On Wednesday morning, Jeff Samardzija was interviewed on ESPN's First Take to get his opinion on the Charlie Weis situation.
He started by saying that everyone needs to "take a deep breath" and that "everything's fine." That's to be expected from a Notre Dame alum who played very well under the coach in question.
There was, however, one thing he said in the interview that stood out to me. When asked why the team isn't winning despite some great recruiting classes, he said the following:
"Well, I think they're young. You've got to get out there and play the game. You can practice all you want, but until you get those young guys on the field taking reps and playing against high class Division I talent...you've just got to take your time."
I don't expect everyone to pick up on what I saw immediately, so go ahead and read that again.
Did you catch it?
The idea that the team is young has been thrown around since last season. That isn't what stood out to me.
The fact that the players need to get their playing time and that fans need to have patience falls right in line with the youth argument. That isn't it either.
The part I'm talking about isn't how much experience or playing time the players have had, but the strength of the teams that they've been playing against: "high class Division I talent."
Notre Dame's schedules these past two seasons (the seasons in which these young players have seen all of their playing time) has been noticeably weak.
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about 1 month ago
I have said this before and I will say it again, this team is two assistants away from being on the move. They need a butt-kicking O-line coach and a butt-kicking, motivator at OC. The OC needs to decipher the guru's playbook and make it work in the College Game.
Charlie can coach. He has proved it. His first team was his best because it had depth. The lack of depth thereafter was not his fault. These guys are going to learn and they need to continue to learn by going to a Bowl game.
BTW, I think he can absolutely build a gameplan to beat the Poodle. The question will be execution (ref Shark's remarks).
from about 1 month ago
Good points, Tim.
I'll admit, I'm not completely sold on Charlie. I do, however, believe that what you've said is completely possible. He might just be a few changes away from doing some great things.
I also agree that he can build a gameplan to beat USC (I assume that by poodle, you mean Pete Carroll). It will be interesting to see which players get left behind, though, since Charlie said that any players that weren't "believers" were going to stay in South Bend. Depending on which players he decides aren't "believers" the gameplan could change quite a bit.
I just wish that Brian Smith and Michael Floyd weren't hurt. That would change everything completely.
Thanks for the feedback.
about 1 month ago
I tend to agree. I think the development problem doesn't lie with Weis, but with whom he has chosen as assistant coaches. I would even extend that to include Ron Powlus. I think Powlus was better utilized in his figurehead recruiting position. I think some of Clausen's inconsistent play is the fault of Powlus's inability to develop him. We need a strong QB coach, like we had in Terry Shea.
from about 1 month ago
I understand what you're saying. I don't really know what qualified Powlus to be a QB coach other than his experience as a highly touted QB coming to Notre Dame. I definitely think that there are better QB coaches out there.
Thanks for the feedback, Deke.
about 1 month ago
Great arcticle. I am a Weis believer and you are correct he will get one more year to show some marked improvement. Next year's schedule looks to be at least a 10 win season with the only losses probably coming from USC and as always a tough Michigan State squad. I wasn't sold on Ron Pawlus as a QB much less as a QB coach. Weis is a great recruiter and he knows how to develop talent but like it was said above they need help on his staff to bring out the best in these players. I would also make sure every offensive and defensive lineman pitches a pup tent (big ones) outside that weight room and don't leave until they can bench a house. You want to be great it starts in the trenches. You can have all the best skill in the world but if you can block or pressure the QB with your down 3 or 4 you won't go anywhere. With a running game the Irish's record would be 9-2. There is no question in my mind. If they can do that for next year and add some of the talent they recruit this year into the mix, look for the Irish to do some damage in a big way against their opponents next year. Bear Bryant always said what made him the best coach was he hired people smarter and better than he was. The Head Coach may have to answer for the status of his program but he cannot develop every single player on his own.
from about 1 month ago
I definitely agree about winning it in the trenches. Could you imagine if the Notre Dame d-line could get pressure only rushing three? Or if the o-line could create an alley for the running backs? The team could do pretty well for itself.
Getting the right assistants in there could very well do wonders.
Thanks for the feedback.
about 1 month ago
Time to discuss the Tier 1-2-3 scheduling -- 4-4-4 each year.
Dividing the top 90 programs into Tiers of 30 each, ND this year has played, according to Sagarin's rankings:
Tier 1 - USC #5, BC #17, MSU #23, North Carolina #25 (4)
Tier 2 - Pittsburgh #35, Navy #51 (2)
Tier 3 - Stanford #63, Purdue #72, Michigan #86 (3)
Others: Syracuse #103, San Diego St #140, Washington #147
from about 1 month ago
I've heard of the Sagarin rankings before, but I know nothing of the Tier 1-2-3 scheduling. I understand the concept, but I'm not exactly sure what you're getting at.
