First off, let's agree that good d-lines are the key to good defense. Pressure on qb and ability to force double teams let the LBs room free and DBs play more aggressive and make big plays.
Look back at our d-lines since 2005.
While we always had a playmaker on the d-line (Justin Tuck, Stephon Tuitt, Trevor Laws, Sheldon Day, Victor Abiamiri) and then a good 2nd D-linemen (Louis Nix, Pat Kunz, Kapron-Lewis Moore, Isaac Rochell, Ian Williams) Several of these players were actually on the d-line at the same times, but one might be a senior and the other playing as a Freshman or Sophomore. The real challenge came next:The 2nd teams.
By no means do I mean any disrespect for these next level players, just stating my opinion as I know these players worked hard and gave all to ND. Guys like John Ryan, Justin Utopo, Sean Cynar, Ethan Johnson, Paddy Mullen (Most of these guys also started at some point) All were ok, but not impact makers who were contributing to the defense as needed.
Linebackers: Excluding Manti Teo and Jaylon who were elite, our other linebackers were being asked to do too much. Players like Darius Fleming, Brain Smith, Mo Crum, Jarrett Grace, Dan Fox,
Joe Schmidt.These guys were all solid players but would not have started on most top 20 teams. Add in the fact that their d-lines were thin and exhausted by halftime. if you recall, we lost many games in the 3rd and 4th qtr in this period. Even Manti's defense, they were good on the top 11 but no depth and when guys got in, there was a big fall off in talent or experience.
Watching yesterday game was exciting on many levels. None more exciting than our dominance n the second half (also last week). It seems our defense gets stronger in the 2nd half. It's actually our ability to run in many guys and keeping everyone fresh. Going into the game was lose Daelin Hayes, and then lose Okwara for targeting. Those two are 1/2 of our front 4 and two major impact players. Earlier in the year we lose Daniel cage before the season and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (impact player based on what we saw thus far) in game one. This could have been devastating to teams of the past. This week we lose Hayes and Okwara get ejected.
Our depth at DE is pretty awesome and the sophomores and freshman who are getting in are making plays already and look like the belong. #41 Hinish (So), #57 Jason Ademilola,(Fr) #44 Jamir Jones (Jr.), #91 Adetokumbo Ogundeji. Each of these guys is making plays. I keyed on Justin Ademilola (Fr) on his few plays last night and he made a few stops and looked like he belonged. Add these guys to the top players: Tlllery, Okwara, Hayes, Bonner, Kareem.
Future & Hopeful contributors -Jamion Franklin,Owusa-Koramoah, Kofi Wardlow, Darnell Ewell
The new rule for eligibility is interesting and should benefit ND. The new rule allows Freshman to play in 4 games during the season and still protect their 5th year status. This differs from the old rule where Freshman could play in the first game but it they played beyond that 4th game, they would burn a year of eligibility. One of our challenges that past 10-15 years has been a big drop off after our first team players. As an example-D-line, linebackers. This new rule let's use get guys in during the season when ready and this will pay dividends as far as depth and experecien moving forward. This could have been helpful in years past when our depth was thin, and our best DL's went to the NFL early and the backups we were not to reload.
I would love to see more middle linebacker minutes being given to backups as Coney and Tranquil will wear down. The DBs are shuffling in many players there, which is awesome.
Kudos to Kelly and the coaches for focusing on and executing the defensive recruitment side of the ball.
Look back at our d-lines since 2005.
While we always had a playmaker on the d-line (Justin Tuck, Stephon Tuitt, Trevor Laws, Sheldon Day, Victor Abiamiri) and then a good 2nd D-linemen (Louis Nix, Pat Kunz, Kapron-Lewis Moore, Isaac Rochell, Ian Williams) Several of these players were actually on the d-line at the same times, but one might be a senior and the other playing as a Freshman or Sophomore. The real challenge came next:The 2nd teams.
By no means do I mean any disrespect for these next level players, just stating my opinion as I know these players worked hard and gave all to ND. Guys like John Ryan, Justin Utopo, Sean Cynar, Ethan Johnson, Paddy Mullen (Most of these guys also started at some point) All were ok, but not impact makers who were contributing to the defense as needed.
Linebackers: Excluding Manti Teo and Jaylon who were elite, our other linebackers were being asked to do too much. Players like Darius Fleming, Brain Smith, Mo Crum, Jarrett Grace, Dan Fox,
Joe Schmidt.These guys were all solid players but would not have started on most top 20 teams. Add in the fact that their d-lines were thin and exhausted by halftime. if you recall, we lost many games in the 3rd and 4th qtr in this period. Even Manti's defense, they were good on the top 11 but no depth and when guys got in, there was a big fall off in talent or experience.
Watching yesterday game was exciting on many levels. None more exciting than our dominance n the second half (also last week). It seems our defense gets stronger in the 2nd half. It's actually our ability to run in many guys and keeping everyone fresh. Going into the game was lose Daelin Hayes, and then lose Okwara for targeting. Those two are 1/2 of our front 4 and two major impact players. Earlier in the year we lose Daniel cage before the season and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (impact player based on what we saw thus far) in game one. This could have been devastating to teams of the past. This week we lose Hayes and Okwara get ejected.
Our depth at DE is pretty awesome and the sophomores and freshman who are getting in are making plays already and look like the belong. #41 Hinish (So), #57 Jason Ademilola,(Fr) #44 Jamir Jones (Jr.), #91 Adetokumbo Ogundeji. Each of these guys is making plays. I keyed on Justin Ademilola (Fr) on his few plays last night and he made a few stops and looked like he belonged. Add these guys to the top players: Tlllery, Okwara, Hayes, Bonner, Kareem.
Future & Hopeful contributors -Jamion Franklin,Owusa-Koramoah, Kofi Wardlow, Darnell Ewell
The new rule for eligibility is interesting and should benefit ND. The new rule allows Freshman to play in 4 games during the season and still protect their 5th year status. This differs from the old rule where Freshman could play in the first game but it they played beyond that 4th game, they would burn a year of eligibility. One of our challenges that past 10-15 years has been a big drop off after our first team players. As an example-D-line, linebackers. This new rule let's use get guys in during the season when ready and this will pay dividends as far as depth and experecien moving forward. This could have been helpful in years past when our depth was thin, and our best DL's went to the NFL early and the backups we were not to reload.
I would love to see more middle linebacker minutes being given to backups as Coney and Tranquil will wear down. The DBs are shuffling in many players there, which is awesome.
Kudos to Kelly and the coaches for focusing on and executing the defensive recruitment side of the ball.
