2008 Woodie Awards
Football: Weis opens playbook for U of M
Chris Khorey
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Sports
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Against Penn State, with a freshman quarterback in a hostile environment, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis simplified his offense, cutting down on the number of plays available to be called.
But after the Irish offense mustered only 144 total yards and a paltry three points, Weis isn't going to take any more "baby steps" with quarterback Jimmy Clausen.
"He's getting more [offense installed]," Weis said. "And he's getting more within … what I think he can tolerate. Obviously, we've gone through two games without much production on offense, so you can't sit back. You have to make some significant strides to try to get some production on offense."
One element of complexity that Weis wants to employ more against Michigan on Saturday is using multiple personnel groups, especially the deep running back and wide receiver positions.
"'Regular' is two backs, one tight end and two wide receivers," Weis said. "But I might call 'regular' and give a [jersey] number. So I might want a specific halfback or specific fullback or specific tight end or specific wide receiver."
As the offense gets more complex, Clausen will be able to rely on fifth-year senior center John Sullivan to help him make reads, Weis said. One thing Sullivan already does is identify the defense's middle linebacker so that the offensive linemen can figure out who to block.
Last season, senior quarterback Brady Quinn made the linebacker calls, but with such a young quarterback, Weis trusts center John Sullivan instead.
"All the quarterbacks would like for me to just have that in their hands and not have it in Sully's hands," Weis said. "But right now, I'll definitely go with the experienced guy with handling that assignment."
But Clausen is learning. He mimics Sullivan's calls - both for his own education and for the benefit of wide receivers and running backs that can't see the center.
"I think what happens is when Sully says who it is, then the wide receivers and everyone else needs to know who he's identifying," Weis said. "Because a lot of times, those guys outside can't see what he says."
But after the Irish offense mustered only 144 total yards and a paltry three points, Weis isn't going to take any more "baby steps" with quarterback Jimmy Clausen.
"He's getting more [offense installed]," Weis said. "And he's getting more within … what I think he can tolerate. Obviously, we've gone through two games without much production on offense, so you can't sit back. You have to make some significant strides to try to get some production on offense."
One element of complexity that Weis wants to employ more against Michigan on Saturday is using multiple personnel groups, especially the deep running back and wide receiver positions.
"'Regular' is two backs, one tight end and two wide receivers," Weis said. "But I might call 'regular' and give a [jersey] number. So I might want a specific halfback or specific fullback or specific tight end or specific wide receiver."
As the offense gets more complex, Clausen will be able to rely on fifth-year senior center John Sullivan to help him make reads, Weis said. One thing Sullivan already does is identify the defense's middle linebacker so that the offensive linemen can figure out who to block.
Last season, senior quarterback Brady Quinn made the linebacker calls, but with such a young quarterback, Weis trusts center John Sullivan instead.
"All the quarterbacks would like for me to just have that in their hands and not have it in Sully's hands," Weis said. "But right now, I'll definitely go with the experienced guy with handling that assignment."
But Clausen is learning. He mimics Sullivan's calls - both for his own education and for the benefit of wide receivers and running backs that can't see the center.
"I think what happens is when Sully says who it is, then the wide receivers and everyone else needs to know who he's identifying," Weis said. "Because a lot of times, those guys outside can't see what he says."