In Search of Wow
posted by Scott Engler
(NDNation.com) After a year and a half in purgatory, it's clear to all but the Ostriches that the Notre Dame offense will be a force for the next two years at least.Clausen will be at least as good as Brady Quinn and has started to blossom (I hate that word) now that we can finally pass block with some success, but right now we can't run with consistency and we're missing the Wow.
The Wow : A player who makes the defense hesitate by creating a moment of indecision that allows for big plays and breaks open the field.
Wow players like Rocket, Tim Brown or Reggie Bush (coincidence that SC has no titles without him?) changed game plans. When they were on the field, defenses had to think about more than just their assignment and always had to account for "that guy." They were players who put you back on your haunches and kept you honest because you knew if you didn't, on mistake could mean a long run or a touchdown. They open up the field and change the game through fear. Many forget that Reggie Brooks developed into a Wow before he left South Bend.
We've got some very good players who have speed and skill, but right now there's no lightning strike. Golden Tate has shown speed, but even better ball skills and hasn't been that dynamic with the ball in his hands. Michael Floyd is a great receiver already (some pups bite ya early,) but hasn't shown the ability to generate significant yards after the catch. Armando Allen has a great burst, but still hasn't broken any really long runs despite many touches.
So all of this has Irish fans wondering if Cierre Wood will be the next Wow. Wood ran for 20 yards a carry on nine carries and 180 yards last weekend giving him 62 carries for 969 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season. You do the math.
This offense will be productive and score enough points for the Irish to win a lot of games the next two seasons (and given our defense we have to,) but if ND can add the Wow we could see an historically great Irish offense.
Here's a new Youtube clip of Cierre (old runs - turn the volume down.)
Labels: charlie weis, cierre wood, notre dame football
30 Comments:
Much as I loved Reggie Brooks, I have to dispute he was "Wow" on the same level as Rocket or Tim Brown. The real "Wow" on that team was a dominating offensive line (they made Lee Becton a 1,000 yard rusher after Reggie, too) and a balance throughout the offense. To your point, though, I'd like to see Tate get more touches--seems there's more to see there.
Cierre looks pretty good. i know he's been highly recruited. However, I'm not seeing "blazing" speed, just a large stride. He's probably "deceptively fast". What's the level of competition? Would he dominate in Florida? Armando looked considerably faster on past videos. ND hasn't had a "blazer" since "the Rocket" and I realize he may be a "once-in-a- lifetime" find. Obviously, ND fans want a national title. The recruiting has "picked up" and we're slowly seeing the results. The defense must improve, particularly the D-Line and the kicking game. Folks want to be able to see the team run with success even with 9 men in the box, like demonstrated when Joe Moore was the O-line coach. This is easier said than done. Today's college football has a lot more parity than that of 15-20 years ago. One thing is certain, no matter how good your team is on paper, even on the field, you better bring your "A-Game" every week. I truly believe you need luck to win the National Title. We've seen some pretty stacked teams fall victim to underdogs. Be patient and while we're at it, let's hope that odd shaped ball takes some favorable bounces.
All very valid and good points. My concern is more of a difference maker on Defense. Someone in the mold of a Chris Zorich, Bobby Taylor (all those blocked kicks), Mike Stonebreaker (all those tackles) etc.
Great runner. Watch it again and see how good these kids block and how quick they get out.
I disagree regarding Tate. He has garnered special coverage attention from the defense due to his speed and hands. His game-changing ability has opened things up for Floyd, Rudolph and Allen. Additionally, for after the catch dynamism (a new word perhaps?), see his nifty run after catch on the slant against Michigan, or his big 3rd down pickup after almost being down.
If Tate and Floyd don't have "Wow," then I'm not sure what "Wow" is. Between them, they have eight TDs and at least eight catches of 38 yards or more.
If you look at Rocket's stats for his first six games, he had far less impact than Floyd did in his first six.
We've got the "Wow," we just need some more consistency.
Disagree on Reggie Brooks. Agree that the Wow helps (Vince Young, Bush, Glenn Dorsey, etc)......the Gators have Wow with Harvin, and even Demps which makes Tebow's job easier. Disagree that Wood brings the Wow....but he'll be great for us. I agree with an earlier poster. I want the Wow on Defense from a DT or DE. That would change everything.
