Will the Offseason be enough time to fix these problems?

[jdfromde]

Regardless of your opinion of the head coach, do you think the offseason will be enough time for this team to get turned around? Are they close enough to where they need to be to have the break out year we're all waiting for, or will next year just end up being more of the same?

I know things are down now, but next year we can all agree will be the bell weather year that tells us which direction the program is going to go. What specific elements of this team's game need to be addressed? Is 9 months between a bowl game (hopefully) and next year's opener enough time to fix them? and how do you think the problem should be corrected?

*********
My take:

My big 3 are blocking, route running, and play calling.
I think someone needs to go in and whip the lines into shape. Teach them technique and have them start playing angry. They need to learn how to own a line of scrimmage for 60 minutes.
As far as route running goes, I think this is a huge problem for us. Our WRs aren't running crisp, clean routes in order to get us open. I think part of the reason you don't see more slants, hooks, or crossing patterns called is because the receivers aren't effectively running those routes. Jimmy does lock onto WRs too long, yes. But I get the impression that he's consistently looking for the guy that he trusts will run the route right.

With play calling, the other two previously mentioned components need to be in place. We need to have enough versatility to run and pass at any time. This BS where opponents rush 3, drop 8 and have a field day needs to be counteracted by some well designed draws, and play action passes to overcome 8 in the box. On the defensive side of the ball, our blitzes need to be better disguised and less predictable.

All in all I think those three things can be taken care of. If the line learns some technique and the receivers can start running some real routes, the available plays that can be called will open right on up in the first few weeks of the season and I think the offseason provides a real shot to turn this sucker around.

[NDizNumba1]

Simple remedy: Go to Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, and Bob Stoops and tell them all that ND is prepared to offer them 5 year contracts at 10 million dollars a season, plus incentives, and whoever accepts first gets the deal

[IrishR#1]

No. We will go 5-7 next year.

[Flyin_Irish]

Will the Offseason be enough time to fix these problems?
Yes, but it will take the right person to make it happen. If the talent weren't there, it would take more than 1 year. But the talent is not the question. Charlie's first full recruiting class will be seniors next year.

[BigIrish]

Sadly, this Irish team has done nothing in the second half of the season to suggest that their problems can be fixed in the off season. take away the losses in which ND had a two score lead and you're looking at an 8-2 team right now.

This team is a talented, bad team. The only thing that fixes that is a change among the people that develop the players. You can write off 2009 if Weis fails to make changes to his staff.

At a minimum, Haywood and Latina must go. I know there are Latina apologists on this site, but this was his second chance year. Four years coaching Oline and this is the production we get. The recruited talent on this year's line should be able to compete with anyone. Yet we make DTs from teams like BC and SU look like Sunday players. Is it Weis' schemes? Is it Latina's coaching? Who knows? But either way, we need an Oline coach that is strong enough to stand up to Weis (if need be), coach sound fundamentals, and dramatically simplify what's expected from this line.

Haywood is simply obsolete. He's not the team's best recruiter. He's not capable of play calling. He's shown no signs of being able to motivate the offense. I'm not even convinced that he is a quality RB coach.

Outside of those two, Oliver should be out as well. Again, he's not the team's best recruiter, and even though he was dealt a bad hand in the Dline personnel he inherited, he is another coach that cannot inspire his players. Perhaps we could seal the deal on more Dline prospects if we had a better recruiter at that position.

Mendoza? See Olsen's 7 yard tackle for a loss on J. Aldridge against BC. Enough said.

Lastly, it's probably not going to be a popular opinion, but either Corwin Brown or Tenuta must move on. Brown is a fantastic recruiter, and would be a loss on that front. Tenuta has demonstrated he can put together tremendous defenses wherever he goes. But the two together seem to have created a split personality on defense. 3-4? 4-3? who knows? It would be a shame to see either go, but for the sake of creating a defensive identity, one needs to leave. I suspect it would be Brown if it happened.

[Irish Legend]

Sadly, this Irish team has done nothing in the second half of the season to suggest that their problems can be fixed in the off season. take away the losses in which ND had a two score lead and you're looking at an 8-2 team right now.

This team is a talented, bad team. The only thing that fixes that is a change among the people that develop the players. You can write off 2009 if Weis fails to make changes to his staff.

At a minimum, Haywood and Latina must go. I know there are Latina apologists on this site, but this was his second chance year. Four years coaching Oline and this is the production we get. The recruited talent on this year's line should be able to compete with anyone. Yet we make DTs from teams like BC and SU look like Sunday players. Is it Weis' schemes? Is it Latina's coaching? Who knows? But either way, we need an Oline coach that is strong enough to stand up to Weis (if need be), coach sound fundamentals, and dramatically simplify what's expected from this line.

Haywood is simply obsolete. He's not the team's best recruiter. He's not capable of play calling. He's shown no signs of being able to motivate the offense. I'm not even convinced that he is a quality RB coach.

Outside of those two, Oliver should be out as well. Again, he's not the team's best recruiter, and even though he was dealt a bad hand in the Dline personnel he inherited, he is another coach that cannot inspire his players. Perhaps we could seal the deal on more Dline prospects if we had a better recruiter at that position.

Mendoza? See Olsen's 7 yard tackle for a loss on J. Aldridge against BC. Enough said.

Lastly, it's probably not going to be a popular opinion, but either Corwin Brown or Tenuta must move on. Brown is a fantastic recruiter, and would be a loss on that front. Tenuta has demonstrated he can put together tremendous defenses wherever he goes. But the two together seem to have created a split personality on defense. 3-4? 4-3? who knows? It would be a shame to see either go, but for the sake of creating a defensive identity, one needs to leave. I suspect it would be Brown if it happened.

I agree. If Charlie stays he should keep Tenuta and everyone else must go.

[rontdtarchala]

agree with your analysis... there has to be a major cleaning of the staff... if not we can all look forward to more of the same next year... and I can't handle any more of this....

[ND_Ownz!]

With CW: NO

Without CW: Maybe

[Sureal]

I think what I can't get over is the fact that this team has not gotten better over the season. That's whats most disheartening... Can't post too much. I'm so done right now... Don't know what to think with this staff...

[Flyin_Irish]

Actually this was more like Latina's 3rd chance because a lot of folks wanted him out after the O line sucked in '06. I'd agree that Charlie, assuming he will keep his job, needs to get rid of some people. Obviously Tenuta stays. Ianello stays. Pollian is a good recruiter but special teams has sucked for a while now. I really do like Haywood but he's not good enough to be our OC. Promoting Powlus to QB coach was probably the wrong move because Jimmy has looked a lot like vintage Ron Powlus lately. Corwin Brown is a great recruiter but I don't know exactly what his role is on game day. Or in practice for that matter. A lot of people want Jappy gone, but considering what he's had to work with I don't think the D line is horrible. Obviously players like Landri, Laws and Kuntz have all panned out and certainly none of them were 5* recruits.

[IMIRISH]

If ND has decided that just having the women's soccer team is enough to be the only successful team on campus I wish they would have let the rest of us know. How about they just have the Hockey Coaching staff coach the football team? I see a H@#$ of a lot more emotion on the ice with these coaches than I see on Saturdays with the football staff.