Is this an area where Weis has grown?
by Spesh 
, Los Angeles, Monday, March 23, 2009, 07:48 (6274 days ago)
Were these types of conversations happening before? It could easily tie into one of the things Weis said during the ESPN Sunday conversation about learning not to treat freshmen and sophomores like NFL rookies.
Then again, the first example may be a better example of growth than the second one. I seem to recall Weis talking to Brady about leadership.
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"Just the other day I talked to both [Goodman] and Deion. It's time not to be freshmen anymore. They went through their year sabbatical," said Weis. "It's time to now go ahead and get in the mix. I really like what I've seen out of them, I really do."
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Q. Is this a spring where you talk to Jimmy more about taking on the leadership role? Is that something you're talking about?
COACH WEIS: We've had that conversation, Tuesday afternoon as a matter of fact. But I had Dayne in that conversation as well.
Q. What types of things do you talk about?
COACH WEIS: I talk about what great quarterbacks have. And what guys that aren't great don't have. You know, I've said that great quarterbacks are perceived by not only the receivers, the guys that are getting the ball in their hands but by the offensive linemen, by the running backs, by the tight ends, by the defensive backs, by the linebackers and everyone else.
Great quarterbacks are guys that the whole team has confidence in. That you're going to lead us to win. That was a conversation, not just one, but they were both in for that conversation.
I think the most telling part of his Sunday Conversation
by scriptcomesfirst , Monday, March 23, 2009, 08:06 (6274 days ago) @ Spesh
was the aspect of realizing the difference between college freshman/sophs and NFL rookies. I'm sure coming in, he subconsciously thought of them as similar. This fact was somewhat obscured because he was fortunate enough to have very few underclassmen issues to deal with in 2005-06, but they bit him in the ass in 2007. From an "on field" perspective, he made his rookie mistakes in his 3rd year rather than his first.
This also contributed to guys like Latina not being perceived as a weakness until late in the game. It was only when ND had youthful players that needed to be taught a considerable amount that some of the coaching weaknesses were identified.
At least that is my take.