Dan Pompei - Sporting News
"Notre Dame will be better off with Charlie Weis as it head coach than it would have been with Urban Meyer. Based on his work in New England, Weis should have one of the most prominent offenses in college football with the talent he'll get at Notre Dame. And he will get talent. In my dealings with Weis, I've found him to be a natural salesman. His charm will serve hime well in recruiting. His toughness will serve him well in motivating. This is an excellent hire."
 

The Chicago Sun-Times
An NFL personnel boss laughed Monday when asked if Charlie Weis will be able to recruit at Notre Dame. "Can he give away scholarships? Hey, the quarterbacks should be paying him,'' the personnel boss said. "The guy is the best offensive coordinator in football, No. 1 at any level. Who wouldn't want to learn how to play in the NFL?''
 

Chris Landry - NFL Scout
"I think he is an absolutely brilliant football mind and will give Notre Dame a game week preparation and game day coaching edge that it has not had in a very long time. If there is 6 win talent, he will win 7 or 8. He needs to upgrade the talent level so he can compete at a national championship level. He understands and embraces the program and what its expectations and has already begun to assemble a nice staff."
 

IrishEyes

Its common knowledge that the vast majority of great football coaches are in the NFL. Its also common knowledge that the best and most innovative minds are twisting Xs and Os during the week in NFL film rooms.

But one man stands above all on offense--that man is Charlie Weis.

This isnt some coach hanging 50 points on WAC teams. Weis isnt some flash in the pan coach who is the flavor of the month or the year. This is a guy who consistently and overwhelmingly beats the best defensive minds in the NFL.

Weis beats the best minds in the best league (NFL) to the tune of 27 out of his last 29 games. That stat is mind-boggling and no college or professional coach in the country can claim that, period.
 

Chris Mortenson - ESPN NFL Analyst:
He called Weis the best offensive mind in the NFL and stated that he would lead ND back to greatness and wrote "Belichick and Weis rank as one of the smartest head coach/offensive coordinator duals in NFL history."
 

Sean Salisbury - ESPN NFL Analyst
Weis takes a back seat to no one. Salisbury said that right now he'd rather have Weis than Shanahan as a college Head Coach and that Weis is a very hot property right now, even hotter than Meyer in his opinion. He also gave a call out to all top High School quarterbacks and offensive players, that with Weis at ND they ought to reconsider their college choice and go to Notre Dame. Continued that ND has never seen an offensive scheme like the one Weis will bring.
 

Michael Irvin - ESPN NFL Analyst
Said if you believe that Notre Dame has no talent, consider that Weis is winning in the NFL with less talented players (Brady, Givens, etc.) and he wins because of his play calling. He said that ND will be back on top very soon. He also said every high school player in the country wants to go to the NFL and thatt Weis coaching the Patriots to the Super Bowl is the best recruiting he can do. He says Brady should help to for all he has done for Tom. "Michigan didn't make him millions of dollars, Charlie Weiss did." BTW, for those who did not know Weis was the #2 choice for the South Carolina job when it opened up. He tore Dan Patrick apart when Patrick said he won't be there to recruit at ND; Irvin interupted him saying High School kids want to play in the NFL, "You think this guy doesn't know how to get you to the NFL?" He continued that recruits will be looking at the Patriots saying "I want to play in that offense". Thinks ND will be back on top quickly. Recruiting tip. He said put Brady on the phone with any high school QB you want and let TOM BRADY sing his praises. what kid wouldn't be wowed by that?
 

Bill Polian - Colts GM
"Charlie has proven to be one of the outstanding offensive minds in football. His teams are exceptional in their use of personnel, exceptional in the way they attack defenses, exceptional in the concepts they use. You've hired a guy who clearly is on the cutting edge of offensive football."
 

Peter King, Sports Illustrated
"There's no question Weis's creativity and game-planning have been big factors in New England winning two of the last three Super Bowls. Just consider this: The Patriots rank fourth in the league in scoring, yet none of the 20 offensive players who dressed on Sunday were first-round draft picks."
 

