Notre Dame lost six starters from last year’s defense and changed defensive schemes following the departure of Bob Diaco to be the head coach of UConn and subsequent hiring of Brian VanGorder. Â Surely the Irish defense was going to be a liability and take a step back in 2014. Â Well, three games into the season that does not seem to be the case at all.
The 2014 Fighting Irish have given up a total of 31 points through three games and recorded the first shut out of Michigan in Notre Dame history. Â Not bad for a new scheme with all those new starters while also being thrown the curve ball of losing two projected starters – Keivarae Russell and Ishaq Williams – to the academic scandal.
Many tough tests remain for Brian VanGorder’s young defense, but three games into the 2014 season, the Irish defense grades out very well. Here’s our breakdown of each position group.
Defensive Line
We know Notre Dame lacks the star power it’s had along the defensive line in the past this year. Â There is no Louis Nix and there is no Stephon Tuitt for the Irish in 2014. Â What we have found out, however, is that while lacking star power, the line doesn’t lack actual power. Â Through three games the Notre Dame defensive line has played about as well as anyone could have hoped for. Â The line has more than held its own and has been disruptive at times – especially in week two against Michigan and Devin Gardner.
Romeo Okwara leads the Irish in sacks with 2.5 despite splitting time with Andrew Trumbetti prior to Trumbetti sitting out the Purdue game with injury. Â Freshman Kolin Hill has been playing an undersized DE role as a pass rush specialist and comes in second with 2.0. Â Sheldon Day and Jarron Jones have been a rock solid duo in the middle of the Irish defensive line combining for 3.5 tackles for loss and 8 QB hurries.
The line hasn’t been dominant but it has held its own despite losing Ishaq Williams to the academic investigation while replacing a 2nd and 3rd round NFL Draft pick. Â Frosh Daniel Cage has played a key reserve role, Isaac Rochell has stepped into his starting role well, and even 5th year senior Justin Utupo has been solid despite coming into the season with just 7 career tackles.
Grade: B+
Linebackers
Jaylon Smith has been all over the field during the first three games leading the team with 4.0 tackles for loss and Joe Schmidt is quickly becoming the most underappreciated man in the Notre Dame world. Â Schmidt leads the Irish with 23 total tackles and put the final nail in Purdue’s coffin last week with an interception. Â Schmidt and Smith also teamed up to force a fumble of Devin Gardner last week. Â Outside of these two though, the Notre Dame linebackers have been quiet.
James Onwualu has only five tackles through three games and all other Notre Dame linebackers have combined for just 6 including special teams stops. Â What is the most surprising to me with the linebackers is that Ben Councell does not have a single tackle so far this season. Â Notre Dame’s opponents haven’t really given Councell many opportunities given their offensive attacks, but I figured he’d have more chances by now.
The Notre Dame linebackers as a whole have been solid. They haven’t been a liability so far this year and have made some plays, but nothing too out of the ordinary to this point.
Grade: B
Secondary
Coming into the season everyone thought the secondary would be the strength of the defense. Â Then they lost Keivarae Russell to the academic investigation and everyone wondered if the secondary would suffer. Â Three games in people are still wondering if the loss of Russell will suffer because so far the secondary has been lights out.
5th year senior transfer Cody Riggs has really stepped into a leadership role in place of Russell and been excellent in coverage. Â Before suffering a concussion against Purdue, Cole Luke was playing at a high level as well. Â Once he got hurt Devin Butler stepped in and picked off the first pass of his career.
At safety, the Irish got off to a rough start against Rice with some miscommunication between Elijah Shumate and Max Redfield which Kelly explained as being because Shumate and Redfield hadn’t practiced that much together prior but were thrust onto the field at the last minute due to Austin Collinsworth MCL injury. Â So far it looks like Kelly was right because the duo was fantastic in the shut out of Michigan. Against Purdue Redfield was ejected because of his targeting penalty but freshman Drue Tranquil stepped in and played very well.
The Notre Dame secondary has been hit with multiple losses due to suspensions, injuries, ejections, etc but it hasn’t missed a beat so far this year. Â They haven’t face a truly potent passing game to date so there will be much stiffer tests for this group as the season progresses, but so far they’ve risen to the challenge and are a big reason why the Notre Dame defense is giving up just over 10 points a game through three games this season.
Grade: A
Love thee Notre Dame–Keep it up guys.
Secondary has really come through. J Smith has been great and d-line serviceable. I love the intensity VG brings to the table.
By the numbers:
ND is #1 in turnover margin (+8).
They are #3 in scoring defense (10.3 ppg).
They have not given up a rushing TD.
After half-time, the only score allowed was in the Rice game after the subs were put in.
ND has scored in every quarter this season and in 100% of their red zone opportunities.