The WOW factor is necessary. ND right now has some nice, very good players that might be wowing fans in the years to come. We do not have a guy that SC, Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State plan their defense around. No one will ever excite the ND faithful like rocket did in his three years. I believe ND is missing that element to their offense. Clausen will be a top QB in the nation, if he is already not, he needs a season of games like Stanford and Carolina. ND has some guys coming in that have all the potential in the world to WOW us for years to come. I like what ND is doing and I am interested in what is to come. They are on the right track, you can't pick up the pieces after Ty and expect miracles. '09 is going to be a special year for ND, maybe the whole team will have the "WOW" factor. By the way, can we go back in time and award the Heisman to Rocket??? I truly beleive there was a bias against ND in favor to Detmer that year. NO ONE was better in '89-'90. Rocket got ripped off. Show me a more exciting player in the last 20 years. Reggie Bush?? Rocket copy!!
Just wait for the "WOW" it is around the corner!!
Go Irish!
Dude,
Reggie Brooks averaged 10 yards a carrie.
Yeah...that isn't wow. Are you kidding me??
While he might not have blazing speed, the thing that impressed me was his vision and the ability to make the cutback and maintain his current level of speed.
He also looks to have decent hands for a RB. Obviously, he is a "man" amongst boys right now and we will have to wait to see how that transitions to college but I like what I see.
Excellent thoughts by nepa fan
Brooks almost topped Gipp's TPC record - he broke a lot of long ones - and funny enough, it seemed like Bettis did too.
I agree that we need the "wow" and haven't seen it in a long time. To me, wow means SPEED.
SPEED THAT STRIKES FEAR INTO THE HEARTS OF THE ENEMY!
I have yet to see this kind of speed from our young guys, although they definitely have some great playmaking ability.
I have become somewhat jaded by looking at the high school videos of all of the incoming recruits, and everyone saying that "this guy is the next rocket." Then when they get to South Bend, the speed seems to disappear.
I truly hope that we get some of this speed soon, we need it bad!
First of all REGGIE BROOKS and RICK MIRER JEROME BETTIS AND RODNEY CULVER all had the WOW FACTOR. THE WHOLE OFFENSIVE LINE IN THOSE DAYS HAD THE WOW FACTOR. (REMEMBER HOW our FULL BACK LED OFFENSE CRUSHED USC all those years thru our streak with them. Also how the O-Line won MVP in the SUGAR BOWL verses Florida.
Right now we have WOW FACTORS on the team or in the waiting in
JIMMY CLAUSEN,GOLDEN TATE,MICHEAL FLOYD,KYLE RUDOLPH,BRIAN SMITH, among others.
This currant team plays as a team.
IT IS GOING TO BE WOWING people in the next few years. Just watch
Clausen could be wow guy with his uncanny accuracy- getting it to guys when they are seemingly covered. His only drawbacks are his average mobility and mistake prone play under the heavy rush. This is still his "Achilles Heel".
I hate to actually say this 'out loud' but Jimmy Clausen might be the next WOW at ND. He could obliterate Quinn's records throwing to Tate, Floyd, Kamara, Rudolf, and Shaq!
Hey ND fans don't forget who the coach is and where he came from. This is now and will be as long as Charlie is here a team first - gimmicks, trickery, lining people up out of position (saw how well the one time they tried that at the beginning of last year worked didn't we?) isn't what the "Bellicheck" tree is all about.
It's about having an outstanding QB that manages the offense with precision, a multi-function back (no coincidence that Darius Walker and Armando Allen work well in this "Curtis Martin" type of offensive set and not the guys built like semi-trucks), good tight end and sure receivers.
SuperBowls and consistent championship seasons have been won with that philosophy and I'm fine with it. I see what he is building.
The "Wow" is in the sum of the parts - therefore, the "Wow" never graduates.
I love your pitch here to keep Wood onboard...but I think you are forgetting about Jonas Gray. I think he could WOW the hell out of anybody given the chance. He is the type of back that could have a moderate understanding of the offense and still perform. Just get him the ball, sit back and watch the WOW factor.
Go Irish!
LeoT
I love your pitch here to keep Wood onboard...but I think you are forgetting about Jonas Gray. I think he could WOW the hell out of anybody given the chance. He is the type of back that could have a moderate understanding of the offense and still perform. Just get him the ball, sit back and watch the WOW factor.
