Assuming Julian Love goes pro and everyone else returns for their senior season...
2 deep will look something like...
DROP: Julian Okwara (SR)
2. Daelin Hayes (SR)
DT: Myron Tagavailoa-Amosa (JR)
2. Jayson Ademilola (SOPH)
NG: Kurt Hinish (JR)
2. Ja'Mion Franklin (SOPH)
SDE: Khalid Kareem (SR)
2. Ade Ogundeji (SR)
BUCK: Jordan Genmark-Heath (JR)
2. Shayne Simon (SOPH)
MIKE: Jonathan Jones (SR)
2. Bo Bauer (SOPH)
ROVER: Asmar Bilal (5th)
2. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JR) or Derrik Allen (SOPH)
CB: Troy Pride (SR)
2. Donte Vaughn (SR)
CB: Tariq Bracy (SOPH)
2. Noah Boykin (SOPH)
SS: Alohi Gilman (SR)
2. Houston Griffith (SOPH)
FS: Jalen Elliot (SR)
2. Kyle Hamilton (FR)
Initial impressions..
1. If all 4 pass rushers off the edge return for their senior seasons, Clark Lea is going to have some straight up dudes off the edge. Dare I say the best pass rushing defensive end group in the nation? Even if a Khalid Kareem or Julian Okwara were to go pro, returning three of those four guys for their senior season and adding one of Justin Ademilola, Kofi Wardlow or Nana-Osafo Mensah to the mix would still make it a formidable 4 man rotation. I'd like to see all 4 guys get together in the off season, make everything a competition and just dominate as seniors. It starts in the off season. Matt Balis has all 4 of the guys in great shape, but I still think there is another level for them physically. Okwara and Ogundeji in particular. They've got strength and weight to put on yet. There upside is just starting to be reached. Among the young defensive ends I'll be curious to see if Justin Ademilola outgrows the DROP and moves to SDE as I expect eventually will be the case. If that's the case, I'm curious to see if the ND staff will move Jack Lamb to drop and begin his development there because I think he has the perfect body and skill set for it.
2. Inside is a different story from defensive end. I think you'll see all four of those guys continue to improve. I think they'll have good off seasons and come back strong and ready to play major minutes. I don't think they'll be a liability inside, but they certainly won't have a Jerry Tillery type "creature" (courtesy of Pat Narduzzi) in the middle. I'd like to see Jayson Ademilola begin to emerge as a Sheldon Day type to provide as pass rush on the inside. Hinish and Tagavailoa-Amosa need to be huge in the run game. It's never good if your weak up the middle and given how green ND will be at both inside linebacker positions (regardless of who starts) ND needs their rotation at DT and NG to grow up really, really, fast. If they can't be excellent inside, it's highly unlikely those linebackers are going to hold up against the run the entire season. I don't want Alohi Gilman to have to spend his entire season in the box as an extra hat or ND is going to be stuck in a lot of cover 1 in play action. That's not a good place to be against some of the teams Notre Dame will play in 2020.
3. Linebacker is the most concerning position on the team in 2019. The two projected starters will simply have VERY little experience. Tranquil and Coney are playing at a very high level, but they take nearly 100% of the linebacker snaps. Clark Lea has his work cut out at Buck and Mike. He's their position coach and he's going to need some guys to take huge steps if he's going to get even 75% of the production out of next year's group as he is the current group. Love the depth at the position, however. Bauer is a stud and he'll play a lot. Same is true of Simon. Either of those guys could easily overtake the projected starter ahead of them. Rover should be solid again if Bilal is back and it would be nice to see Owusu-Koramoah get on the field with all his athleticism. The wildcard is Derrik Allen. That dude was born to play the Rover position. If he buys into it, works hard and reshapes his body in the off season, he'll be a monster.
