Bleacher Report - Indianapolis

NFL Week 13: My Three Wishes

Richard O'Hagan — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:50:57 -0500

1. I wish the Colts would change the script

Does anyone else feel like Colts' games are getting to be like a bad movie plot? There's only so many times a side can allow themselves to go in well behind at half-time, only to come out and steal the match in the second half, surely?

Apart from being the storyline to every sports film ever made, it is also starting to look a bit like they stole the idea from Ali's "Rope a Dope" strategy, allowing their opponent to burn themselves out and then hitting them when they are beat.

Whether they put together an unbeaten season or not is a matter of supreme indifference to me. All I care about is that they find a different way to win matches, as I'm now bored of this one.

2. I wish Jerry Jones had thought to put some turf in that stadium

Did you see the state of that pitch on Thanksgiving? I know that every modern stadium suffers from the same malaise, whatever the sport—it is hard to get grass to grow where there is so little natural light—but that surface looked shockingly bad.

The fact was only emphasized when Tashard Choice took a snap in the Wildcat formation, ran left, then slipped and fell behind the line of scrimmage with no opponent near him. If your own players can't make the plays they need to, it's time to do something about the playing conditions, otherwise what is the point of playing on your home field?

3. I wish that Play60 film was more realistic

Are they seriously expecting me to believe that Drew Brees was allowed to take a snap and then dink a little screen pass to Barack Obama, whilst DeMarcus Ware just stands in the backfield and watches? If you want to get kids playing sport, you have to do it properly and there's just no way that, if you do that, Ware doesn't come in and flatten the President before he's taken a step. What kid wouldn't want to have the chance to do that?

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Why Notre Dame's Critics Need To Back Off

Tim Altevogt — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:36:23 -0500

If you are an Irish fan you have to be irate at the articles and blog posts out there regarding Notre Dame's inability to recruit and bring in a big time coach.

I really would love the opportunity to talk to some of the folks out there that say not joining a conference is a mistake for the University.

I would love the opportunity to talk to folks out there that claim Notre Dame cannot recruit top players from around the nation due to academic standards and the landscape in South Bend.

Well, I will take advantage of this opportunity to educate some of you on just how relevant Notre Dame is and what the Irish will be able to achieve when the right pieces of the puzzle are put in to place.

First of all lets get into recruiting.

Even after the announcement that Charlie Weis had been fired the university has had a verbal commit from a four—star recruit in Louis Nix from Florida. This must really irritate all of you Florida fans that assume that if they play in your backyard they are automatically going to sign with one of your schools. In fact, of the 18 verbal commits Notre Dame has received, four, are from Florida. Within this group of verbal commits there is only two from Indiana, the rest come from a number of places across the nation, including, Ohio, California, North Carolina, Georgia. Illinois, Texas, New Jersey and Utah.

It is not a lack of recruiting abilities that has hampered Notre Dame over the past eight years just a lack of leadership. You cannot tell me that Notre Dame's offense has been inept or lacked an ability to make plays. However, the defense has been in dire straits for quite some time.

Notre Dame had no problem winning a national championship in 1988. The schedule was an extremely tough one and Lou "The Saint" Holtz had no problem defeating his foes with a team that will remain as one of the greatest in college football history. Holtz led his team to victories over #9 Michigan, #1 Miami (Catholics vs. Convicts), #2 USC and #3 West Virginia. Oh, and I forgot to mention they also played Purdue, Stanford, Pitt and Penn State. With a defense that included All—Americans such as Frank Stams, Michael Stonebreaker, Chris Zorich and Ricky Watters ND couldn't be stopped. Notre Dame had 28 players from the NC team that were drafted into the NFL!

Apparently to many people across the college football landscape, Notre Dame will not be able to return to glory without joining a major conference. This I say is a load of malarkey!

Why is acceptable to any college football fan, regardless of your loyalties that even if you have a .500 or below win percentage and you win your conference you are going to play in a BCS game? Notre Dame is not offered those same luxuries. The Irish have to go out and win against a number of middle—of—the—road programs and big time programs each and every week and prove themselves capable to play in a BCS game. Every team that Notre Dame plays, plays like it is a bowl game. I guess Randy Edsall, head coach at the University of Connecticut, saying this was the biggest win in the history of his football team means nothing.

I honestly feel that the biggest travesty in the history of college football was the inception of the Bowl Championship Series. It is meaningless to any fan of the game that honestly cares about the best team being crowned National Champion. How is it that the Florida Gators, who got beat,is crowned national champion over an undefeated Utah team? It is complete bull! Tell me why Boise State didn't have an opportunity.

If you want real change in college football these kinds of shortcoming of the current system have got to change. So with that being said, why should Notre Dame join a conference? Is it so they can end up like Utah or Boise State?

They need to remain independent and do what they have been doing for years. Continue to schedule Michigan, Michigan State, USC and the likes. Continue to bring in top tier recruits regardless of academic standards and bring in a coach that will effectively mold that talent into the type of players that Notre Dame needs.

Is it okay for Notre Dame to lower it's academic standards to get the players that we supposedly can't get? I guess it's okay for programs such as Florida, Florida State, Tennessee and Georgia to accept individuals into their program that have issues and can't get a firm hold on being given the keys to success. That is where Notre Dame sets itself apart from the rest of the pack. Student athletes that make a decision to attend the University of Notre Dame are looking for something more than ball room dancing or underwater basket weaving. They are looking for a higher education, a great college experience, a degree from one of the most prestigious universities in America and an opportunity to become part of the tradition that is Notre Dame Football.

Father Jenkins and Jack Swarbrick need to stay the course and continue to have high expectations for all that attend the University of Notre Dame. Hold your heads high, because those of us that are true fans and loyal to the University expect nothing less.

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Undefeated Super Bowl Matchup?: Sorry, Folks, Not the Indianapolis Colts

Kyle Winslow — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:34:18 -0500

The Colts and the Saints are both 11-0, and everybody is dreaming about a Super Bowl matchup between two undefeated teams. The Saints look unbeatable, and the Colts have a relatively easy schedule remaining, so it is plausible.

But it's not going to happen. Sorry, folks.

The New Orleans Saints might pursue perfection, but the Colts won't. Once they clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, they'll mail it in. The team's philosophy won't change, despite the general fan sentiment that momentum won them the Super Bowl in 2006-07, whereas resting players has caused the team several early playoff exits.

"You don't get rusty missing a half of a ballgame or three quarters of a ballgame," said team president Bill Polian on his weekly radio interview. "That doesn't happen. That is fantasy. There is nothing to it. I don't believe in momentum."

The team has made roster moves to reflect this strategy already, signing running back Mike Hart from the practice squad even though there are already three healthy running backs on the active roster. This is a good sign that Joseph Addai and Donald Brown will get plenty of rest once the Colts clinch a No. 1 seed.

According to Bill Polian, the team's preference to rest players in meaningless games dates back to the Colts' 1999 season, in which the team went 13-3 but lost linebacker Cornelius Bennett for the playoffs in a game that had no impact on their seeding.

Polian's disregard of momentum actually dates back to his time with the Buffalo Bills, and they went to four straight Super Bowls.

The Colts' organization is all about winning the big one, and even though some of the players may want to go 17-0, there isn't going to be any dissent if the coach tells them to sit.

The good news for Colts fans is that the team will have plenty of time to get healthy before making their playoff run. Players who have minor nagging injuries that wouldn't normally keep them out of the lineup, such as Dwight Freeney, will certainly benefit from some time off.

Unfortunately, this may make it very difficult for the Colts to get a victory against a team like the New York Jets. Bye bye perfect season.

"I can assure you that if a game is meaningful, every player on our team is going to be out there," emphasized Polian.

Too bad all the games aren't going to be meaningful.

Check out my new web site and get the latest Colts updates from the media and the players all in one place!

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Irish 40 in 40: Players Post-Season Review

Eric Murtaugh — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:16:30 -0500

Before the 2009 season I took a look at the top 40 influential players for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Now, here is a review of that list:

1. Armando Allen (Jr. RB)—Frustrating season for Notre Dame’s starting tailback, as multiple injuries kept him out of the lineup in key games and moments. With Allen in the backfield, the Irish offense was more dynamic. Hopefully he can put together a strong senior season and carry the burden with Clausen and Tate likely gone.

2. Jimmy Clausen (Jr. QB)—Just an amazing season for Clausen, especially considering his lingering toe injury. Not much else to say. It would be nice to see one more year from him in South Bend.

3. Brian Smith (Jr. LB)—Not a good season for Smith this year as he struggled in his spot at middle linebacker. He barks a big game but often times doesn’t back it up. With a new coach, he may find himself on the outside looking in when it comes to playing time.

4. Ethan Johnson (So. DT)—A frustrating season for Johnson as he was moved inside to tackle when he is more suited to play at end. Clearly a talented defender, he led the team with four sacks and will continue to grow and improve his game. He needs to improve his run stopping abilities in the off season.

5. Nick Tausch (Fr. K)—Before losing his starting spot due to injury, Tausch brought much needed consistency to the kicking game in 2009, even setting the school record for consecutive field goals made. One of the bright spots for the future.

6. Sam Young (Sr. OL)—If there is one thing that sums up Young, it is that he is inconsistent. He can dominate at times but lacks the ability to put together all the tools a lineman needs throughout a game. Numerous penalties this year really set the team back as well.

7. Harrison Smith (Jr. LB/S)—Struggled mightily at safety for most of the season before switching back to linebacker to finish the year. Smith is at his best when he is attacking at the line of scrimmage, but lacks speed and smarts in the open field. With a new coaching staff in place, he may not be starting in 2010.

8. Golden Tate (Jr. WR)—Perhaps the finest season for any Notre Dame skilled position player? Tate amazed even his biggest supporters this year with his play making ability. A combination of Steve Smith and Hines Ward, he is impossible to tackle one on one. If he returns to school next season, he could be a Heisman favorite.

9. Paul Duncan (Sr. OL)—The fifth year senior had a poor season in 2009 and was continually beaten by smaller defensive ends with speed coming off the edge. The Irish need a better effort from his replacement in 2010.

10. Kyle Rudolph (So. TE)—A bit of an up and down year for Rudolph who took a small step back from his sensational freshman campaign. Still a work in progress with his blocking, Rudolph is among the best tight ends in the country and will be a huge factor next year.

11. Darrin Walls (Sr. CB)—It was a tough year for Walls, who was continually abused by opponents. He doesn’t seem to be the same player since leaving school in 2008. Although a major disappointment this season, he can apply for an extra year of eligibility.

12. Michael Floyd (So. WR)—Despite missing nearly half the season, Floyd still racked up 44 receptions for 795 yards and nine touchdowns. Clearly a thoroughbred receiver with big game play making ability, Floyd is the real deal.

13. Trevor Robinson (So OL)—The youngest member of the starting offensive line had a pretty good year and will be one of the leaders of the team next year. Teaming up with Sam Young on the right side, Robinson was able to blow open numerous holes for the running game.

14. Kapron Lewis-Moore (So. DE)—Had his moments this year, but lacked consistency. Still a very young and raw pass rusher, Lewis-Moore needs to work on his run stopping and tackling. He will be pushed to keep his starting spot in 2010.

15. Ian Williams (Jr. DT)—Williams played pretty well on a defensive line that showed some improvement in 2009. He is more adept at stopping the run than getting pressure on the quarterback and will be a presence on next year’s squad.

16. Robert Blanton (So. CB)—After a surprisingly strong freshman season, Blanton seemed to take a step backwards this year. He has good speed and footwork, but struggled to make plays on the ball and missed many tackles. Blanton will have to step up his game next year as he becomes an upperclassman.

17. Darius Fleming (So. LB/DE)—Maybe the most devastating pass rusher on the defense, Fleming has really come on strong in 2009. He led the team in tackled for loss (12) and will be a key to the team’s success next year. The future is very bright.

18. Eric Olsen (Sr. OL)—A passionate and scrappy lineman, Olsen played pretty well in 2009 but like the rest of the lineman, had trouble with consistency and penalties. He shows toughness and strength that has been lacking on the offensive line in recent years. May be eligible for another year in 2010.

19. Duval Kamara (Jr. WR)—After a tremendous freshman campaign, Kamara has struggled to return to form. He showed a lot of grit and toughness this year however, and is a dependable possession receiver finishing with 23 receptions for 281 yards and one touchdown.

20. Kyle McCarthy (Sr. S)—Fifth year senior came up with numerous big plays this year and was the defenses most dependable player. McCarthy is a strong tackler but lacked the speed and coverage ability necessary for a safety. His absence will be a big hole in the defense in 2010.

21. Toryan Smith (Sr. LB)—A big run stopper in the middle, Smith began the season as a starter but eventually gave way to younger talent. A serviceable player, Smith does not have the speed necessary to play on every down. Toryan’s leadership will be missed.

22. Christ Stewart (Sr. OL)—Perhaps the most consistent member of the offensive line, Stewart has turned into a solid blocker up front. Despite his enormous size he shows good agility and finesse. He is eligible for another year in 2010.

23. Kerry Neal (Jr. DE)—Quality veteran backup who contributed 25 tackles and three tackles for loss. Had some problems with consistency but made some big plays in key moments this year. Neal will be a key senior leader next year.

24. Hafis Williams (So. DT)—Did not see significant action in 2009.

25. Manti Te’o (Fr. LB)—The sensational freshman recruit was one of the few bright spots on the defense and has already staked his claim as the team’s best defender. He still struggles in pass coverage but he showed tremendous playmaking ability at the line of scrimmage. Will he be leaving for a mission soon?

26. Robert Hughes (Jr. RB)—A solid backup runner, Hughes had his moments this year where he ran powerfully, picked up good yardage and also was a decent option in the passing game. With a lack of speed and play making ability to go along with a crowded backfield, it is almost certain Hughes will move to fullback as a senior.

27. Scott Smith (Sr. LB)—Voted a team captain for 2009, Smith is a really good depiction of the Irish defense: good leader and hard worker, but someone who lacks athletic and play making ability. He filled in admirably when he was called upon registering 21 tackles.

28. Dayne Crist (So. QB)—Before suffering a season ending knee injury, Crist was slowly developing into a solid quarterback. Still a bit raw, he has a strong arm and good athleticism which were both on display this year. A lot of expectations will fall upon his shoulders next year if he becomes the starter and he will need to work on his accuracy and decision making.

