We’re all defined by something. It changes throughout our lives, but it’s there. In high school, I was a soccer player. I played year-round, for 4-5 teams. It’s what I did. In college, I was a terrible-cover-band-lead-singer. That ruled. At times I’ve been defined by women (ugh), jobs (double ugh), and friends (most often, awesome).
Notre Dame football had no identity last year. This was a problem.
How can a team know what they’re about without an identity? Without that ‘thing’ that defines them? Something to hang their hat on and say ‘this is what we’re going to do’? When you’re sitting around wondering ‘who the hell am i/are we???’, you’re not taking someone’s head off.
The Irish offense had zero identity last year. Nil. None. Zilch. Nada. First, it was a spread team with The Bus Misser under center. Then, we were a high-flying-pigskin-zinging-down-field-throwing team under Evan Sharpley. Then a pro style attack with Jimmy. Then Sharpley. Then Jimmy.
By week 6, the offensive squad didn’t know which way was up, let alone who they were as a squad.
The Irish defense was slightly better, but not great. It was a young squad, but with some senior leaders in Laws and Zibby. The pass D was tight, but more than anything they were defined by being tired. With so many struggles on offense, they were on the field way too much. And there wasn’t much depth. Which meant a bit more sitting back, trying to just stick in there. “Hang in there and try to keep it close” could’ve been their mantra. This wasn’t a team that was taking it TO the opponents’ offenses.
Things are changing.
Offensively, the Irish are much more settled. More experience, Jimmy is the #1 guy barring injury, and the coaches are talking about an identity:
Charlie:
“Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve wanted to be able to pound the football,” Weis revealed. “And we haven’t yet. So we’re going to find out because we’re going to pound it.”
Haywood:
“I think what Coach (Weis) is really saying is that we have an offensive line who is a lot bigger and stronger,” he said. “We have multiple backs that are running a lot better than they’ve run in the past years. So, it creates an opportunity now for us to run the ball a little bit more effective in which we’ve run over the past several years.”
“We’re creating an identity by being able to run the football, play-action pass, dropback pass. But the most important thing in which we’re doing is that we’re teaching guys football, we’re teaching guys situational football,” Haywood said. “We’re teaching them to stay on schedule, the importance of down and distance, red zone football, coming out football, taking shots. We’re basically doing a lot more because we’ve had a lot more time, also, in which we’re spending on teaching football.
“These guys have really got significantly better in the offseason. The spring was really important for some of the new things that we added offensively and some of the things in which we simplified. It gave each individual an opportunity to consistently run the plays over and over again against various defensive fronts, various blitzes, various coverages so they understand where the reads are and understanding where the free defenders are. I think each one of them has improved significantly since last fall.”
And this is how they’ve been talking since January. Which I think will pay huge dividends this fall, in helping this team grow and progress. When you know what’s coming, what the plan is, and that the other 10 guys around you are working toward the same goal, things get a LOT easier out there.
On defense, no one can question that there is an identity emerging. Both Brown and Tenuta have talked about it non-stop: attack.
Tenuta:
“It’s our job defensively to stop the run first and then attack their protection,” Tenuta said. “You try to get your best athletes on the field and you try to get as much speed as you can on the field, obviously. You’ve got to contain that offense and you’ve also got to be able to attack that offense.”
and…
“You don’t want offensive dictating to you, you want to dictate to offenses,” Tenuta told the media before later stating, “We’re going to be an aggressive, ball hawking defense. I’m always going to aggressive.”
And there are countless other quotes from both coaches on bringing together their plan of attack. So despite the loss of Laws and Zibby to the NFL, this group’s identity is coming together as well. Last year was the start, with Corwin coming on board. But this D has now been handed off to the new generation of players, and Corwin 2.0 is taking effect, with Tenuta’s input. This squad knows its job: get to the QB, don’t let him set his feet. Attack.
I don’t know how much an identity translates into increases in the W column, but my guess is that it’s significant. And this team’s identity is emerging.
Now it’s time to take someone’s head off.
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