Joe Theismann - ESPN Analyst
He understands throwing the football. Thats what this era of college football is today the ability to put the ball in the air. Hes been a student at Notre Dame so he knows the culture of the University. Hes worked on a big stage, having been part of World Championships two of the last three years with the Patriots. Hes very inventive his offenses have included defensive ends at fullback and linebackers at tight end. Hes inventive as well as creative.
 

Tom Lemming - Recruiting Analyst
"I always felt three things were holding back Notre Dame in recruiting. The first problem was facilities. The new Guglielmino Family Athletics Center, which is scheduled to open next year, should take care of the that problem.
The second thing was kids wanted a chance to play in the pros. Weis' résumé should take care of that. And lastly, they wanted to play in a high-powered, pro-style offense. Weis is a guy who probably has got the greatest reputation in the entire NFL as an offensive-minded guy."
 

Chicago Tribune
"Weis is widely considered an offensive mastermind who excels in player development, a man who transformed Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, a lightly regarded sixth-round pick out of Michigan, into a two-time Super Bowl MVP."
 

Sports Illustrated Dr. Z
Patriots offensive guru Charlie Weis will change up his style in a heartbeat
I've watched this team for a number of years, I've become increasingly fascinated with the workings of their attack, an aspect of their operation that's been overshadowed by the complexities of the defense. I've tried to guess along with it, with Weis, actually. Which is a kind of silly thing to do, since, as Miami middle linebacker Zach Thomas says, "Don't even try to type him. It's a waste of time. He'll never repeat tendencies."
The cerebral nature of the Patriots' offense usually takes second billing to their defense, but it's a very high-toned affair, very high indeed, and you get the feeling it can operate any phase of the game if it chooses to. Make that, if Weis chooses. And this is what I think -- if the Patriots are going to be beaten, it will be because their defense is starting to show cracks.

"There are two mentalities involved in working against pressure," he explained. "You can throw quick, throw hot, or block 'em up and throw deep. Pick your poison. Against the Bills we did a little of both, but we had our best success going deep."
Block 'em up means maximum protection, the old max-protect game. Seven people to block, or what's really the max, eight players. Max protecting with eight means you can only send two receivers out on their patterns, into a mob -- usually into double coverage -- but your quarterback won't be touched.

"Well, we were protecting with eight when we hit that crossing route to David Patten (43 yards)," Weis says. "You shouldn't be able to complete a pass into double coverage, but fortunately they were in an all-out blitz. We used all our protection schemes in that game. From empty in the backfield to five-protect, up to eight.
"We try not to tip our hand as to what it's gonna be. Sometimes you want to bait 'em, let them think it it's gonna be one thing, then give them something else."

Here's another thing about Weis' system. You never know who the featured receiver will be, which package will be presented. Against the Colts, Deion Branch and tight end Daniel Graham were featured, and they led the team with seven catches apiece. David Givens was the top catcher against the Cards, Patten against Buffalo, although the other tight end, Christian Fauria, who had hardly been used in the first two games, came through with two clutch catches. It would be impossible to name a go-to receiver for Brady.

"Scott Pioli and the personnel department and coach Belichick give you the players," Weis says, "and our job is to figure out how to use them. Whoever you have, whether its your sixth receiver or your third tight end, you know he's going to be a player and he's going to help you some time along the way."

The common strain that runs through the Patriot linemen -- intelligence. You won't see many scheme screw-ups along that unit, or unblocked pass rushers pouring in.

"Intelligence in the offensive line is greatly underrated," Weis says. "A smart lineman can compensate for a lot of things. It starts with the center and works its way out. And we're lucky to have a quarterback who works very well with them."

Well, we don't really know at this point how many records the Patriots will set, or how long they'll stay unbeaten. But right now the offense is a fascinating production, every bit as cerebral as the vaunted defense, equally unpredictable. I wonder how history will evaluate it.
 