29. Raeshon McNeil (Sr. CB)—Like most of the secondary, McNeil underachieved and was not able to make many plays during the season. The corners needed stronger play from the upperclassmen and McNeil was not able to bring that in 2009.

30. Steve Filer (So. LB)—Curiously underused, Filer is a special athlete who played well during the regular season. There is a lot of upside to this young player and with a new coaching staff he could be a starter at linebacker in 2010.

31. James Aldridge (Sr. FB)—At one time a promising five star recruit, Aldridge just could not battle through injuries in his final year. He finished the regular season with just seven games played and seven carries.

32. Dan Wenger (Sr. OL)—Unseated from his starting position at center to begin the season, Wenger was a backup at various positions and played generally poorly. With one year of eligibility left, he will be looking to reassert himself as a starter in 2010.

33. Morrice Richardson (Sr. DE)—Unable to beat anyone out for playing time, Richardson spent his last year without making an impact finishing with one tackle in two games played.

34. Robby Parris (Sr. WR)—Turning into the best third option at wide out, Parris finished the year with 25 receptions for 227 yards and a touchdown. A true possession receiver, Parris was not explosive enough but made some crucial first down grabs in his final season at Notre Dame.

35. John Goodman (So. WR)—It took a while for him to see the field this year, but he had his moments both receiving and out of the wildcat formation. A talented possession receiver, Goodman will undoubtedly continue to fight for playing time at the crowded receiver position.

36. Eric Maust (Sr. P)—Wildly inconsistent, Maust had a very sub-par year for the Irish and constantly left Notre Dame with bad field position. Unable to hold down his starting spot, he was replaced late in the season and has no eligibility left.

37. Tyler Stockton (Fr. DT)—Did not see the field this year as the coaching staff relied heavily on the defensive tackle starters. With some weight gain, Stockton could be a welcome addition to the 2010 defense.

38. Mike Anello (Sr. ST)—An unfortunate quiet season for the special teams extraordinaire. Anello was a terrific story and his presence and heart on the team will be missed.

39. Gary Gray (Jr. CB)—All in all probably the most consistent and strongest tackling corner on the season. Started the year used sparingly, but will be a favorite to start next year.

40. Zeke Motta (Fr. LB/S)—Did a nice job in limited action this year, totaling 12 tackles while playing on special teams and mop-up duty at linebacker. Motta should be one of the front runners to start at safety next year.

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At Notre Dame, the Legacy Lives On

Colin Mehigan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:52:03 -0500

The importance of Notre Dame to the world of college football cannot be overstated.

On the day Charlie Weis got fired, ESPN's College Football Live dedicated its entire 30-minute schedule to the Weis dismissal. Taking into consideration that Notre Dame is a 6-6 football team and has not won the national championship for over 20 years, this was extraordinary.

I visited Notre Dame in 2005 during Weis' first season in charge and witnessed a comfortable victory over Syracuse. The South Bend campus is a special place. The university grounds are beautifully landscaped and the atmosphere generated by the adoring faithful was awe inspiring. Over the years I have seen in person 14 NFL games and two other college games, but my excursion to Notre Dame left an everlasting personal legacy.

A strong Notre Dame team is good for college football. It undoubtedly delights TV companies and executives alike, and the overall interest in the sport is amplified when the Irish challenge for national championships.

Notwithstanding the fact that, according to the Sagrin Power Ratings, Notre Dame currently languishes as the 48th best team in the country, the Fighting Irish are the single-most important team and single-most important news story in the sport of college football.

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Jeremiah Rivers...Waiting In The Shadows

James Secoloff — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:30:41 -0500

For one moment it was back...

Jeremiah Rivers had a monster block on a streaking Maryland player during a fast break in the first half of the IU/Maryland game.

On the next play he stole the inbounds pass and had his own breakaway. By the way...the dude can fly.

With a nasty dunk by Jeremiah, it happened.

Assembly Hall went bonkers. As in absolutely ape s*** nuts... I was there and it was the loudest sporting event I’ve been at other than watching the Colts in the compact RCA Dome a couple years back.

Maryland was forced to call a timeout to regroup, probably because they couldn’t hear themselves think.

For at least one half of the game, IU Basketball was back. Assembly Hall became one of the scariest places to play if your not suited up in cream and crimson. The energy was palpable and the team fed off of it. Hoosier fans had a chance to feel what it will be like when Tom Crean turns this program around.

It was awesome.

And make no mistake, it’s happening. We’re watching something special. And when it happens I know I’ll be there, able to say I was with them through it all.

Personally, I can’t wait...

Because when it does and it’s coming, maybe not this year, maybe not even the year after... but soon. The Hoosiers will return to glory and I can’t wait for the moment when they look at the college basketball world and ask “Remember Us?”.

The pieces are already coming together.

Christian Watford is a stud, an athletic freak of nature. Dumes, Verdell Jones, Maurice Creek and everyone else on the team will only get better. And Tom Cream will continue to put together a top 10 recruiting class each year.

So get ready Hoosier fans, because when everything falls in place.

Your going to want to be there, because this is going to be good.

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Statistically Speaking: Notre Dame vs. Stanford

Anthony Pilcher — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:46:15 -0500

Notre Dame dropped their fourth-straight game Saturday and completed a second-half season slide for the second consecutive season. The Irish finish the regular season at 6-6, the six wins about at the expectation level of the most pessimistic fans.

For the 33 Irish seniors, it was a bitter way to end a season ripe with high expectations. For head coach Charlie Weis it was a final loss to end a five-year coaching tenure. For junior quarterback Jimmy Clausen and wide receiver Golden Tate, it may have been their final game in a Notre Dame uniform.

Offense

This game featured some familiar problems for the Irish offense to go along with improved play in other areas.

The Irish gained 447 yards for an average of 8.1 yards per snap and scored 38 points, second only to the 40 points scored against Washington State. Most of the yardage came via big plays and the offense had only three negative plays, their lowest total of the year.

The pass was heavily favored as only 20 runs were called for running backs and Tate out of a season-low 55 plays. Correspondingly, 76.1 percent of the yards came through the air, very near the season-high against Navy (88.3 percent), while 23.9 percent of the offensive production came on the ground.

The first downs followed a similar trend. Notre Dame moved the chains 21 times in the game (very close to the season-low 20 against Pittsburgh), but only notched six on the ground. The six rushing first downs tied Washington, Navy and Pittsburgh for the least all year.

Weis solved the persistent red zone touchdown efficiency problems by scoring from afar. The offense had two red zone possessions and scored touchdowns both times-once on a five-yard pass from Clausen to Tate and the other on an 18-yard strike from Clausen to wide receiver Michael Floyd. The remaining touchdowns came via big passing plays-78 and 28-yard catches by Tate, and a 46-yard reception by Floyd.

In fact, the big plays were a huge part of the offense. Better than 60 percent of the total production came from eight plays (three runs, five passes) that gained 271 yards (33.9 yards per play). Without these eight plays the Irish averaged only 3.7 yards per snap, very near the low mark of the season set against Washington.

Third down was a mixed bag. The offense started strong in the first quarter (four of five) but failed to convert a single third down opportunity through the final three quarters of play.

Rushing

Weis has all but abandoned the run over the last four games as the offense has averaged a paltry 89 yards per game on the ground. Against Navy, Pittsburgh and Connecticut, this was somewhat understandable as the Irish averaged only 3.1 yards per rush.

But against Stanford, Notre Dame gained 107 yards on 25 carries at a rate of 4.3 yards per attempt-a value that climbs to 5.3 when sacks are excluded. This is especially puzzling given that the Irish led for much of the game.

Running back Robert Hughes was particularly effective-albeit seldom used-with 77 yards on only 13 carries (5.7 yards per attempt). On the fifth drive of the game Hughes ran the ball three consecutive times for 24 yards and two first downs. The next play Weis emptied the backfield and passed from the shotgun.

This makes little sense and is indicative of the head-scratching play-calling evident throughout the year. The run was working, and working well. Hughes is a rhythm back that gets better with more carries. Mixing in the pass to keep the opposing defense off-balance is a valid strategy, but using an empty-gun formation telegraphs the pass and completely removes the threat of the run.

Similar to the previous 11 games, the Irish were good running the ball in short yardage situations. There were nine short yardage situations in this game. Six runs were called and four resulted in first downs (66.7 percent). Unfortunately, one of the failed attempts was when the Irish needed to extend a winning scoring drive late in the game.

Three explosive runs gained 54 yards (18 yards per rush). Without these three gains and excluding sacks the Irish averaged 3.5 yards per carry.

Passing

If it was the last game in the Blue and Gold for Clausen and Tate, they certainly went out in style as the Irish passing game was both effective and efficient.

Clausen completed 76.7 percent of his passes (23 of 30) for 340 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions as he averaged 11.3 yards per attempt and 14.8 yards per completion.

Five explosive passes went for 217 yards (43.4 yards per completion) and three touchdowns. The per-completion average for these plays was second only to Nevada(48.8 yards per completion). Excluding these five passes Clausen averaged 4.9 yards per attempt and 6.8 yards per completion-the lowest value of the season.

For the year the Irish signal caller has completed 68 percent (289 of 425) of his throws for 3722 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only four interceptions, averaging 8.8 yards per attempt and 12.9 yards per completion. This performance has been good for a 161.4 passer rating.

What makes these numbers even more impressive is how they have come.

Clausen is responsible for as much of the offensive execution as any quarterback in the country. Additionally, he has no running game to fall back on, has been consistently pressured, and has been restrained by play-calling that makes execution in the passing game extremely difficult.

Tate was his usual, electrifying self. The junior wide receiver generated the bulk of the production through the air catching 10 balls for 201 yards (20.1 yards per reception) and three touchdowns. Floyd added six catches for 85 yards (14.2 yards per reception) and two touchdowns of his own.

Similar to the Navy and Pittsburghgames, the front five couldn't protect Clausen when it mattered most. The offensive line surrendered two sacks, both on the final drive of the game and one when the Irish had no timeouts left to stop the clock. The Irish have allowed one sack per 17.9 pass attempts after surrendering one per 20.3 pass attempts last year.

Defense

The Irish defense had one of their worst outings of the year in almost every facet of the game but played particularly poor on first down.

The Cardinal offense gained 496 yards on 69 plays (7.2 yards per snap) using a run-heavy approach. Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh ran the ball 48 times and attempted only 21 passes to gain 15 rushing and 10 passing first downs.

Nine plays were explosive gains that generated 198 yards (22 yards per play), roughly 40 percent of the total offense. Without these plays Stanford averaged five yards per snap, slightly below the season-high 5.2-yard average posted by Michigan State earlier in the year.

Six of these nine plays came on first down. Notre Dame surrendered eight yards per first down play, allowing 19 of 33 (57.6 percent) plays to gain five or more yards while holding the Cardinal to two or fewer yards on only 11 tries (33.3 percent).

Perhaps more astounding were the number of first down plays that resulted in first downs. Out of 25 total first downs, 11 (44 percent) came on a first down play as the Cardinal offense moved the chains on a third of their play series without needing a second or third down.

When the Irish managed to force second and third down the outcome wasn't much better. Similar to the game against Boston College, the defense surrendered several big gains in long distance situations and allowed 66.7 percent of third downs to be converted. Most of these gains came through the air as co-defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta loaded the box in a futile attempt to stop the Cardinal running game.

Things were just as ugly in the red zone where the opposing offense scored on all six possessions inside the Irish 20-yard line. Five of these scores were touchdowns.

Rushing

If Cardinal running back Toby Gerhart wasn't a Heisman Trophy contender prior to Saturday, he certainly should be now.

Behind a rather small offensive line, Gerhart grew stronger as the game progressed and Stanford's rushing attack posted arguably the most efficient and effective outing of the year against the Irish defense.

The opposing rush offense was dominant and mostly responsible for a 14 play and more than 10-minute time of possession advantage. The former was second only to game against Washington while the latter was the largest possession disparity of the season for the Irish.

Gerhart's bruising, physical running style resulted in three touchdowns and 205 yards rushing on 29 carries, good for a gaudy 7.1 yards per rush.

As a team the Cardinal scored four touchdowns and gained 280 yards rushing on 48 attempts (5.8 yards per rush). Both values are second only to Navy. Without the sack of quarterback Tavita Pritchard the average increases to 6.1 yards per carry.

Five big runs gained 99 yards (19.8 yards per attempt) and accounted for 35.4 percent of the rushing production. Without these plays Stanford still managed 181 yards on 43 attempts, good for 4.2 yards per rushing attempt, the highest allowed this season by Notre Dame.

First down rush defense was just as bad, if not worse. Nearly 35 percent (8 of 23) of first down running plays moved the chains as the Cardinal offense averaged eight yards per first down rush attempt including explosive gains of 18, 18, 28 and 19 yards.

About the only bright spot for the Irish was allowing first down conversions on only five of 10 short yardage rushing attempts.

Passing

It wasn't just the run defense that struggled. Quarterback Andrew Luck completed 70 percent (14 of 20) of his pass attempts for 198 yards and no interceptions to lead a passing offense that was equally as efficient as the Cardinal running game.

As a team Stanford gained 216 yards through the air at a rate of 10.3 yards per attempt and 14.4 yards per completion. The 71.4 percent completion percentage was the highest allowed all year by Notre Dame.

Four passes went for more than 20 yards. These four plays gained 99 yards (24.8 yards per play) and were responsible for almost 46 percent of the production through the air. Excluding these four pass plays Stanford averaged 10.6 yards per completion and 6.9 yards per attempt-the highest value posted against the Irish this season.

Notre Dame allowed 7.8 yards per first down pass as Luck completed six of 10 attempts for 78 yards and three of the 10 Cardinal passing first downs.

Special Teams

Kicker David Ruffer continued to fill in nicely for the injured freshman Nick Tausch, connecting on all five point after attempts and both field goal tries.

However, the special teams problems weren't in the scoring department. Despite a healthy 43-yard punting average by Ben Turk that included a 53-yard boot, the Irish gave away 12 yards in field position.

The biggest culprit was kickoffs as Notre Dame surrendered 10 yards in net kickoff average.

