So what? ND Fans & the Running Game 9.25.2008

Movies are a good subject for the off-season. With the criticism that has come from the inept running performance of Charlie Weis’ “pound it” offense, two scenes from two great movies came to mind. But first, lets start with a bit of background.

We love blaming B&G Illustrated over here. Now is as good a time as any. An article was written about how Weis mentioned needing to prepare for the opponent you face. The critique by the writer and supporting Rockne Roundtable collection of pollsters band wagoned this week with a great plot in support. Stick with what you do best; do one thing well; use the pass to set up the run; look at Navy! Do they change their game plan based on opponent?

So what’s the sense in watching game film? So what’s the sense in trying to build anything of a team? Clausen drops back, throws to Tate or Floyd.

It makes no sense, to me anyway, in the game of football to disregard aspects of the run game, whether you are good or bad at it, and expect to be a top performing team. Notre Dame’s opponent this week is a team that does just that. No national championships, one Big Tem championship in 2000 (shared with Michigan and Northwestern), a 50% winning record in six lower tier bowl appearances (2002 Sun Bowl the last), no BCS appearances.

ND fans want this?

Navy as we know has had tremendous success running the ball, winning games (one too many last year), and getting to bowl games. Even though Navy runs the ball well, the triple option is not the old Tom Pagna loving two back set, pound it up the middle. What is forgotten in the critique is Navy builds their program on what they can get for their program. ND does the same. ND can get balanced talent. They should have balance.

Now to the movie: this Clausen drop back and pass identity reminds me of Hoosiers. In paraphrasing Coach Dale’s (Gene Hackman) anger at his players for listening to the crowd telling his player to shoot the ball. Dale says, “each one of you will need to make up your mind whether you want to play the game you’ve been taught… three passes before you shoot!”

Here is another criticism I don’t understand. “Weis needs to stop this on the job training!”

Huh? On the job training? Who here has walked out of training class and performed at the top of their game? Isn’t this the same team that is young and inexperienced? I guess they should stay that way. Let them get older and inexperienced.

How the frick else do you learn the game better than playing the game?! “Well, sure, the play worked in practice, but we don’t want to use it in the game. That would be on the job training”. This the attitude of some ND fans?

This attitude makes me think of one of Woody Allen’s bests: Take the Money and Run. Paraphrasing again the job interview scene that Virgil (Allen) was on.

Boss “Are you familiar with the XPC 5000 mainframe computer?”
Virgil “Yes, I have had a lot of experience with that, yes”.
Boss “And where did you get that experience?”
Virgil “My aunt had one.”

How do you get experience? You practice it. You play it. On the job. End of story.

ND is putting very large bodies on an offensive line. ND is putting the ball in the gut of very talented and diverse group of running backs. ND can pass very well. But the passing game has been dependent upon less than we realize. Golden Tate is known now. He will receive double coverage. Floyd is beyond his years, but he is getting dare I say “on the job training”. Ruldolf is as well. David Grimes is hurt. ND needs to run. The passing back-bone is strong, but not as strong as it can be. Weis needs to pull a Dale and decline the Virgil’s when it comes to the running game.

Weis needs to look at his coaches and players, and yes, risk banging their heads against the wall until it hurts, and challenge them to be successful in this aspect of the game! It can work, he has the personnel: It needs to work. Sacrificing attempts to better the team is settling for mediocrity and playing not to lose. Remember I believe it was Bill Dietrich who said that once the season starts it is difficult to get better? Yes, we need more of that.

If this doesn’t work, then you hold the people involved responsible. When the defense stunk, the defense changed. But if it does happen it won’t before year-end.

I sincerely hope ND beats Purdue this weekend. There’s no reason they shouldn’t. There’s no reason they shouldn’t be able to run the ball either. We saw in the Michigan game that if the offense puts up the points, the defense plays better. The defense got tired against MSU. You could see it on the 60 yrd run. ND fans need to get over it. Myself included. If they lose, there is still plenty of football to play. But ND must take the football and run!