What happened last year?  Charlie will readily take all the heat for 2007.  But last year’s Notre Dame team had youth and an inexperienced offense.  Sophomores made more starts than seniors.  Eleven freshmen played.  Notre Dame played ten teams that went to bowls.  Weis’s game planning is about ball control, keeping the defense guessing and creating imbalances with his personnel groupings.  The offensive line did not control the line of scrimmage and Weis’s running game could not get established.  Too many times Notre Dame was left in 3^rd and long, predictably passing situations.   But last year, as an indication, Time of Possession dropped from 32 minutes to 29 minutes.  Too many mistakes were made.  Special teams play limited the Irish in field goal attempts, kickoffs, and returns.  Weis will work with special teams this year.  Rockne: “Build up your weaknesses until they become your strengths”. 

When Weis arrived at Notre Dame, he had less than 70 players on scholarship, historically worse than any program who received the NCAA’s “death penalty” except Miami and Oklahoma.  Willingham had recruited only four offensive linemen in three years, including two in 2005 - the year he left.  Weis replenished with six offensive linemen his first year, four his second year, and four with the incoming class.  Charlie and his staff have added depth and competition for positions.  His philosophy is that the best player will start, which appeals to talented recruits.  But 2007 was when the chickens came home to roost in the worst season in Notre Dame football history.  Talented but inexperienced players were outmatched too many times.   Too many times Notre Dame was down early, and forced to try to pass to catch up. 

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