Go Irish!
LeoT
...I'm surprised Cierre is rated so high (5-stars, Rivals and Scout) as he plays for a minor school in an insignificant SoCal league...you can pick up the mediocre level of opposition on these films..as well as his lack of quickness...if not straight ahead speed. That said I hope I'm wrong...god...do I hope I'm wrong as the tri-backs Allen, Hughes and Aldridge are not "top-25" team running backs...
Golden Tate can be simply in one word: WOW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IGOV6mYVns
have we forgotten that he is a sophomore?
Not a big fan of pumping up individuals in a team sport. Once the team starts beating legit teams, then the media will jump on guys making them WOW. You don't win, you don't have WOW. Plus, there's plenty of evidence of teams 'playing as a team' beating the oposition with that WOW player. ND's still lacking in the fundementals.
I agree with Golf Pants. Tate and Floyd are Wows to this point of the season.
A Wow is not someone who makes great plays, but who's a threat to break it every time he touches the ball. So far, Floyd and Tate have been deep threats, but neither has made a bit catch and run. A Wow can take a short pass or run the distance and usually takes kicks back for TDs.
I can't believe people are talking about Jonas Gray being a WOW. He has barely played and WOWs show that they are WOWs as frosh. Wood looks decent, but have you seen HS tapes of Reggie Bush or Noel Devine? Those guys have speed. Also, offensive lineman cannot be WOWs, sorry.
Don't sleep on Theo Riddick.
First of all, the column references Reggie Bush (hence the USC reference immediately following his name), not Reggie Brooks. Read the column before you post about it.
Second, Reggie Brooks was money and would've been a Heisman candidate had he not languished in Holtz' doghouse as a defensive back for two seasons. Reggie, like his classmate Will Pollard, was under utilized back for most of his career.
Third, Rocket was a freshman when he was most "wow" -- so can we please stop the "wait till next year when we're older" talk. Across the NCAA, dozens of freshmen and sophs produce big numbers. Our youth is no excuse - certainly not at game 7 of 2008, when Jimmy Heisman has started as many games as almost any QB in college ranks.
Finally, Paul Faila could match Clausen's numbers in this pass happy offense. Wins count, not TD passes or passing yards. Weis lost us the game last week because he didn't stuff the ball down UNC's throat in the second half.
"Wow" is when you line up on 3rd and 3 and know that you'll gain 5 yards right up the opponent's nose.
"it's clear to all but the Ostriches that the Notre Dame offense will be a force for the next two years at least."
- then consider me an ostrich, because i don't consider teams that can't run block and can't run the ball to be a "force".
We haven't seen how the "force" matches up against a truly top caliber opponent, you know, the type with a monster, fast defense like USC or LSU or Florida etc.
The OL may have improved in terms of pass-blocking, but we have not seen how they pass block against a dominant front 7.
Considering how poor the run blocking is, when everyone gained all this weight to help us run, that is not a very good sign.
ND may very well become a passing force, if Clausen, Tate, Floyd all stay injury free for the next two years, but I won't hold my breath.
Pass only teams traditionally don't do well ultimately.
They put up big numbers, but don't win the big games.
besides, most of the pass defenses ND has played against thus far have been ranked in the lower third of the pass defense rankings.
When this team learns to run block, that may help...but until then, i will reserve judgement
I don't see CW breaking away fro the HS defenders, not a good sign when you get on a CFB field where everyone is fast.
Anon is right, if you can't run, you're done. Drive for show, putt for dough, say what you will, passing gets lots of ohhs and ahs but fall short as an offense. Right now we have a good passing game, a weak running game, and a mediocre defense and a terrible kicking game. Preetly lame for ND, sorry Charley.
Yes the great Paul Faila. Some of these posts are ridiculous. ND is a good young team. By the end of the year they will be a very good team and with a little luck they'll be great by the end of next season.
The Rocket and Bush are freaks of nature that come along rarely. You can't count on having someone like that that can go from a standstill to full speed in about 3 steps because they are so rare.
ND has plenty of playmakers. These overly critical clowns need to go find some other team to root for because your negativity is a serious downer.
San Diego Irish
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