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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Charlie Weis (2nd season, 9-3) 2005 record: 9-3 (Lost to Ohio State in Fiesta Bowl) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 55th (147.1 ypg) Passing: 4th (330.3 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 34th (132.3 ypg) Passing: 103rd (264.6 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 at Georgia Tech Sept. 9 Penn State Sept. 16 Michigan Sept. 23 at Michigan State Sept. 30 Purdue Oct. 7 Stanford Oct. 21 UCLA Oct. 28 #Navy Nov. 4 North Carolina Nov. 11 at Air Force Nov. 18 Army Nov. 25 at USC #Baltimore MD Depth Chart: Offense 8 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 83 Jeff Samardzija Sr. 1 D.J. Hord So. WR 5 Rhema McKnight Sr. 11 David Grimes So. LT 68 Ryan Harris Sr. - Sam Young Fr. LG 50 Dan Santucci Sr. 59 Chris Stewart Fr. C 78 John Sullivan Sr. 76 Bobby Morton Sr. RG 76 Bobby Morton Sr. 72 Paul Duncan So. RT 79 Brian Mattes Sr. 77 Michael Turkovich So. TE 89 John Carlson Sr. 87 Marcus Freeman Sr. QB 10 Brady Quinn Sr. 14 David Wolke Jr. FB 44 Asaph Schwapp So. 35 Ashley McConnell Sr. HB 3 Darius Walker Jr. 26 Travis Thomas Sr. Depth Chart: Defense 9 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 95 Victor Abiamiri Sr. 94 Justin Brown Jr. DT 98 Trevor Laws Sr. 57 Dwight Stephenson Jr. NG 66 Derek Landri Sr. 96 Pat Kuntz So. DE 75 Chris Frome Sr. 99 Ronald Talley Jr. OLB 4 Anthony Vernaglia Jr. 48 Steve Quinn So. MLB 40 Maurice Crum Jr. Jr. 47 Mitchell Thomas Sr. WLB 52 Joe Brockington Sr. 41 Scott Smith So. CB 30 Mike Richardson Sr. 20 Terrail Lambert Jr. CB 22 Ambrose Wooden Sr. 15 Leo Ferrine Jr. SS 9 Tom Zbikowski Sr. 6 Ray Herring So. WS 18 Chinedum Ndukwe Sr. 27 David Bruton So. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 45 Carl Gioia Sr. P 17 Geoff Price Sr. KR 19 George West Fr. PR 9 Tom Zbikowski Sr.

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Sometimes Charlie Weis is about as subtle as a hammer to the head. The sign that hangs from the rafters of the weight room in the Guglielmino Athletics Complex on the campus of Notre Dame is a perfect example. It reads: "9-3 Is Not Good Enough!"

"The No. 1 objective of this football team is to raise their own expectations," says Weis, now in his second season amidst the transformation of Notre Dame back into a national power.

"Last year the football team just didn't know whether they were going to be any good or not. I'm hoping that they're not satisfied with the season they had last year. I know that I'm not satisfied."

Weis did more than improve a 6-6 squad to 9-3, including a trip to the Fiesta Bowl. He transformed the way his squad thought and, more important, produced.

The greatest difference came on the offensive side of the ball - Weis' specialty - where the Irish went from 81st in the country in total offense to 10th. Led by quarterback Brady Quinn, the Irish became a threat to score at any time. They are a greater threat in 2006 with Quinn, a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, and seven other returning starters on offense.

Concerns remain on the defensive side of the ball, where the Irish must replace veteran leaders Brandon Hoyte and Corey Mays at linebacker.

"We have a better idea of the personality of our team," Weis says. "There are things that we didn't do very well that we're going to do better. We're just going to fix them. At least now we have a pretty good idea of what we can and cannot do, and that allows you to take your game to another level."

That level could be a legitimate quest for a national title.

OFFENSE

Weis' impact on the offensive side of the ball was immediate in 2005. The Irish went from 81st in the country in total offense in '04 to 10th last year. Led by Quinn, Notre Dame is an even greater threat in 2006. Quinn obliterated several Irish single-season passing records last year, posting 3,919 passing yards and 32 touchdown passes.

Junior Darius Walker recorded seven 100-yard games and totaled 1,196 yards in '05.

The Irish lost a weapon in wide receiver Maurice Stovall (1,149 yards, 11 TDs) but regained another in veteran Rhema McKnight, who joins All-America senior Jeff Samardzija (1,249 yards, 15 TDs) to form another dynamic wideout duo. McKnight suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second game of the season after leading the Irish in receptions in 2003 and 2004.

The Irish must replace well-rounded tight end Anthony Fasano but appear to have capable candidates in senior John Carlson and fifth-year senior Marcus Freeman.

Notre Dame returns four of the six offensive linemen who played on a regular basis in '05. Gone are mainstays Dan Stevenson and Mark LeVoir, who formed the right side of the line. Left tackle Ryan Harris, guard/center Bobby Morton, guard Dan Santucci and center John Sullivan return to anchor what should be a capable offensive front.

DEFENSE

Concerns remain on the defensive side of the ball, where the Irish must replace veteran leaders Hoyte and Mays at linebacker. Junior Maurice Crum Jr. started all 12 games and performed admirably at Apache (outside) linebacker in '05. He may be forced inside to replace Hoyte and/or Mays.

Defensive ends Victor Abiamiri, Chris Frome, Ronald Talley and Justin Brown should be better simply from age and increased experience. Interior linemen Derek Landri and Trevor Laws boast plenty of experience and talent. They are considered a major strength for the Irish in '06.

Notre Dame's secondary showed its vulnerability in the Fiesta Bowl when Ohio State torched the Irish for 617 total yards. All four starters return, led by senior safety Tom Zbikowski, a hard-hitting part-time amateur boxer who had five interceptions and four touchdowns -- returning two punts and two interceptions for scores -- last season.

Senior Mike Richardson has a wealth of experience at cornerback, while senior Ambrose Wooden started all 12 games a year ago. Neither, however, has proven to be the lock-down coverage guy the Irish seek. Senior Chinedum Ndukwe, who was Quinn's top receiving target in high school, has made the transition to safety with mixed results.

SPECIALISTS

D.J. Fitzpatrick, who handled the punting and kicking chores each of the past two seasons, is gone. Senior Carl Gioia was the frontrunner at kicker in the spring. Senior Bobby Renkes or freshman Ryan Burkhart could challenge Gioia. Senior Geoff Price is expected to take over at punter.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Whereas last year's team thought it could be good, this year's version knows it can and should be great. They both may end up finishing off the season in the Fiesta Bowl, except this season, it would be for all the marbles.

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