Boston Globe Tom Brady/Mike Vrabel/Christian Fauria/Kevin Faulk
Weis's departure is no small development for the Patriots. He has been a fixture in Foxborough for nine seasons, fine-tuning his trickery with an ever-changing cast of talent. Talk to Curtis Martin, Terry Glenn, or Tom Brady, and each will tell you that Weis's imprint is on their offensive resume. Brady, in particular, was shepherded through his maiden years by Weis. The offensive coordinator refrained from asking Brady to do too much. He helped nurture Boston's most popular sports figure into a superstar with equal parts encouragement and tough love.
"He is as hard-working and as diligent as any coach I've been around," Brady said yesterday.

Weis's innovative schemes have provided fans with plays that have been entertaining, risky, (mostly) successful, and occasionally head-scratching. One thing you can count on when you go against a Weis offense: Expect the unexpected.

"I've heard [Miami linebacker] Zach Thomas say that numerous times," said New England linebacker Mike Vrabel. "Zach watches a lot of film. He's one of those guys who is at it until 9 o'clock every night, hoping to get an edge.

"He's told me countless times he can't do that with a Charlie Weis offense. He knows whatever he's watching is something he won't see again."
He's a big personality on our offense," Brady said. "Probably the biggest."

That personality was fully evident yesterday. There was a third-quarter Brady handoff to Dillon that quickly turned into a pitchback to Brady, and then a key 9-yard reception to tight end Christian Fauria that eventually led to the touchdown that put the Patriots comfortably in front, 35-14. Just in case you might have thought Fauria was out of favor or out of the rotation, he caught three passes for 33 yards in the absence of the injured Daniel Graham.

"Charlie is just a great play-caller," Fauria said. "In his own special way, he makes sense. When Bill [Belichick] says something, he backs it up with information. Charlie is similar. It's never the same cookie-cutter offense. He's always challenging us."

"He's been a great help to me," said running back Kevin Faulk, who also found his way into the end zone yesterday. "He's helped me grow up in this offense. It's unbelievable the time and effort he puts into this football team."

"The thing with Charlie is you have to keep your mind open," said offensive lineman Stephen Neal. "You never know what can happen -- but it's usually good."

Weis, the rumor without confirmation, will do his best to fulfill his duties with New England as he begins recruiting for Notre Dame. The possibilities are endless. Why not put Brady on the line with a quarterback recruit? Can't you hear Weis now talking to that coveted offensive lineman? "Hi there, Bubba, I'm calling from the locker room of the Super Bowl champion Patriots . . . "

He deserves this opportunity. He's earned the right to pack up his trickery and move on to bigger -- and better? -- things.
The players aren't allowed to say it, but we surely can: Charlie, we miss you already.
 

SBT - Mark Bavaro/David Givens
Bavaro played for Weis with the Super Bowl champion New York Giants in 1990 and they have been friends since.

That explains the pride in Bavaro's voice Saturday night as he discussed the possibility of Weis becoming Notre Dame's next head coach.
"I don't think they could make a better decision," Bavaro said. "He's a very straightforward, no-nonsense type of guy. He's not in it for glory or self-promotion. He's in it to win."

Weis, who has won Super Bowls with the Patriots (twice) and the New York Giants, has the more impressive coaching resume. It also didn't hurt that Givens gave him a rousing endorsement.

''He's been a teacher and a coach of high school kids, and he's got so much experience coaching young NFL players like myself,'' Givens told the Boston Globe. ''There's no doubt in my mind he would be an outstanding recruiter because he relates so well to young people. I can say this because I've played for Charlie and I've played for Notre Dame. They're all things Charlie would do very well with
 

Damien Woody - Patriots Player

"I don't know anyone who is more deserving of a job like that than Charlie. I know Tom (Brady) loves him. Sometimes some of those guys don't get the credit because it always goes to Bill (Belichick), but Charlie made something big of that offense." Former Patriots center Damien Woody

 

Irish Players: Justin Tuck

He seemed a little arrogant, but in a good way,said Tuck about his first impression of Weis. Hes real confident. It was surprising. He was the first person to come in as a guest speaker that kind of ripped us. That didnt sit well at first, but once you think about it, the things he was saying, he was absolutely right about. It really set well with me.
"I definitely could see myself playing for Mr. Weis. He seems like a true players coach. The thing I'm most impressed with is the fact that it seemed like he really wanted to be here. I can definitely see myself wanting to play for a coach like him."