Summary

It is unfortunate, but fitting, that the Weis era would end with a loss similar to so many others. A prolific passing attack was undermined by poor defense and puzzling play-calling that included no commitment to running the football. The latter remains arguably the most baffling aspect of Weis' college coaching career.

If the game against Connecticut didn't prove the value of a running game, this one certainly did. The Cardinal red zone touchdown efficiency, 10-minute time of possession and 14-play advantage, 71.4 percent pass completion rate and efficient pass attempt average, minimal (4) negative plays, and 66.7 percent third down conversion rate are all directly tied to the ability to run the ball. Perhaps more impressive is that Stanford accomplished this with a much smaller line than the front five for Notre Dame.

The result was similar to almost every other contest this season, a close outcome with a chance for an Irish win. Lately that chance has favored the other team as Clausen and company have been unable to produce when it mattered most.

Scoring 38 points should be enough to win a game, but the reality is that the Irish didn't accomplish what they needed to winon either side of the ball. The offense managed to score from outside the red zone but didn't control the ball and spent too much of the day in spread formations attempting to go downfield.

The defense failed to stop the run, despite crowding the box and affording Luck success through the air. Moreover, the Irish front seven failed to penetrate and allowed Gerhart to run downhill for most of the game.

This game marks the end of the Weis regime but his failure was evident long ago. Several off-season changes brought hope of a nine or 10-win season, but these changes were guesses aimed at correcting problems of the past, not solutions of anticipated challenges. The constant change over the past three seasons has prevented player development and consistent performance on the field.

Despite his failure, Weis has left the program in a better state than when he started and a proven, qualified coach should be able to turn the program around in relatively short order. Hopefully athletic director Jack Swarbrick finds him quickly.

Be sure to check back next week for year-end statistical reviews similar to those performed over the bye week this season (offense and defense) and at the end of last year (offense and defense).

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Irish Hype : A Major Notre Dame Recruiting Win Tempers A Minor Loss

Marc Halsted — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:19:51 -0500

Louis Nix, the highly regarded four-star prospect from Jacksonville, Florida, gave his verbal commitment to Notre Dame on Tuesday.

It could not have come at a better time for the Irish.

Irish Sports Daily reported that the Raines High defensive lineman switched his commitment away from the University of Miami and told running backs coach Tony Alford, and other media outlets, that he was “100 percent” Irish and excited to be done with the recruiting process.

Nix, the ESPN 150 99th ranked player and 8th rated defensive lineman actually helped the Irish gain ground in the recruiting wars after losing the 111th ranked Chris Martin, the 12th ranked defensive end in the nation, just a day ago.

The 18-man Irish class of 2010 remains in the top 15 of nearly every major recruiting site, dropping just one spot on Rivals and moving up in the ESPN team rankings.

Martin, who was roundly considered a soft verbal throughout the fall, eliminated the Irish from contention and has now moved on to USC, California, and Florida. Interestingly enough, he’s also considering Oklahoma and their head coach Bob Stoops who is, for now, still a minor part of the Notre Dame conversation.

At 6’3 and 315 pounds, Nix brings a physical presence to the defensive line products already verbally on board with the Irish. 6’5, 250-pound Indianian Blake Leuders presents a four-star make-up at defensive end while Justin Utopo, a 6’2, 240-pound three-star project from California, adds depth to the interior.

More importantly, Nix was an emotional victory for Irish recruitniks who are looking for some positivity in the midst of the firing of Charlie Weis this week.

The average fan will simply see another name on the board. But the aforementioned recruitniks knows that a de-commit from Miami means (a) a major victory over a southern power school, (b) another major product from talent-rich Florida, and (c) a much-needed defensive line prospect at a time when the maligned ND defense desperately needs size, athleticism, and the ability to get pressure in the opposing backfield.

In addition, with the legendary Bobby Bowden stepping down at Florida State, the question of which collegiate football empire will be first to rise again has been debated.

A top fifteen Florida recruit like Nix, pulled from a city just 160 miles away from Tallahassee, helps prove that the Notre Dame brand will stand strong in the midst of great turmoil, especially in the great talent pools of the college football recruiting world.

The Louis Nix victory serves as proof that Notre Dame can stand by itself as a dynamic academic institution, college football power, and national recruiter despite a 6-6 season and a much-ballyhooed coaching change.

Recently, the talking heads of ESPN, PTI , and college football broadcasts around the nation have questioned the legitimacy of the Irish program. They’ve gone so far as to argue that it’s time to join the Big East conference, align with the Big Ten, or change their academic standards.

Notre Dame apparently will never join a conference in football and there are no plans to ever adjust the academic admissions expectations for one of the most important institutions in the country. Charlie Weis graduated 96 percent of his players and the young men that have gone through the Irish program have finished college with one of the most valuable back-up plans in NCAA athletics: a Notre Dame diploma.

After two days of rampant speculation and numerous questions surrounding the Notre Dame program, the Louis Nix commitment is a sign that Irish Nation can be assured of the highest expectations of future success.

Whether it’s Brian Kelly, Bob Stoops, Turner Gill, or another fine coaching candidate, the Irish program is healthy, the talent is on campus, and the University of Notre Dame is still fighting.

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Who Were the Chicago Cubs Who Won 116 Games?

Harold Friend — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:06:30 -0500

It was 103 years ago. To some, it seems as if it were yesterday. The 1906 Chicago Cubs won 116 games while losing a mere 36 for a .763 winning percentage.

There aren't many individuals who could name the 1906 Cubs lineup or pitching staff. How fleeting is fame.

Manager and First Baseman Frank Chance, the Peerless Leader

Frank Chance played first base. He batted .319, tied for the National League in slugging average with teammate Harry Steinfeldt (.430), and led the league with 59 stolen bases.

Chance also managed the team. Yes, there used to be position called "playing manager."

The Last Playing Manager

Baseball's last playing manager had more career hits than Ty Cobb. Like Cobb, Pete Rose was involved with gamblers, but unlike Cobb, Rose is not allowed to become a member of a private institution that is thought of as housing the greatest of all baseball players.

Tinkers to Evers to Chance

Chance was part of what was once considered the greatest double play combination in baseball history.

Joe Tinker played shortstop and tossed the ball to Johnny Evers, who then would fire to Chance to complete the double play.

The most double plays the trio ever turned in a season was 100.

The 1951 Philadelphia Athletics with Eddie Joost at shortstop, Pete Suder at second, and Fearless Ferris Fain at first base led the American League with 204 double plays. Perspective is wonderful.

Chance, Tinker, and Evers are Hall of Famers.

Joe Tinker had a .262 lifetime batting average and a .938 lifetime fielding percentage.

Johnny Evers batted .270 with a .955 fielding percentage.

Don't allow Pete Rose or Shoeless Joe Jackson into the Hall of Fame. After all, standards must be maintained.

Bill Mazeroski and Gary Carter

Wait a minute. Bill Mazeroski was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001 and Gary Carter made it in 2003. Mazeroski has a lifetime .260 batting average, while Carter hit a robust .262. Yes, only the best get in.

Harry Steinfeldt at Third Base

Harry Steinfeldt played third base quite well in 1906. He batted .327 and stole 29 bases, but he was involved in only 13 double plays and was left out of Franklin P. Adams' poem.

Steinfeldt had played for the Reds as a utility player early in his career. In 1901 he became the Reds' regular third baseman and is the only third baseman to ever have worn shin guards while playing the position.

There is an interesting story about Steinfeldt. In 1905 he reportedly was dissatisfied and allegedly didn't put forth his best efforts, which led some to conclude that he was finished at the age of 27.

He appeared in only 114 games in 1905, batting .271. He was then traded to Chicago, where he had his best year in 1906.

The Outfield

The Cubs' outfield consisted of Jimmy Sheckard in left, Jimmy Slagle in center, and Wildfire Schulte in right.

Schulte's .281 was the highest batting average among the trio, who combined to steal a total of 80 bases. Sheckard batted .262 while Slagle hit .239. In 498 official at-bats, Slagle had eight doubles and six triples.

And Yankees fans used to complain about Bubba Crosby.

Johnny Kling Behind the Plate

Johnny Kling did the bulk of the catching. He, along with Chance and Steinfeldt, provided most of the team's offense.

Kling batted .312 with a .420 slugging average and 14 stolen bases. Kling was not only an outstanding defensive catcher. He was also a pool shark.

In the winter of 1908-09, Kling won the world pocket billiard championship and decided to retire from baseball since he was so good at pool. Unfortunately for Kling, he did not repeat as pool champion and was forced to unretire from baseball.

Adequate Offense

The 1906 Cubs were a decent offensive team with outstanding pitching. They averaged 4.55 runs a game, which easily led the National League.

They hit 20 home runs, but teams scored by moving runners along in the days when baseball was baseball. The Cubs stole 283 bases and sacrificed runners along 231 times.

Great Pitching

The name of the game is baseball, but it might as well be pitching. In 1906, the National League's ERA was 2.62. The Cubs' team ERA was 1.75, or almost one run a game lower than the league average.

Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown led the staff with a 26-6 record and a 1.04 ERA.

Jack Pfiester was 20-8 with a 1.51 ERA, and Ed Ruelbach was 19-4 with a 1.65 ERA.

The Giants won 96 games and finished 20 games out of first place.

The "Hitless Wonder" White Sox

Statistics are interesting but can be misleading. Chicago faced Chicago in the World Series.

The following compares the teams:

Batting Average: Cubs .262; Sox .230

On-Base Average: Cubs .323; Sox .295

Slugging Average: Cubs .339; Sox .286

Stolen Bases: Cubs 283; Sox 214

ERA: Cubs 1.75; Sox 2.13

The White Sox won 93 games, or 23 fewer than the Cubs. The White Sox were dubbed the "hitless wonders" because they had virtually no hitting. The Sox won the World Series.

Ain't statistics great?

References

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/1906.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHA/1951.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/tinkejo01.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mazerbi01.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cartega01.shtml

http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=916&pid=13585

http://www.retrosheet.org/

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/K/Kling_Johnny.stm

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL_1906.shtml

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Archbishop Tebow is Right Man for Notre Dame Job

John P. Wise — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:41:00 -0500

Some think Tim Tebow won't amount to much in the NFL, so I offer him this advice:

Send in your resume, No. 15. You're a lock to be the next coach at Notre Dame.

You're winding down the greatest individual college football career of all time. The vacancy is at the most storied college football program of all time.

You embody all that a college football player should be. In the (Irish) eyes of many, nowhere else would be more appropriate for such a man than South Bend.

You've performed surgery on impoverished children in the Philippines. You'd only be asked to resuscitate a once-elite-but-still-proud football program.

You handled rather easily a reporter's awkward inquiry about your faith and your purity. You'll be the most hounded college sports figure in the Hoosier state since Bob Knight.

Your ability to inspire and lead other young men is well documented. That's been lacking for nearly two decades for the Golden Domers.

Your devotion to your religion also is well documented. You'd get along nicely with Touchdown Jesus.

The case is overwhelming, Mr. Tebow. It's obvious what you should do after you jump-pass your Gators to victory over Alabama on Saturday: Split your time the next five weeks preparing for the national championship game, all the while assembling a team of assistants who can handle the recruiting load in your absence.

Maybe call your old buddy Chris Leak; he's got some free time.

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Notre Dame's Problem?: Irrelevancy

Joel Barker — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:55:53 -0500

I'm just guesstimating here, but I'd say 70-percent of you just skipped all the way to the comments section to fire your inflammatory words and harsh wishes toward the author.

About 20-percent will actually read the article before you fire inflammatory words and harsh wishes toward the author.

Five-percent will probably shake your head in agreement without leaving comments and the other five-percent will agree and leave insightful bits wisdom for yours truly.

No matter the odds or percentage breakdown what I will say is the harsh, cold reality about Notre Dame football.

In 2009, Notre Dame is completely irrelevant in the world of college football.

I will admit I have been a harsh critic of Notre Dame football for most of my writing days (over ten years). I have never liked the preferential treatment given to the program from the NCAA, the media, and the bowls.

I do realize, however, how important a thriving, successful Notre Dame program is to college football as a whole. It is for this reason I decided to delve into this subject.

Contrary to opinions of the establishment at Notre Dame, college football has changed greatly since 1960. As a matter of fact college football has changed drastically since 2000, much less 1960.

Notre Dame as an independent entity in the NCAA is no longer a viable solution. I know you have heard this all before, but just hear me out.

Why are Florida, LSU, and Alabama dominant every year? In part because they all get to whip up on the likes of Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Mississippi State every year.

How about Texas and Oklahoma? Ever heard of Baylor, Texas A&M, Iowa State, and Colorado?

Then you have USC out west. They just have deal with Arizona State, Washington, and Washington State.

Ohio State plays the wonderful trio of Indiana, Northwestern, and Minnesota.

Sure, all those schools play better opponents as well, but the point is they do not play 12 middle-tier opponents in a regular season.

Most successful teams plays three to four conference cupcakes, three to four non-conference cupcakes, two decent conference teams, and one to two elite conference teams.

Notre Dame plays eight teams that are mid-level teams from four BCS conferences. They usually end up with at least one to two elite BCS conference foes, and they have a cupcake or two on their schedule as well.

Just look at USC's schedule from '09. The Trojans played three common Irish opponents. Washington, Washington State, and Stanford. USC lost to two of the three.

How about Pittsburgh? The Panthers were ranked No. 9 in the BCS until losing at West Virginia last week. They are one last second field goal away from playing for the Big East title this weekend!

Boston College took the ACC Atlantic Division down to the wire. Michigan and Purdue would be considered weak team's this season, but in most year's they are quality Big Ten opponents. Michigan State is at worst a middle-tier Big Ten team.

The Irish play the majority of these teams on a yearly basis!

Continuing to stay an FBS Independent has it's advantages, but when the disadvantage is assuring your team at least four losses a year, they far outweigh any advantage. Especially when you are intent on returning the program to BCS-caliber.

I realize the television contract and exclusivity is very important to Notre Dame. It rakes in the dough on a daily basis.

There is no doubt that having money is the key to winning at every level of sport in America. Just ask Alabama and Florida whose coaches make $4-million-plus every year. Ask the rest of the SEC who just signed a $2.25-Billion, 15-year deal to have ESPN as it's flagship network.

