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For Notre Dame and college football fans- a preview


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Football.com is kicking off their 2005 college football preview. Check back everyday for another team in the top 40 rankings. All 119 teams will be previewed by the football.com college football staff writers. The countdown to number one begins with #40 Notre Dame.

#40 Notre Dame

Head Coach--Charlie Weis

2003 Record--6-6

2005 Schedule

1. @ Pittsburgh

2. @ Michigan

3. Michigan State

4. Washington

5. @ Purdue

6. USC

7. BYU

8. Tennessee

9. Navy

10.Syracuse

11.@ Stanford

2004 Review

The Fighting Irish entered the 2004 campaign looking to rebound from a disappointing 5-7 season the previous year. While they stumbled against teams like BYU and Boston College, the Irish still managed to beat such notables as Michigan and Tennessee. They had positioned themselves for what they hoped would be a solid finish with a 6-3 record late in the season, and then the bottom fell out. They fell to Pitt at home, and then were waxed by USC on the road. The inconsistency and blowout losses sealed the fate of coach Ty Willingham, who was dismissed before their appearance in the Insight Bowl. The one-sided loss to Oregon State in the bowl game showed that the woes in South Bend can be attributed to more than just who is coaching the team. Only one team in Division 1 football ranked lower than Notre Dame in pass defense, and the running game, once a strong point for the Irish, ranked in the bottom third nationally. The offense struggled to score as many points as the defense surrendered and Charlie Weis was hired to turn around the fortunes of the team for the upcoming season.

Team MVP

Junior quarterback Brady Quinn is the biggest playmaker on the offense entering the season. How he performs will have a direct effect on the success of the Irish in 2005. If he has more support from the supporting cast, the Maxwell Award candidate will be all the more potent. But if the entire burden of the offense falls on his shoulders, it may be a long season.

Quarterback

Brady Quinn has started enough games for Notre Dame to get to the point to where he has the confidence to play the position at a high level. While he is mobile and tough, his main asset is in his arm and accuracy. Quinn threw for over 2,500 yards with 17 touchdowns in 2004, and hopes are high with Weis and the new system. Quinn should benefit from having Weis, who is one of the better minds for running an offense. What Quinn will need most is for his experienced receivers to step up and live up to expectations. What the Irish lack at the position is depth. Should Quinn go down, the options are extremely limited with sophomores Dave Wolke and Darrin Bragg.

Running Back

Sophomore Darius Walker will lead the Notre Dame rushing attack in 2005 after rolling up over 780 yards with seven touchdowns a year ago. Senior Rashon Powers-Neal will be the fullback leading the way for Walker. Behind Walker will be junior Travis Thomas, who brings a more physical presence to the ground game. Sophomore Justin Hoskins is also in the mix, but he needs to redeem himself after being suspended for spring drills. Senior Nate Schiccatono will back up Powers-Neal at fullback.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Three seniors give the Irish more than enough experience for Brady Quinn to throw to. Both Maurice Stovall and Rhema McKnight have the size every coach wants in their receivers, but haven't quite lived up to expectations. McKnight led the team with 42 receptions for 610 yards with three scores a year ago. They have both shown the abitlity to shine, but also have been inconsistent. For the Irish to be more potent on offense, these two need to step up every play in 2005. Senior Matt Shelton made more than a few big plays a year ago for Notre Dame, and will be major factor in the passing game again. In 2004, he hauled in 20 passes for 515 yards and six touchdowns. Juniors Jeff Samardzija and Chase Anastasio fill out the receiving corps. Both have experience from a year ago. Samardzija has some solid efforts at receiver whereas Anastasio made more contributions on special teams. Senior Anthony Fasano, who finished second on the club in receptions in 2004, will return at tight end. His backup will be senior Marcus Freeman.

Offensive Line

The offensive line has three seniors returning in tackle, Mark LeVoir and guards Dan Stevenson and Bob Morton. LeVoir is the best player on the line, but Stevenson and Morton bring a great deal to the table as well. Junior Ryan Harris was a standout lineman his freshman season, and is looking to return to that form. Junior John Sullivan is solid at center. Senior guard Dan Santucci is the top backup on the offensive line and can play both guards. Senior Scott Raridon also figures into the mix at tackle.

