Welcome back to another edition of Subway Domer’s Wu Am I?series. This is a look at who the 36 players of impact are on this Notre Dame Football team for 2010. If you have missed some of the previous Wu Am I? posts from 2010, please check out: Chambers 1&2, Chambers 3&4, Chambers 5&6, Chambers 7&8, Chambers 9&10, Chambers 11&12.
Let’s keep this bitch rolling? Chambers 13 & 14 are opened. Nick Tausch and Harrison Smith step forward…
Nick Tausch #40
Kicker
6’0″ 190 lbs.
Sophomore
Plano, Texas
Wu Name: Promiscuous Protestah
As far as kickers go, Nick Tausch was a fairly high rated prospect. The Fighting Irish jumped early on Tausch and Tausch rewarded the Irish with a commitment. Tausch was part of a recruiting class that not only had a kicker (Tausch), but they got commitments from a punter (Turk), and a long snapper (Cowart). Tausch was in the mix right away, and won the kicking battle out of summer/fall camp. He was more healthy and more consistent than his competition. He broke a school record when he made 14 consecutive FG’s during the season and set another record as he converted on 5 FG’s in the Washington game.
2010 should be a fine year for Tausch. He should win the starting job as the kicker for the second year in a row, and if he can stay healthy (he missed the final 3 games of 2009 with a foot injury) he could very well be the difference in the win/loss column. After proving himself to have ice in his veins as a freshman, his kicking should improve as he gets ready for his sophomore campaign. The biggest question that Irish fans are asking about Tausch, is if he can consistently kick the ball to the goaline and beyond on the kickoffs. Can I get a Longo anyone?!
Harrison Smith #22
Safety
6’2″ 212 lbs.
Senior (RS)
Knoxville, Tennessee
Wu Name: Hayseed Tha Dragon-Slaya
Something must have been in the air in Tennessee in December of 2006. Harrison Smith held offers from all over the SEC and ACC, yet committed to the Irish just 10 days after another Tennessee prospect gave his pledge (some guy named Golden). Smith redshirted his freshman year, but his athleticism in practice earned rave reviews from the media and coaching staff. Smith moved to linebacker his sophomore year and had mixed results. He was quick off the edge, but more times than not, you probably saw him trying to jump over a tight end or tackle to rush the passer…it didn’t work too many times. He still finished that season 4th on the team in tackles and led the team in TFL and had 3.5 sacks. With the switch to the 4-3 in 2009, and a HUGE need at safety, Smith moved back to the secondary. The results weren’t as good as we hoped as he struggled in coverage. He was moved back to linebacker and finished the season with the 3rd highest tackle total.
Harrison took a lot of shit from everyone last year. He was, basically, the scapegoat for a secondary that never lived up to its billing. Some of it was founded, and some of it was just finger pointing- a reaction that the secondary on defenses often receive from a poor pass rush and poor coaching ( Corwin Brown). The Irish are basically loaded at OLB in 2010, and Smith’s services will not be needed there. He is back at safety and the hope is that the new coaching staff can get Harrison to perform to his best capability. He is one of the best athletes on the team, and if he can get his shit together, the defense could be very, very good. He should benefit from a better system and hopefully, a better pass rush. Seriously. Our defensive hopes could lay in his hands. Get behind him and support the shit out of this kid. He deserves it- and needs it.
