Fundamental Football: Still Seeking Progress

Still finding our way.

“Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” - Lou Holtz

Last week, we covered 16 items that, if performed well at a rate of just 75% in the Penn State game, would show, to us, anyway, that the 2007 Notre Dame Football team had made some real "progress." And then we discussed whether or not the squad had passed that litmus test, if you will. And, unfortunately, while we're more than willing to say that the team got "better," they did not meet our standards of "progress."

This week, we'll take the 12 items from last week that got a failing grade, and add 4 more items. Again, if the team manages to accomplish 75% of these goals, we'll consider it real progress, win or lose. Of course, should the 4 items that were passed last week suddenly fall under the category of "regression," we'll be sure to bring those up in our game review with the wrath of a starving fat-camp kid stuck in a long line at Wendy's.

So, to review, the 4 items that Notre Dame did manage to do pretty well last week were:

• When the opposing defense blitzes, the ND QB will have enough presence to at least find the open man and attempt a throw.
• The ND defense records 2+ turnovers.
• The opposing QB connects on fewer than 60% of his pass attempts.
• Charlie puts the damn ball in Armando’s hands!

Which leaves us with 12 items that Notre Dame really didn't manage to do...

1. In over 90% of offensive snaps, the Irish offensive line maintains their blocks until the the whistle is blown.
2. The Irish offensive line allows fewer than 3 QB sacks.
3. The Irish QB connects on 60+% of his passes.
4. ND running backs break at least 4 runs for more than 15 yards apiece.
5. No stupid “anger” penalties.
6. ND Fullbacks find their blocking target and whiff no more than 2 times.
7. No PSU defenders will be able to blitz the QB while a ND “blocker,” be it OL, TE, or RB is “blocking air.”
8. The ND OLB/DEs “set the edge” against outside run bouncing by PSU.
9. The ND defense allows fewer than 125 yards rushing.
10. The ND kickoff return men make the correct read at the point of attack and break on the correct window each and every opportunity.
11. Charlie Weis identifies and exploits a weakness in the PSU defense until PSU shows they can stop it (meaning exploitations occur at least 5+ times).
12. Schwapp finally destroys someone with a block.

And here are 4 more items...

1. ND completes 5+ passes for 20+ yards.
2. ND limits the opponent to fewer than 4.5 yards per rush.
3. ND averages 25+ yards on kickoff returns.
4. ND records 4+ sacks.

So, keep an eye out for these 16 things this weekend, and we'll get together over beers on Sunday and decide if, indeed, this team is making progress.