Charlie Weis announced at his press conference on Tuesday that he will be calling the plays against Navy this week. He cited the reason for doing this was because Mike Haywood, the previous Offensive Coordinator, had to attend a funeral this week and would miss some practices.
When questioned if he would continue to call plays for the remainder of the season, he said he may because a death in the family can affect someone for a while.
What does this all mean? Weis will have the playbook back in his hands!
Charlie Weis, the offensive mastermind who won four Super Bowls as an offensive coordinator, felt there were some changes that had to be made in the offseason after his 3-9 season in his third season with the Irish. He brought in one of the best defensive minds in the game, Jon Tenuta, on staff and relinquished his play calling duties to running backs coach Mike Haywood.
Haywood is a good coach, but he's young and has very little experience calling plays. Weis made this move so that he could observe the team as a whole and help develop special teams. Weis has been able to greatly improve Notre Dame's special teams play despite not having a good foot on the roster.
Weis used his pro-style offense to propel the Irish from the gutter of college football to the national stage in his first two seasons. Last season the Irish were not able to execute his offense due to the worst offensive line in college football and a freshman quarterback.
Since the Irish of '08 have shown great improvements from last season, especially at the offensive end of the field, Weis has not been able to exercise his greatest talent as a coach, and that is calling plays. Saturday afternoon against Navy, Weis will have the opportunity to show off his offensive brilliance.
What does this change mean for Haywood? Well, many are suspicious if he is going to a funeral or looking for another job, as it is embarrassing to be demoted in the middle of a season.
However, Haywood has three good running backs, a highly touted quarterback who is showing drastic improvement from the past season, one of the best WR corps in the country, and a decent offensive line, yet cannot score one point against BC? He cannot get one touchdown in three overtimes against Pitt?
I do not think all of the blame is on Haywood, but week in and week out I watch some very questionable play calls and inconsistency on the offense, and that falls on the offensive coordinator.
My prediction: Weis takes over the play calling duties against Navy and will not look back. Weis will get great production from the offense against Navy and Syracuse. USC has the best defensive squad in the country, and it will be interesting to see how Weis attacks it.
Weis will win the first bowl game Notre Dame has won in over a decade, and Mike Haywood will take a job at another school next fall.
I do not think Weis will hire another offensive coordinator. I think he is there to stay this time. As an Irish fan, thank God!
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about 1 month ago
Nicely done Brendan! Enjoyed the read! Good luck to him- if he bites it and they lose to Navy, his credibility will certainly come under scrutiny. Should be a doozy!
about 1 month ago
You don't think it's a tad suspicious that Weis takes over right before 2 of the weakest defenses in the country come to town?
As Whitlock said, this just smells of Weis tossing his young and vulnerable OC under the bus and setting himself up for a running start, for the appearance of success.
And that would seem like a disturbing trend for Weis.
And ND won't win a bowl game b/c, just like every year they are bowl eligible, they'll get invited to a far more prestigious game than they deserve, face a far superior team, and get trounced.
Just like in Weis' first 2 years.
These articles that only tell half the story really bug me.
about 1 month ago
Andrew, thanks for your comments. I can see your points of view although I disagree with some of them. This decision does of course seem suspicious in its timing and could definitely be interpreted that he is throwing Haywood under the bus. With that being said, the offense has struggled in the second half of nearly every game this season and the overtimes to Pitt and the most recent game against BC have shown the offense regressing. Therefore, I think Weis to save the season made the move, but again that is my opinion.
I do not agree with the fact that he is throwing anybody under the bus, he has accomplished enough in his career and anybody who has 4 superbowl rings has nothing to prove as far as I am concerned. The offense is struggling and he knows that he can help, I think it is as simple as that. But I understand your point.
I do understand what you are saying about ND playing in higher bowl games than they deserve, you are absolutely right and those first two seasons Weis had they were playing teams that were obviously better than them (Ohio St. and LSU) so I will not agree with you there; however, this year ESPN projects that they will play either Florida State or Georgia Tech in the Gator Bowl and I dont think either of these teams are too-good for the Irish this year. Either of those teams can be beaten by the Irish.
Thanks again for your comments.
from about 1 month ago
Fair enough.
Although I still think it stinks to yank your young OC right before 2 games that would give him a chance to improve with a margin of error and get some confidence. Especially after throwing him to the wolves of Pitt and BC (2 stiffer defenses). I mean, if you're really worried about winning and are suspicious about his abilities, wouldn't those be the games you'd want to take control?
But whatever, you give him more slack and that's only natural considering you're an ND fan. I would never claim to be totally rational about the SF Giants.
