Notre Dame, Ind (UHND) - Well its that time of year again. Time for me to start writing frequent articles with the season less than 2 months away. For the last few years we have done position analysis for the positions before spring and then before players report for summer so as always I am going to start at quarterback. This year like the previous two years, the quarterback position is one of the most highly discussed. Not since Jarious Jackson graduated has there been no questions regarding this spot coming into the season, and this season is no different.

The battle was supposed to rage on into summer practice, but with one decision, Matt LoVecchio ended the battle. LoVecchio opted to transfer to Indiana and sit a year rather than continue the battle for the starting quarterback position this summer with fellow junior Carlyle Holiday. Holiday took the starting job from LoVecchio last year after a dreadful start. Holiday showed promise but neither quarterback showed the capability to run the pro-style offense that Tyrone Willingham brought with him to Notre Dame.

Holiday is a tremendously gifted athlete with a great arm, but under the Davie regime he never showed the ability to be able to run an offense like the Irish have now. Holiday is at his best when he is allowed to make plays on the run and make defenders miss him. Last season, Holiday was much more exciting to watch running than he was throwing. That is definitely something Carlyle would like to change. Any quarterback will tell you that they want to be known for their arm not their legs.

With Bill Diedrick and Tyrone Willingham running the offense, Holiday should improve greatly. Stanford's quarterbacks were always polished passers who could get the job done while Ty was there. It may take Holiday a little time to master another new offense, but I think he is up to the task. Last season he was asked to strap the offense to his back and carry them to victory. He did that in some of the games, but in other games he looked worn down from the beating he was taking by running for over 100 yards in multiple games.

There is still a lot of speculation regarding whether or not Holiday will be where he needs to be as a passer before the season starts. He has a full spring under his belt with the new staff and can only improve this summer. Where the season to start today, I for one would be a little worried especially with the questions regarding the running back position (but that debate is for another day and another article). Given the a full summer of practice though, I think Holiday will be fine. At the beginning of the season he may not win games solely with his arm, but he also won't lose them with it either. In the beginning, he is going to have to use those legs a little until he gains confidence with he new system and the new receivers.

Behind Holiday is a walk on sophomore and a incoming freshman. Jared Clark moved to tight end and with the departure of LoVecchio, a lack of depth was created. Clark won't be moving back so the Irish are in a very familiar situation - unproven starting quarterback and two backups with no game experience. This will be the third season in a row the Irish enter the season with a similar situation at quarterback.

The walkon is Pat Dillingham. Dilligham looked good in the Spring Game and is more of a pocket passer than a scrambler. He was not given a scholarship to a D1 school but came to Notre Dame to prove he has the skill to make it at this level. That alone should make every Notre Dame follower a fan of his. He is unproven however and has no game experience. None the less, Notre Dame enters the season with him as their back up.

Starting the summer third on the depth chart is Chris Olsen, another New Jersey quarterback. Olsen comes in with some high rankings and a lot of praise. Adjusting to the college level however isn't always easy. Olsen won't be asked to come in and set the world on fire. Rather, he will be expected to come in and learn the offense be able to contribute should he be needed to. Olsen has a lot of promise and it would surprise no one if he ended summer as the #2 quarterback that is except of course Pat Dillingham.