more agile Luke Schmidt. Schwaap, at times, took a step back in his play last year, but it is tough to not like his attitude and toughness. Schmidt drew rave reviews out of high school, having great speed for his size. If he can develop in the passing game the Irish could have another weapon for defenses to contain coming out of the backfield.

Fullback isn't a position typically featured in a Weis offense. As such, Schwapp and Schmidt aren't likely to make a huge impact next year.

Wide Receiver:

The wide receiver position should be a strength of the Fighting Irish in 2008. No other position on the Irish roster has so many players with good to great talent. The top receivers from last season all return in David Grimes, George West, Robbie Parris, Duval Kamara, and Golden Tate. Additionally, Weis and his coaching staff brought in what is arguably the best Irish wide receiver class in the last fifteen years, and likely the best any program has had in the last five years. Michael Floyd, Deion Walker, and John Goodman all have good size and speed at the position. Floyd, in particular, seems to already give the Irish a player that can stretch the field.

Grimes and West are lightning quick receivers that excel in the slot position. While both Grimes and West were inconsistent catching the ball, both have the ability to create yards after the catch. Parris and Kamara are taller, more rangy receivers that showed promise in 2007. However, Parris struggled, at times, to get open and Kamara still has room to grow into the position. If both of these receivers can continue to utilize their size to shield defenders, the sky is the limit. Improved speed on the part of Parris could also increase his game as he often struggled to gain separation from defenders.

Like Crist, Floyd is a receiver that has all of the physical tools to be great. He has good, albeit not great, speed, great size, excellent field vision, smooth route running ability, and catches everything thrown near him. Goodman has great speed for his size. While his hands are suspect, a forty-plus yard kickoff return average shows his ability to get yards after the catch. Walker is exceptionally fluid cutting in his routes, needing only to gain strength before being able to consistently contribute at the collegiate level.

The wide receiver position is extremely deep and talented and has great potential to be a break-out position for the Irish in 2008 if the Irish offense can protect the passer. With so many young, talented players look for multiple members of this group to make an impact rather than a single player.

Tight End:

Notre Dame took a serious hit to their tight end depth when Konrad Reuland transferred and Will Yeatman ran into trouble with the law. Despite the absence of these two highly recruited high school athletes (even though Yeatman may return in the future), there is a great deal of talent left at this position.

Mike Ragone received considerable playing time last year, most of it coming by way of special teams. He has excellent speed for the tight end position but still lacks the size and strength to be an effective blocker.

The Irish will also receive an upgrade in talent at this position in the fall when Kyle Rudolph and Joseph Fauria arrive on campus. Rudolph is an exceptional athlete with great height and speed. Like Ragone, he will also need to bulk up to handle blocking duties but his speed, route running ability, and height cannot be overlooked. Coupled with an innate ability to catch the ball with his hands, away from his body, Rudolph should be a dangerous receiving threat from the tight end position in the very near future. Fauria is the blocker to go with Rudolph's receiving skills. He already possesses the size to contribute right away and has the height to also be an effective receiver. Look for both Rudolph and Fauria to be visiting a red zone near you.

The Irish have significant talent at the tight end position. However, much of it is very young with very little experience. While there is reason to suspect great things down the road, this position will not be a strength for the Notre Dame in 2008.

Offensive Line:

Most of the last year's miserable season was attributed to poor offensive line play. Much of this criticism was deserved, some was misplaced. The Irish struggled woefully against aggressive defense fronts, often incapable of picking up the blitz and protecting the passer. At times the offensive line play was timid and passive, two words that spell disaster describing the play on an offensive front. While Notre Dame returns several players at this position with good playing experience, the question remains whether they can gel and significantly progress in the offseason to improve in pass protection.

Perhaps more importantly, however, will be the improvement in run blocking. The Irish ran the ball effectively at times in 2007 (click here), but were terrible converting short yardage situations on the ground. With talent in the backfield and youth at the quarterback position, improvement in run blocking will go a long way to winning football games in 2008.

Super recruit Sam Young regressed in 2007 after a pretty solid freshman campaign. The move to left tackle didn't go as smoothly as the Irish coaching staff hoped and Young struggled with his first step against smaller, quicker defensive ends. The Irish return Paul Duncan at the other tackle position. In his first year starting Duncan didn't particularly impress. He lacked aggressive play and committed many mental mistakes that resulted in sacks for the opposition.

Both guards in 2007 were first time starters. Matt Carufel (who later transferred) started for the first part of the season alongside Michael Turkovich. Later in the year this position would be anchored by Eric Olsen, Dan Wenger, and Chris Stewart who also logged minutes at tackle. At times there were bright spots in the guard play, particularly for Olsen and Wenger, but more often than not the results were very inconsistent.

