Irish recruiting is just fine
Here we are, reveling in the aftermath of the Indianapolis Colts’ Super Bowl frenzy, ready to contemplate what really matters in the civilized world:
University of Notre Dame football recruiting.
By now, you’ve heard the Irish lost out on a couple of defensive studs (ends Ben Martin and Martez Wilson, tackle Will Blackwell, and linebacker Chris Donald), lost a defensive line commitment (Justin Trattou) to Florida and lost all national-title hope for the next 100 years.
Even worse, by Wednesday’s national signing day, Notre Dame’s incoming class might slip from No. 5 nationally to — oh, my goodness! — No. 8.
Take a deep breath. National recruiting expert Tom Lemming has perspective for you, which is what you’d expect from a guy who has been in the business for 28 years.
“Notre Dame is having an outstanding year,” says Lemming, the recruiting analyst for CSTV, “but they certainly need help on the defense for next year.”
Here’s the deal. The Irish’s 20-man class is once again offense-heavy with guys like quarterback Jimmy Clausen (the No. 1 recruit in the country), running backs Armando Allen and Robert Hughes, wide receivers Greg Little and Duvall Kamara, tight end Mike Ragone and offensive linemen Chris Little, Andrew Nuss and Matt Romine.
In all, Notre Dame has more than a dozen high school All-Americans, most of them on offense, which means coach Charlie Weis is going to continue terrorizing defenses (more on this in a moment).
The problem is the defense. It has been, and we’re being diplomatic here, miserable, terrible, pathetic — way worse than any David Spade movie.
Think we’re kidding? Notre Dame has allowed at least 30 points eight times in Weis’ 25 games. Since 1998, 74 teams have played in BCS bowls. The 2006 Notre Dame defense ranked 69th out of that group, just ahead of the No. 71 Irish unit of 2005.
Some of that reflected the recruiting of former Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham, some the fact Weis hasn’t landed many defensive standouts, especially on the line.
“Notre Dame finished second on a lot of (defensive) guys this year,” Lemming says. “A lot of it had to do with the way Notre Dame’s defense played. There was no excitement, nothing to hang your hat on with recruits.”
This is why Weis told defensive coordinator Rick Minter to take a hike and brought in Corwin Brown, the New York Jets’ defensive backs coach.
“Now that Brown is at Notre Dame,” Lemming says, “recruiting should go a lot better. At least, that’s the perception. And if it doesn’t, they’ll always be a good offensive team that gives up a lot of points.”
This doesn’t mean the Irish will sign zero defensive talent. Cornerback Gary Gray and safety Harrison Smith are top-100 players, and defensive end Kerry Neal has potential for instant impact.
“Neal is probably the biggest sleeper,” Lemming says. “He could play right away. He’s explosive, and Notre Dame has no explosive players on their line.”
But the real explosiveness comes on offense, starting with Clausen. He’s already enrolled in school and will participate in spring practice. He’ll battle last year’s backup, Evan Sharpley, plus redshirt freshmen Demetrius Jones and Zach Frazer in this post-Brady Quinn era.
“Clausen has the tools to start right away if he can beat out Jones, who also looks good,” Lemming says. “Clausen is a guy who could eventually be better than Brady Quinn. He’s not as physically gifted as Quinn, but he’s a better quarterback. He has a knack of finding open receivers.”
Recruits such as Kamara and Greg Little, plus Ragone, have a knack for getting open.
“Those receivers are good,” Lemming says, “and Ragone is the best (high school) tight end in the country when he’s healthy.”
Don’t fret over running back Darius Walker’s decision to skip his senior season for the NFL. Recruits Allen and Hughes will do just fine.
“I think Walker leaving has more of a benefit than a detriment,” Lemming says. “Because he left, they were able to get Hughes, and he has more potential than Walker. Walker was a good back who didn’t have the speed or strength to break a long run. Allen has that. Hughes has good hands and is more of a straight-ahead runner.”
Add it all up, and even with the loss of Quinn, Walker and receivers Jeff Samardzija and Rhema McKnight, the offense shouldn’t miss a beat.
“Combine the new guys with the guys coming back,” Lemming says, “and the offense should be better.”
The reason, he adds, comes up front.
“The offensive line wasn’t very good this year. They were a veteran group that didn’t play to what they should have. The new guys coming in are potentially better.”
How’s that for hope?
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