The SEC rakes in the cash and racks up the championship titles. Notre Dame rakes in a ton of cash and goes 15-24 in three seasons.

So why in the world is Notre Dame still losing? Is it Charlie Weis? Was it Tyrone Willingham or Bob Davie?

I know there were BCS appearances, but when facing top caliber BCS talent the Irish got their doors blown off even when they were good enough to make a championship level bowl.

The problem is not a coach. It's not a system.

College football in the 2000's is about conference dominance. The SEC has it. The ACC wants it. The Big XII has experienced it. The Pac-10 needs it. The Big Ten desperately desires it, and the Big East in the beginning stages of it.

The mid-major conferences can't be a part of it and it costs them any shot at a championship.

Notre Dame wants no part of it and that fact alone will continue costing this tremendous fanbase and program for a long time to come.

Irrelevancy is a tough animal to take on. By the very definition of relevance one can see the problem at the most storied program in the land.

Relevant is a term used to describe how pertinent, connected, or applicable something is to a given matter.

As long as Notre Dame is disconnected and on it's own island, it will continue to become more and more irrelevant until it reaches the point of disgrace.

No one wants that.

Even most Notre Dame-hater's out there do not want to see the demise of the program. I am certain it's millions of loyal fans shutter at that very thought.

Unfortunately, that point is a lot closer than some want to believe.

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Dime Package: Challenges Keep Coming for Comeback Colts

Nick South — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:05:05 -0500

With the sale of heart medication at an all time high in Indiana, it's time for a weekly look at the Colts last game and the preview of what's coming up.

10. How long can the Colts keep living on the edge?

Who knows. The Colts won their fifth straight game in which they trailed in the fourth quarter. No team has ever done that in the NFL before.

Most fans would love to see a return of the game scores from the early part of the season, when the Colts were winning games by double digit scores. Wins are wins in this league, so it's hard to complain with the results.

There's no denying that the last five games have made many feel that this is a special campaign. Still, you have to wonder just how many lives the Comeback Colts have.

9. What problems have been masked by this winning streak?

The half glass full side might point out that the Colts have been battling through their toughest stretch of the year. No one expected that the Ravens and Patriots' games, sandwiched between a pair of games against Houston, would be easy.

However, it's hard to ignore the fact that the Colts have trailed by 17 points twice in the last three weeks. The offense has looked very inconsistent. With so many young components to the offense, it's easy to understand some growing pains.

If it was a matter of steady growth, that's one thing. But every game seems to have moments of sheer brilliance and absolute frustration. Peyton Manning has thrown two interceptions in each of the last three contests. He hasn't done that since 2001, back in the days when a young Manning would force passes in an attempt to make a play.

Is he doing that now? Doubtful. We took for granted the years that Manning and Marvin Harrison could connect at will, even if the old RCA Dome would have a sudden blackout.

Manning doesn't have that connect with his current crop...yet.

Defensively, it's a similar story. They'll give up tons of yardage and, at times, points as they figure out how to adjust to the offensive game plan thrown at them.

8. What's the difference between them being 11-0 and not being more like 7-4?

In a word, it's got to come down to coaching.

Where this team continues to amaze is in its ability to adjust to any adversity they may face. In the past five games, the Colts have scored 58 fourth quarter points. It's one more than they've scored the entire first half of those same five games.

The defense has also made its fair share of adjustments. Despite giving up 107 points in the five game run, only four touchdowns have been allowed in the second half.

Jim Caldwell's staff has done a spectacular job of making key adjustments at halftime.

7. What players have helped lead the way?

That's just the thing. It's impossible to pinpoint the success of this team on one single player.

Of course Manning is the greatest player on this team. Without him, this team would struggle to score points. However, Manning is just one of many heroes on this team.

Last week against Houston, Clint Session, and Robert Mathis made huge defensive plays. Joseph Addai had one of his best games as a pro, not in terms of yardage, but in terms of controlling the running game and making plays when needed.

Every week, it's easy to point out six to eight guys, at least, that made key plays to spark a comeback win.

Football is the ultimate team game, and the Colts win by playing great team football.

6. How do the Colts currently rank against the other teams in the league?

The Colts are clearly the class of the AFC. While the surging Chargers are on their own impressive streak, the Colts are the best team in the AFC.

Only the NFC's Saints would be ahead of them if I ranked all 32 teams. The Saints' dismantling of the Patriots was nothing short of impressive.

Oddly enough, the Colts and Saints both sit at 11-0 and have done so with very similar resumes. Both teams are loaded with offensive weapons that are capable of making plays when needed. Both have defenses loaded with unknowns that always seem to make big stops when needed. Every Colt fan had a flashback of Melvin Bullitt's fourth down stop against the Patriots when the Saints' Mike McKenzie broke up Tom Brady's fourth down pass to Randy Moss.

The matchup possibilities between the two are very intriguing, but i'm getting ahead of myself.

5. With the division wrapped up already, what's left for the Colts to play for?

It is essential that this team needs to win home field advantage, not just for the bonus of playing in front of the home crowd, but to use the bye to get healthy for the playoff run.

The quest for 16-0 will start buzzing around the league soon. As long as they keep winning, the Colts should keep striving to win every game they can. However, home field is the next goal for Indianapolis.

As far as resting players, we'll save that argument for the moment the home field is locked up.

4. How important is the next game against Tennessee?

Very. Even with the division wrapped up, the Colts do not go home to lose a divisional game to a red hot Titans team, especially at home.

The Colts currently enjoy a three game lead in the race for home field advantage. A loss would not only close the gap, but also bring to the forefront the problems the Colts have had lately.

Also, the Titans are a team with playoff hopes, despite being 5-6. Several teams are battling for the wild card spots in the AFC. With their remaining schedule, it's quite possible the Titans, with a win against the Colts, could run the table and slip into the playoffs. A team finding their identity is a dangerous team to play. The Colts would being doing everyone in the AFC a favor by dealing a set back to the Titans this Sunday.

3. What are the keys to the game?

The Colts have to focus on containing Vince Young and Chris Johnson. Young's mobility in the pocket has always been an issue, but Young has become a more mature passer in his second chance in Tennessee. Young is having a career best year in passing percentage and yardage per attempt.

The Titans have been very creative in play calling to maximize the talents of Young and Johnson. Without a reliable passing game in their first meeting, the Colts held Johnson to just 34 yards.

It also helped that the Colts jumped to a big lead in that game, negating the Titans' running game. The Colts will need to find their offensive spark earlier than usual in this game. The Titans can't win a shootout, and the Colts should do all they can to get the Titans on their heels early.

2. How can the Colts get the offense on track early?

The best game plan against Tennessee is the one they had in the first game against Houston. The Colts came out playing a fast-paced no huddle offense. They ground up impressive yardage levels, but didn't finish drives like they should have.

Last night, the Saints didn't worry about grounding out long drives against New England. They scored and often it was quick. The Colts should do the same to make the Titans a one dimensional offense.

1. Prediction?

Colts 27, Titans 17. The Titans are a great feel good story, but the Cardinals should have ended the Cinderella run last week. The Colts, however, know how to finish. They should do that against Tennessee this week.

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Indiana Hoosiers All-Decade Team: Assembly Hall Superstars 2000-2009

Mark Fodor — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:42:05 -0500

It sure has been a long ten years for fans of Indiana basketball. Just a decade ago, Bobby Knight was still working the sidelines in Bloomington. Since Knight's 2000 firing, Indiana has experienced a true roller coaster of emotions, leaving fans either elated and/or throwing up in their mouths, sometimes in the same season! A fairy-tale run to the national championship game in '02 under Mike Davis gave way to a series of early-round ousters, the departure of Davis (also known as "Not The General" by Knight faithful), the much-anticipated hiring of Kelvin Sampson and his cell phone collection, a ranking as high as eighth nationally in '08, the ensuing train wreck (I don't wanna talk about it), and the high hopes of the Crean era, which have been seasoned with a healthy dose of humble pie in the form of a 6-25 season, the worst in Hoosiers history. Yeah, it's been one heck of a decade. So let's take a minute to recognize the players who have done the Cream and Crimson proud through both good and bad.

Begin Slideshow

Is 16-0 an Accomplishment or Albatross for Colts and Saints?

Nick Antonicello — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:32:21 -0500

The New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts are both 11-0 and headed for the No. 1 seed in their respective conferences with a possible Super Bowl match-up to end a story book season for both franchises.

For the first time in NFL history, we have two undefeated and untied teams after 11 weeks of competition. While the thought of each team chasing a perfect season will never be spoken about, should the 1972 Miami Dolphins keep that champagne on ice for now?

The decision by Patriot Head Coach Bill Belichick to go for an undefeated season in 2007 questions the whole rationale of trying to chase perfection given their upset defeat at the hands of the New York Giants, 17-14 and finish the season 18-1.

Any reasonable fan of the game will tell you that while the Miami Dolphins are the only undefeated team in the Super Bowl era, they are hardly considered one of the best teams of all-time. The 2007 New England Patriots by any standard were heads and shoulders far better than the Don Shula led Dolphins who were led by the aging Earl Morrall (38) when Bob Griese was injured early in the 1972 season.

Morrall and Griese threw for just 15 touchdowns compared to Tom Brady's record setting 50. While the Patriots put up 589 points and 6,580 total yards, Miami posted just 385 and 5,036!

Even if you account for the fact the Dolphins played just 14 regular season games, the Patriots still scored 523 point in the same stretch and 5,959 total yards in a true, apples to apples comparison of regular season statistics.

In 1972, the Dolphins had several close contests and scares with the Vikings in Week Three (16-14), Buffalo in Week Six (24-23), the Jets in Week 10 (28-24).

In the Divisional Playoffs the Dolphins needed a last minute score to defeat the Cleveland Browns 20-14 and would have been eliminated in the first round if not for five interceptions thrown by Brown Quarterback Mike Phipps!

For the Patriots, they were never seriously challenged in 2007 until Week Nine when Brady outdueled Peyton Manning for a 24-20 victory. The Baltimore Ravens would give the Patriots all they could handle in Week 13 in a 27-24 loss while the Giants would also force the Patriots to work harder than usual to reach a perfect season in the Meadowlands with a 38-35 win to finally go 16-0.

With another come-from-behind win Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts seem to have the hardest road to 16-0.

They have a very hot Tennessee Titan squad now on a five-game winning streak of their own led by a rejuvenated Vince Young, the former Texas All-American.

The Colts then have the Broncos, the Jaguars, Jets and finish with the Buffalo Bills at Orchard Park, New York. Of there last five games, only the Bills are out of playoff contention.

New Orleans at 11-0 travels to Washington, DC to play the Redskins and then to Atlanta to play the Falcons. The Redskins are out of playoff contention while Atlanta is on the brink of elimination. They then have the Cowboys at the Superdome which could be a potential first round match-up in the playoffs and then the Saints finish with Tampa Bay and Carolina.

Other than the Cowboys, the Saints at worst should finish 15-1 or possibly 14-2 with the Minnesota Vikings just a game behind for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. That should be more than enough motivation for the Saints to try to stay undefeated as long as the Viking remain a single loss behind.

Two undefeated teams in the Super Bowl would make for a historic moment in the NFL, but just don't count on it just yet. The burden of carrying a 16-0 record into the playoffs seems to be more than enough pressure for any team to handle when trying to win the Super Bowl isn't pressure enough!

The goal is to become a Super Bowl champion, not an undefeated season.

Having said that, I look for both the Saints and the Colts to sit the regulars once home-field advantage is secured as they prepare for the greater goal of winning the championship of the NFL.

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Mike Brey Doesn't Have His Traditional Notre Dame Team This Year

Dan Scofield — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:55:58 -0500

The traditional Mike Brey-coached Irish teams usually consist of the following, year in and year out: a high-scoring offense that lives or dies on the three-pointer, mediocre rebounding, minimal-to-average athleticism, and a glaring weakness on the defensive side of the basketball.

While the '08-09 Irish had the looks of a top 10 team to start the season, they failed to miss the NCAA Tournament for that same glaring weakness.

A major knock on Brey's coaching abilities in the past were the players he had recruited and his commitment, or lack thereof, to focus on improving the defense his teams played. This year, Brey has already proven his team isn't like those in the past.

On the floor, you will find the face of the program in All-American Luke Harangody. But who else makes up this team that has started the season 6-1 going into Tuesday night's matchup with Idaho State?

Any follower of basketball would assume that there would be four 6'4" Caucasian three-point specialists surrounding Harangody on the arc. However, you won't find any specialists this year—unlike the past (think Kyle McAlarney and Colins Falls).

Instead, McAlarney was replaced by Ben Hansbrough, who has so far brought a combination of skills, including finishing around the rim and being a three-point threat—something Brey sees rarely. Not to mention little Hansbrough brings tough defense to a team that looks to have improved since last year on that side of the ball.

Other rare sights that can be seen in the Purcell Pavilion this year come in the forms of Carleton Scott and Joey Brooks.

Scott, a forward, is an athletic freak. He is still very raw but has as much potential as anyone on this basketball team. If Brey can get him comfortable playing 25 to 30 minutes a game, the Irish will be a better team.

Instead of the typical Brey senior lovefest, the coach should find more playing time for freshman guard Joey Brooks. Jon Peoples has started at the third guard slot but isn't a starter on any Big East team. Brooks brings athleticism, versatility, and defense to a team in need of all three.

Notre Dame started the year off on a five-game winning streak before falling to Northwestern in the semifinals of the Chicago Invitational Challenge.

Don't get too worried, Irish fans. Brey's teams always seem to find at least one mishap in their OOC games, and this team is still trying to find the right starting lineup.

The main thing Brey has reiterated is that this team has many question marks still, even after five games. In some cases, this could be a bad thing.

But if you're optimistic, like the Irish head coach, you can say that this Notre Dame team has more room for improvement than any team Brey has coached during his time in South Bend.

Which will it be?

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Peyton Manning: The NFL's Bully

Roger Harford — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:42:32 -0500

After yet another fourth-quarter comeback against the Texans on Sunday, Peyton Manning is just further securing his legacy. Not as the greatest quarterback ever, but as the league bully.

It seems like Peyton enjoys seeing other teams take big leads against him, only to crush their hopes as he leads the Colts on a game-winning touchdown drive.

