October 30, 2009

Pete Sampson
IrishIllustrated.com Editor

Ben Turk did enough to lose his punting job against Boston College. But the freshman specialist also did enough this week to keep the job he put in jeopardy. Against the Eagles, Turk averaged 32.7 yards on six punts, which doesn't include a misfire on a free kick following a safety.

"I think that the incumbent will stay," said head coach Charlie Weis. "I think 35 kicked significantly better than 43."

No. 43 is senior Eric Maust, who opened the year as Notre Dame's starting punter before getting benched after the Purdue game. For the season, Turk is averaging 35.7 yards on his 13 punts. Maust is averaging 39.8 yards on his 14 punts. Both have one touchback while Turk edges Maust on punts inside the 20-yard line by a 4-3 margin.

Weis liked how Turk responded to being called out earlier this week when the punting competition was made public.

"I think that when the head coach comes out and tells the media that it's going to be an open competition this week and then he goes out as a freshman after having a bad day at the office and clearly out kicks the other guy, I think  he handled it pretty well," Weis said.

Personnel Matters

While Weis wants to treat each game as its own separate entity, there's no doubt that taking on a Washington State team that ranks among the most impotent in college football creates some flexibility. Don't look for Weis to call on wide receiver Robby Parris (leg) on Saturday night with cornerback Darrin Walls (illness) and Armando Allen (ankle) also potential scratches.

Parris aggravated his leg injury suffered late against USC in the first quarter against Boston College and wasn't in uniform by game's end. Walls didn't practice Wednesday but returned Thursday. Allen's ankle has required treatment all week, although he did carry 21 times for 98 yards against Boston College.

"We've got some guys that have some bumps and bruises that to be honest with you, I'll go right to game time to decide whether I'm going to do something with them or not," Weis said. "I'm going to do everything I can to win this game but at the same time if there's some players that are right on the cusp of being able to go and not being able to go, if I think a week would do them good then I'll give them a week."

That's the benefit of being a four-touchdown favorite against a team that hasn't scored four offensive touchdowns in a game all season.

Seeing More Red Zone

If it was up to Weis, college football might overhaul how it charts red zone success.

At this level, scoring a touchdown or kicking a field goal counts the same, with Notre Dame converting 25-of-29 red zone opportunities into points. That 86.2 percent rate ranks the Irish 36th nationally. However, in the NFL a red zone success only comes from a touchdown. The Irish are 16-of-29 in that category, a 55.2 percent success rate.

That's up from last year (52 percent), but surprisingly down from the 2007 season when the Irish hit on 59 percent of their chances. It's also a big drop from Weis' first two years when Brady Quinn led a lethal offense in the red zone. In 2005, the Irish converted 69 percent of their red zone opportunities into touchdowns. In 2006, that figure jumped to 72 percent.

Weis expects an upswing in this category, which could be the difference between more tight games and Notre Dame exhaling in the fourth quarter. The past three games, the Irish have turned 6-of-14 red zone possessions into touchdowns.

"I think percentage-wise we're not bad," Weis said. "But the last couple games our production has been down. I'm counting on that to change for the better very quickly."

Clausen, Tate Going Pro?

Charlie Weis has decided that Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate won't decide on the NFL.

Well, at least until the first week in December. That's when Notre Dame's head coach will sit down with his star quarterback and receiver to discuss the merits of leaving college early. It wouldn't be a surprise if both players were playing their final season in South Bend.

"We're not even going to address the subject until the first weekend in December," Weis said. "We've already addressed the fact that we're not going to address it.

"We're just worrying about the next five games starting with Washington State. First of all, let's see how we play. But we'll revisit it then, but it won't be until the first week in December."