Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMore cohesive offensive line keys turnaround for Notre Dame attack
By Jesse Caputo
Posted: 11/20/08, 1:52 AM EST Section: Sports
Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen had a rude welcome to college football last season. In his first-ever start for the Fighting Irish against Penn State, the highly heralded Clausen was sacked six times.
One week later against Michigan? Eight times. And it never got much better.
In 2007, Notre Dame allowed 58 sacks, the most ever in Notre Dame's history.
"We weren't satisfied with our performance (last year)," Eric Olsen, a starting offensive guard for the Irish, said. "Embarrassment was the feeling. We knew at the end of the year, starting with the last second of the last game, we had a lot of work to do in the off-season."
Now, in 2008, the Irish are nowhere near those numbers. Clausen has only been sacked 14 times in 10 games, thanks to an improved and more experienced offensive line. Last season, a majority of the starters on the line were sophomores and had little experience playing together.
The Fighting Irish and their revitalized line will welcome Syracuse to South Bend, Ind., on Saturday.
Last year, Olsen said the inexperienced Notre Dame line was not used to facing veteran defensive units which used stunts and twists. Cohesion and familiarity are paramount in building an offensive line, and Notre Dame didn't have it.
"It's one thing to know your job, but it's another to know the guy's job next to you," Olsen said. "If you know what the guys next to you are doing and how they are going to react while doing your own job, it makes things a lot easier.
"Being able to see the big picture versus just your own assignment, as an offensive lineman, makes a huge difference."
Adding to the difficulty, head coach Charlie Weis shuffled the offensive line in an attempt to find a successful combination.
Olsen floated between left tackle and left guard before he played the final six games of the season at right guard. The constant shuffling prevented Olsen and his fellow linemen from establishing a rhythm. After the final game against Stanford, they started preparing for 2008.
One week later against Michigan? Eight times. And it never got much better.
In 2007, Notre Dame allowed 58 sacks, the most ever in Notre Dame's history.
"We weren't satisfied with our performance (last year)," Eric Olsen, a starting offensive guard for the Irish, said. "Embarrassment was the feeling. We knew at the end of the year, starting with the last second of the last game, we had a lot of work to do in the off-season."
Now, in 2008, the Irish are nowhere near those numbers. Clausen has only been sacked 14 times in 10 games, thanks to an improved and more experienced offensive line. Last season, a majority of the starters on the line were sophomores and had little experience playing together.
The Fighting Irish and their revitalized line will welcome Syracuse to South Bend, Ind., on Saturday.
Last year, Olsen said the inexperienced Notre Dame line was not used to facing veteran defensive units which used stunts and twists. Cohesion and familiarity are paramount in building an offensive line, and Notre Dame didn't have it.
"It's one thing to know your job, but it's another to know the guy's job next to you," Olsen said. "If you know what the guys next to you are doing and how they are going to react while doing your own job, it makes things a lot easier.
"Being able to see the big picture versus just your own assignment, as an offensive lineman, makes a huge difference."
Adding to the difficulty, head coach Charlie Weis shuffled the offensive line in an attempt to find a successful combination.
Olsen floated between left tackle and left guard before he played the final six games of the season at right guard. The constant shuffling prevented Olsen and his fellow linemen from establishing a rhythm. After the final game against Stanford, they started preparing for 2008.
Be the first to comment on this story