Success for Notre Dame in 2008 Starts Up Front

It seems idiotic to even imply that Notre Dame could be the biggest surprise team in 2008, but the statement alone makes everyone realize how far the Irish have fallen.

One year ago they were coming off back-to-back BCS appearances and seemed primed for the spotlight for years to come once again.  However, three wins and nine losses later, they enter 2008 looking to gain back some of the respect that was lost on the national level a year ago.

So what does Notre Dame have to do to at least get back to a bowl game?  How can they make sure a repeat of 2007 does not occur?

It's pretty simple with Notre Dame in '08: The Irish need to get back to the basics, and that starts up front.

Jimmy Clausen will never come within shouting distance of All-American status, and Robert Hughes and the rest of the Irish stable of running backs won't reach their full potential if the offensive line does not improve.

If we learned one thing towards the end of last year, it was that Notre Dame has more talent on their roster than a 3-9 team should.  However, the offensive line was amongst the very worst in the game.  If that does not change, then the results in the win column will fail to as well.

Rightfully so, there are a ton of question marks about this offensive line.  Irish fans wish it was as simple as a year's experience equaling the line being that much better, but the truth of the matter is that it does not work that way.  Sure the experience may help, but to what degree?  Time will tell.

On the line Notre Dame will see its anchor back in Sam Young.  The former five-star recruit will be playing right tackle this year and will be counted on heavily to give Jimmy Clausen more time to throw while also opening up running room for the Irish backs.

Young was a pleasant surprise his freshman year of 2006, but '07 saw him take a step back.  Young getting back to form at right tackle in 2008 will be key for Irish success.

Expected to join Young on this year's offensive line are Paul Duncan, Michael Turkovich, Dan Wenger, and Eric Olsen from left to right, with Young being the RT.  This has turned into an older and more experienced group for the Irish, both factors that will be helpful for 2008.

As I mentioned before though, experience will not matter if these guys did not gain anything from last year's debacle.

The Irish offensive line needed to learn from mistakes they made last year.  The coaching staff needed to learn what they may have done poorly while working with the O-Line a year ago.

Nobody knows yet what the Irish offensive line will bring in 2008.  They could be the reason the Irish disappoint again, or they could very well be the reason Notre Dame flies in under the radar on their path back to respectability.  As far as I am concerned, this is the only important question Irish fans need to ask themselves for the time being.

If the line has not improved from a year ago, there is no need to worry about the development of Jimmy Clausen or the skill of the running backs on the roster.  Without an offensive line, these young men will not prosper on the football field and will not have to worry about making plays—because once again they will not be able to.

Only if the offensive line is improved should Irish fans begin to doubt what happened to the skill positions of Notre Dame last fall.  If the line gets better and Clausen and company still struggle, then you can begin to question player development at those positions.

However, without an offensive line, it is impossible to be critical of the rest of the offense, including the play calling, because it does not have a chance when the line doesn't hold up its part of the bargain.