Weis to be offensive coordinator next season at ND

[February 20, 2009]  SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Coach Charlie Weis will take over offensive coordinator duties for Notre Dame next season, the biggest in a series of changes in coaching responsibilities announced Friday. Defensive coordinator Corwin Brown will share the title of defensive coordinator with Jon Tenuta while adding the title of associate head coach. Tenuta, the linebackers coach, will call plays on defense.

New offensive line coach Frank Verducci, a Cleveland Browns assistant the past two seasons, has added the title of running game coordinator, while receivers coach Rob Ianello will be assistant coach for offense.

Weis said many of the changes in roles involved his decision to call plays on offense as he did for his first three seasons before handing the duties last season over to Mike Haywood, now the head coach at Miami of Ohio. Brown will take over some of the other duties Weis previously handled.

"Because there's going to be times where I need input from him, especially during the season, on some matters as it relates to the defense overall and special teams, because I'm going to be spending the majority of my time during the season with the offense," Weis said.

Weis also is considering going up to the press box during games after the success the Irish had in the 49-21 win over Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl, when was upstairs because he was on crutches because of two bad knees.

"I can tell you that it's a subject that we've addressed as a staff. Although I'd say it's definitely on the lower end of 50-50, it's not something that's a 5 percent consideration by us at this point," he said.

If Weis goes to the press box, Brown will be in charge on the sideline.

Weis said he decided to name a running coordinator because it has been a weakness for the Irish since he arrived.

"You look at our rushing average, I think it was 3.3 yards a carry. Most teams on a championship level are over 4.6. That's 1.3 yards a carry. We're not talking half a yard now," he said. "That's obviously an area of concern on my part, and an area that I drastically think has to improve if we're going to play championship-caliber football."

Notre Dame, which went 7-6 last season, has had its three worst rushing seasons in school history under Weis. The Irish rushed for a record low 75 yards a game in 2007, 110 yards a game this past season and 126 yards a game in 2006. The previous record low was 127 yards a game in 2004.

On defense, Tenuta said he expect the Irish will be a little more aggressive with him calling plays.

"My philosophy won't change of making the front five move their feet and getting after the quarterback," he said. "The pressure package is what I've always done and will continue to do."

Weis still has to hire a defensive line coach. He had been talking to former Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel, with whom he worked both were coordinators with the New England Patriots, but Crennel informed Weis this week that it would not work out. Weis hopes to have a new coach soon.

Weis said he hopes graduate assistant Bryant Young, who played 14 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, will eventually become Notre Dame's defensive line coach, but he wanted him to see how he likes the work before giving him the title.

Weis also said his right knee is pain-free after undergoing knee replacement surgery in December. He is walking without a cane this week, although, slowly. He said he's putting off surgery on his left knee, which was injured on Sept. 13 when defensive end John Ryan, who is 6-foot-5 and 264 pounds, was blocked into him on the sideline. He said the left knee is pain-free and he won't undergo surgery unless there is pain.

[Associated Press; By TOM COYNE]

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