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From the "Irish Eyes" blog, Week 10, 2006
Sure, it's a whole lot easier to find silver linings in the clouds when you look at a 6-2 team than it is when you're staring at 0-2. Still, before ND Nation convinces itself that the dark days are over, it might be smart to examine the sky a little more closely.
Coach O'Farrell has been fortunate to have a deep enough roster to weather the losses his offensive unit has suffered. He remained calm when Ronnie Schulz went down, refusing to burn Johnny Brewer's redshirt and trusting Oscar Sowers and Billy Joe Lang to carry the load. He trusted Nathan Brodhead to lead the team when last year's sensation, Junior Turnbull, got hurt. And he gave Courtney Cadrez and Mickey Washington a chance to demonstrate their big play-making ability after Jackie Blanchard's career reached its sad end.
However, O'Farrell could have another sort of problem on his hands. Turnbull, who was believed to be injured so badly that he wouldn't be back until the postseason. should be ready for action against LSU next week. In his absence, Brodhead has led the Irish to three victories, and he's completed 75 percent of his passes.
Turnbull, a senior, is highly respected by his teammates, and O'Farrell likes him. He's said several times that Turnbull's breakout performance was one of the biggest keys to Notre Dame's successful 2005 season. Nobody would, therefore, blame O'Farrell if he sends Turnbull back into action with the first offense against LSU.
However, the team has caught fire with Brodhead at the controls. In one sense, the safe move for O'Farrell would be to rest Turnbull one more time and go with Brodhead against LSU.
But, in another sense, starting Turnbull is the more conventional, less risky move. No coach in the country would blame O'Farrell for giving a senior quarterback the opportunity to return to the field as soon as he's physically able.
Is O'Farrell bold enough to roll the dice with Brodhead against LSU? Or, is he bold enough to go with Turnbull, whose heart might well be big enough to help him overcome his aching wrist?
Or, will he waffle, while a genuine quarterback controversy ruins what's left of Notre Dame's season?
-Taylor Hughes
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