Would any of us be surprised to see postgame pictures of Peyton putting Tom Brady in a headlock with his underwear pulled up over his head? Or putting Andre Johnson in a full nelson and taking his lunch money?

What will Peyton do for an encore this week? Beat the Titans, then pull down Chris Johnson's pants in front of the whole stadium?

Seriously though, has any athlete ever been such a sure bet to succeed?

In the '90s, if the Bulls were down by 10 with two minutes to go, you thought, "Well, they got Jordan, so they can still do this."

In the '80s, if the Oilers were down by two with a minute to go you thought, "Gretzky could still pull a miracle."

But if the Colts have the ball down by six with a minute to go, the thought isn't "maybe." The thought is, "This game is over; Colts win." No one else has ever been such a sure thing.

Mariano Rivera is a sure thing, but he only comes in when the Yankees are already ahead. If you have a six-point lead in the last minute, you should be very confident you will win.

But against Manning, you really know there is no hope. He will beat you.

Say what you will about Brady and Brees; Peyton Manning is the NFL's best quarterback. He makes throws that no one else can and makes it look easy. There really is no throw Peyton can't make.

He pushes the rest of the league around and demoralizes them for fun. He really is in a league of his own. Thinking about Peyton as a kid leaves me with just one thought: poor Eli.

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Why Notre Dame And Brian Kelly Are Not A Perfect Match.

Ray Gassert — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:17:26 -0500

Brian Kelly is a great college football coach. That is almost without argument.

Charlie Weis proved to be an average game day coach. The number of close losses makes that almost inarguable. On the surface, America has been led to believe that the Brian Kelly/South Bend marriage is not just inevitable, but a perfect situation. It could be. It also could blow up in both their faces, badly.

Charlie Weis succeeded where Ty Willingham did not: recruiting. He brought top talent to South Bend, and for that he needs to be commended. His demise was brought on more by who the Irish lost to than the fact that they lost.

It has been well documented that he took over a program with little to no depth due to the recruiting shortcomings of his predecessors. He has left the program with a good number of future Sunday players. The next coach will be coaching a good core of players and if he is a better game day coach than Charlie, Notre Dame can get to a BCS game next year.

Great right? Well, Notre Dame is not hiring a coach for one season. They need to hire a guy who has proven he can excel in all aspects of the college football game. And sorry to report, Brian Kelly actually has not proved that he can recruit yet. He turned CMU around in just three seasons, yes; but none of the players he coached to a MAC Championship were recruited by Kelly.

And he did not coach there long enough for a complete cycle to run through. He turned around Cincinnati in just three years. Again though, none of the stars of the last two teams have been his recruits. And if he leaves for South Bend, he again will not have stayed in one spot long enough for a complete cycle of players to run through the program.

Long story short, you have no clue if the guy can recruit, if he can sustain success or if he can reload a program.

Kelly has shown that he is a great coach, that he can compete with anyone in a one-time, one game situation and that he can graduate players at an acceptable rate. That is all commendable. But he is far from a slam dunk to succeed at Notre Dame.

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Thank You, Charlie Weis: A Notre Dame Fan Shows His Appreciation

Erin McLaughlin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:42:21 -0500

I want to take this time to personally thank Charlie Weis for all he did at Notre Dame.

There has been a lot of talk about Weis’ failures at Notre Dame. In this article, I want to talk about his accomplishments.

Although it is time to move on, Weis did a lot for the University that fans should appreciate.

I think the first thing Weis did that was impressive was take a previously mediocre quarterback in Brady Quinn and help him become the best quarterback in South Bend since Joe Montana.

Under Weis’ guidance, Quinn became an absolute leader and the face of Notre Dame. He also won the Maxwell Award and was a Heisman finalist. Not to mention, he went on to set 36 passing records in Weis’ system.

At the same time, Weis took a seldom-used receiver in Jeff Samardzija and turned him into one of the premier receivers in college football. Prior to Weis’ arrival, Samardzija was primarily a baseball star.

Weis was able to lead this group to back-to-back BCS appearances in the Fiesta Bowl and the Sugar Bowl. Since the BCS began, Notre Dame has only been in it three times, and two of those appearances came under Weis. That Sugar Bowl appearance was also the first since 1992. In fact, since 1996 Notre Dame has only been in one other major bowl game.

Then when Quinn, Samardzija, and company left, fans were wondering how would they be replaced. Then came Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, and Armando Allen. There is no doubt that this unit became one of the most dynamic in school history. Although the wins didn’t come with them, the memories of all the great plays will never be forgotten.

My biggest memory of this group will always be the Hawaii Bowl. It was great to see Notre Dame come out here and play in Aloha Stadium. I never thought I would be able to see it when I first moved to Hawaii a decade ago. It truly was special to be able to be there when Notre Dame was able to break the bowl losing streak.

While haters may discredit the win because it wasn’t a major bowl, it was a victory in a bowl game that hadn’t happened in 15 years. Also let me ask, are the Gator, Independence, or Insight.com bowls considered major? Yet Notre Dame lost those games as well. It was under Weis where the streak stopped.

Weis has also started some new traditions at Notre Dame that I hope the new coach keeps. I love the idea of playing one game a year on a neutral field to give exposure to the program outside of South Bend.

I also hope the tradition of gathering after a home game with the band and singing the Alma Mater continues.

Weis also did a really good job of recruiting. The new coach will be blessed with that even with the likely departures of Clausen and Tate.

If there is one thing I would like to say to Weis, it is this.

“Please don’t take this personally, and don’t think we don’t appreciate all you did at Notre Dame. The reality is what it is. That reality is that it is time for Notre Dame to go in a different direction. This will be good for you to as you can now return to the NFL, and we know you will have options. I know there is talk that you could end up back in New England and work once again with Tom Brady.

“Personally though, I hope you take a less desirable path and go to Cleveland. The reason of course is that our Brady needs you more. Tom Brady has already had a Hall of Fame career, and you were a big part of it. Going back proves nothing.

“Brady Quinn, on the other hand, really needs you. His current offensive coordinator Brian Daboll looks clueless. I know you can turn his career around.

“At the end of the day, though, I know you owe nothing to Quinn. You took his college career to new heights, and he will always be grateful. You do have to make the best decision for you.

“Thank you, Charlie Weis, for all you did at Notre Dame. Good luck with your future endeavors, and you will be missed.”

This article is also posted on http://fightingirishgameday.com/

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Notre Dame: A Coaching Candidate Flying Under the Radar

Bob Repass — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:00:53 -0500

With all the wild and unsubstantiated rumors flying around about the possible hiring of Urban Meyer, Bob Stoops, and Jim Harbaugh as the next head football coach at Notre Dame, one has to wonder when reality will hit the Fighting Irish and their fans.

There is no way—zero chance—that Meyer, Stoops, or Harbaugh will take the job. As a matter of fact, the only relatively high profile coach they even have a shot at getting is Cincinnati’s Brian Kelly.

But is Kelly the best candidate?

Granted he has done an excellent job with the Cincinnati program that is in line to win their second consecutive Big East championship, not to mention turn in an undefeated regular season.

He also has strong recruiting ties to the Midwest, after spending 13 years leading Division II power Grand Valley State and three at Central Michigan, prior to starting his four-year run at Cincinnati.

It would be hard to argue against hiring Kelly.

However, I think that there is a top candidate who is currently flying under the radar of many—Skip Holtz.

Yes, old Lou’s boy.

One thing Skip Holtz has over Kelly would be his familiarity with the tradition and expectations that come with taking the Notre Dame head coaching position.

Skip is a Notre Dame alum and actually was a walk-on wide receiver (more like a special teams player) in 1986.

He was also an assistant coach at Notre Dame for seven seasons, including five as offensive coordinator under his father, Lou Holtz, then the head man of the Fighting Irish.

Holtz has had his own success as a head coach, starting with a successful stint at the University of Connecticut, where he helped to lay the foundation of the resurrection of their football program.

For the past five seasons, Skip has led the East Carolina Pirates to the top of Conference USA.

Personally, as someone who has kept a close eye on the ECU football program over the years, as my wife is an ECU alum, I have been excited over what Holtz has been able to do with the Pirates and would hate to see him leave.

Last year, he entertained offers from Syracuse to take over their program but withdrew from consideration, bringing great relief to Pirate Nation.

Obviously, Lou Holtz still has close ties to the Notre Dame alumni and boosters, and I would think someone will no doubt ask for his insight.

Would he like to see his son return to Notre Dame, or would he recommend he stays at East Carolina, continuing to build a quality program with the hope of joining the Big East Conference in the next few years?

Most certainly, the Irish will make a run at Brian Kelly, but, in doing so, they may overlook the candidate who could be the best fit for them at this time.

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NFL Power Rankings Week 13: Indianapolis Colts Clinched into Playoffs

swethail Jints — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:36:20 -0500

It was going to be hard to upstage Vince Young's late game heroics. Not to mention Peyton Manning leading the Colts back from down 13 on the road. Somehow the New Orleans Saints did all of that. Week 12 has done it's best to set up the most exciting five weeks in football. Here are my NFL Power Rankings For week 13.

1. Indianapolis Colts (1) I'm very aware that the Colts are undefeated and just recorded another come from behind victory. Yet Peyton said it best, spotting another team 17-points is no way to prove how good you are in the NFL.

2. New Orleans Saints (2) Thirty-eight points on Monday night, they could have scored 58. The Saints offense exploded on New England, then their defense turned around and broke down Brady & Co. With injuries to their secondary the Saints didn't miss a beat and have made one thing very clear: No one is better.

3. Minnesota Vikings (3) After slamming down Jay Cutler and the Bears, we've got to understand one thing. Favre's Vikes aren't Favre's Jets, they've got loads more talent. Two running backs, four receivers, and a quarterback who isn't getting sacked!

4. San Diego Chargers (5) Forty-two days removed from their last loss, the Chargers have won six straight including four division wins. The Chargers can taste it at this point, they know that no team is playing better in the AFC.

5. New England Patriots (4) There isn't a game remaining on their schedule they shouldn't win. However, they do have three remaining road games and after a 1-4 start on the road maybe doubt starts to enter their mind as they travel away from Foxborough. Outcoached by both the Colts and Saints has got to be a tough pill to swallow.

6. Cincinnati Bengals (6) They were only able to manage 16 points against the NFL's 31st ranked defense this weekend, on that same note they completed a sweep of their division opponents. After they play Detroit next weekend they face real tests against both Minnesota and San Diego on the road.

7. Dallas Cowboys (9) This may just be too high for the 8-3 Cowboys but hear me out. While their offense has struggled, the defense has allowed just 16.5 points per game this season. You may not like Wade Phillips, but his defense is pretty nasty and the Raiders got a piece of that on Turkey Day.

8. Philadelphia Eagles (10) When Andy Reid asked his kicker to open with an onside kick against the Redskins this weekend, I became convinced: No coach is more detrimental to his team winning than Reid is to the Eagles. Why have the Eagles never won a Super Bowl under Reid? You answer that!

9. Baltimore Ravens (8) Yes, they move down after that victory against Pittsburgh. It's pretty simple, they had a home game against the third string Pittsburgh quarterback with just one snap under center in his professional career and needed overtime to win it. Much like Atlanta, at some point you have to start showing people just how good you are.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (7) Now the Steelers are going to have to fight to get into the postseason. At 6-5 the Steelers play five very winnable games but are going to need a healthy Ben Roethlisberger to get by those. Without Big Ben, they aren't getting to the playoffs.

For Complete NFL Power Rankings For week 13

11. Tennessee Titans (15) A last second win to give the Titans their 5th straight victory is impressive. Vince Young dropped the game manager from his title this weekend, putting 387 yards passing on the Arizona secondary. Wow! Could they really beat Indianapolis?

12. Denver Broncos (17) After four straight losses the Broncos rebounded in great fashion. A 26-6 thrashing of the New York Giants on Thanksgiving night is just what Denver needed. At 7-4, three of their next five games are very winnable and 10-6 should get them a Wild Card .

13. Arizona Cardinals (12) If Kurt Warner can't come back soon, the Cardinals are in trouble. Backup quarterback Matt Leinart and the Cardinal offense had a tough time getting in the endzone this weekend.

14. Green Bay Packers (14) What? You think you should get style points for beating up the Lions on Thanksgiving? However, hat goes off to Charles Woodson who just donated $2 million dollars a University of Michigan children's hospital.

15. Houston Texans (11) You are exactly what you've always been Houston. Not good enough! A huge opportunity with a 13-point lead against an undefeated Colts team and you folded up like a chair. That is a season changing loss right there.

16. New York Giants (16) After a Turkey Day loss to the Broncos, the Giants are learning Eli may be playing injured and they play three straight division games. To make matters worse, they'll be traveling to Minnesota to wrap up the season, the Giants may have to win out.

17. Atlanta Falcons (20) The Falcons avoid going 5-6 with their late comeback win this weekend. Quick celebration before realizing quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner will both be week-to-week after suffering injuries.

18. Miami (13) The 'Fins aren't as good as I thought, and losing by giving up a 24-point fourth quarter to the Buffalo Bills shows that. Not having Ronnie Brown is a bigger problem than anticipated. The Dolphins have to finish with five teams looking to make the postseason; Patriots, Jaguars, Titans, Texans, and Steelers.

19. San Francisco 49ers (21) The 49ers are still alive at 5-6. They'll have to win out but they can do that. Against Arizona and then @ Philadelphia will be their toughest games, but win and the 'Niners could sneak in this thing.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (19) The Jaguars had an opportunity this week to really make a move and put distance between themselves and the others competing for a Wild Card spot in the AFC. After their loss to the 49ers, they are back to square one.

21. New York Jets (24) For a team that began the season with such promise, it must feel good to get their first win since October 25th. While the Jets offense continues to struggle, their defense forced Jake Delhomme into four interceptions.

22. Washington Redskins (27) For the past three weeks the 'Skins have played their tails off. Washington missed opportunities to win in Dallas and in Philadelphia but came out fighting. They know their head coach will be changing next season, they know they started off 2-6, but they are far from quitting.

23. Carolina Panthers (18) It's a disappointing team. On November 15 the Panthers had played their way back into beating Atlanta and sitting 4-5 with plenty of time left. Fifteen days later they've lost two straight and played their way right back out of it.