Will he come back for a fifth year?

"I'm gonna sit down and talk with him and get more of a feel for him and let him get a feel for me and ask his opinion."

Does it feel good to have a coach now? "Considering all the things that this team has gone through, I think it's a great day for us right now. It's over with. We can really focus on Oregon State now and we're looking forward to next year. It will light a spark as far as excitement with our offense."
 

Irish Players: TE Anthony Fasano

"He's a little more blunt and outright [than Coach Willingham.]" How does he feel about having an offensive whiz on board?

"I know a lot of offensive guys and Brady, we're really excited to see what we can do and play to our potential."

What type of coach were the players hoping for?

"We just wanted a players coach, a guy that could get some of the players that really weren't living up to their potential really to play up to their potential and utilize everything we have here. I think we definitely got that guy. Not to get away from Coach Willingham and what he did, cause we all respected his style, but I think there's just different styles because that's what you find in coaches. And this team might need that. It wasn't successful, we were 6-5 under the old style, so maybe this new style might change that."

Hes a mastermind on offense,Fasano said of Weis. Hes going to form this offense to what this team can do. Hes going to use our offensive talent to the best of our abilities.

I think were all pretty excited,said Fasano of his teams reaction to the news Weis was the new coach. Weve just got to go out and win the bowl game, and then get started with the new era with coach Weis.

Fasano says Weispedigree and success in the NFL is something for all Irish players to get excited about.

Its so impressive,Fasano said of Weisresume. And just through the pro ranks, it just gets us all excited. We definitely want to play here on Saturdays and do the best we can, but our ultimate goal is to get to the NFL and I think that he really helps that out.

Hes just going to give everyone a fair shot and hes going to change the attitude around this place and really get things going,said Fasano when asked the question.

So the team attitude needs to change? I think so,said Fasano. Going 6-5, you have to change something.
 

Irish Players: QB Brady Quinn

"I think everyone's real excited. I'm pumped about playing. Obviously going to the press conference, and watching the (Patriots) game yesterday, it only brings excitement to me and I'm just ready to get out there and get my head in the playbook."


"Just him talking about the overall attitude of our team. When you here the word 'nasty,' I think he's really gonna bring an edge to this team."

"It gives me a sense of confidence in him because he knows what it takes to (win). He's had success, he's winning Super Bowls. So it's only going to help us and give us more confidence and help us buying into his system."

"I think everyone's coming back, without a doubt. It's an easy decision. If anyone would leave, I'd have no understanding why they'd do that."
I think just him talking about the overall attitude of our team,said Quinn when asked what he liked hearing the most. When you hear the word nasty, tough, I think hes really going to bring an edge to this team.
I wouldnt say it was missing because I feel like our team had an edge off on throughout the season, but it wasnt consistent, and I think thats something that he will bring,said Quinn.
 

Irish Players: Bob Morton

"It's a good night for Notre Dame I believe," Morton said Sunday night after meeting with Weis. "It went well, he came in, he was very positive, glad to be on board and we were glad to have him. He's just got that attitude and I'm really excited about it."
 

Irish Players: Dan Stevenson

"He's a great man, he's a no-nonsense kind of guy like they say he is and he seems like a lot of fun."
 

Recruits: Evan Sharpley

"I think it will be great," Sharpley said. "You see what he's done with the Patriots and Tom Brady and winning Super Bowls. As a quarterback, that's very exciting to think about."
 

Recruits: Scott Smith

"He definitely made me very excited to play for him. He's a straightforward guy who just talks football. I really liked him."

What did they talk about?

"He talked about what he saw in the program and where he wanted to take it. He said he tailors his program around his player's strengths."

What did he think about his personality and ability to recruit?

"It's pretty obvious he's not going to settle for anything less than returning ND back to the top of college football. That was obvious. Just talking to him, you want to play football for him. I really liked his demeanor on the phone. I think everyone else will if they want to play football."

What did he like hearing from Weis?

"He talked about his philosophy as a coach and how he wants his players to play. He said he likes nasty players who are football players. Guys that want to work hard and love to play the game."