Look who ND has played. I think everyone on this board gets a little to excited to early. Let’s see how this defense reacts in Tallahasse on a Saturday night or on a crisp October day against Standford. Those are the measuring sticks for success.
I agree! BVG is awesome! I love the enthusiasm. I can see it fire up the team. Not just the D!
Liked your comments Bob R. Time for Burgundy to say something intelligent. Is that possible?
Cheers,
Woody
Nope
LOL
How’d we get from grading our D’ to BK’s play-calling, our RBs, to H-backs, to Joe Gibbs?
Excuse me for getting back to on topic,
our D’,
but I’d give BVG an ‘A” as well.
BVG recognizes how bringing pressure is modern D’
turning a Heismann-like performance by Gardiner last year into a shut-out next time we played against him.
That’s not a knock on a successful Diaco, but BVG’s D’ is as effective, and a lot more fun to watch.
And despite our numerous D’ losses to injury, academics (or whatever this fiasco has become),
and suspensions to his starters, his D’ keeps after ’em. We were playing without Russell, Hardy, Collinsworth, Luke, Trumbetti , (and Redfield for two and a half quarters )
and gave up 0 points, like we did for 4 quarters against Mich.
Purdue’s quick short passes were an excellent scheme to diminish the pressure,
as was focusing on stopping ND’s run, which was a carry-over from Mattison’s schemes the week before.
(But ND’s offense is still averaging over 36 ppg, – and over 30 points the last two weeks).
What most impressed me about our D’ is their adjustments during game -time.
One’s never quite sure how many are coming, and from where. Their confusion becomes our opportunity.
And this D’ has been great at cashing in on those opportunities.
By the mid-2nd quarter, our D’s “lights-out” dominance has shut down opponents’ yards and scoring.
I suspect Syracuse’s mobile QB will break some plays, and Stanford will try as they always do to run over you,
to set up play-action passes. Can the D’line hold up, and can Joe Schmidt stop the Cardinal runs up the middle?
More tests to pass . . . but a surprisingly impressive first quarter for the D’ this season.
Gibbs is such a brilliant football mind that he still gives “Preparation H
Back Seminars” and charges thousands for them.
Oh, darn! That’s not Joe gibbs.
JOe Gibbs is in Nascar. For the next exciting episode learn how
that clever Gibbs was able to transmogrify H back thinking to the banked oval in his NASCAR work!
Gibbs was an excellent coach. That’s really not debatable.
Great comment Bruce.
Loved his teams!
Woody
3 words never before said.
Great comment Bruce.
now that’s positive and intelligent. good job
he needs to put a big fast tight end in the backfield to block for cam, bryant, folston and golson.
“An H-Back is an offensive position in American football. The H-back lines up similarly to a tight end, but is “set back” from the line of scrimmage, and is thus counted as one of the four “backs” in the offensive formation. The position was made notable in the NFL by the Washington Redskins under head coach Joe Gibbs, who ran a two tight end system. The position was named F-Back when used later in Norv Turner’s offensive system. The position is similar to that of a slotback.
The name H-back can be confusing, because the H-back rarely carries the ball as running backs do; instead, the H-back plays a position similar to a tight end. The name stems from the playbook notation in use at the time the position was developed. Under the system used by Joe Gibbs (and indeed, by many teams then as now), the standard set of eligible ball carriers consisted of three receivers and three backs. The three receivers, the split end, tight end, and flanker, were labeled “X”, “Y”, and “Z” on play diagrams. The three backs, quarterback, halfback, and fullback, were labeled “Q”, “H”, and “F”. Gibbs’ innovation was to move one of the backs up near the line of scrimmage, to act as an extra tight end. At the time the system was developed, the best running back on the Redskins was John Riggins, a fullback. Since Riggins and quarterback Joe Theismann were vital to the team at the time, the lesser used halfback was removed and replaced with an extra tight end. The standard notation was retained, however, so this new tight end was still assigned the “H” symbol on play diagrams, hence the name “H-back” for the position. Like a flanker, the H-back was set back from the line of scrimmage, and the role was often played by an athletic tight end. The H-back often has to be versatile; as a backfield member, they can be lined up to act as a lead blocker on running plays. However, the H-back also fills the roles of a traditional tight end, catching passes over the middle and pass blocking when needed.
In the Redskins offensive system, the H-back is asked to block, pass protect, and run receiving routes from multiple sets. This compares to the standard tight end which was used primarily as an extra blocker on Washington offensive line. The H-back can line up in the backfield, on the line, or is put into motion. Because of the complexity of the position, a thorough knowledge of the offense is desirable in an H-back. The position, indeed the entire two Tight End offense, was created by Gibbs as a direct response to Lawrence Taylor, the New York Giants’ dominant linebacker.[1][2] As Gibbs stated, “[w]e had to try in some way have a special game plan just for Lawrence Taylor. Now you didn’t do that very often in this league but I think he’s one person that we learned the lesson the hard way. We lost ball games.”
