It hasn't been overwhelming. It hasn't been dramatic. It hasn't even been particularly artistic or pretty. But indications are that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish might be making some incremental progress towards redemption and respectability.
At least, there's some hope that the Domers could regain their mojo. That no longer will they be punching bags but rather a competitive and competent football team.
Now, lest we get ahead of ourselves, a lot more success on the field has to transpire before it can even be inferred that ND is back. Truth be told, this reporter still doesn't trust this '08 squad to excel. And with testing games against rivals Michigan State and Purdue on tap, the good vibe that currently surrounds the team could evaporate quite quickly.
Yet, while it's sensible to be guarded and cautious about Charlie Weis and his charges, there are some positives that could portend well for the Irish. Things are far from black and bleak for the Blue and Gold. There are signs that may indicate the times they are a changin.'
Because of last year's horrendous season, it was all but essential that the Irish change the losing culture and get off to a winning start in '08. Despite a hiccup or two, they've done exactly that. Maybe the Irish don't rate real high on style points but they've gotten the job done. And that merits a tip of the cap.
A desperately needed 2 and 0 start just might have the Domers headed in the right direction. Now, for the first time in a while, there appears to be something to build on. A glimmer of hope is starting to reflect off those glistening gold helmets.
The national press trashed the Irish for what was termed an uninspired effort versus San Diego State in their opening contest. To be sure, ND was sluggish at times and played unevenly. But was that really all that unexpected? The Domers were presenting lineups on ball sides of the ball that featured more than a few question marks. It wasn't as if the Irish were returning a team loaded with standouts and stars. There was legitimate doubt about how this edition of ND would perform and react.
This uncertainty about Weis and crew made the betting line of 21 points an absolute farce. The wise guys in Vegas don't miss much but on this prognostication, they showed their ignorance and lack of homework.
It wasn't all that surprising that ND showed some first game glitches. There were bound to be plenty of kinks to be worked out.
Much was made about SDSU's damaging fumble at the Irish 1-yard line. Had the Aztecs gone in for the score, they would have expanded their lead to 20 to 7 which many have speculated would have doomed ND. Perhaps. But isn't it revealing, that those same bozos that point to State's costly blunder, conveniently forget that the Irish coughed up four turnovers, two of which came inside the red zone. If you want to play the what-if game, the Irish win in a breeze if they convert those two chances from in close.
On balance, the 21-13 final count favoring the Irish, accurately reflected what happened on the field.
The one thing that stood out above all else is that when ND had to move the ball, they did. When push came to shove, unlike last year, the Irish muscled up and pushed back.
Had the circumstances been identical and ND had faced off against the Aztecs in '07, it would have been a certain defeat. Last year's inept offense didn't have comeback capability. Thankfully, for a beleaguered Charlie Weis, this offense can get off the mat.
On consecutive possessions, Jimmy Clausen engineered two clutch drives that culminated in TD tosses and brought the Irish from behind. Performing with poise under pressure, ND showed some moxie and fight and averted what would have been an ignominious loss.
Most pundits denigrated the Domers for a near loss to an inferior foe. In the eyes of the press, the outcome was a disaster. They cut ND no slack whatsoever. But, typical of today's media, they only skimmed the surface and didn't look any deeper.
Yes, there was plenty to work on and lots to criticize. But there were also pluses that couldn't be ignored. Clausen stepped up when needed, a suspect line protected the blond-haired QB and kept him upright, wideouts Golden Tate and Michael Floyd flashed game-breaking talent and the defense made big plays when it meant the most. Let the naysayers harp on the negative but it was hardly all bad. There were some encouraging signs mixed in there too.
The question was could the Irish use the State escape as a stepping stone to something more satisfying? Could they exact a measure of revenge from the hated Michigan Wolverines who had trounced them two years running?
Though Michigan is clearly down this year and is adjusting to new coach Rich Rodriquez's spread offense, they still had more street cred than did the Irish. The Wolverines came into to South Bend as a slight favorite. ND might have taken that as a slap in the face.
Obviously aroused, the Irish were hunting for a measure of respect. And they earned it with their spirited and fiery play, particularly early. Flying to the football and taking advantage of Michigan carelessness with the rock, the Irish struck quick and often. A Robert Hughes run proceeded a pair of Clausen scoring strikes, the last of which was a picturesque 48-yard bomb that caught the exciting Tate in full stride.