At center Notre Dame says goodbye to fifth year senior John Sullivan. While Sullivan had a less than stellar final campaign his leadership and experience will be missed. Wenger is likely to slide over and fill the need at this position, something he did admirably in the final games of 2007.

The Irish also have several young players waiting in the wings. Current players Matt Romine and Taylor Dever are joined by freshmen Braxton Cave, Lane Clelland, Mike Golic, and Trevor Robinson. Most feel Robinson has the best chance at competing early, especially since he arrived on campus in January. It is, however, still too early to pass on Romine, Dever, Cave, and Clelland. All were highly recruited in high school and, with a little time, could develop into very solid players.

Offensive line is a notoriously difficult position for young football players. Not only does it require time to gain size and strength to compete at the college level, it also requires significant repetitions in practice to learn complex blocking schemes. Additionally, cohesion and playing as a unit is more important along the offensive front than anywhere else on the football field.

The Irish are certainly talented at the offensive line position. However, the talent is mostly young and inexperienced such that it is too much to expect dramatically improved play along the offensive front in 2008. More physical and aggressive play would go a long way in run blocking, something Notre Dame desperately needs to take pressure off Clausen and get the ball into the hands of their talented backs. The offensive line likely won't be a break-out position for the Irish in 2008.

Defensive Line:

No where do the Irish suffer more from a lack of quality depth than on the defensive front three. With the departure of Derrell Hand (injury) and Kuntz (unknown) this position group took an even harder hit in the offseason. While Kuntz insists he will be back, the defensive line will still need contributions from the younger players on the roster to put together a decent performance in 2008.

Among the upper classmen at the position are the aforementioned Kuntz and Justin Brown. Both lack ideal size to play on the line in a 3-4 defensive alignment. Kuntz will likely move to end to give the Irish experience on the outside. While he plays with a very high motor, he will likely struggle against larger offensive guard and tackles. Both Kuntz and Brown are quick off the ball, but size, strength, and endurance are concerns.

On the outside Kuntz and Brown will likely be spelled by freshmen Sean Cynwar, Ethan Johnson, and Kapron Lewis-Moore. Cynwar is a bigger body, more suited for the 3-4, with above average burst off the line. Johnson was generally regarded as one of the better outside pass rushing defensive ends in the country last year but initially may be more suited to play on the outside of a 4-3. Lewis-Moore will need to gain size to play on the interior of the 3-4. Rising junior Kallen Wade could also contribute at this position provided he continues to gain size in the offseason.

The middle of the defensive front will likely be manned by sophomore Ian Williams. A member of the Freshman All-American team, Williams logged 45 tackles in limited action in 2007 and has ideal size to protect the middle of Notre Dame's 3-4 front. Backing Williams up will likely be a combination of freshmen Hafis Williams and Brandon Newman. Newman was particularly impressive at the Army All-American game and the word on the street is that Williams is a dark horse in the most recent Irish recruiting class. It remains to be seen to what extent both will be able to contribute along the defensive front in 2008 as freshmen.

On paper, defensive line is the weakest position on the Irish roster. Much can happen in an offseason but asking for dramatic improvement from multiple players is wishful thinking. The Irish should employ a defensive line by committee approach in 2008, but that won't mask the problems stemming from a lack of depth and experience on the defensive front. Defensive line will be a position exploited by many teams on the Irish roster, very susceptible to giving up yards up the middle on the ground.

Inside Linebacker:

The Irish return three year starter Maurice Crum at the inside linebacker position after a solid 2007 campaign. While Crum doesn't possess ideal speed for an inside linebacker in the 3-4, he is a veteran player who will be counted on for valuable leadership. Better pursuit angles and fundamentals would go a long way to improve his play on the field as this position will be asked to mask the depth of the front three.

Many Irish faithful hope 2008 is the break-out year for Toryan Smith. To date, Smith has shown the ability to stuff the run, but has consistently struggled in pass coverage. He is a strong, physical inside presence that plays with great leverage, but his lack of speed and inability to quickly change direction has kept him off the field to date.

Steve Quinn, Aaron Nagel, Steve Paskorz, and Kevin Smith have contributed thus far as backups and will likely not see the field in 2008. Quinn may be the exception as he is a more versatile player, but the influx of talent in the freshman class and potential emergence of Smith may keep him on the sideline.