And you're far more reasonable about ND than most of the school's fans. I can respect your opinion even if we disagree.
Take it easy.
about 1 month ago
I think Weis realizes a 2nd loss in a row to Navy will seal his fate, and since Haywood does have a personal tragedy, Weis has to get this done with 100% confidence (which you only get from yourself). I think Weis turns the reigns back over to Haywood for Syracuse, because...it's Syracuse. However, if the offense doesn't show enough octane, Weis might take over again for USC because...it's USC. I'll agree that if Weis is still calling plays in a bowl game, the writing is on the wall for Haywood.
about 1 month ago
Interesting article Brendan, but I have to agree with Andrew. If he thought he could do a better job then why not take the reigns against good teams? To me it smells of him taking control over two awful teams so he can show his "Genius" and regain control of play calling next year.
Sorry, I think he's a pathological liar, a cheat and an all around rotten individual. He will say or do anything that makes him look good along with throwing anybody under the bus if it benefits him. As I've said before the only time I've ever seen him enjoy himself is when he was on pain killers after his knee got wiped out on the sidelines. I would not let him coach my kid.
I think it is about time ND fans start DEMANDING more of this overpaid coach. ND is the yankees of college football - there is no reason they shouldn't be in the top 5-10 every year with all the money they bring in and don't share with other teams in a conference. Quit making excuses for this guy - either pay him to leave or demand excellence.
from about 1 month ago
Have you ever met the guy? How can you know what a person is like until you meet them? Plus, trust me, ND fans are demanding plenty from the man. I know many who are calling for him to be booted.
from about 1 month ago
No Danny, I have never met the man. I am surmising based on watching and listening to him. Maybe I'm wrong but not as wrong as ND was to shell out the money they did to bring him on board.
Send him to Washington and Rodriguez to Washington State. Chalk the money up to a mistake and move on.
about 1 month ago
Doug,
Thanks for your comments. Couldn't disagree with you anymore. But each to their own. I have been a Notre Dame fan since I was born, and I think Weis is a great coach, a great person and a great leader of men. So I guess we can agree to disagree haha.
As far as demand for excellence, I think the boosters know that excellence comes with recruiting and recruiting takes time and that is why Weis is not really on the Hot Seat. The "GM" of Notre Dame football is not the AD, but the boosters and alumni, and they are confident in Weis.
from about 1 month ago
Honestly I think he is a barrier to top notch recruiting. Just my opinion though. He just doesn't seem like a guy you would want running your kids life for three or four years.
about 1 month ago
Andrew and Doug-
How can you say that Weis is throwing Haywood under the bus? The man had a death in the family, how is that Weis's decision?
Are you insinuating that Weis set up a death in Haywood's family that just happened to coincide with two easy games?
Personally I think that's preposterous.
from about 1 month ago
Then why didn't he say something along the lines of due to a personal reasons the OC won't be around this week and I'll call the plays this week. To me it sounds permanent. Maybe your are right and it is nothing more than what you say. Time will tell.
about 1 month ago
Coach Weis was brought in because of his ability to call plays and so it doesn't surprise me that he decided to step in and assume the play calling duties for the offense. What ever the circumstances behind Coach Haywood's family situation I think it was the right move. Ultimately the Head Coach is responsible for the course of his team and his coaches. I think it might also be an excellent opportunity for Coach Weis to continue to educate his young OC and develop him for the future. Developing the coaches is just as important as developing the players. Coach Paul Bryant once told a reporter that the reason he was so successful at Alabama was because he hired people who were better than he was at coaching. I am not saying Coach Haywood is better, but it would be hard for us to know what his potential really is. Coach Weis and his staff would know that answer. I think all of us would have a hard time calling plays when half your playbook is actually effective. By that I am referring to the Irish's inability to run the football.
about 1 month ago
Notre Dame is reaping their reward for hiring Charlie Weis, a man with no experience as either a college football assistant coach, offensive or defensive coordinator, or head coach. Notre Dame and their fans are getting what they deserve for betting the future of their football program on a long shot.
from about 1 month ago
That is completely absurd. Weis has been coaching football in some way (head coach, offensive coordinator for the Pats, running backs coach, etc.) for well over 20 years. He once worked for the Giants under Bill Parcells when they won the super bowl in 1991.
from about 1 month ago
Danny, please note my post stated Weis had no experience in the college ranks. College football is not NFL football. Coaching student athletes is much different than coaching professional football players. My point is that Charlie Weis is still learning how to be a successful college football head coach.
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