Sorry if I'm a little ignorant on this. Would you mind elaborating for me?
Thanks Michael.
from about 1 month ago
ND has more flexibility in scheduling than a conference team. The concept includes your implication that to be the best you have to include the best in your scheduling (high D-1 talent). Four Tier 1 teams, four Tier 2, four Tier 3 teams would be scheduled each year for a balance in competiveness.
The knock on ND's schedule this year, in terms of Tier scheduling at 4-4-4 in each Tier, is not the lack of top 30 (Tier 1) teams but 2 teams missing from Tier 2, and 1 from Tier 3 and too many (3) teams worse than 90th.
Hypothecal scheduling courtesy of ND Nation - http://www.ndnation.com/geetar/2007/07/art-of-scheduling.html
Throw in Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas or Georgia to ND's schedule instead of Syracuse or San Diego State and with a rebounding Michigan and no one criticizes ND's strength of schedule. I'd also like to play Miami.
from about 1 month ago
Alright, now I have a better idea of where you're coming from with this. It's a great concept. I appreciate the input.
Thanks Michael!
about 1 month ago
Charlie blew his first two recruiting classes and is now paying for it. The team will still be average next year maybe 7-8 wins, they should be good in 2010 if he can fix his assistant coaching mess. Can CW survive until then?
from about 1 month ago
Can he? Yes. Will he? I have no idea. If the report that he hasn't made any friends at Notre Dame is true, then he might be on a short leash. I have heard that he has a good working relationship with Jack Swarbrick, so Charlie needs to pray that the decision stays with him.
Thanks for the feedback.
about 1 month ago
I'm Unconvinced that it's the schedule. Teams like the Univ of Utah play weak schedules year in and year out. Yet, they not only have a great team this year under Whittingham, but a couple of years ago under Urban Meyer. They've also had some very good basketball teams. And, I'm sure other examples could be brought up with a little thought. My personal opinion is that the entire program needs to be rebuilt. And, while I think former AD Kevin White was a fine individual and a good fund raiser, he simply didn't seem to know what he's doing as far as getting the right people together for the football program. It's also true that the world of college football has changed a lot since the old days when Notre Dame was Notre Dame. Maybe Notre Dame should resign themselves to playing in the Ivy League. But then I think back to the Univ of Utah, and the general overall success they've built. And here's the secret of their success: their Athletic Director!
--Andrew
from about 1 month ago
Utah plays very weak schedules. According to the Sagarin rankings, Utah's strength of schedule this year is 74th compared to Notre Dame's 57th ranked schedule.
In 2005, they lost five games and didn't play a quality opponent. In 2006, they lost to every quality opponent they played. In 2007, they lost four games and their only win over a quality opponent was a 44-6 win over 11th ranked UCLA. Of course, UCLA proved to not be that quality of an opponent as they lost 6 more games (including Notre Dame's first win).
This year they beat Oregon State, BYU, and TCU. The other teams were nothing special. Oregon State is only relevant because they beat USC and may win the Pac 10. The other two haven't won any games against quality opponents other than TCU's win over BYU. Utah also barely beat a weak Michigan team in their first game.
I'm unconvinced that Utah has a great team this season. I don't see them with 9 wins in the Pac 10 or Big 10 or even 8 wins if they were in the Big 12 or SEC. That's not to say they aren't a good team. I just put them with Oregon, Oregon State, Iowa, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Ole Miss.
Even if Utah wins a BCS bowl game over a deserving BCS team, this season is the exception rather than the rule for them.
They aren't even on the same level as another non-BCS team in Boise State, who is close to being undefeated every year. And Boise State plays just as easy a schedule as Utah. So if you are going to make an argument for your case, Boise State would be a much better example to use.
But even Boise State doesn't develop their players to play top teams. They were able to beat an Oklahoma team that seems to play down to what they perceive to be the ability of their opponent (and they seem to underrate their opponents).
Also, Utah didn't lose all their starters following any season as Notre Dame basically did after the 2006 season. They didn't have to develop around 15-20 underclassmen that were either starting or getting significant playing time and then lose another five key starters following that season.
Since this team is young, they have to be developed simultaneously and the schedule isn't helping them do that.
Also, this program is basically being rebuilt right now. That's part of the reason for the struggles.
