Notre Dame opener should reveal a lot
Sometime after 2:43 p.m. Saturday, the "Top Secret" label will be peeled off, the deadbolt will be unlatched and Notre Dame's quarterback will trot onto the field.
Will it be Demetrius Jones, the 6-4 sophomore from Chicago who provides the athleticism and versatility a new-look offense needs? Will it be junior Evan Sharpley, the only quarterback on ND's roster who has thrown a pass in a college game?
Or will it be spotlighted freshman Jimmy Clausen, whose brief association has sent shockwaves through the program and its fan base?
Third-year coach Charlie Weis has done everything possible to conceal his top quarterback, waiting until Tuesday to inform the starter and the backup of their roles. But Saturday, the mystery ends in the season opener against Georgia Tech.
"I'm going to be glad to get to the game and get this stuff over with," Weis said.
All signs point to Jones taking snaps first for the Irish, though Weis said he is not opposed to playing multiple quarterbacks.
If Jones is the starter, his speed should help against Georgia Tech's attacking defense. Weis said the Yellow Jackets blitz about 75 percent of the time, so the quarterback's ability to scramble will loom large.
Though Weis concealed his starter to gain a strategic edge, Georgia Tech shouldn't struggle too much adjusting to a nimble quarterback like Jones. Veteran defenders like linebacker Philip Wheeler and defensive end Adamm Oliver have spent years practicing against former Tech QB Reggie Ball, who set a school record for completions and finished second in rushing yards by a quarterback (1,451).
"We've seen enough where we can game plan," said Wheeler, who had 9 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season. "We're just going to do what we do best."
Unless defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta is kidnapped before kickoff, that means they will blitz.
"I don't know what it would be like to play against Coach Tenuta in your first start," Tech quarterback Taylor Bennett said.
Jones, Sharpley or Clausen will find out. But they won't be alone.
The real pressure, Weis said, will fall on Notre Dame's other offensive players. Tight end John Carlson, the preseason Mackey Award favorite, can give the new QB a big target over the middle. Center John Sullivan and right tackle Sam Young must protect the pocket.
Senior Travis Thomas leads a stable of power running backs who should see increased work this fall. Thomas and sophomore James Aldridge will get the bulk of the carries, but look out for warp-speed freshman Armando Allen.
"You have to make it a more collaborative effort so you don't hang the quarterback out to dry," Weis said. "That's very, very, very critical."
Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey channeled Weis this week, refusing to say whether freshman quarterback Josh Nesbitt would sporadically step in for Bennett Saturday. The Irish are preparing for Nesbitt, but their bigger concern is running back Tashard Choice, who ranked 13th nationally in rushing last year (105.2 ypg).
All-American wideout Calvin Johnson is gone, but Bennett is confident in James Johnson, Greg Smith and his other receivers.
"We've taken Calvin and split him up into about five people," said Bennett, a St. Louis native who heard Notre Dame legend Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger speak at his local high school when he was in fourth grade. "They're some guys that have really filled these gaps."
Can Notre Dame fill its own gaps after the losses of Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija, Rhema McKnight and others?
"Not too many people are expecting anything out of us," said senior safety Tom Zbikowski, an Arlington Heights native. "We know what we're capable of and we want to show it to everyone."
Georgia Tech (0-0)
at Notre Dame (0-0)
When: 2:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Stadium
TV: Channel 5
Radio: WLS 890-AM
Series: ND leads 27-5-1
Coaches: Chan Gailey (37-27, sixth year at GT; 61-38, ninth year overall); Charlie Weis (19-6, third year at ND and overall)
Players to watch: Georgia Tech running back Tashard Choice led the ACC in rushing last year with 1,473 yards; Notre Dame tight end John Carlson had 4 or more receptions in seven of the first eight games last season.
The skinny: Without putting too much pressure on Notre Dame or its new starting quarterback, this is essentially a must-win game. Road trips to revenge-hungry Penn State and Michigan await the Irish, who play four of their first six on the road. Notre Dame has won seven straight home games against Georgia Tech and holds a 9-0 record in openers against ACC schools. Georgia Tech nickel back Pat Clark will play after being declared eligible Wednesday. Backup running back Rashaun Grant is questionable with an injured hamstring. The teams' last three meetings have been decided by a combined 15 points, with Notre Dame winning twice.