Brian Smith grabs an interception late in the fourth quarter against Boston College at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday, October 24, 2009. Notre Dame defeated Boston College 20-16.
Tribune Photo/MARCUS MARTER
Story Created:
Oct 26, 2009 at 12:36 AM EST
Story Updated:
Oct 26, 2009 at 7:00 AM EST
SOUTH BEND — We interrupt Notre Dame’s latest defensive crisis to deliver the news that the Irish are back in the college football Top 25 — both of them, in fact (coaches and AP).
Despite the defense (which incidentally did ascend from the 104th-best unit in the country last week to No. 97 this week).
It’s the third time the now 25th-ranked Irish (5-2) have jumped into the rankings this season, but the first time a victory coaxed them there. Their first appearance, in the preseason poll, was courtesy of positive offseason speculation. They dropped out after a game 2 loss to Michigan.
Notre Dame re-entered two weeks ago following an open date, but slipped out after a close 34-27 loss to heavily favored USC on Oct. 17. ND defeated Boston College, 20-16, Saturday, breaking a six-game losing streak to the Eagles (5-3).
How do the Irish stay there, or better yet, move into BCS contention?
Defense.
For the Irish to automatically earn a BCS invite, they need to finish in the top eight in the final BCS standings. To merely qualify for a possible invite, ND needs to finish in the top 14 in the BCS and have at least nine wins.
Here’s a breakdown of what the curves and potholes look like in the road ahead.
Personnel
Weis admitted Sunday that his team’s dramatically improved run defense has come with a heavy price tag - dramatically unimproved pass defense.
“You have to find a happy medium,” Weis said, “because as much as our run defense has improved for the last four and a half games, we have to get some things fixed in (pass) coverage. (Opposing teams) are not just getting yards - they're getting too many easy yards.”
Some of the fixes are schematic. Some, Weis says, can be handled by settling on a primary group of secondary front-liners instead of a constant parade of new people auditioning for a spot at the top of the depth chart.
Conversely, the Irish will stay with an expanded cast on the defensive line to try to keep fresh bodies coming after opposing quarterbacks.
”I really believe our best play on defense is yet to come,” Weis reiterated Sunday. “I think at the beginning of the year we had a whole bunch of problems. I think that we had problems stopping the run. We had problems giving up chunks. We were giving up a lot of points. Slowly but surely, we're starting to solve some of these problems.”
Injured wide receiver Michael Floyd’s eventual return will add octane to the Irish offense, and not just as an obvious deep threat. Two hidden stats that will likely be boosted by Floyd in the lineup - third-down conversions and opportunities for tight end Kyle Rudolph to put up big numbers again by pulling defenses away from him.
“We're waiting for that CAT scan a week from Monday or Tuesday,” Weis said when asked for an updated timetable on Floyd’s return. “My guess is that the CAT scan is going to come back and say he's healthy enough to go.
“Now, every week longer, after you've been cleared to go, is better. But then I think it'll come a point where the doctors say to Michael and myself, ‘It's your decision.’ Knowing me, I'll leave it on Michael. And knowing Michael, he'll want to get out there as quick as he possibly can.”
That would be Nov. 7 against Navy.
Some loose ends: Freshman wide receiver Shaquelle Evans has not been benched for disciplinary reasons, Weis said. He said Evans had the flu USC week until late in the week, and that a slot receiver (Roby Toma, John Goodman) was needed this week, not an outside receiver (Evans, Deion Walker). ... Senior punter Eric Maust will have a chance to win his old job back this week over struggling freshman Ben Turk. ... The reason running back Robert Hughes didn’t show his typical second effort on his failed fourth-and-goal rush from the 1 Saturday against Boston College was that he was knocked woozy on the initial hit.
Remaining Schedule
Washington State
Meeting: Saturday at San Antonio, Texas
Sagarin rating: 119
Identity: As bad as advertised.
What the Cougars do well: When you’re 111th in total offense and 119th in total defense, the hope is you’re at least good at punting. But Washington State is average there (50th net punting) for as much as they do it (49 this season). One ray of sunshine: The Cougars are tied for six nationally in fumbles recovered (11).
