Notre Dame's stagnant offense against Boston College has forced coach Charlie Weis to revisit his role in the offense, Weis said during his press conference Sunday. He said he would confer with the other coaches and announce his specific role during his press conference today.
"I just told them that I was going to be taking a more active role and I'll define that more for them [Sunday]," Weis said.
Notre Dame failed to score during Saturday's 17-0 loss to the Eagles in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen threw four interceptions and the Irish only rushed for 66 yards during the game.
The defense, however, played well, limiting Boston College to 10 offensive points (safety Paul Anderson ran an interception back for the Eagles' first touchdown). Eagles quarterback Chris Crane passed for only 79 yards. Weis said he may focus more on the offense because he feels comfortable with where the defense stands.
"We've gone the last game and a half without production on offense, and I think that I feel very confident with where we are on defense right now, and this allows me at this time - look it, I'm trying to do this head coach thing where you kind of delegate," Weis said. "But I think that when there's a problem and it's an area where you believe that you can be part of the answer, I think you'd better go help."
Weis said the defense played well enough to win, but the offense and special teams failed to hold up their end of things.
"Defensively, they actually played as well as they've been playing," Weis said. "That was a pretty gutty performance by the defense."
Weis had not yet decided exactly what his role in the offense would be. He said he would discuss the matter with his coaching staff to finalize his role before the team game - planned on Tuesday.
Weis said he wanted to spend more time with the special teams, which had a multitude of problems on Saturday. Golden Tate fumbled a punt return and gave the ball to Boston College, which set up a touchdown. Punter Eric Maust had a punt blocked and only averaged 26.1 net yards per punt. The Irish also committed penalties during returns that cost them yards.
"Take that one in combination to what I just talked about with the offense, and that's two-thirds of the team who really didn't play very well yesterday," Weis said.
Note:
uWeis pulled the defense aside near the end of the game to assure them that they had played well.
"I let them know that I thought that they should definitely keep their heads up because they were the reason why we were even in the game," he said.
uClausen was not feeling well before the game. Weis sent him to bed early Friday night, but he said he looked better Saturday.
"I think as the game went on he probably wasn't feeling too well, both physically and how the game was going," Weis said.
