[Lefty Noob]

SI.com's Stewart Mandel did a story about 10 college football storylines to watch heading into spring drills, and one of them involved the Fighting Irish's search for speed and talent at the CB position.

Mandel writes:

"Here's the thing about the Irish... Anyone who watched the Fiesta Bowl, however, has a hard time shaking the image of Ohio State receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Santonio Holmes racing past Notre Dame defenders who had apparently stopped to admire the view. Last year's starting cornerbacks, Mike Richardson and Ambrose Wooden, both return, and while an added year's experience should certainly help, there's no substitute for speed. U.S Army All-American Raeshon McNeil arrives in the fall. In the meantime, untested youngsters like sophomore Leo Ferrine should get a hard look in the spring."

Can Richardson and Wooden improve, or is it time to give the younger, faster guys a shot and see what they can do?

[cjg11582]

I wouldn't feel too discouraged, one can only assume ND's defense will improve by next season. Additionally... no one can stop Ginn in the open field. You essentially have to bottle him up with the front seven so he cannot break free. He was probably the best athlete in the country in the second half of last year, minus Bush and Young.

[Calder]

It was painfully obvious watching those two get beat all year that they were in over their heads. I will tell you though that they could never be faulted for a lack of effort. They were constantly in on running plays by providing or assisting in tackles. Also, even when recievers did run past them, they never gave up on a play, and that counts for something. The effort is a reflection on Coach Weis I would say, and it was infectious on the whole team.