24. Chicago Bears (22) How much worse does it get for Jay Cutler and the Bears? Not only did Cutler throw his 19th and 20th interceptions this past Sunday, his defense gave up 537 total yards. Eeek!

25. Kansas City Chiefs (23) You knew the Chiefs would have a let down after their big overtime win over Pittsburgh, but to get blown out 43-14? That's just embarrassing.

26. Buffalo Bills (28) Brought in Terrell Owens, fired their offensive coordinator before the season opened, and then fired their head coach after a terrible start. Ho hum, somehow the Bills are 4-7?!?!?!

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (25) Sure, they've played well against Atlanta, Miami, & Carolina in the past six weeks. Oh, and I can't forget their upset win against Green Bay. But how high can you possibly rank a 1-10 team?

28. Seattle Seahawks (30) It's been established, the Seahawks are better than the St. Louis Rams...but that's about it. On a positive note Justin Forsett has rushed for over 100 yards in two of the last three weeks, something to build on.

29. Oakland Raiders (26) Watching them play on Thanksgiving was eye opening; They've managed to compile more one-dimensional players than any team in the history of the NFL. Good luck with that.

30. St. Louis Rams (29) It's bad enough Kyle Boller has to start, but asking him to throw the ball 46 times and your asking for trouble.

31. Detroit Lions (31) Matt Stafford has left an impression on his teammates and Lions fans alike this season, now get healthy and come back strong in your second NFL season.

32. Cleveland (32) The Browns managed just 169 yards of total offense this week, shocking that they're the 32nd ranked offense in the NFL.

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The All-Decade Team: The Best Cubs Seasons By Position, 2000-09

Matt Trueblood — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:48:51 -0500

As December dawns, Major League Baseball holds its collective breath. Next week at the Winter Meetings, rumors will fly, and both players and money will change hands. Trades will come to completion, and free-agent negotiations will advance rapidly.

For now, however, the frontier is quiet, and so baseball fans everywhere are left to the pleasant reflection that so enriches the experience of this game during its off-season. With just one month left in this, the most momentous (not to say tumultuous) decade in Chicago Cubs history, I chose to focus my remembrance upon the good times. Specifically, I have selected the 25 best individual seasons had by Cubs since 2000.

I chose not only eight starting position players and five starters, but also a full complement of relievers and bench players. Crucially, it should be noted that role players were selected from among players who amassed fewer than 400 plate appearances in the given season, so that only true bench players were eligible for the honor.

Catcher: Geovany Soto, 2008

This choice was a no-brainer, at least on the surface, and most fans probably wouldn't even say it was close.

It was, though. Despite a .285/.364/.504 line to go along with 23 home runs and Rookie of the Year honors, Soto lacked mobility behind the plate, and on the bases. Meanwhile, Michael Barrett posted the following line in 2006: .307/.368/.517. He clubbed 16 homers and had a higher OPS than Soto.

Barrett, however, got hurt in August of that year, and played only 107 games. He had 145 fewer plate appearances than Soto. All things considered, it has to be Soto, but the margin is slim.

First Base: Derrek Lee, 2005

No slim margins here. Lee smashed 46 round-trippers, won the batting title, led the league in OPS and notched 15 steals. He won the Gold Glove for the second of three times in his career. He had the second-most homers and the most doubles in the league, contributing to the best slugging percentage in the National League.

If one were desperate for a contender for Lee, Fred McGriff makes a compelling case in a partial season, after being traded to Chicago in July 2001. He had 12 homers in 49 games that year, posting a .942 OPS and reinforcing the offense down the stretch. Unfortunately, the Cubs' pitching staff faltered badly in August and September, and the team fell out of contention. Don't blame Crime Dog. Lee, however, is still the runaway winner.

Second Base: Mark Bellhorn, 2002

This was one of the closest races I examined. In 2008, Mark DeRosa posted a .285/.376/.481 line, hitting 21 homers and providing value as a versatile defender. It's hard to argue with those factors, but Bellhorn does it successfully for a few reasons.

First, he played on a miserable offensive team, which hurt his ability to drive in runs. RBI is never a consideration in my book anyway, but it helps to explain DeRosa's 87-56 advantage in that statistic.

Second, Bellhorn played better defense at second than did DeRosa. Although DeRosa had better numbers when moved over to third base and to the outfield, for the purposes of evaluating second basemen, Bellhorn wins.

Third, and simplest, Bellhorn was simply better. He had 27 home runs, six more than DeRosa. He hit from both sides of the plate, a fact well remembered by those who saw him homer from each side in one inning of a game against Milwaukee that year. Finally, his final line reads .258/.374/.512, a notch better than DeRosa in all but the first metric.

Third Base: Aramis Ramirez, 2004

Ramirez has been all-around great since the Cubs swapped for him in mid-2003. The following year, however, may have been his finest work. With a .318/.373/.578 line and 36 home runs, Ramirez helped the Cubs stay in contention after injury (and later a super-slump) derailed Sammy Sosa's season and career.

The 36 bombs established a new Cubs record for third basemen, a mark he would break just two years later. His overall numbers, however, suggest 2004 was an even better season than that 2006 campaign.

Shortstop: Ricky Gutierrez, 2000

If Bellhorn's tussle with DeRosa for second base supremacy wasn't the fiercest, then this one is. As Bellhorn did, Gutierrez edges out a 2008 Cub. This time, the loser is Ryan Theriot.

Though Theriot played slightly better defense and stole more bases in 2008 than did Gutierrez in 2000, Gutierrez wins on the strength of his superior power and otherwise similar skill set. Gutierrez socked 11 homers in 2000, ten more than Theriot eight years later.

Their final lines read thus: .276/.375/.401 for Gutierrez, versus .307/.387/.359 for Theriot. Anecdotally, though somewhat lacking for range, Gutierrez started and turned double plays with surpassing quickness, and ran the bases with aggressive intelligence. Those kinds of tie-breakers make him the difficult but correct choice.

Left Field: Moises Alou, 2004

Along with Ramirez, Alou helped to mitigate the precipitous declines of Sosa and Corey Patterson in 2004. The fact that Chicago choked away its chance to win the NL Wild Card during the last week of that season should not cloud our memory of the explosive offense Jim Hendry assembled that season, led by five players (Alou, Ramirez, Sosa, Lee and Patterson) with between 39 and 24 home runs.

Still, Alou wins this one by far less than it might seem. His stellar offensive skills (.293/.361/.557, with 39 homers in 2004) were often negated somewhat by miserable left-field glove work. Here enters Matt Murton, who in 2006 played phenomenal defense at that position, while also providing slightly above-average offense. If his '06 line of .297/.365/.444 were just a tick better across the board, or if he had augmented it with more than 13 home runs, he would scrape by Alou.

Center Field: Corey Patterson/Kenny Lofton, 2003

It might seem like cheating, but the position has been so unproductive for Chicago over the last 20 years that I have little choice. Patterson, who went down with a torn knee ligament on July 6, compiled a .298/.329/.511 line in 83 games. He also had 13 home runs and 16 steals.

In a season-saving move, Hendry acquired Lofton from the Pittsburgh Pirates less than three weeks later. Upon his arrival, Lofton promptly led Chicago into the post-season, providing .327/.381/.471 contribution as a lead-off man in 236 plate appearances. He also played good defense, helping fortify the team defense against the loss of defensive whiz Patterson.

For those unable or unwilling to abide the divided labor, Jim Edmonds (in 2008) and Juan Pierre (in '06) are unspectacular but acceptable alternatives. Neither played good defense, and they provided very different kinds of offensive value. It is not apples to apples, but I'd take Edmonds after the Patterson-Lofton tag team.

Right Field: Sammy Sosa, 2001

It may be that readers will want to throw out Sosa's seasons, in light of his steroid taint. Given that his successors have been so middling, however, doing so would leave us with too few decent options.

Instead, let's break down one of the great offensive seasons in baseball history. Sosa posted a .328/.437/.737 line, smacked 64 homers, drove in 160, walked 116 times and watched Barry Bonds overshadow him completely. Whether artificially inflated or not, though, Sosa's numbers in '01 are staggering.

For purists, I will select from among the chaff Jeromy Burnitz's 2005 as the second-best option. Burnitz managed just a .258/.322/.435 line, but had at least a little pop: he hit 24 home runs in his only Cubs campaign.

No. 1 Starter: Mark Prior, 2003

Prior's season, and later his career, nosedived into oblivion in the 2003 NLCS. Until then, however, he had put together one of the best pitching seasons throughout the league this decade. In 211 1/3 innings, he struck out 240 and walked only 50 batters. He won 18 games, including 10 during a second-half surge that saw him rack up 95 whiffs and just 16 walks in 82 2/3 innings in August and September. Over that span, he had an otherworldly 1.52 ERA.

No. 2 Starter: Kerry Wood, 2003

After Prior, Chicago quickly runs out of all-time ace performances. As second fiddle in the team's pair of 2003 aces, however, Wood had a remarkable season. He led the league with 266 punch-outs; Prior finished second. Though Wood didn't quite have Prior's control, he showed the best command of his career that season.

No. 3 Starter: Carlos Zambrano, 2004

After a successful but inconsistent 2002-03, Zambrano came into his own in '04, at the tender age of 23. Stepping into the void left by injuries to Prior and Wood, Big Z claimed his place as staff ace by going 16-8, with a 2.75 ERA. More importantly, he struck out 188, walked 81 and allowed 14 home runs in 209 2/3 innings. Like the offense, the starting rotation Hendry set forth for 2004—Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Greg Maddux and Matt Clement—faltered only when its supremely talented parts fell victim to injury.

No. 4 Starter: Matt Clement, 2004

This selection is an open rebellion against the win-loss-ERA framework of pitcher evaluation. In 2001, Jon Lieber went 20-6 for the Cubs. Yet, his peripheral numbers (5.7 strikeouts per nine innings, 25 home runs allowed, a 3.80 ERA and a .278 BAbip) suggest he got very lucky along the way.

Meanwhile, Clement went just 9-12 in 2004, and had an only slightly better 3.68 ERA. But Clement, a strikeout and ground-ball pitcher, pitched in front of a miserable defense, especially around the infield. He whiffed 190 batters in 181 innings, and had a very solid 2.47 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Those numbers put him squarely ahead of Lieber in my book.

No. 5 Starter: Ted Lilly, 2009

For the first three seasons of his current four-year contract, Lilly has rewarded Hendry's faith with three straight career years. This last campaign really marked his breakout: Lilly had 4.19 times as many strikeouts as walks, good for the fourth-best mark in the National League. He recorded a 3.11 ERA in 27 starts and 177 innings. Some metrics suggest he got at least a little bit lucky. If he continues to pound the strike zone, however, he could do all of this again in 2010, especially if he can stay healthy once he returns from shoulder surgery in late April.

Relief Ace: Kerry Wood, 2008

I did not distinguish between roles in selecting relief pitchers, and given that premise, some might argue for Carlos Marmol's 2007 as a better choice. Wood, however, wins because his command (84 strikeouts against 18 free passes in 66 1/3 innings, or a 4.67 ratio) made him more consistent.

Bullpen and Bench:

Rather than verbosely plod through the best of the rest, I will simply list them, along with basic stat lines for the season that qualified each player. As a parting thought, I leave this: looking over the winners, position-by-position, many came from the first half of the decade. The team, by contrast, made significant strides at the end of the decade. Perhaps, then, winning in Chicago is not so much about top-shelf talent as it is about depth. Hendry would be wise to keep that in mind this winter.

Marmol, 2007: 69 1/3 innings, 96 K, 35 BB, 3 HR, 1.10 WHIP

Marmol, 2008: 87 1/3 IP, 114 K, 41 BB, 10 HR, 0.93 WHIP

Tom Gordon, 2001: 45 1/3 IP, 67 K, 16 BB, 4 HR, 1.06 WHIP

Kyle Farnsworth, 2001: 82 IP, 107 K, 29 BB, 8 HR, 1.15 WHIP

Bob Howry, 2006: 76 2/3 IP, 71 K, 17 BB, 8 HR, 1.14 WHIP

LaTroy Hawkins, 2004: 82 IP, 69 K, 14 BB, 10 HR, 1.05 WHIP

Henry Blanco, 2006: .266/.304/.419, 6 HR, 43% CS

Daryle Ward, 2007: .327/.436/.527, 3 HR, 13 2B, 133 PA

Mike Fontenot, 2008: .305/.395/.514, 9 HR

Delino DeShields, 2001: .276/.380/.405, 12 SB

Reed Johnson, 2008: .303/.358/.420

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Week 13 Free NFL Picks: The Colts Will Fall

kevin roberts — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:32:15 -0500

We had a successful run in Week 12, despite missing on two huge upset picks. We went for the gold by picking both the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints to drop their first games of the season, but instead watched in horror as they both reached the 11-0 plateau.

While we couldn't help you out with those two picks, we did manage to go 10-4 the rest of the way, giving us a solid 10-6 record for the week.

We're a very solid 32-15 over the past three weeks, and we're working hard to make sure we keep that pace heading into Week 13 . Without further haste, here are your picks with some analysis and a predicted score:

New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills

The Jets and Bills are both starting at the playoff picture from the outside, but as inconsistent as both teams have been, they still have a shot at a wild card spot. Both teams have difficulty stopping the run, while both are fairly solid against the pass. This should be a battle in the trenches.

Jets 21, Bills 17

St. Louis Rams @ Chicago Bears

The real question here is if Jay Cutler can finally put his team on his back and carry them to a win all by himself. He's been asked to do so much, and while a lot of his mistakes fall on him, he also isn't getting the necessary help from the rest of his offense. That shouldn't be an issue against a weak Rams defense. Look for Matt Forte to help take the pressure off of Cutler this week.

Bears 27, Rams 16

Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Much like the Jets/Bills match-up, these two teams are facing a do-or-die game, in which the loser is almost certainly out of the playoff picture. The Texans were standing at 5-4 and looked to be well on their way to a wild card spot, but have now dropped two straight, while the Jaguars ran into a desperate 49ers team last week and simply didn't show up.

We'll give the Texans a mulligan for losing to the still undefeated Colts, and considering how weak the Jaguars overall defense is, we like their chances to get back to .500.

