Getting Defensive

What is in store for the Irish in the immediate future? The Irish will try defense on for size. With the recent addition of Robert Blanton, the Irish have eight defensive verbals to fit into coach Corwin Brown's new3-4 scheme. This is a major turn of events in a Charlie Weis era best known for a Pac-10 style of play in which defense is only a suggestion.

With defensive hopes looking up, the next task for Weis and company is to improve the special teams, specifically the kick return team. The Irish have been attrocious on kick-off returns under Weis and his predecessor, Tyrone Willingham, alike. As best I can recall, the last kick-off successfully return for a touchdown by an Irish returner was Vontez Duff's return against Purdue in Bob Davie's last game as Irish coach. This seems exceedingly pathetic to Irish fans used to the Holtzian returns of Tim Brown, "Rocket" Ismail, Clint Johnson, Michael Miller, and "Awesome" Rossum. Perhaps improved recruiting can help in this area as well. Irish fans can only hope.