4. Corner will be solid. There is no replacing Julian Love. He has arguably been the best corner in the nation for the past two years. That said, Troy Pride has a chance to step up in his draft year and earn himself some serious NFL money. I expect him to be a quality corner as the alpha in the group. Opposite him, Tariq Bracy should emerge as starter, a year stronger and more familiar with the nuances of the Irish scheme. Donte Vaughn will likely be the third corner and the senior has plenty of experience to provide quality depth. I also expect to see a jump out of Noah Boykin next season. He's too talented not to. I also think Bracy could be an elite nickel, so if Vaughn beats him out for the starting role, look for him to battle Griffith (and potentially Crawford depending on his status) for the ND role.
5. Outside of defensive end, I expect safety to be the strength of the defense. Jalen Elliot will be a 4 year starter (really rare in today's age) and if he keeps improving he's primed to be a steadying force on the back end of the defense as a senior. He's a wonderful communicator. Who would of thought he could be a potential future NFL'er even 18 months ago? Beside him Alohi Gilman will be a senior and as steady as ever. Wouldn't be shocked if both safeties are the defensive captains next year, or at least one of them along with a guy like Khalid Kareem. I'm really excited about the guys that will play behind them too. Houston Griffith has struggled at times this year, but you're literally watching him get better every week. Better technique. Better angles. Better compete level and most of all, more confidence. I expect a big jump for him next year both in the competition at nickel and in the snaps he gets at safety. Kyle Hamilton is my favorite player in the 2019 class. He is going to be a star. All the athleticism of a Max Redfield, without any of the idiocy and far better football instincts. 6'3, will be over 200lbs as a freshman and moves around the field like a guy who is 5'11, 185lbs. Can't wait to watch him compete.
Although I'm expecting the defense to return 6 starters and a number of key backups, the 5 players they are losing, Tillery, Bonner, Tranquil, Coney and Love, are the heart of their defense, especially against the run. Bonner aside, the other 4 players are near irreplaceable over the course of one year. For that reason alone, I expect the defense to take a small step back, but still still be good enough to win quite a few games if the offense continues to improve with Ian Book at the helm as it should. With a top 35 defense next year I think ND can win 10 games.
2 deep will look something like...
DROP: Julian Okwara (SR)
2. Daelin Hayes (SR)
DT: Myron Tagavailoa-Amosa (JR)
2. Jayson Ademilola (SOPH)
NG: Kurt Hinish (JR)
2. Ja'Mion Franklin (SOPH)
SDE: Khalid Kareem (SR)
2. Ade Ogundeji (SR)
BUCK: Jordan Genmark-Heath (JR)
2. Shayne Simon (SOPH)
MIKE: Jonathan Jones (SR)
2. Bo Bauer (SOPH)
ROVER: Asmar Bilal (5th)
2. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JR) or Derrik Allen (SOPH)
CB: Troy Pride (SR)
2. Donte Vaughn (SR)
CB: Tariq Bracy (SOPH)
2. Noah Boykin (SOPH)
SS: Alohi Gilman (SR)
2. Houston Griffith (SOPH)
FS: Jalen Elliot (SR)
2. Kyle Hamilton (FR)
Initial impressions..
1. If all 4 pass rushers off the edge return for their senior seasons, Clark Lea is going to have some straight up dudes off the edge. Dare I say the best pass rushing defensive end group in the nation? Even if a Khalid Kareem or Julian Okwara were to go pro, returning three of those four guys for their senior season and adding one of Justin Ademilola, Kofi Wardlow or Nana-Osafo Mensah to the mix would still make it a formidable 4 man rotation. I'd like to see all 4 guys get together in the off season, make everything a competition and just dominate as seniors. It starts in the off season. Matt Balis has all 4 of the guys in great shape, but I still think there is another level for them physically. Okwara and Ogundeji in particular. They've got strength and weight to put on yet. There upside is just starting to be reached. Among the young defensive ends I'll be curious to see if Justin Ademilola outgrows the DROP and moves to SDE as I expect eventually will be the case. If that's the case, I'm curious to see if the ND staff will move Jack Lamb to drop and begin his development there because I think he has the perfect body and skill set for it.
