Michael Floyd’s Return Will Have Major Impact on Weis’ Offense

Dan Scofield — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:01:33 +0000

Notre Dame’s best receiver has been sitting on the sidelines the past five weeks in the form of a sophomore sensation derived from the depths of Minnesota.

After going up for a jump ball in the right corner of the endzone against Michigan State, what also seemed to be his sixth touchdown of the year, Floyd hit the ground, grabbed his shoulder, and shook his head, putting a pit in every Irish fan’s stomach.

Notre Dame gets it's best wide receiver back in Floyd.

He was diagnosed with a broken collarbone and was orginally expected to miss the remainder of the season.

But doctors seemed to forget that this wasn’t any ordinary human being they were diagnosing-this was Michael Floyd, the most talented wide receiver in college football.

Before his devastating injury, he miraculously hauled in five touchdowns, 358 receiving yards to go along with a 27.5 yard per catch average, all coming on only 13 receptions.

Those stats were totaled in a time period of only nine quarters of playing time.

Patrolling the sidelines with an anxious look permanently cemented on his face as he watched Golden Tate make SportsCenter-worthy highlights every Saturday, Floyd has dressed the past three weeks in order to feel like a player again.

Now, with recent good news coming from Monday’s MRI on his previously broken collarbone, Floyd is expected to play against Navy this weekend in South Bend.

What does that mean for the Irish?

Charlie Weis’ offense goes from great to elite.

Many believe that with the sophomore receiver, Notre Dame would have beaten USC due to Floyd being Notre Dame’s top red zone threat, where he is almost unstoppable.

If for not going down during the last quarter at Michigan (he received 15 stitches in his leg after the game), the Irish would have had a great shot at also beating the Wolverines.

Without playing the “what if?” game, let’s just say that Floyd is a difference-maker. And a big one at that.

Last season, Floyd went down with a knee injury against Navy and missed the rest of the season. The Irish offense, especially Golden Tate, struggled to live up to it’s name.

“I didn’t really realize it until the ‘SC game, how much we really needed him,” Tate said. “It was almost like I could do nothing. Whatever I did, they were there. It was all out of my hands.” said Tate.

However, this year Tate added the title of “wide receiver” to his resume next to “all-around athlete”. Without Floyd, he has averaged an incredible 124.6 receiving yards per game and has hauled in six touchdowns.

Throw in his rushing stats and miracles with the ball in his hands, Tate has put his name on some Heisman ballots.

Now that the best receiver on the team returns healthy, the Irish again have the best trio of receivers in the country in Floyd, Tate, and sensational-sophomore, Kyle Rudolph, who has seen decreased production after the loss of No. 3.

With the sophomore from Minnesota patrolling the No. 1 receiver slot, opponent secondaries are in trouble. Who do you double team?

Does it matter?

If opponent’s choose to double Floyd, that will leave Tate with single coverage, something he has dominated this season, and take away attention in the middle where Rudolph is most efficient.

Double Tate, and opponent’s may have an even bigger problem if Floyd proves to be as healthy as he is thought to be.

Tate has proven he can beat the double coverage, and single coverage on Floyd is a death wish for any opposing defensive back. Not to mention, Rudolph will have made a living in the middle of the field.

Now that Notre Dame has produced a fairly decent rushing attack with a healthy Armando Allen, Robert Hughes, and even Theo Riddick, opponent’s now have their hand’s full during preparation for one of the best offenses in the country.

Pick your poison Ken Niumatalolo, Dave Wannstedt, Randy Edsall, and Jim Harbaugh.

South Bend Tribune: Did Jimmy Clausen crack thru Tim Tebow-Sam Bradford-Colt McCoy bloc last weekend?

Admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:47:41 +0000

South Bend Tribune: Did Jimmy Clausen’s passer efficiency rating of 303.67 versus Nevada mean anything in the Heisman chase?

Twenty years ago, name recognition in the Heisman Trophy was everything. Now, often it can work against you. Just ask former Irish quarterback Brady Quinn about that one.

Heisman voters love new blood in the discussion. Clausen had a sensational start Saturday. His 303.67 passing-efficiency rating leads the admittedly heavily skewed national stats.

He is also one of four national finalists for something called the “AT&T All-America Player of the Week,” which presumably has more to do with his 315-yard, four-TD day than his cell phone usage. That’s a much more sane discussion at this point of the season than the one with the H-word.

For Clausen, his breakthrough — whether it is Heisman-esque or something more mortal — will have everything to do with how he handles his next brush with adversity.

That is the next step in his evolution. If Clausen navigates it as well as he did the overmatched Nevada secondary Saturday, then he’ll consistently put up the big numbers, but more importantly, find ways to put his team consistently in the win column.

Notre Dame Heisman Trophy Winners

Admin — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:55:05 +0000

Notre Dame Heisman Trophy Winners

Angelo Bertelli – 1943

Johnny Lujack – 1947

Leon Hart – 1949

Johnny Lattner – 1953

Paul Hornung – 1956

John Huarte – 1964

Tim Brown – 1987

Fighting Irish Gameday » Heisman

Michael Floyd’s Return Will Have Major Impact on Weis’ Offense

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