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by
Joel Welser
#19 Notre
Dame Fighting Irish
Independent
2006 Record: (10-3, 0-0)
Coach: Charlie Weis (19-6 at Notre Dame, 19-6
overall)
Starters Returning: 10 (4 offense, 5 defense,
1 specialist)
Offensive Starters Lost: QB Brady Quinn, RB
Darius Walker, WR Jeff Samardzija, WR Rhema McKnight, OL Ryan Harris, OL Bob
Morton, OL Dan Santucci
Offensive Starters Returning: WR David
Grimes, TE John Carlson, OL John Sullivan, OL Sam Young
Defensive Starters Lost: DT Derek Landri, DE
Victor Abiamiri, DE Chris Frome, LB Travis Thomas, CB Mike Richardson, S
Chinedum Ndukwe
Defensive Starters Returning: DT Trevor Laws,
LB Maurice Crum Jr., LB Joe Brockington, CB Terrail Lambert, S Tom Zbikowski
Starting Specialists Lost: K Carl Gioia
Starting Specialists Returning: P Geoff Price
The Irish have talent, but a lack of experience will
be an issue on both sides of the ball. The battle to replace Brady Quinn at
quarterback gets the headlines, but finding more weapons at running back, wide
receiver and both the offensive and defensive lines are pressing needs as well.
Offense:
Jimmy Clausen has the Irish hopeful for the future,
but he has a lot of work to do to start as a freshman. Evan Sharpley, a junior
who threw two passes last season, has the most experience. Sophomores Zach
Fraser and Demetrius Jones were highly touted recruits and have the skill to
lead the Irish. No matter who takes the snaps, he will find it difficult to run
the offense without playmakers Darius Walker, Jeff Samardzija and Rhema
McKnight.
Senior Travis Thomas, who played linebacker in 2006,
may be the answer to the running game, but sophomore James Aldridge has more
potential to be a big threat. Wide receiver David Grimes and tight end John
Carlson are solid receiving threats, but losing Samardzija and McKnight will
hurt. D.J. Hord, who missed last season with an Achilles injury, George West and
Robby Parris have limited experience, but will have to step up their production.
Defense:
Trevor Laws, the lone starter returning on the line,
had a solid season at tackle last year and, with a new defensive scheme, will
take his experience to the end. The rest of the line has some experienced
options with Dwight Stephenson, Justin Brown and Pat Kuntz. The linebackers will
be led by Maurice Crum and will be joined in the middle of the new 3-4 scheme by
fellow returning starter Joe Brockington. Notre Dame will have to find some
players who did not fit into the old 4-3 defense to man the outside linebacker
spots. Anthony Vernaglia, Kevin Smith, John Ryan and Morrice Richardson will
compete at that position.
There are fewer concerns in the secondary thanks to
the return of cornerback Terrail Lambert and safety Tom Zbikowski. Senior
cornerback Ambrose Wooden started 12 games in 2005 and three in 2006 and should
be starting opposite Lambert. Zbikowski, a two-time third-team All-American, is
not just a talented safety and great team leader, but also adds a dynamic option
to the punt return game.
The Bottom Line:
If the last four games were the first four games,
Notre Dame fans would not be quite as worried. But as it is with a brutal
September and October schedule, the Irish do not have any time to turn their
youthful and inexperienced players into savvy veterans. Finding a quarterback as
soon as possible so the practice snaps will not have to be divided by four is a
top priority, but finding the replacements at the rest of the skill positions
will make the transition easier for the inexperienced quarterback.
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