Yet, to Michigan's credit, they didn't pack it in and hung together. The Wolverines closed the gap to 21-7 and seemed to have momentum on their side with the Irish backed up at their 13-yard line. In what was undeniably the game's swing moment, Clausen soon after drilled Tate on a quick slant. The flashy sophomore shook loose from a defender, showed some nifty footwork in route and traversed some 60 yards before he was hauled down.
In a split second, good ole' mo had left the Michigan sideline and jumped over to Notre Dame's. Another Hughes touchdown tote expanded the ND lead and basically sealed the deal although the Wolverines did close to within 28-17 right before intermission.
When the weather turned dicey in the second-half, the Irish went conservative and chose to protect the lead. Since the Domer defense, after a spotty first 30 minutes, was more than holding its' own, the Irish brain trust elected to take few chances.
Though not exactly pleasing to the eye, the strategy proved sound if not stirring. The Irish pitched a shutout in the second-half and walked away with a redemptive 35-17 conquest.
The win also held historical significance. The Domers won for the 300th time at ND Stadium. The victory also enabled the Irish to even up their mark against Michigan ( 8-8-1 ) in the House that Rockne Built.
It's probably premature to draw any lasting conclusions after only two games. There's just not enough data to make any definite judgments. The sampling is simply to small.
But observations can be made and inferences can be drawn. Enough has happened so that educated guesses can be attempted. Here are a few thoughts about the Irish in general and some players in particular.
1.) If the gradual and steady improvement continues, an 8 to 9-win season looms as a real possibility.
2.) Though he still makes the occasional suspect throw, Clausen has grown noticeably. He can air it out with the best of them and his accuracy on many of his heaves has been uncanny. If the line can keep him in one piece, Clausen might begin to justify some of the hype that proceeded him to South Bend.
3,) Though too early to tell, the backfield-by-committee concept might actually work. Armando Allen, Robert Hughes and James Aldridge have all shown flashes that they can make plays.
4.) Having not yielded a sack in eight quarters, the much maligned line could be turning a corner. They've done a solid job of cocooning Clausen while being decent escorts for the backs. But to be considered a real asset, the line needs to step up its' efforts even more.
5.) Weis and offensive coordinator Mike Haywood are obligated to make it a high priority to get the tight ends more involved in the passing game. This is a must! Will Yeatman and Kyle Rudolph are too inviting as targets and too talented as receivers not to be utilized to the fullest. The most dynamic offenses feature a huge contribution from the tight end position and ND should aspire to follow suit. Using Yeatman and Rudolph as mere window dressing is a waste of manpower.
6.) Along the same lines, it wouldn't hurt if Clausen dumped off to his backfield mates more than every now and then. Screen passes and check downs should be a staple of the Irish scheme. The backs have good enough hands and these short throws are low-risk and often high reward.
7.) What a joy it is to watch special teams' gunner Mike Anello. The 5-10 senior plays with a zest and love of the game that's inspiring. Despite his diminutive stature, Anello's a sure and deadly tackler. He can also do more than just make stops as evidenced by his key fumble recovery versus Michigan. Anello possesses that rare ability to pump up a crowd as well as energize his teammates. He's a sparkplug personified! If ND had just a few more players like him, nothing would be beyond them.
8.) David Bruton could become a beast. Talked up by many before the season, Bruton is validating their praise with his forceful play. From his safety position, the active junior has ranged far and wide to make 22 tackles, force two fumbles and intercept a pass. And his stellar work on special teams has rivaled that of the aforementioned Anello. If he stays consistent, Bruton might be onto an All-American type season.
9.) Kicking remains a huge worry. Nate Walker's kickoffs have come up disappointingly short and he has already missed on a routine field goal attempt. Unless Walker straightens himself out literally, he could cost the Irish a game or two before the year is out.
10.) Though the defense has been steady at times, it has nonetheless shown some troubling cracks. The tackling has been spotty because of bad technique, taking poor angles and failure to wrap-up. Too often enemy ball carriers and receivers have bounced off ND defenders who didn't secure properly. This deficiency has to be corrected or major problems will soon follow.
11.) Thus far, ND's emphasis on the blitz hasn't reaped many results. The Irish have but one sack and haven't been all that effective in harassing opposing QBs. But as the defense gets more reps in this scheme and develops more of a comfort level, it may prove to be a winning approach for the Irish.
No, the Irish aren't anywhere near where they want to be. It goes without saying they're far removed from the college football elite. But they're slowing moving forward and that progression shouldn't be discounted. And unlike '07, they seem headed towards a brighter day that carries with it some real hope.
But only time will tell if that's sustainable light at the end of the tunnel or merely some intermittent illumination that has no true staying power and offers no permanent way out of the doldrums.