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After a coaching staff shakeup, expect Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis to be fully focused on strategy and personnel during spring practice, writes Eric Hansen of NBCSports.com.

Will youth be served in the defensive front seven?
It is possible that Notre Dame’s opening day lineup will include four sophomores on the defensive line, and possibly a pair of freshmen at two of the three linebacker positions.

Weis doesn’t have probable starter Manti Te‘o until summer, when the most celebrated defensive recruit of the past decade arrives from Hawaii, but he certainly can get an idea this spring of how he should be surrounded.

The first order of business is to determine whether he wants to keep junior Brian Smith at middle linebacker and play Te’o outside or put Te‘o in the middle, and put Smith back where he spent his freshman season.

Freshman Zeke Motta and sophomore Steve Filer will likely battle for the strongside linebacker spot, with junior Harrison Smith moving to safety.

Weis’ most talented players on the defensive line are some of his youngest. Can new defensive line coach Randy Hart get them up to speed? And if so, are they willing to live with the growing pains early in the season?

Who will catch on at receiver?
Junior Golden Tate and sophomore Michael Floyd are the givens, but Weis needs to find a third and fourth receiver that defenses respect.

The numbers are certainly there, but the stalling progress of Duval Kamara and Robby Parris has been perplexing. If those older receivers aren’t the answer, Goodman and Deion Walker will get a long look this spring. And don’t forget freshman Shaquelle Evans in the fall.

Can special teams be at least above average?
Actually, ND was moving in that direction late in the season. The Irish finished as the nation’s No. 1 kickoff coverage unit, and kicker Brandon Walker found himself after a 1-for-7 start on field goals.

The Irish still have plenty of room for improvement in the return game. And the punting fell off in 2008.

Of course, Weis is hoping his offense takes the kind of leap where the Irish won’t be doing much punting anyway.

Now that would be something to sing about.

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Joe Raymond / AP

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