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Meet the 09 ND Staff ... Tenuta to call the Defense ...

02/13/09 10:19:07 | 0 Comments

Meet The New Crew

by TODD D. BURLAGE
Assistant Editor

The changes are in place and the new assignments have been given to the Notre Dame coaching staff, and there are a couple of interesting twists to the new-look Irish staff. The most notable ones come from the defensive side of the football.

Weis introduced his new assistants and outlined the responsibilities for each Friday during his state of the union/meet the coaches press conference.

Former defensive coordinator Corwin Brown has been promoted to Associate Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach.

With Weis ready to concentrate his duties more on offense this season, and hand the bulk of the defensive responsibilities over to Brown, the head coach wanted someone to oversee the entire defensive operation, and that will be Brown.

The move means Jon Tenuta has been promoted to Assistant Head Coach for Defense/Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach. Tenuta takes over the defensive play calling duties for Brown.

"Most of the stuff will be almost exactly the same, we just might change some of the terms," Weis said. "We haven't gotten to that."

Bryant Young will take over as defensive graduate assistant, and Weis hopes the job fits well enough that the former Notre Dame standout is interested in becoming the defensive line coach after some grooming. Young didn't rule it out.

"The more I looked at the business opportunities, it just didn't fire me up like coaching did, and working with young men," Bryant said. "That's the one thing that never really went away. I'm excited that I have an opportunity to do this because it is something I believe I have a passion for. I want to be able to share what I know and give back to the game."

The only position on the coaching staff to be determined is the defensive line coach. Rumors that former Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel might take the job were accurate. But after some deliberation, Crennel and Weis decided the timing wasn't right.

"We decided that he wasn't in position at this time to make a commitment to do this so we are going to move in another direction," said Weis, who expects to have the line coach vacancy filled within days. "I was not going to do anything with any other defensive line coach until after Romeo made his decision."

One interesting piece of fallout from the responsibility shuffling could affect how Weis performs his duties.

A major topic of conversation since Notre Dame's offensive outburst in the Hawaii Bowl has been whether Charlie Weis should, or would, take over playing calling duties in 2009, and whether he would call those plays from the upstairs coaches box.

Indeed, Weis will return as the play caller, no surprise there, with former offensive coordinator Michael Haywood moving onto Miami, Ohio. Whether Weis will call those plays from upstairs remains a decision in progress, though it is a subject the staff has talked about. Weis said the possibility of moving upstairs remains on the "lower end of 50-50."

"Here are the problems with that," Weis said. "When you go upstairs, you obviously have to stay upstairs, because the first time you come downstairs, now you open up yourself for a whole different set of scrutiny. What you have to decide is what is the best both in the short-term and the long-term. Whatever that decision is, it's gotta to be something you intend to do on a fairly permanent basis."

At least one supporter of Weis and the program wants him to stay upstairs, Charlie's wife, Maura, who is pushing him to go upstairs.

"I can honestly tell you that is not a 'no,'" Weis said. "It is something that is still under conversation, and my wife will be very happy that you asked that question."

Weis didn't mince words when he talked about the struggles in the running game over the last few seasons. Improving this area is so dear to Weis, he named Frank Verducci Running Game Coordinator along with his duties as offensive line coach. Along with new running backs coach, Tony Alford, this will be an area of emphasis.

Verducci said he watched tape from last season, and believes quick strides can be made along the line, simply through better fundamentals.

"The issues were all correctable," Verducci said. "And that's what excited me about the opportunity."

As Weis continues to restructure his staff, he said that having the chance to perform the proper due diligence this time around is a different situation than when he built his first staff while still coaching the New England Patriots.

"Conceptually, I was happy with how things came together, but the one thing you can't do unless you're around, is feel chemistry," Weis said. "And I think a critical factor in successful programs is chemistry. There has to be chemistry with the players but there also has to chemistry with the coaches."

Tonsillitis Epidemic?

Weis said that are several guys that need to some repair work before spring that may keep them out of some or all action this spring ball, though Weis said there is nobody projected not be ready for fall camp.

Weis mentioned shoulders, legs and other injuries, but he said tonsillitis might be the biggest issue he is dealing with.

"I've never heard of so many people needing their tonsils out at the same time," Weis said. "Usually these guys lose a whole bunch of weight, maybe I should have my tonsils pulled. A lineman gets his tonsils pulled, they can lose 25 pound."

Numbers Game

Weis said he wasn't ready to offer any specifics about who would be returning for a fifth season. But he said with the 18-man recruiting class and a return of the fifth-year seniors, there will be 24 or 25 players represented, which would bring the full Notre Dame roster close the allotted 85. The fifth-year requests are still be evaluated, and a decision on who will be returning is coming soon.

"Several guys have applied for a fifth year. There's a bunch of them that have applied," Weis said. "They have not rejected a guy yet, but still they have to go through the process. We'll let that play its course."

Weis Update

Weis said his right knee is healing nicely and he is walking under his own power after surgery. "I went from a walker, to crutches, to a cane, to nothing," Weis said.

Surgery was scheduled for this month to repair his left knee, but since the pain has subsided in that knee, Weis said that surgery has been postponed indefinitely.

Personnel Notes

- Irish cornerback Darrin Walls is back in school and ready to join the team this spring after missing last season with personal reasons.
- Fullback Luke Schmidt has been given his medical release because of reoccurring concussions and will no longer be with the team.
- The status of defensive back Jashaad Gaines is in limbo as he remains back home dealing with personal issues. Weis said there is an "open door" policy for him to return but no decision has been made.

Following is a listing of the Notre Dame coaching staff as it currently stands:

Charlie Weis - Head Coach

Corwin Brown - Associate Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach

Rob Ianello - Assistant Head Coach for Offense/Recruiting Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach

Jon Tenuta - Assistant Head Coach for Defense/Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach

Brian Polian - Special Teams Coordinator

Tony Alford - Running Backs Coach

Bernie Parmalee - Tight Ends Coach

Ron Powlus - Quarterbacks Coach

Frank Verducci - Running Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach

Brian White - Offensive Graduate Assistant

Bryant Young - Defensive Graduate Assistant

Kinnon Tatum - Defensive Intern

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