The success of a new option offense will determine the pluck of these Irish

Jackson brings multiple-threat talents to an offense desperately in need of a game-breaker.   Peter Read Miller

Shortly after Notre Dame hired Syracuse assistant Kevin Rogers as its offensive coordinator last spring, Fighting Irish quarterback Jarious Jackson got a phone call from Donovan McNabb, the former Orangemen signal-caller now with the Philadelphia Eagles. "He said he'd learned a lot from Coach Rogers and basically to pay heed to what he says," Jackson says. "I said, 'Well, you just went Number 2 in the draft, so you must know what you're talking about.'"

Jackson will need to play like a top NFL prospect for Notre Dame to land a BCS berth. The Irish lost 12 starters and will play road games at Michigan, Purdue and Tennessee. But Jackson, a 6'1", 228-pound fifth-year senior, has a habit of rising to the occasion. Last year, his first as a starter, he completed 104 of 188 passes for 1,740 yards and 13 touchdowns with just six interceptions. He also dazzled with his powerful running style and ability to make plays out of nothing. "Jarious is like Donovan," Rogers says. "He's a tough competitor. He always feels like he can make a play."

Aiding Jackson will be two speedy tailbacks: junior Tony Driver, a former Parade All-America running back who played strong safety in '98, and sophomore Tony Fisher, a former Ohio Mr. Football. They'll run behind a rebuilt offensive line that looks to be quicker than -- if not quite as mammoth as -- past Irish units. The receiving corps lacks a game-breaker but boasts an All-America candidate in 6'3" junior tight end Jabari Holloway.

On defense the Irish have switched to an attack-oriented 4-3 alignment. The front four of Lamont Bryant, Brad Williams, Lance Legree and Anthony Weaver could be Notre Dame's best since the early '90s, while 6'5", 275-pound junior defensive end Grant Irons, a converted linebacker who has bulked up 50 pounds since his freshman year, is poised for a breakthrough.

With the D looking strong, coach Bob Davie will take some chances on offense. Rogers plans to borrow from Syracuse's option playbook, with an emphasis on ball fakes and misdirection. "It works," Jackson says. "When we watch films, sometimes I have to rewind to see who's got the ball."

Whether those fakes work on anyone other than the fans in Row 30 remains to be seen. Given Notre Dame's lack of speedy receivers and its rugged schedule, however, one thing is clear: If Davie is to contend for a national title this season, he'll need more than a little trickery. He'll need the luck of the Irish.

-- Marty Burns

Fast Facts

1998 record: 9-3 (Independent)
Final ranking: No. 22 AP, No. 22 coaches' poll

1998 Averages Offense Defense Scoring 30.0 20.3 Rushing Yards 221.5 143.4 Passing Yards 177.5 207.1 Total Yards 399.0 350.5

Key Games
Schedule strength: 20th of 114

Sept. 4 at Michigan
An upset of the Wolverines at the Big House would prove the Irish are for real and earn them a spot in the Top 10.

Nov. 6 at Tennessee
Jackson versus Tee Martin could end up being the best quarterback matchup of the season.

Bottom Line

Jackson and the defense will keep the Fighting Irish in most games, but they will be hard-pressed to match last season's 9-3 record.