Notre Dame’s Future Success Is Tied To Clausen

The Irish had an opportunity to send the game into overtime, but once again the Trojans found a way to get past Notre Dame 34-27. The Fighting Irish can only state with confidence that they are superior at the QB position and WR position. Matt Barkley is not better than Jimmy Clausen and it can be argued that Golden Tate is better than Damian Williams. At every other position on the field USC is just flat out better than the Irish. Notre Dame did a very good job of containing Joe McKnight holding him to 79 yards on 19 carries and 1 TD, but all three Notre Dame’s RB’s only combined for 70 yards on 20 carries and 1 TD. USC DE Everson Griffen was in the Irish backfield for the majority of the game. It was hard for Notre Dame to create pressure without blitzing. WR Damian Williams hit the Irish defense for a 41-yard TD on a WR screen when Notre Dame was caught blitzing at the wrong time. Even with the departure of players like Mark Sanchez, Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, Kyle Moore and Fili Moala Notre Dame still lacked the talent level to compete with USC.

If Notre Dame wanted to win this game their key players Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate had to have big games and they did. Clausen finished the game 24/43, threw for 260 yards and had 3 TD’s. Golden Tate finished with 8 receptions, 117 yards, 2 TD’s and 62 yards on kickoff returns. Notre Dame only has two playmakers and the Trojans have six or seven players that can change the outcome of a game. One major concern that needs to be addressed is how did ND allow Matt Barkley to throw for 380 yards. This was the first time this season that Barkley passed for more than 283 yards. Before this game Trojan TE Anthony McCoy’s best game was 3 catches for 64 yards against San Jose State. McCoy finished with 5 catches for 153 yards. Notre Dame can’t allow players who are seldom heard from to have the best performances of their career in a game of this magnitude.

If Notre Dame expects to have a chance against USC in the L.A. Memorial Coliseum in 2010 they will need Clausen and Tate to return for their senior seasons. If Clausen and Tate enter the 2010 NFL Draft the Irish do not have equal talent at QB or WR to replace those two players. With this season being used as a chance to get Matt Barkley some playing experience by next season Barkley will not only be considered one of the best QB’s in the Pac Ten, but he will be one of the best returning QB’s in the country. If USC faces Notre Dame next season without Clausen on the field the Trojans will have a major advantage at the QB position. When Notre Dame faces the Trojans in December of 2010 that game could have National Championship implications on the line for USC and the only way a BCS berth will be on the line for Notre Dame is if Clausen and Tate can be convinced to stay in South Bend for one more year.