How the Mouth Stole Christmas

(This is part one of a two part series. Part 2 can be viewed here)

Heading into the bowl game on Wednesday, I planned to give out twelve gifts (just like the song, get it?) regarding the regular season but while making my list I decided gifts of coal seemed more appropriate.

So here it is, the Twelve Days of Christmas: Grinch-style.

On the first day of Christmas, the Grinch gave to ND: High expectations for the team.

you all know by now how I feel about fan expectations for Notre Dame, so I won't spend much time on it.  You know my arguments about how Irish fans brought disappointment on themselves this year.  I'm OK with national championship goals, but we (yes, that includes me) should have expected a mediocre season.  Notre Dame just isn't able to build a program overnight regardless of our storied past and great recruiting.

On the second day of Christmas, the Grinch gave to ND: A bad year for rivalry.

Michigan and Purdue stink – end of story.  Michigan State and Boston College were winnable games.  Turnovers were only the straws that broke the Irish back.  They’re both solid teams but both very beatable as well.

As for USC, well.. just another game against Pete Carroll’s NFL-ready Trojans.  Notre Dame should be 4-1 in these games every year, 3-2 at worst.  2-3 is unacceptable.

On the third day of Christmas, the Grinch gave to ND: More tackling inability.

For the second straight season, I see a complete lack of tackling fundamentals.  Granted the Irish defended against some pretty good running backs (Ringer will be a stud in the NFL, let alone college), but overall I noticed arm tackles and shoulder blocks play after play.  Our players were trying to make amazing hits when a good form-tackle can be just as impressive. 

It’s the number one thing I’d like to see Corwin Brown and John Tenuta emphasize this off-season.

On the fourth day of Christmas, the Grinch gave to ND: Lack of leadership qualities.

Where is it on the field?  Brian Smith talked an awful lot of talk throughout the season but I didn’t see it on the field.  Jimmy Clausen seems to have the trust of the offensive players but did you ever see him take command of the team?  I didn’t. 

Fan-favorite Mike Anello is about the only player to lead by example that I noticed.  You saw 100% heart in that kid and I’m not sure I saw it any of the guys that need to be leaders.

On the fifth day of Christmas, the Grinch gave to ND: An offensive offense visually.

This is an all-too common complaint amongst Irish fans and I don’t want to waste too much time on it, but I couldn’t ignore it for a list like this.  So what’s the problem? 

Was it quasi-former offensive coordinator Michael Haywood?  Is Charlie Weis not the robot-genius we loved in 2005 and 2006?  Is the system too complex for immature athletes? 

Maybe it’s as simple as not getting the talent we expected.  Quite frankly, I have no clue.

On the sixth day of Christmas, the Grinch gave to ND: Talented freshmen ev’rywhere I see.

I know what you’re thinking.  How can ridiculously talented freshmen like Trevor Robinson or Darius Fleming be a bad thing? 

Freshmen really shouldn’t have that big of an impact already.  I’ll grant that some freshmen just can’t be left on the bench (see: Floyd, Michael). 

Kyle Rudolph gets a pass because of the two guys ahead of him being unable to play this season.  For the most part guys like Robinson or Fleming or Blanton shouldn’t have such an easy pass in becoming major players on the team. 

After three top-ten recruiting classes, the older kids should be mainstays on the starting rosters with the occasional superstar (again, Floyd) frosh.  We need our older guys to step it up big time.

So there's the first six gifts.. tomorrow I'll post the top six Grinch gifts.