The fall brings new talent to this position in the form of Anthony McDonald, David Posluszny, and Steve Filer. While Posluszny likely needs some time to develop, McDonald and Filer could contribute immediately. Filer, in particular, possesses the sideline-to-sideline range coveted on the inside of the 3-4.

With time, the inside linebacker position could be a strength for Notre Dame. McDonald and Posluszny should develop into capable players, Filer has the talent to be an excellent inside linebacker, and Toryan Smith could be a stalwart for the Irish if he can improve his coverage skills. This will take time, however, and the Irish may continue to struggle at the inside linebacker position in 2008.

Outside Linebacker:

Perhaps as much as any other position on defense, the Irish roster is loaded with talent at the outside linebacker position. Primarily focused on generating pressure off the edge and stopping outside run plays, the outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense must possess a rare blend of size, strength, and speed to be effective. Notre Dame has no shortage at this position. The Irish coaching staff has done an excellent job in the last couple seasons identifying and closing on young athletes to fill their needs.

In Kerry Neal and Brian Smith the Irish have two extremely athletic sophomores to man the outside linebacker position. Both have size, strength, and speed, even at a young age. While over-aggressive at times in 2007, another year of practice and improved understanding of the 3-4 defense should go a long way in improving the play of Neal and Smith in 2008.

Backing up Neal and Smith should be two very capable players in John Ryan and Maurice Richardson. While Ryan struggled against the run in 2007, in short duty he should be an admirable backup. Richardson is an excellent pass rusher from the outside, creating mismatch problems for many offensive tackles with his speed and quickness.

Scott Smith and Kevin Washington will likely not see the field in 2008 due to the arrival of Darius Fleming in the fall. Fleming is another excellent athlete capable of providing quality minutes for the Irish. He will need to gain some size and strength to consistently contribute, but seeing Fleming on the field in 2008 is not out of the question.

The 2008 season may not be the one for Notre Dame's outside linebackers to break-out. However, they are on the verge of being a strong point for the Irish defense, both in run support and as a point of attack in pressuring opposing quarterbacks.

Defensive Backfield:

If there is a more talented position than outside linebacker on the Irish defense, it is the defensive backfield. In Terrail Lambert and Darrin Walls Notre Dame has two very talented and fairly experienced corners. Walls, in particular, has excellent speed and quickness giving him the potential to be an excellent lock-down corner. What Walls and Lambert give in cover ability, however, they lack in physical run support. This makes it imperative for the Irish defense to be able to contain the run from the outside linebacker position.

Joining Walls and Lambert are rising junior Raeshon McNeil and rising sophmore Gary Gray. McNeil and Gray also have excellent cover skills making them very capable backups and contributors in nickel and dime situations.

Complementing the more finnesse play of Walls, Lambert, McNeil, and Gray are soon-to-be freshmen Jamoris Slaughter and Robert Blanton. Both Slaughter and Blanton are more physical than any corners on the current Irish roster.

The Irish bring back free safety David Bruton from a solid 2007 campaign. Despite it being his first year to start, Bruton logged significant minutes and numbers in 2007. He has exceptional range and size, making him an excellent center-fielder in the Irish secondary.

Losing Tom Zbikowski will be tough for Notre Dame's defense. However, there are capable replacements waiting in the wings. Ray Herring has played sparingly in the past. His performances have been largely inconsistent, showing some bright spots. Kyle McCarthy provided solid minutes in 2007, playing in three safety sets when the Irish moved Zbikowski into more of a spy role. Perhaps the most promising player to secure the starting strong safety spot is Harrison Smith. Smith has excellent speed for his size and drew rave reviews in practice. While more suited to play the free safety spot, it isn't out of the question for the defensive coordinator Corwin Brown to move Smith or Bruton into a strong safety roll to maximize the athleticism in the secondary.

The wildcard in the mix is Sergio Brown. Brown has freakish athleticism but has, to date, lacked consistently fundamental play, often times blowing assignments. If Brown is able to better grasp the mental aspects of his assignments, he could bring real promise to the safety position in 2008.

The Irish secondary performed well in 2007 giving up only 161.6 yards per game, good for third best in the country. With improved depth and more experienced starters in 2008, this looks to be a position of strength. Ironically, the team liability during the last two years of Coach Tyrone Willingham's tenure (ranking near the bottom of the country in pass defense) has now become a strength for the the current coaching staff. This is, in no small part, due to secondary coach Bill Lewis both in recruiting and developing solid talent in the secondary. With Corwin Brown's success coaching the secondary in the NFL and the talent and depth on the Irish roster, the defensive secondary is poised to break-out in 2008.