What about the FU back?
Interesting stuff.
ND has something special here and will use it properly I pray.
Because he calls a WR screen featuring his lightest WR as the primary blocker on 3rd and short in the red zone? That’s how I KNOW. BK’s play calling has left points on the field in each of the first 3 games. Unquestionably.
The only thing you might know is the difference between your head and your ass. That is even questionable.
another ad hominem attack.
You are obnoxious.
I agree with your viewpoint, but not your style.
This is the internet. Easy to be a tough guy.
Woody
Like he says. What’s the point of saying something like this?
I’m really hoping that Kelly keeps Shumate in as the starter regardless whether Collinsworth is healthy or not. We need the superior athletes in there, period. Joe Schmit has been solid so far, he has, but can he hold up against the elite teams we face on our grueling schedule? That’s worrisome to any Irish fan. Im really hoping Nyles Morgan can quickly adapt and adjust to the college game; we will need him.
That said, Brian Kelly needs to stick with 2 running backs. Start Bryant and have Folston play as well. As far as Cam McDaniel goes, he shouldn’t be playing unless its garbage time and your just running out the clock.. Stop playing him just because he’s a senior. who cares. And another thing– perhaps Kelly could get more creative with the running game and that could lead to better success- rather than running the same repetitive stuff where Golson just hands it off up the middle from the gun… Kelly is a great recruiter, and he has build our program to heights it hasn’t reached since Holtz– from a depth and talent spandpoint..but his play calling sucks… Go Irish
Just to clarify, the guy with over 200 career wins can’t call plays? You know this how?
Again, I like Kelly. This is the most talent and depth Notre Dame has had–top to bottom–since holtz. But calling plays for central Michigan, grand valley, and Cinn isn’t quite like calling plays for the most high-profile brand in college football with every game on national tv…. Brian Kelly will make you scratch your head…
Ron,
I was actually reading a link on this page where they breakdown the ND running game. Part of the problem is that the lineman aren’t sustaining blocks and are getting beat at the point of attack. The other problem is ND doesn’t have a lead blocker and the threat of Everett running is what should stop the back end of the defense from crashing. It is more a scheme issue not a play call. BK does not want to run Everett a lot because he could get hurt. Defense no this and are not respecting the backside run. An adjustment must be made by BK. He can use an H Back at the point of attack or he will need to run EG more.
Corey I completely agree with you about the running back. I like Cam but he’s taking away carries from GB and Folston. GB needs the more than 6 carries game. Cam is not a 5 star RB.
Corey,
Cam McDaniel is the only that can read a block. For all the talent that Bryant has he isn’t patient and he doesn’t wait for blocks to be set up. If you want to game 3-5 yards every time you run the ball, put Cam in for the series. This bullshit I keep hearing about getting into a rhythm as a running back just that, BS. Most NFL teams and college teams use a running back by committee. As far as play calling Holtz hired great coordinators to do that for him. His 88 defense was a product of Barry Alverez, not Holtz. Another thing if I saw the T one more time on goal line from Holtz I was going to scream. Holtz is a great motivator, recruiter and manager,but football savant he was not.
I never said anything about Holtz being a savant. I never even said Holtz was a good or bad play caller. All I said is that Kelly has brought in an abundance of talent and depth to an irish roster that hasn’t been seen since the holtz days. In any event, 2-3 yards a-pop by McDaniel against our schedule will not get it done. I hope McDaniel doesn’t play at all against teams like FSU, Stanford.. We need running backs with electrifying abilities.. Bryant 5-star; Folton 4-5 star… the days of Cam McDaniel, robby toma, joey getherall, matt Shelton, john goodman, are over –we need highly skilled guys in there at all times.. you think McDaniel would even see the field if he played for LSU, Bama etcc hell no…..
Actually, I think he would! Remember Hester at LSU? I like the rotation…fresh legs always and less chance of injury to 5 stars. Cam is solid. Also, I know it humbles the defense when he gets a good gainer or TD. He reminds me of Lee Becton.
O-line needs to gel…might need some reshuffling. Elmer not quick enough at RT???
Woodrow
Corey: All my respect, brother. But having multiple options is a WAY better method than developing and/or utilizing a single superior talent. “What if”s notwithstanding, (though still very relevant) this year we are really seeing A benefit of having a full-cupboard of capable players. “The 5-academic-jerks” are not having the impact many lesser-programs (UMichigan) are hoping for because of the “next-man-in” ideology. I disagree with developing A top-talent rather than having 3 capable backs, all with specific particular talents.
PS: BK’s play-calling DOES kinda suck. I agree.