It doesn't matter who Notre Dame starts at quarterback this season. It can be Jimmy Clausen, Demetrius Jones or Evan Sharpley, in the end it won't matter.The Irish could bring back Joe Montana, Jerome Bettis, and Tim Brown, and they still won't win many games this season.
Why?
Because their offensive line sucks. Bad. Trust me, I played on a bad offensive line in high school, so I know what they look like, and Notre Dame's line is bad. They were killed by Georgia Tech in the home opener, and they got mauled by the Nittany Lions this last Saturday.
Penn State sacked Jimmy Clausen six times on Saturday, and the Irish didn't gain a single yard on 26 carries. This coming off a performance against Georgia Tech in which the Irish managed -8 yards on 41 carries. That's 65 carries for -8 yards. Or if you prefer averages, that's -.12 yards a carry.
Did I mention the numerous false starts and holding penalties? How about the fact the Irish are yet to score an offensive touchdown this season?
I knew that going into the season Notre Dame's offense would struggle. Anytime you have three new starters on an offensive line, they'll need time to adjust, but I don't think anybody expected it to be this bad.
If the Irish can take away anything positive from their first two games, it's that despite the fact he has no protection or ground game, Jimmy Clausen really hasn't looked that bad. He's 21/38 so far on the season for 178 yards. Not exactly retina burning numbers, but when you consider the Irish only have 266 yards of total offense, it's amazing. That means that Clausen is responsible for 67% of Notre Dame's offensive output this season.
If the Irish could manage to protect Clausen at all, the Irish offense might start resembling a functioning unit. They'll get their next shot on Saturday as they prepare to take on an equally vulnerable team, Michigan. Somebody has to win!
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. It doesn't seem that surprising to me. You have no rushing yardage and he has been the quarterback for at least 60% of the snaps. If he was below that, then he would not be the right answer at QB.
Now, when we take away all his negative rushing yardages he goes down to accounting for 52% of the total offensive output.
Oh, and by the way, the Army quarterback has performed better than Clausen so far this season. Good thing they're not on the schedule this year! :)
Posted at 10:43PM on Sep 9th 2007 by jallotta
2. Yeah, Notre Dame sucks pretty darned bad.
Posted at 12:08AM on Sep 10th 2007 by Bobby Dodd
3. Notre Dame isn't playing Army this year? What did they do, schedule the Coast Guard Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy. It's about time they stopped scheduling any of the "Services" and get a REAL schedule. I mean, those boys are REAL students and can't just play ball instead of learning something.
Posted at 2:12AM on Sep 10th 2007 by westmark
4. I hope they do not win a game this year.
Posted at 11:20AM on Sep 10th 2007 by bill
5. Westmark,
I know it's one of the old standbys for ND haters to throw the schedule out there, but it doesn't work when you use it the same year the Irish have one of the toughest schedules in the country.
Posted at 12:31PM on Sep 10th 2007 by Fornelli
6. I hate ND but i like the tradition of playing the service academes every year. It's decade's old and what makes college football great. ND plays a tough schedule every year,you can't accuse them of not playing top programs... I mean every top program schedule "sure" wins...Just ask Michigan....lol...
Posted at 7:14PM on Sep 10th 2007 by The U is dead
7. ND doesn't play a tough schedule. They lose to anyone that is ranked, and beat up on the academies, then back into an undeserved bowl game....until this year.
Posted at 9:39PM on Sep 10th 2007 by Bobby Dodd
8. #26 on Notre Dame's so-called football team should have had his ass run out on a rail for the mugging he gave a helmetless PSU #5 Jerome Hayes. Look at the video. If this was one of JoePa's guys he'd have been tossed before the ref had the chance to throw the yellow flag. Weis didn't do dick, probably because he can't see his own...
Posted at 10:16PM on Sep 10th 2007 by BIG TEN FAN!
9. Good news for Notre Dame fans....if you don't win enough games this year to be Bowl eligible then no need to worry about another Bowl loss
Posted at 11:00PM on Sep 10th 2007 by Steve
10. offensive Genius? Way to go Charlie, if he doesn't put up big numbers on Michigan I dont know who he will score on?
Posted at 10:39PM on Sep 13th 2007 by fansspreadshirt