Defensive Line

The line will be without the likes of Justin Tuck, who will be playing on Sundays come fall. The only returning starter will be senior nose guard Derek Landri. Fellow senior Brian Beidatsch will hold down the tackle spot. He has seen action in 30 games during his career at Notre Dame. Senior Chris Frome and junior Victor Abiamiri. Frome can play both tackle and end and earned a starting role after an impressive spring. Abiamiri has seen action in every game since coming to Notre Dame with five starts. Senior Travis Leitko, who has appeared in 22 games for the Irish, will also be in the rotation at end.

Linebackers

The Fighting Irish lost Mike Goolsby and Derek Curry in the offseason. Senior Brandon Hoyte will lead the linebacking corps in 2005. Hoyte was second on the team in tackles in 2004 from his strongside position. Senior Corey Mays will try to fill the void left by the departure of Goolsby. Mays, who had a solid spring, has the experience after appearing in 36 games over the last three seasons. Sophomore Joe Brockington looks like he will step in to start on the weakside. Junior Mitchell Thomas will vie for playing time in the rotation. Brockington, a standout on special teams, had a good spring and may have the edge on the starting job for now. Thomas is the top reserve at linebacker and another member of the special teams who will push for playing time.

Secondary

Not the most impressive unit to begin with judging from some of the numbers of a year ago, the secondary loses cornerbacks Preston Jackson and Dwight Ellick, along with free safety Quentin Burrell. Strong safety Tom Zbikowski is the big hitter who have to assume a leadership role in the secondary. Senior Mike Richardson is the only cornerback on the roster with any measurable experience after starting five games a year ago. Junior Ambrose Wooden, a special teams performer who saw action in nine games a year ago, will hold down the other corner. Junior Fred Parrish, who looks to start at free safety, can play corner or safety has seen playing time in 22 games while at Notre Dame. Sophomores Terrail Lambert and Junior Jabbie bring no experience to the table as reserves.

Special Teams

Senior D J Fitzpatrick should make the kicking game solid for Notre Dame. He will handle both punting and placekicking duties. Anastasio is the only player returning who saw action on returns a year ago, but improvement is badly needed.

2005 Outlook

Former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is now in charge at Notre Dame so changes will be many. The offense will probably be more potent once everyone gets on the same page. The defense is another story altogether. With only three starters returning, there may be room for concern after how the Irish were toasted through the air at times a year ago. Then there is the schedule, which is anything but friendly. Notre Dame begins with two road games against tough opponents (Pitt, Michigan). After a home tilt with Michigan State, they go back on the road to visit Washington and Purdue before coming home to face defending national champion USC. Then after a visit from BYU, they host Tennessee. Needless to say, it will be no easy task trying to improve on the 6-6 mark of a year ago. But the Irish have faced adversity before, so don't count them out. The new Weis offense has some weapons to score with, and if the defense can improve, the Irish could suprise a few people in 2005.

Notre Dame is one of the teams I like in college football- no matter whether you like them or not you have to give them credit for playing ridiculously tough schedules every year. Interesting to see how Weis does with them this year

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1. @ Pittsburgh

2. @ Michigan

3. Michigan State

4. Washington

5. @ Purdue

6. USC

Who makes their schedule, Satan? That is 0-6 right there, no doubt. Brutal. Brady Quinn is a nice player though. He'll be a better pro than college player.

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Who makes their schedule, Satan? That is 0-6 right there, no doubt. Brutal. Brady Quinn is a nice player though. He'll be a better pro than college player.

That's a friggn' brutal schedule.

Be very interesting to see what CW can accomplish.

And BTW, Paul Hornung was absolutely correct:

ND needs to either ease up on admissions standards for football players or not play that type of schedule year in and year out.

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Keith Olberman, ESPN, said something like this around 1997: "ND won't win again, until they start recruiting players who's names are hard to pronounce--like they had in the 1970's and prior".

Strong safety Tom Zbikowski

Wide receiver Jeff Samardzija

Tommy Z. is a college superstar in the making--althouh not sure about NFL potential due to size....He was recruited heavily by Sly Stallone to be his 'star" in the TV reality series "The Contender"...He's a Gold Gloves boxer and super fast.

Samardzija was a walk on/baseball star....He totally dismantled Oregon State's way-over-hyped CB Brandon B. in the teams Bowl game--watch out for him.

ND's offense should be potent--the talent level there is very high...I like Brady Quinn alot...Like TS, I see him as a definite NFL prospect.

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