Texans 34, Jaguars 24

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers

The Buccaneers almost got away with a huge upset against the Falcons, but now have to regroup and prove last week's strong effort against a decent team didn't go to waste. The Panthers, on the other hand, are without Jake Delhomme this week (sweet), but now have Matt Moore under center (upgrade?). Expect both teams to pound the rock and try to win the battle of field position.

Panthers 20, Buccaneers 13

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs

After losing four straight games and then destroying the hapless New York Giants, we still can't be sure what to make of this Denver team. It's a safe bet they don't have a ton of problems against Kansas City, who didn't even show up last week against San Diego, but we'll have to wait another week to see what this Broncos team is really all about.

Broncos 38, Chiefs 17

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts

This is the battle we've all been waiting for. The Titans have seemingly saved their season with five consecutive wins, and an unlikely win over the Colts could catapult them into wild card positioning. These Titans are a completely different team on both sides of the ball than they were five weeks ago, and as good as the Colts may be, they just might be the task that Peyton Manning can't complete.

The Colts haven't been great at running the ball for most of the season, and with a stout Titans run defense in their way, Peyton Manning will be forced into action against a very solid Titans pass defense. Look for Chris Johnson to continue his tear in the upset of the week.

Titans 30, Colts 27

Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons

Even though the Eagles struggled to narrowly escape defeat against the Redskins, we have to give them the credit for sticking at it and getting the job done. Besides, everyone knows division games are never a cakewalk, no matter who the opponent is. This week should be a surprise for many, as the under-manned Falcons come into town without Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, and pose no real threat to the Eagles.

Eagles 33, Falcons 21

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

We learned a lot from the Patriots lackluster performance on Monday night. We now know that the Saints are probably just as good as they've been hyped up to be, while the Patriots are likely just a shell of what they were in 2007. We don't doubt their offensive talents, especially against the weak Dolphins defense this week, but their defense is clearly not up to the task of stopping elite teams.

Patriots 41, Dolphins 21

For the rest of Week 13 's NFL Picks , go here .

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Weis To Both His Notre Dame Fans: "Don't Cry for Me!"

Larry Burton — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:00:30 -0500

OK, raise your hands on this one. Who wouldn't take a kick in the butt for say eighteen million dollars? So, as Charlie Weis leaves Notre Dame his farewell statement to his two remaining fans should be, "Don't cry for me".

And why should they? Let's look at the reasons...

He'll have eighteen million reasons not to be overly sad.

The NFL is waiting with open arms for Charlie to return. He will be unemployed as a coach only as long as he wants to be.

He'll now have time to do Jenny Craig and land that lucrative endorsement deal.

He'll finally have time to comb his hair.

And he can say with pride that he at least did better in college football than Steve Spurrier did in the NFL.

Charlie Weis gave Notre Dame his best shot. I'm sure of that. He simply was not a good head coach. It's the old case of the Peter Principal. He was promoted to the level of his incompetency as there was arguably not many better offensive coordinators.

Same old tune with a different singer, not all great assistants make great head coaches.

And I certainly don't blame Charlie for Notre Dame's apparent cash flow crisis with his firing. I would point the finger at the administrator who gave him such a lengthy contract extension with so little to show for it.

I remember the day it happened and remember looking around the landscape and not seeing any one else waiving a check book in Charlie's direction. It wasn't like there a fight to keep him there.

Notre Dame may be mired in mediocrity for a few more years while the next coach wades through players left behind and starts building his own team.

Recruiting is tougher now because this is a generation of "NOW" kids. Notre Dame hasn't been relevant since this year's group of five-star high school athletes were in elementary school, and few grew up looking at Notre Dame saying, "Wow, one day I want to play for them."

At least this saga gave something for us writers to kick around while we're waiting for the bowl announcements and that's something. We won't have Charlie Weis to kick around anymore.

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Good Old Country Hardball: Chip Caray and TBS Part Ways

TAB BAMFORD — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:51:50 -0500

TBS announced on Monday that they had parted ways with baseball play-by-play announcer Chip Caray.

Sorry Kleenex, but my single tear won't help your stock price.

Caray, who was better known for the full families of birds living in his eyebrows and his last name than his ability to call a baseball game has never distinguished himself as the legend in the booth that his grandfather, Harry, or father, Skip, would make you think.

To the contrary, Caray's "highlight" reel from this year's postseason has made every sports talk radio station's blooper feed this year. From calling a ground ball a line drive out to crediting teams with runs before the runner was tagged out by a mile, Caray was mediocrity with a mic.

I'm a Cubs fan. When the Cubs went south in 2009 or when Jay Cutler tosses another interception (I think he threw two on Monday afternoon), I find consolation in knowing that it could be worse. I just think back a couple years to when Caray was joined by Joe Carter in the worst broadcast booth pairing in the history of professional sports.

Now Caray can move on to making money off another family legacy: steak. Maybe one of his late grandfather's restaurants in Chicago needs a bartender. He might not know the difference between a line drive and a grounder, but he should know the difference between shaken and stirred.

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Are The Irish Overlooking The D In Dantonio?

Joe Schmoe — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:48:47 -0500

It was defense – or lack thereof – that did in Charlie Weis. It will take someone well versed in that less-appreciated aspect of college football to return Notre Dame to its winning tradition.

We’ve heard no end of potential suitors to replace Weis: Stoops, Meyer, Kelly and whoever else is winning big at the moment. Great offensive coaches all.

But the Irish already had a great offense, ranked statistically tenth in the nation. There was nothing wrong with their offensive coaching or recruiting.

Had Weis’s defensive backfield stopped Tate Forcier in the last few seconds, had the defensive line dug in to halt Navy’s predictable rushing game, and had the same squad put the onus on Dion Lewis’s running game, the Irish would have finished 9-3 and Charlie would still have a job.

Come to think of it, had the Notre Dame defense stopped just half of the Connecticut rushing duo of Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon, the Irish would be 10-2 and still in line for a BCS bowl.

To paraphrase Bill Clinton’s campaign slogan: “It’s the defense, stupid!”

Which brings me to suggest Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio as the South Bend Solution.

First off, Dantonio’s legacy is a balanced attack and a strong defense. No, he’s not a Jim Tressel conservative. His Spartans’ passing offense ranks first in the Big Ten this season, which may not be saying much.

But those who savor a Charlie Weis look-alike need to remember that the passing game only gets you so far. After all, the 6-6 Irish rank fifth nationally in passing yardage. Only one of the top BCS teams – Cincinnati - falls into the top ten passing ranks with Notre Dame.

Passing is not necessarily the forte of national championship teams.

Dantonio’s defensive squads at MSU haven’t quite lived up to his feats at Ohio State in 2002 and 2003, when he was Jim Tressel’s defensive coordinator. His squads were one of the reasons the Bucks won the national championship in 2002, and ended up ranked fourth in 2003.

He has been criticized for the Spartans’ mediocre record this season. But his bright spots have included seeing junior linebacker Greg Jones, second in the FBS with 141 tackles, named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

And given the recruiting advantage of being head coach at ND, he would have the potential to develop a splendid defense to take a load off those storied Irish offensive squads.

There is a more compelling reason for the Irish to consider Dantonio. Somewhere gathering dust in the back of the athletic director’s safe is a paradigm, a yardstick that this superb program misplaced many years ago.

It should be used to measure candidates against the coach who best exemplifies Notre Dame’s success in the modern era – Ara Parseghian.

The comparisons between the two men are easy to find. Ara is Ohio-born. So is Mark. Both coached Ohio teams, Ara at Miami University and Mark at Cincinnati. Both are versed in Big Ten coaching, but not necessarily big winners there.

Parseghian came to Notre Dame with a 36-35-1 record after 8 years at Northwestern. While there he beat the Irish four times. Dantonio is 22-16 at Michigan State in three years. He handily beat the Irish two times and lost this year’s match up in a squeaker that could have gone either way.

Dantonio has beaten Michigan two out of three. He has vanquished Purdue three straight times. And why is that important to Notre Dame? Because those two Big Ten teams and MSU are 25 percent of the Irish ongoing football schedule.

Both Parseghian and Dantonio picked up pointers from men who understood the importance of balanced offenses and strong defenses- Ara under Woody Hayes and Dantonio under Earl Bruce and Jim Tressel.

Neither man graduated from Notre Dame, although Parseghian, a Miami University grad, was named an honorary ND alumnus at the end of his career there. Dantonio graduated from the University of South Carolina, and returned to Ohio to coach.

You say Mark is too old at age 53 to start with another team? A fine ND coach named Lou Holtz, who won a national championship there, was 49 in 1986 when he arrived in South Bend.

You say he’s too expensive? Considering what Notre Dame will pay to buy out Weis, any compensation required by Michigan State for Dantonio’s piddling annual $1.8 million in overall compensation and paltry $2 million longevity bonus would be a drop in the bucket.

Religion? Ara was a Presbyterian when he began his career at Notre Dame. Dantonio is an unabashed Catholic who sees his career as a ministry. He’s a religious man whose focus is on the welfare of his players and assistant coaches.

Are there other coaches out there who can provide the missing D in Notre Dame’s game plan? Could be. But how do they measure up against the Ara Paradigm?

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Why Notre Dame Should Decline Bowl Bid

Michael Maxwell — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:36:16 -0500

In the wake of the recent coaching change, Notre Dame is going to have an important decision to make relative to this year’s bowl game.

Ordinarily, a 6-6 team wouldn’t need to worry about such things, but this is Notre Dame, after all.

It is expected that the team will have an opportunity to vote on whether to accept an expected bowl bid. It is still unclear when this might take place, although it should happen relatively soon.

Conventional wisdom has the Irish getting a bid to the Little Caesar’s or GMAC Bowls, likely against an opponent from the Mid-American Conference, such as Central Michigan or Ohio.

Certainly a major step down from the BCS bowls Notre Dame aspires to. Yet, if the players decide they would like to play in the bowl game, then that is what should happen. It appears that the university will honor the wishes of the players.

However, regardless of what the players decide, I believe that the longer term interests of the football program would be better served if the Irish declined their fourth coming bowl bid.

First off, I believe that the bowl game and everything associated with it will be a distraction from the program’s primary focus, which should be finding the best head coach. Who knows how long that process might take?

As the George O’Leary fiasco proved, hiring a head coach is not something that can be rushed. It takes time, effort, patience, persistence, and diligence.

Realistically, this is a process that requires a minimum of a few weeks to as many as several weeks. Candidates need to be identified, interviewed, and probably most importantly, a contract needs to be worked out. A coaching staff needs to be assembled after the head coach is hired.

I can’t imagine a scenario where both the right head coach for Notre Dame and the coaching staff are assembled in time to properly prepare for a bowl game in December or even early January. And even if this could be accomplished in less than one or two weeks, I’m not sure that preparing for a bottom-tier bowl game would be the best use of the new coaching staff’s time and talent.

The program would be better served by allowing the new head coach and coaching staff to focus on shoring up the 2010 recruiting class, rather than preparing for a lower-tier bowl game. Certainly, there have to be a lot of recruits asking a lot of questions about the direction the football program is going.

If the new coaching staff is focused on the bowl game, it might allow rival schools to take advantage of the situation and swoop in and grab blue chippers that might have some reservations, given the coaching situation. At this point, Notre Dame needs all the good players it can get.

Additionally, I just don’t see where Notre Dame has an awful lot to gain by playing in a bowl game like this. Given all the extraneous activities surrounding the program of late, I think the results of the bowl game are a toss up, at best. If Notre Dame wins, then, of course, mighty Notre Dame should win against the mid-major little brother. Or, if they lose, then it adds even more misery to the program and perhaps sets them back even further for next year and beyond.

If I’m a senior on the team with minimal NFL opportunities, then I would be more inclined to vote to play the game. Might as well have one last hurrah.

However, if I am Jimmy Clausen or Golden Tate, and already expect to enter the NFL draft, then I’m not sure I see the benefit to playing another game. My draft stock is already high, so why risk injury or a terrible performance that might affect my draft position?

Likewise, if I’m an underclassmen, I think I would rather have my new coaching staff working to bring in the best recruits to assure success in future years rather than prepare for a relatively meaningless lower-tier bowl game.

You might recall that there is some precedent for Notre Dame turning down a bowl bid. In Lou Holtz’s last year (1996), the Irish declined bowl bids to lesser tier bowls.

Will history be repeating itself?

There certainly is plenty to watch in the coming days and weeks under the Golden Dome…and this includes more than just who the next head coach will be.

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Charlie Weis and Notre Dame: The “What If” Era

Jim Miesle — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:13:55 -0500

When a coaching change comes, it’s hard not to look back (in this case, over five years) and wonder what might have been. In the case of Charlie Weis, I think it is especially apropos.

While I am sure the list I compiled is by no means all-encompassing, it’s a start:

2004 – The Coaching Staff

It would be difficult to start in any other place. Weis took the job after a lengthy search by then AD Kevin White, and by all accounts wasn’t at or near the top of anyone’s wish list. Guiding the New England Patriot offense to a third Super Bowl title in four seasons, Weis was forced to assemble his staff hastily on top of his prior job commitments. Proclaimed as an “exceptional, talented and experienced group of assistant coaches ” one has to wonder about if Weis had more time to assemble his initial staff, where the team (and program) would be today.

A few notables:

David Cutcliffe, Assistant Head Coach (offense) and quarterbacks coach. Known as the guy who coached the Manning brothers, he resigned due to health issues in June 2005. He was replaced by Peter Vaas.

Rick Minter, defensive coordinator. Not much that needs to be said here other than the defense was the weak link during the 2005 Irish season, which would become a recurring theme during the Weis era.

Of the original nine assistant coaches hired by Weis in January 2005, only three would survive his five year tenure (Rob Ianello, Bernie Parmalee, and Brian Polian).

2005 Recruiting Class

In the wake of the Willingham dismissal, Weis was left to pick up the pieces of a nonexistent recruiting class. Signing only 15 players, the lack of depth would become evident during the 2007 season, as the team was missing key upper class leadership. What if Ty had put in a bit more effort in recruiting and left Weis with a bit more than six verbal commits at his departure?