2. Inside is a different story from defensive end. I think you'll see all four of those guys continue to improve. I think they'll have good off seasons and come back strong and ready to play major minutes. I don't think they'll be a liability inside, but they certainly won't have a Jerry Tillery type "creature" (courtesy of Pat Narduzzi) in the middle. I'd like to see Jayson Ademilola begin to emerge as a Sheldon Day type to provide as pass rush on the inside. Hinish and Tagavailoa-Amosa need to be huge in the run game. It's never good if your weak up the middle and given how green ND will be at both inside linebacker positions (regardless of who starts) ND needs their rotation at DT and NG to grow up really, really, fast. If they can't be excellent inside, it's highly unlikely those linebackers are going to hold up against the run the entire season. I don't want Alohi Gilman to have to spend his entire season in the box as an extra hat or ND is going to be stuck in a lot of cover 1 in play action. That's not a good place to be against some of the teams Notre Dame will play in 2020.
3. Linebacker is the most concerning position on the team in 2019. The two projected starters will simply have VERY little experience. Tranquil and Coney are playing at a very high level, but they take nearly 100% of the linebacker snaps. Clark Lea has his work cut out at Buck and Mike. He's their position coach and he's going to need some guys to take huge steps if he's going to get even 75% of the production out of next year's group as he is the current group. Love the depth at the position, however. Bauer is a stud and he'll play a lot. Same is true of Simon. Either of those guys could easily overtake the projected starter ahead of them. Rover should be solid again if Bilal is back and it would be nice to see Owusu-Koramoah get on the field with all his athleticism. The wildcard is Derrik Allen. That dude was born to play the Rover position. If he buys into it, works hard and reshapes his body in the off season, he'll be a monster.
4. Corner will be solid. There is no replacing Julian Love. He has arguably been the best corner in the nation for the past two years. That said, Troy Pride has a chance to step up in his draft year and earn himself some serious NFL money. I expect him to be a quality corner as the alpha in the group. Opposite him, Tariq Bracy should emerge as starter, a year stronger and more familiar with the nuances of the Irish scheme. Donte Vaughn will likely be the third corner and the senior has plenty of experience to provide quality depth. I also expect to see a jump out of Noah Boykin next season. He's too talented not to. I also think Bracy could be an elite nickel, so if Vaughn beats him out for the starting role, look for him to battle Griffith (and potentially Crawford depending on his status) for the ND role.
5. Outside of defensive end, I expect safety to be the strength of the defense. Jalen Elliot will be a 4 year starter (really rare in today's age) and if he keeps improving he's primed to be a steadying force on the back end of the defense as a senior. He's a wonderful communicator. Who would of thought he could be a potential future NFL'er even 18 months ago? Beside him Alohi Gilman will be a senior and as steady as ever. Wouldn't be shocked if both safeties are the defensive captains next year, or at least one of them along with a guy like Khalid Kareem. I'm really excited about the guys that will play behind them too. Houston Griffith has struggled at times this year, but you're literally watching him get better every week. Better technique. Better angles. Better compete level and most of all, more confidence. I expect a big jump for him next year both in the competition at nickel and in the snaps he gets at safety. Kyle Hamilton is my favorite player in the 2019 class. He is going to be a star. All the athleticism of a Max Redfield, without any of the idiocy and far better football instincts. 6'3, will be over 200lbs as a freshman and moves around the field like a guy who is 5'11, 185lbs. Can't wait to watch him compete.
Although I'm expecting the defense to return 6 starters and a number of key backups, the 5 players they are losing, Tillery, Bonner, Tranquil, Coney and Love, are the heart of their defense, especially against the run. Bonner aside, the other 4 players are near irreplaceable over the course of one year. For that reason alone, I expect the defense to take a small step back, but still still be good enough to win quite a few games if the offense continues to improve with Ian Book at the helm as it should. With a top 35 defense next year I think ND can win 10 games.
