Taylor's Tidbits

Keys to Respectability

Fri, 9/21/07

Those of you who’ve been reading this blog will notice the subtle name change to this weekly feature, (usually Keys to Victory). The reason I changed the name was simple … I like to keep it real. And unlike fellow Legends of South Bend blogger Johnny Irish, who predicted a Notre Dame win over the 3-0 Spartans in today’s column, “Inch By Inch”, I’m a bit more of a realist. Keep in mind, this is the same Johnny Irish who also thinks exotic dancers find him genuinely attractive.

While I applaud the optimism of many of the Notre Dame faithful, I’m simply unable to rationally justify that our beloved boys in blue and gold can pull off a win quite yet based off what I saw last week. Facts are facts, and NEGATIVE 14 rushing yards, 23 sacks allowed and a defense that allows nearly 250 rushing yards a game (237.5 to be exact) is not the sign of a team that is capable of anyone, let alone a team whose defense is tied for first in the country in sacks thanks to sack happy DL Jonal Saint-Dic (hee hee). And while I also applaud Coach Weis’ decision to take his team out for some good, ol’ fashioned “batting practice,” I’m afraid it’s going to take more than just a week’s worth of physical practices to get this team back into the win column. It is a step in the right direction, though. Again, I’m not saying that they can’t win, I’m just saying that it’s not likely.

Yes, I admit it. Realist that I am, I’ve lowered my expectations for this very young, and undisciplined team. But to be clear, though, I’m not lowering the bar to the standard of excellence that I believe Notre Dame voluntarily holds itself. I’ve merely lowered my expectations about the current team’s ability to be able to meet that bar until they prove differently. There’s a HUGE difference between the two. I just want to see this Irish team put forth a hard, honest effort, so that regardless of the final score, these kids can rest their heads on their pillows tomorrow night and feel good about what they did… and maybe we can too.

So, I won’t be looking for the defense to finally stop someone on the ground, and I won’t be looking for100+ rushing yards out of James Aldridge. Heck, I won’t even be looking for a sack free Saturday from the OL and young QB, or for the offense to even make it into that little box at the end of the field that has those tall metal posts in it. Not yet, anyway. Instead, I’ll be looking for something even more encouraging. Pride.

PRIDE:

So what does pride look like and what should we be looking for? It’ll look very similar to a team of football players that realizes they are capable of achieving tremendous things if they play together. Instead of T. Laws and Zibby making all the tackles, I’ll be looking for them to be holding up massive Spartan RB Jehuu Caulcrick, so a swarm of gold helmets can come over and get some licks in, too. I’ll be looking for offensive linemen who sustain their blocks instead of just firing off of the ball and stopping their feet as they watch Jimmy Clausen get turned into a California Burrito. Once, just once, I’d like to see an O-lineman stay on feet and drive his guy p[st the pile…whether he’s near the play or not. Or how about LT Sam Young showing the others how to have fun by running downfield and “snot bubbling” some fool that tries to take a late shot at TE John Carlson who’s hopefully just caught another of his may play action pop passes.

Word on the street is that sophomore RB James Aldridge will be
getting an increased workload this weekend versus the Spartans, yet another sign that the Irish may be committing to moving the pigskin on the ground. Are we finally going to see an Irish back hit the line of scrimmage and drag the pile a yard or two, setting the tone for what’s to come later on in the fourth quarter? Will we finally see a return to smash mouth Irish football, conjuring up the faintest whiff of Bettis, Brooks, Watters and Edwards?

If we do, then maybe, just maybe, we’ll be watching the nascent stages of a football team that is starting to form an identity. If not….well…let’s just hope we see it.