2005 Regular Season

One has to wonder about the 2005 season, one that was probably the best overall during the Weis era. With only two regular season losses by a total of six points (one coming in overtime to Michigan State and the other on the “Bush Push” against USC), Weis looked to have the Irish headed for the pinnacle of the college football world.

What if the Irish pulled out the victory over the Spartans after rallying from 14 back in the fourth quarter? What if Matt Leinart didn’t complete the 4th-and-9 pass? How would that team have matched-up with Texas?

2006 Regular Season

After transforming an average offense to record setting, the 2006 season started with sky-high expectations. After an early season blowout loss at home to Michigan, expectations were tempered somewhat. With holes appearing in the defense, along with a lack in overall team speed, Irish fans were forced to sit through more close wins (Georgia Tech, Michigan State, and UCLA) then was comfortable. What if this team had a few more difference makers? What if the proverbial cupboard wasn’t so bare?

2007 Regular Season

I would prefer to believe that the 2007 season never happened. Fielding a roster with only 24 scholarship seniors and juniors (the aforementioned 2005 recruiting class), too many underclassmen were forced into service before they were ready.

Preseason predictions placed the Irish somewhere around .500, with anything less beyond the worst nightmares of Irish fans everywhere. The offense couldn’t move the ball (starting three different QBs), and the defense was struggling with a change in identity (the new 3-4 defense brought in by Corwin Brown).

What if this team had additional junior/senior support (especially on the OL)? What if Weis brought in a different DC? What if Darius Walker hadn’t left a year early for the NFL draft (and consequently went undrafted)? What if Demetrius Jones didn’t fumble on the first possession in the opener vs. Georgia Tech?

2008 Regular Season

The 2008 season is where a lot of the big questions about the Weis era began to emerge. For the most part, following back-to-back BCS berths fans were willing to concede the 2007 season as a rebuilding year.

After an all-too-close opening win over San Diego State, the Irish seemed to be heading in the right direction with a 4-2 start (including a come-from-ahead loss at North Carolina). Finishing the regular season at 6-6, rumors started to circulate about Weis being fired.

You have to wonder about what would have happened had the Irish held on to double digit leads over NC, Pitt and Syracuse? What if CW brought in new line coaches a year earlier and had an actual running game? What if Jimmy Clausen took better care of the football, especially against Boston College and USC, instead of throwing 17 INTs?

2009 Regular Season

Simply put, there are a lot of scenarios that could have played out during this season. In each of the six losses (and four wins), you can go back to a few plays and wonder about them going a different way.

What if the kickoff team hadn’t allowed two kickoff returns for TDs (vs. Michigan and Connecticut)? What if a kicker who had made 15 straight field goals doesn't miss two straight vs. Navy? What if the defense stepped up and made a play or two (vs. Navy and Stanford)? What if the offense made one more play or avoided key penalties (vs. Michigan, USC, and Pitt)? In the wins, they were one play away from losing to Washington, BC, Michigan State, and Purdue. What if one of those plays went the other way?

Overall

The biggest question one has to ask themselves about the Weis era is pretty simple—what if he had a defense to go with the record setting offenses? Ultimately, we will never know how that would have played out.

It’s never a good thing when someone loses their job. There should be no joy taken in that, regardless of how you feel the program was run over the past five seasons. The guys at BlueGraySky said it better than I possibly could in their Thank You to Coach Weis . I echo their comments and know that he will have no shortage in job offers in the coming weeks (including possibly being reunited with Brady Quinn in Cleveland, or elsewhere).

Thank you Coach Weis for your tireless work and leaving the program in a better place than you found it. Your true contribution may never fully be realized, but this Irish fan will try not to forget that you brought the program from life support to a place with a brighter future than five years ago. It’s just hard not to wonder what if…

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Last-Minute Remarks on SNF Week 14 Picks

Morgan Wick — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:18:46 -0500

Week 14 (December 13):

Tentative game: Philadelphia @ NY Giants
Prospects: It’s an NFC East game (always=ratings), and while it doesn’t currently have the NFC East lead on the line it’s still a battle of playoff contenders. Still a pretty good shot to keep its spot—the Giants’ troubles might help it in the long run if the game would have become lopsided as opposed to 7-4 v. 6-5. However, there are strong flex contenders…
Protected games: Chargers—Cowboys (CBS) and Packers-Bears (FOX).
Other possible games mentioned on last week’s Watch and their records: Bengals (8-3)—Vikings (10-1); Broncos (7-4)—Colts (11-0); Saints (10-0)—Falcons (6-5), and Jags (6-5)—Dolphins (5-6).
Impact of Monday Night Football: The prospects of Saints—Falcons depends on whether the Saints are still unbeaten. After tonight, that’s probably the Saints’ best chance for a loss.
Analysis: The Broncos got back on track to stay ahead of the Falcons, and the Colts are still unbeaten, but picking them would shut NBC out of the Colts the rest of the year, although that’s not as much of a problem as it sounds given the only half-decent team the Colts face the rest of the way is already scheduled for NFL Network. With the Favre factor, Bengals-Vikings looks mighty compelling with both teams winning and appears to be the current favorite (but it would probably mean three straight weeks of Favre-mania and limit NBC’s ability to flex the Vikings in again later). The Giants’ loss makes a flex much more likely, and the NFL can’t go wrong with either Broncos-Colts or Bengals-Vikings.
Final prediction: Denver Broncos @ Indianapolis Colts.
Actual selection: Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants (no change). Not terribly surprising, given the problems with the other games and the NFL’s reticence to pull the flex, but still a bit less than what NBC could have gotten.

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Would Jimmy Clausen Stay Another Year with Bob Stoops As Coach?

Bryan Kelly — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:21:19 -0500

As other B/R writers have argued , Jimmy Clausen and Charlie Weis's fates have been inextricably intertwined since the beginning, and it ought to follow that Clausen will depart to the NFL a year early now that Weis is fired.

At first, I thought Clausen would maybe consider staying, considering Stoops' reputation for turning out prolific, stud quarterbacks year after year, season after season, with little alteration of his system.

In fact, it's easy to say Bob Stoops is a quarterback's best friend. Though he's a defensive-minded coach by trade—serving as the defensive coordinator at Kansas State and Florida before taking over the head job in Norman—he's produced two Heisman winners at the QB position (Jason White and Sam Bradford) and one runner-up (Josh Heupel), plus record-breaking touchdown passes, quarterback ratings, completion percentages, All-American freshman seasons...

There is a Stoops system for quarterbacks. And whatever it is, Irish fans might hold out a slim hope that it will keep Jimmy Clausen in South Bend for one more year.

The breaks are certainly stacked against such a return. As though Clausen needed any more incentive to jet early for the NFL, the scary, season-ending injury to Sam Bradford's AC joint likely cost the Oklahoma quarterback millions of dollars and a spot as the first quarterback taken overall. (Tellingly, that position now belongs to Clausen, according to many draft scouts.)

Clausen took 58 sacks as a true freshman in the Irish's miserable 3-9 season in 2007. Unlike Bradford, he has nothing to prove to NFL scouts that he didn't already prove as a freshman from a toughness standpoint. Physically speaking, he's already a far cry from the skinny, slender kid who threw six touchdowns and seven interceptions in his first year. He's added muscle and put on weight to match his size and determination.

Bob Stoops would essentially have to poach Clausen from Weis to get him to stay, because Clausen has been Weis's darling since the beginning. In 2007, Clausen was hailed as the prototypical pocket passer necessary for the success of Weis's pro-style attack post-Brady Quinn.

That prophecy finally started to come true this year. Clausen's numbers have been outstanding: 3,722 yards, 28 touchdowns to only four interceptions, and the most attempts and completions by a Notre Dame quarterback in history.

Learning the Stoops system might be a great challenge if all of Clausen's weapons were going to return. But Clausen would still have to cope with the departure of Golden Tate, who will likely enter the NFL draft a year early. Tate's 93 receptions for 1,320 yards leads the team and is good for fifth overall in the country

Those receptions are a lot of rapport Stoops and his coaches would have to make up in practice.

The only way I could see Clausen returning is if his passion and determination were rooted more in Notre Dame than in Weis; that he wanted to beat USC, Navy, Michigan, and Stanford badly enough to return; that the losses were nagging on him more than we could understand, and he needed to make things right in South Bend again.

To say that, you'd have to argue that Clausen is more loyal to Notre Dame than many of us think he is; that he is a college football player, and not a "pre-professional" football player.

I'm not arguing that Clausen is disloyal. I only think that this kind of faith goes against what Weis preached as a head coach and mentor to Clausen. Because of his background, Weis cultivated a mentality that prepared his players for bigger things at the professional level.

Unlike your Eric Crouchs or your Mike Harts of college football history, the biggest and best things Clausen will ever do are ahead of him, not behind him. He is Joe Montana, not Brady Quinn.

That's really not a terrible legacy for Weis to leave his players, although it sometimes came at the expense of responsible coaching in the moment . It called for Notre Dame's athletes to play beyond their years, to understand ideas even the pros struggle with from time to time.

That's something I don't think you'd see in the Stoops playbook.

No, numbers do not drive Clausen. Though the Stoops system can promise attempts, completions, touchdowns galore—even success, for what it's worth—it's almost definitely too late.

Clausen was a draft prospect before he was a true freshman, enrolling in the Combine before he'd enrolled in Psych 101. No promise of a prolific system will woo him to remain. He's heard those guarantees already, and will hear no more of them as a college player.

He is certainly gone at year's end, Stoops or no Stoops, and with him, and those wide receivers no one could cover, goes the Weis legacy of outstanding talent never fully realized, waiting for a break that never came.

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The Charlie Weis Legacy: The Good, The Bad, and the Oh-So Ugly

Marc Halsted — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:09:34 -0500

Charlie Weis has been fired from Notre Dame, Urban Meyer has re-dedicated himself to the University of Florida, and Bob Stoops has denied that he has any interest in becoming the next Notre Dame head coach.

While we wait for Brian Kelly's stunning announcement that he'll leave an undefeated, and BCS-bound Cincinatti program to become the next Irish head coach, it would do us all well to take a final look at the Charlie Weis legacy.

The Weis legacy must be remembered for the roses and the thorns. There have been exceptional highs and unfathomable lows. There have been wins, losses, outrageous disasters, and unquestioned radiance.

It most assuredly has been captivating—just ask Mark May, Chris Fowler, Tony Bernhart, and the rest of the national media that has tried to tell all of us that Notre Dame has become irrelevant.

Here's to Charlie! Thanks for the memories, no matter how vivid and painful they've been.

Back-to-Back BCS

Most Notre Dame fans would triple their alumni payments to get back to the days of 9-2 and 10-2 and a pair of appearances in BCS bowl games against high profile opponents like Ohio State and LSU.

Of course, a 75-34 total score in two losses against said BSC bowl game opponents in Charlie's first two years, is not something many Irish fans want to remember. But, at least he helped get them into the bright spotlights of a New Year’s Day Bowl and made us all think for a moment, that 1988 wasn't really that long ago.

Stunning Losses

There is no way around shocking home losses to Syracuse, Air Force, Connecticut, and Navy, twice.

There was no way to ignore a period of nearly three years without a win over a team that finished the season with a winning record not named Navy (yes, they actually beat the Midshipmen once or twice during the Weis era).

There is no way around blowout losses to Georgia Tech (33-3), Michigan (38-0), and USC (38-0) in 2007.

There is no way around blowout losses to Boston College (17-0) and USC (38-3) in 2008.

Finally, there is no way around the fact that six-plus losses for three straight years is both unforgettable and unacceptable for the throngs of Notre Dame supporters.

Charlie, Hannah, And Their Friends

Speaking personally, I’m sick of the character assassinations. Yes, Coach Weis has been arrogant and yes, he’s proved to be unsuccessful as a head coach.

But Charlie Weis is a good man with a great heart.

Charlie Weis was loved by many of his players. Walking onto the field for his final home game, locking arm in arm with his captains, was a stirring and powerful display. The tears reminded us that this is an emotional game and that the intensity of relationships between coaches and players is so much a part of college football.

Beyond the field, Coach Weis poured millions of his own money and hours of his not-so-free time to build an extraordinary living center for young people with special needs. His unselfishness and complete dedication to "Hannah and Friends" will always be more important to the greater community of South Bend than anything he did on a football field.

Unfulfilled potential

Charlie Weis arrived at ND with Super Bowl rings, an offensive resume of great repute, and an ego that ran the length of the Jersey Turnpike. What we soon found out was that he also came with a tremendous work ethic and both the passion and ability to recruit the nations finest players eligible to meet the lofty Notre Dame academic standards;then it all went wrong.

The Irish Nation and the rest of the college football world, discovered that NFL success does not always parlay itself into on-campus brilliance. The reduced practice hours allowed and absolute need for the daily motivation of 19 and 20-year-old young men, haunted Weis from day one.

With the semi-professionalism of Brady Quinn and Jeff Samardjiza, he excelled but with the immaturity and confused emotionalism of Jimmy Clausen and Brian Smith, he struggled.

Unfulfilled potential haunted Coach Weis. His preordained offensive brilliance became entrapped in youthful inexperience (2007), abject predictability (2008), and the pressure of increased need and volume (2009).

Finally, it came down to something as simple as player development. He brought in three top-ten recruiting classes full of four and five star athletes, yet failed to put two CFB standards on the field over the past three years: a dependable running game and a serviceable defense.

The Hand-Off

The final component of the Weis Legacy rests in what he left behind.

When Brian Kelly (or whoever the Irish hire) arrives in town, he'll find a depth chart full of talent and athleticism, at least two gifted linebackers, a surprisingly deep and maturing defensive line group, two dynamic wide receiver talents, a day-one NFL draft tight end, and a full stable of highly touted running backs.

Sure, Jimmy and Golden may be off to NFL riches, but Weis left more talent in the cupboard than either of his predecessors. ND will be able to win in 2010 and their schedule will certainly help the cause.

Charlie Weis did not win like he should have and he did not succeed like he needed to. He did not make Notre Dame into what he said he would.

But Charlie Weis leaves with character, integrity, an exceptional 96 percent graduation rate, and a full depth chart for his successor.

Charlie, thank you. Best of luck in the future and enjoy turning the Browns offense into, well, an offense.

Now look Brian, we need at least 10 wins next year, okay?

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