I appreciate the feedback, Andrew. If you have a rebuttal to what I've said, I'd be more than happy to hear it.
about 1 month ago
Charlie Weis is a stupid fat man who is in way over his head. After his team gets humiliated on national television (once again) by the USC Trojans he should seriously consider resigning and save the ND program the embarrassment of firing his useless butt. He has no clue of how to win football games and would be better off serving as Pete Carroll's locker room attendant. ND stands for No Dice!!!!
from about 1 month ago
Would you like to add something to the conversation that hasn't been said an endless number of times by a seemingly infinite number of people?
We all realize the guy has a weight problem. We know that many people believe he is a complete moron. Why the need to reduce yourself to insulting the man? It would have been perfectly fine to say:
"Charlie Weis is in way over his head. If they lose to USC (which they almost certainly will), he should resign to save the university from further embarrassment. It seems to me that he has no clue how to win football games."
That would have gotten your point across of what you thought of him without insulting him. Then, more people would take the comment seriously.
Now, if you have anything that could add some depth to the shallow analysis you've shown here, then please bring your argument to the forefront.
For instance:
-What examples do you have, more specific than the 2007 season or just naming a game (e.g. ND/BC a few weeks ago), that he is in "way over his head"?
-What makes you believe that his resignation would save the university some embarrassment?
-How many Notre Dame games (not just highlights on ESPN) have you actually watched that led you to form your opinion?
-Or any elaboration that isn't just insulting the man more than you already have.
from about 1 month ago
Oh, you want an example?
USC 38 ND 3.
How's that for a fresh one?
Now, ...does that give me the right to rip on that stupid side of beef Weis?
from about 1 month ago
Technically, you can say whatever you want. Nobody can really stop you from doing that and you don't need to run it by me.
But like I said, it would help your case if you could be more specific than just naming a game and its score. Talk about different aspects of the game (more specific than "everything" or "offense, defense, special teams") in which Weis looks incompetent. Break it down.
If you're going to say a guy is horrible at his job, the argument has more pull if you go deeper than calling him a "side of beef".
I'm not here to be a Charlie Weis apologist. I just want a good football conversation and sometimes that means explaining a side that I don't totally agree with.
Give some credit to USC. They looked just as good as Notre Dame looked bad. That's saying a lot.
from about 1 month ago
Do I really need to "prove my case" against Weis at this point? Are there ANY who dispute this right now?
Perhaps you'd like me to prove that the earth isn't flat too?
from about 1 month ago
I'm sure there are some that would dispute your entire argument. I'm not one of them, but there are going to be some.
But if you believe your case is that obvious, then why do you feel the need to talk about it at all? Why waste your time?
If you don't want someone commenting on your thoughts (which seems to be the case, but I may be wrong), don't post them.
I appreciate the feedback. It's your opinion and you're entitled to it. Freedom of speech, right?
about 1 month ago
thousands flock to nd games year after year, but for how long? how many 3-9, 5-7, seasons will it take before the crowds stop showing up?. norte game is becomeing a acidemic school, smart students, shitty football.
from about 1 month ago
I think that people will keep coming until the program resembles Duke. But hopefully that isn't something that anyone has to worry about.
about 1 month ago
If anything, the fact that his teams aren't winning against inferior talent is the most damning indictment of Weis' system. It's not a matter of his players needing more reps against great competition. The players that Weis regularly puts out now have had a few seasons to cut their teeth against Michigan, Michigan State, Boston College and USC. That's pretty solid competition right there, and these same players have failed to beat some absolute creampuffs on the schedule.
They've had their chances to get regular reps against quality competition, and it hasn't paid off. Even the reps against inferior competition have been too much to handle.
It's not the talent on the field. Clausen has shown flashes of talent this year (he's showed why USC wanted him.) It all comes back to the coach. There has been no schematic advantage. San Diego State should never almost walk out of South Bend with a victory, regardless of how many reps Weis' players get against top-notch competition. The Notre Dame name can recruit a class of player that not many other schools have access to.
I'm a Michigan State fan. I recognize when a coach is making their team perform well below their talent level. I saw it with John L. Smith for years, and now I'm seeing it in one of our rivals. Get rid of Charlie before you start experiencing losses like we did against ND in 2006.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah, those four teams are usually all solid competition, but what about the other eight games every year? The schedules these past few seasons could easily be much tougher. And I still believe that a tougher schedule would help.
As for the rest of your post, I agree with you for the most part. You might want to take a look at my latest article:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/87279-a-case-study-on-the-subject-of-intensity-notre-dame-football
Thanks for the read and the feedback, Joe.
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