written by Brad Smith

STRENGTHS: The Irish attack this year will try to capitalize on their large offensive line, team experience, and special teams. Four starters, including studs C Jeff Faine and OT Jordan Black, return to anchor a line that will be expected to overpower defenses. Opponents better be "Sean Guard" when you add guards Sean Milligan and Sean Mahan with OT Brennan Curtin to a line that averages over 300 pounds. Team experience is evident across the offense except at receiver and tailback. After the annual Blue/Gold spring game, Willingham would not officially commit to either Carlyle Holiday or Matt LoVecchio as the starting quarterback. Ty's hand was forced on May 23 when LoVecchio announced that he would take his two years of eligibility elsewhere. It makes you wonder if there was any quarterback controversy at all. The tailback position took a huge blow when its 2001 top ground gainer Julius Jones was dismissed academically. But sophomore Ryan Grant, who was the offensive MVP of the rain soaked 3-0 Blue/Gold game, is available pushing for the starting nod. Grant is a bigger back that may be able to endure the pounding that a running attack will demand. Special teams should be a major part of the Notre Dame game plan with K Nicholas Setta and P Joey Hildbold coming off solid years. Vontez Duff and Jones are a threat to return one for a touchdown every time they touch the ball.

CONCERNS: There are many concerns for the offense to improve upon from a pathetic 2001 performance. Even though Ty has been known for developing quarterbacks, he will have a challenge with Holiday making the transition from an option attack to a west coast style. To say that the Irish were inept on offense last year would be a huge understatement. They passed for 100 yards per game and scored nineteen points per game for their lowest totals since the early eighties. For Willingham to be successful in opening up the offense a strong receiving corps would be helpful, which does not appear to be the case this year. Flanker Arnaz Battle will be asked to be the leader and playmaker while racking up a lot of YAC's (Yards After Catch). He showed signs of brilliance at receiver last year before a broken fibula cut his season short and was an exciting running quarterback before he broke his wrist in 2000. The QB position is not deep behind Holiday because Jared Clark has been converted to tight end. The Irish lost their only two receivers who had more than nine catches last season. Besides Grant and Jones the tailback position is not deep. These two backs are going to have to be tough for Notre Dame to have a successful year because they are going to have to pound the ball behind that huge line. It is clear that the Irish are thin at their skill position depth so a string of injuries would be costly, and considering the quality of defenses the Irish will be playing this year, injuries could be a major factor. Ty and offensive coordinator Bill Diedrick will have to stick to the running game this year and move toward the west coast style in future years as recruiting dictates.

written by Brad Smith

STRENGTHS: The 2002 Irish defense will be an experienced squad. The spring depth charts indicate that it could be nine seniors and three juniors on defense with two senior kickers on the special teams. The secondary appears to be the strength of the unit even though depth will be a concern now that Donald Dyke's and Abram Elam's expulsions have been upheld. Shane Walton and Gerome Sapp return to the defensive backfield that will include speedster Vontez Duff, Glenn Earl Jr., and Jason Beckstrom. Seniors Darrell Campbell, Cedric Hilliard, and Ryan Roberts will anchor the defensive line while Courtney Watson and Carlos Pierre Antoine will hold down the inside linebacking duty. Replacing Weaver at defensive end will probably fall on the shoulders of underclassmen Kyle Budinscak or Brian Biedatsch. The defense is in the same boat as the offense in the fact that senior leadership is a positive but depth will be a concern.


CONCERNS: Defensive coordinator Kent Baer intends to throw a lot of different packages at the opposition this year which could help offset the losses of the heart of the defense; NFL draftees Anthony Weaver and Rocky Boiman. The 2001 defense kept Notre Dame in some close games last year but the lack of offensive inevitably left the "D" on the field to long. Again, injuries must be avoided because of the lack of depth behind the starting eleven. The schedule strength is a concern in the fact that the Irish defense is going to face some real high-powered offenses including a Halloween trip to Tallahassee. The Irish secondary will have to come up big if they are to hang with the Seminoles.