Four Reasons to Be Optimistic About Notre Dame This Year

After reading and responding to many articles on Bleacher Report, I have decided to get off the bench and write my own article on this year’s Fighting Irish.  I look forward to responses and constructive criticism on my writing.

The 2008 Fighting Irish will not resemble the debacle that took the field last season.  This team comes into the season experienced, stronger, and most importantly, possessing a better understanding of the playbook.

I believe that the Irish will be vastly improved this year based on four things: experience, conditioning, coaching, and our schedule.

Last year the Irish had to rely on many underclassmen with little or no experience.  This year will not be the same.

Going into last season, Jimmy Clausen was the third string quarterback.  Coach Charlie Weis announced just before the beginning of the season that the team would run the spread offense and that Demetrius Jones would be the starter.

Clausen was a freshman still learning the playbook, did not have much opportunity to practice with the first string, and was coming off surgery on his elbow to repair bone chips—yet after Jones transferred and backup Evan Sharpley proved ineffective, Clausen was thrust into the starting role.

In his first seven games, Clausen threw one TD compared to five INTs.  After sitting out a couple of games with an injury, he came back and threw six TDs compared to one INT in his final three games.

After a first year of being thrown into the fire and taking his lumps early, Clausen has spent the offseason learning the complete playbook and practicing with the first team.  These factors, combined with a fully healed elbow and strength conditioning in which he added considerable muscle to withstand the rigors of the season, leave me with an optimistic outlook at QB.

The success of this year will rely on the offensive line, which was both young and brutal last season.  Four starting O-linemen were sophomores last year with little playing experience, allowing Clausen to be sacked 34 times.  While only John Sullivan has graduated, the changes on this line should be significant.

Junior Sam Young will move back to his natural right tackle position.  He has bulked up to 330 lbs., and along with right guard Chris Stewart at a massive 340 lbs., the right side should be able to open the way for the running game.

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