(WSBT) The future is now for the Irish with Jimmy Clausen as the starting quarterback.

"Jimmy Clausen’s gonna be our starting quarterback for the Penn State game,” Coach Charlie Weis said on Tuesday.

With that one, brief statement by Weis, Notre Dame football can begin to put the pieces back together.

Weis said that, with all due respect to Penn State, this week is about fixing what's wrong with his own team.

And it starts by returning to a more familiar style of offense.

“There is a comfort zone, when you have more familiarity with what you’re doing,” Weis said on Tuesday.

“Once you learn the plays, everything becomes familiar because you run it so much,” said James Aldridge, a sophomore running back for the Irish.

“In any game plan we’re just doing what we’re asked to do, whether it’s blocking or catching balls,” said David Grimes, a junior Irish wide receiver.

Notre Dame got away from Weis' more traditional passing attack in the opener. But with Jimmy Clausen at the helm, expect the game plan, and the execution, to change.

“He doesn’t do anything unless we block for him,” explained Irish sophomore right tackle Sam Young. “No matter who you put back there we have to block for him and we need to get better at that.”

"I think he gives us the best chance to win!" Weis said, of Clausen.