4.3 - Points per game Notre Dame has scored during this season
34 - Points per game Irish opponents have scored this season
- 14 - total yards rushing for the season for the Irish
712 - total yards rushing for Irish opponents this season
115 - Yards per game by the Notre Dame Offense this season
24 - Number of penalties by Notre Dame this season
173 - Yards penalized by Notre Dame this season
23- Number of sacks Notre Dame has allowed this season
Notre Dame is on pace to give up a mind-numbing 92 sacks this season. 92! That is 62 more than were given up all of last year. The Irish are only 7 sacks allowed away from matching last year's total...going into the fourth game.
I purposely did not discuss anything about last weekend's Michigan game, because there is nothing really to say. If you watched the first quarter of the Michigan game, you pretty much get the idea of how the entire game went for the Irish. Hell, just watch the first play when John Sullivan, a fifth-year senior and captain, snapped the ball 7 feet over Armando Allen's head resulting in a 27 yard loss. The first play!
The thing I can't grasp is: How are the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame this bad? I could see if you take a school like Duke or Temple, and their fans have high expectations for a season. Then, once the season started reality set in and Duke and Temple fans realized their teams were meant to suck. But we are talking about Notre Dame here! I don't care how difficult the schedule is or how bad the team appears to be, the play of this year's team is just plain awful. Even during the Fuast, Davie, and Willingham years the Irish could get several first downs during a game rather easily. Forget the first downs at this point. I just want positive yardage.
Are things really bad right now? You better believe it. Are things going to get better right away? Probably not, especially with a decent Michigan State up next, followed by a very good offensive minded Purdue team, then the fun begins...A Boston College team will swagger in South Bend. The same BC team that just beat up on Georgia Tech on the Yeloowjackets home turf. Remember that first game with Georgia Tech this season. Yeah, uh oh. Then of course there is no better way to finish this stretch than with USC. Just the team Notre Dame wants to wear commemorative green jerseys against this year. I am holding onto the hope that the Irish could find a way to finish 6-6 this season. If Notre Dame can pull of a win against Michigan St. or Purdue, it is possible. The main thing I am hoping for the rest of the season is just improvement. I want to see freshman and sophomore players continue to get meaningful playing time to get the experience. I want to see Charlie totally open things up for Clausen. I want to see Corwin Brown's defense blitz, stunt, and force turnovers and wrapping up a tackle occasionally would also be nice. I want to see the offensive line block someone, anyone. I don't care if it is the opposing team's mascot on the sideline. Block someone!
Irish fans need to see the light at the end of the 2007 season tunnel.There is alot of young talent on this team right now. There is a lot of talented players coming to South Bend next year. Keep the faith. Charlie said this week is back to basics for the team. That is the news I have been waiting for the last two weeks. Weis is excellent at drawing up gameplans and out-scheming other coaches. But, you can't form these gameplans until your team has the fundamentals down cold. Blocking, Catching, Blocking, Not Fumbling, Blocking, Tackling...did I mention Blocking? I believe the team will play better this weekend versus Michigan St. I would not be surprised if the Irish lose, but I will be totally shocked and truly disappointed if there is no improvement. I never thought I would see the day when I actually believed I can accept a loss as long as the team shows improvement. But, at this point, I'll take any signs of life.
