Practice Week In Review

This might be the first time I'm glad that I'm not on the football team.

This week included a #1 spot in ESPN's Bottom Ten, Jay Leno cracking jokes at the team's expense, and a week of hard practices. I guess that's what it takes to get better.

In Weis' press conference Wednesday, he said that the last two and a half days were "much, much, much more physical" than any other practices this year; for the first time this season, the whistle was blown only after the ball carrier had been tackled. On every practice play.

I'm glad they've been busting their humps this week because they're gonna need it. Michigan State is tied for the nation's lead in sacks (17), and no one has scored against them in the first quarter this year. Call me optimistic for even thinking it, but if the Irish want to have a chance against State, they had better put up some points early.

Weis said that Sam Young has looked more natural at the left tackle position this week, which is good, because nothing looked natural about the o-line last week (except Mr. Bemenderfer who looked supernatural). He also said in an article with the Chicago-Tribune that fans can expect to see some more of Aldridge this week:

"This is a James Aldridge type of week, that's exactly right," Weis said. "I would expect to see James early and often. "He knows he's going to get plenty of opportunities, so that's what he knows. I would imagine he's very excited."

The team has yet to watch any film on Michigan State, and the coaching staff didn't even start implementing any specific gameplan until the end of Wednesday's practice. Charlie rationalized this risk by saying the team needed to change its attitude about playing before any specific adjustments can be made.

Dan Wenger doesn't look like he'll be back at guard anytime soon after his injury against Michigan. He was wearing a "boot" (walking cast for lower leg injuries) and was getting around campus via crutches the last few days, although I did see him walking around the dinning hall today without crutches.

And for all of you hanging on for the Quote of the Week, here you go:

"Its not what everyone else is saying, its just us" - Charlie Weis

If Notre Dame even wants to think about being competitive this weekend, they need to listen to that phrase. If the game goes the way the media thinks it will, we could be looking at a triple digit loss, but then again, that's why they play the game.

Go Irish. Beat Spartans.