Notre Dame’s coaches know their offense needs a rudder, somebody to pull the bow straight when the ship is veering off course. Because of this they have been trying to develop a vocal leader since well before the season got under way for a unit that is rich in talent but short on talkers.
Notre Dame’s lack of steering became apparent in its 27-10 season-opening loss at Nebraska when the offense gained only 162 yards and averaged 2.6 yards per play. The Irish committed four turnovers, half as many as they had all of last season, and they converted only three of 15 third-down plays.
There was a communication breakdown at the line of scrimmage and a spate of physical errors–turnovers, missed blocks, poor passes.
But none of that was the biggest problem.
“We lost our poise,” Irish coach Bob Davie acknowledged. “We just unraveled, and we have to resolve that.”
Traditionally, the quarterback calls the shots on the field. “He’s the person who’s supposed to get everyone else going out there,” said right tackle Kurt Vollers.
Though he earned high praise for his poise as an emergency freshman starter, sophomore Matt LoVecchio still is relatively inexperienced–he will be making his 10th career start Saturday against Michigan State. Fellow sophomore Carlyle Holiday’s intermittent appearances against Nebraska were his first, and he’s expected to play against the Spartans too.
The Irish feature young quarterbacks, a rotating cast of tailbacks and veteran receivers who have yet to reach their potential. These factors have prompted Davie to turn to the offensive line for leadership.
“I think it all starts up front,” he said. “I think it’s [center] Jeff Faine, I think it’s [right tackle] Kurt Vollers, and I think it’s [left tackle] Jordan Black.”
Offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers agreed. “The upperclassmen, the seniors, especially the fifth-year guys, it’s their team,” Rogers said. “[A coach] can’t constantly be a cheerleader. It has to come from within. It’s got to come from your senior leadership.”
Vollers, a fifth-year senior, said he does not consider himself a natural leader.
“I like doing my own things, so it’s kind of tough to put myself in that position, and get everyone else riled up,” he said. “But if that’s what needs to be done, it’s something that I’ll put effort into.”
But everyone is looking to LoVecchio.
“We’re all trying to get [LoVecchio] to be more vocal as a quarterback,” receiver Javin Hunter said. “I think the offensive line needs it and we need it. We need to know that Matt’s confident in what he’s doing.”
Rogers disputed the notion that leadership has to start with the quarterback. But he knows the offensive players naturally look to their quarterback to guide them.
“The quarterback has been told that regardless of whether he’s the elected captain of the team or not, when you step under center and you take charge of the huddle, you are the captain of the team,” Rogers said.
“One of the things that these quarterbacks have not had is the benefit of an upperclassmen player to emulate, which I think hurts a little bit. Somebody who can show them the ropes and how to lead. A guy like Jarious Jackson.”
Like LoVecchio, Michigan State starter Jeff Smoker is also young, a sophomore who last season became the first true freshman to start at quarterback at Michigan State.
Unlike LoVecchio, and Holiday, Smoker had the benefit of a mentor: senior Ryan Van Dyke, with whom he shared playing time and from whom he learned the nuances of the position.
“He did a great job of helping me when I was a freshman, learning the offense and the plays,” Smoker said. “As a quarterback, that’s something you have to do. You have to be able to be a leader. You have to know what’s going on.”
LoVecchio agrees.
“It’s the quarterback’s responsibility. It’s his house, his huddle,” LoVecchio said. “I think if you’re going to have the responsibility and the honor to be in that position, I think that’s your part to get the team working together.”
Can the effect of good leadership be seen in results?
Yes. Linebacker Courtney Watson credited the leadership of linebacker Rocky Boiman, defensive end Anthony Weaver and cornerback Shane Walton with helping the defense recover from a dismal first half and shut out the Cornhuskers in the second half. The offense desperately needs that sort of leadership.
“That’s why, with not playing last week, you’re not jumping in there all X’s and O’s,” Davie said. “You’re talking about the chemistry of your team and those things that are really important.”
On Saturday, Davie will find out if his words finally got the offense talking.