Where the Cougars are vulnerable: Where aren’t they?
Signature win: WSU’s only win is a 30-27 outlasting of SMU in overtime.
“Oh the humanity” moment: In a 52-6 spanking from Oregon, WSU gained four first downs to Oregon’s 31.
Navy
Meeting: Nov. 7 at South Bend
Sagarin rating: 45
Identity: Way more dangerous than usual.
What the Mids do well: Run the option - duh. But what has this Navy team on a 10-win trajectory is its defense. The Mids are 30th in total defense, which not only bodes well for Navy’s bowl prospects but for our country as well. Also, the Mids are the least-penalized team in the nation.
Where the Mids are vulnerable: They’re 117th both in tackles for loss and kickoff returns.
Signature win: This past weekend, 13-10, over Wake Forest with a backup quarterback and without attempting a pass.
“Oh the humanity” moment: In its season opener at Ohio State, Navy closed a 29-14 deficit to 29-27 with 2:23 left in the game. On Navy’s two-point conversion attempt, OSU’s Brian Rolle stepped in front of Ricky Dobbs’ pass and returned it for a defensive two-pointer and a 31-27 Buckeye win.
Pittsburgh
Meeting: Nov. 14 at Pittsburgh
Sagarin rating: 18
Identity: A mystery team that appears to be hitting its stride.
What the Panthers do well: Almost everything. They have a premier running back in freshman Dion Lewis and the No. 3 passer in the nation (Bill Stull). They sack the quarterback (third nationally) and protect their own (13th in sacks allowed) - and they stop the run on defense.
Where the Panthers are vulnerable: Pass defense (74th) and punt returns (98th).
Signature win: Their first win over a top 40 team came Saturday over No. 36 South Florida, and they walloped the Bulls (41-14).
“Oh the humanity” moment: The Panthers blew a 31-17 lead and yielded 530 yards in a 38-31 loss at N.C. State, Pitt’s only setback this season.
Connecticut
Meeting: Nov. 21 at South Bend
Sagarin rating: 52
Identity: A team playing with a heavy heart after starting cornerback Jasper Howard was fatally stabbed in the early morning hours of Oct. 18.
What the Huskies do well: A little bit of everything. They rank no higher than 31st in any major offensive or defensive category and no lower than 65th.
Where the Huskies are vulnerable: With a lead in the fourth quarter. All three of their losses (North Carolina, Pitt and West Virginia) were late-game collapses.
Signature win: Their losses have been more impressive than their wins. UConn’s most seismic victory, per Sagarin, would be its 23-16 win over No. 85 Ohio.
“Oh the humanity” moment: The Huskies have three of them. The coughed up nine points in the final 2:36 in a 12-10 loss to North Carolina. The losing points came on a safety with 1:32 left. Against Pitt, they let a 21-6 lead slip, with the Panthers’ winning points in a 24-21 Pitt victory coming on a field goal with no time left. In this past Saturday’s come-from-ahead loss, Noel Devine’s 56-yard run with 2:10 left proved to be the difference for West Virginia (28-24).
Stanford
Meeting: Nov. 28 at Palo Alto, Calif.
Sagarin rating: 23.
Identity: A vastly underrated team that may have the toughest remaining schedule in the country (Oregon, USC, Cal, Notre Dame) - four teams that are a combined 22-6.
What the Cardinal do well: Play smashmouth, physical football with a rapidly improving passing game. The Cardinal are the top kickoff return team in the country and are sixth in sacks allowed.
Where the Cardinal are vulnerable: They don’t make many tackles behind the line of scrimmage, don’t defend the pass well and are 81st nationally in turnover margin.
Signature win: Stanford’s 34-14 domination of a Washington team that beat USC and took the Irish to overtime.
“Oh the humanity” moment: The Cardinal are 1-3 on the road, with the least impressive loss a 24-17 setback at Wake Forest in a game the Cardinal led 17-3 at halftime.
