As is the case most year’s the defense heads into spring with more intrigue and question marks compared to the offense. When you add a new defensive coordinator in the mix without the strong hand of Brian Kelly (like the offense) the story lines are all the more juicy. Let’s preview the Irish defense!
BOLD denotes returning starter
DROP END
Andrew Trumbetti, SR
Daelin Hayes, SO
Julian Okwara, SO
Competition: 8/10
Intrigue: 7/10
Trumbetti has been left for dead in most corners and scratched off the starting spot for this position in other corners. Not so fast! While it’s true he’s struggled mightily since his freshman year, Trumbetti’s experience is so overwhelming compared to the challengers here that it’d be foolish to write him off completely.
At the same time, many are expecting Daelin Hayes to make a strong move from the opening of spring and a co-starting situation out of the gate wouldn’t be a surprise. Okwara also adds something to the mix if only because his skill-set fits really well for what the Irish need and (like Daelin) his sophomore eligibility is already ticking and there’s no time to waste.
STRONG-SIDE DEFENSIVE END
Jonathan Bonner, r-JR
Jay Hayes, r-JR
Khalid Kareem, SO
Ade Ogundeji, r-FR
Competition: 7/10
Intrigue: 5/10
Bonner has sneakily played a decent amount (100 more snaps in 2016 than both Jay Hayes and Daelin Hayes, for reference) but doesn’t have a ton to show for it (2 solo tackles, 0 sacks, 0 TFL) and thus isn’t really viewed as the starter-in-waiting the way the normal pecking order would suggest.
The focus therefore may be largely on Hayes and Kareem a pair of Top 200-ish national recruits who have been viewed as the most talented options for the future. The former’s season never got much off the ground in 2016 (155 snaps, 0.5 TFL) even after being singled out by Brian Kelly as someone who needed more playing time following the firing of Brian VanGorder.
Kareem played so little (15 snaps, fewest of all linemen) that he practically redshirt in 2016. No one knows what we have in Ogundeji yet and the spring should be the first quality look at him so far.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Jerry Tillery, JR
Daniel Cage, SR
Elijah Taylor, r-SO
Pete Mokwuah, r-JR
Micah Dew-Treadway, r-SO
Brandon Tiassum, r-SO
Competition: 6/10
Intrigue: 4/10
Notre Dame is planning on some impact freshmen here and possibly an impact grad transfer (Clemson’s Scott Pagano visited this past weekend) but until then here are the parts to work with this spring. Until we see Tillery put together a strong season his motivation and work ethic will always be questions as will his status as a “starting” lineman. We’re not even sure what the status of Daniel Cage will be with his concussion history that forced him to miss the last 4 games of 2016, either.
Pete Mokwuah was written off heading into last season but totaled 18 snaps which is something, I suppose. Can he make a jump? I would think Elijah Taylor flashed the most out of the inexperienced players while Dew-Treadway was in line to play a little bit last year prior to injury. This will be the second spring for Tiassum and it’s now or never to show he’s more than just a body on the roster.
My focus will be on Taylor and Dew-Treadway as the defense really needs these two to become the types of players who can effectively play 300 to 400 snaps.
LINEBACKER
Nyles Morgan, SR
Te’von Coney, JR
Greer Martini, SR
Asmar Bilal, r-SO
Jamir Jones, SO
Josh Barajas, r-SO
Jonathan Jones, r-FR
Competition: 4/10
Intrigue: 4/10
No one is positioned as an utter and complete lock as a starter quite like Nyles Morgan so that takes some drama out of the linebacker situation. We’re also fairly certain that Coney will be starting as well and if not in name at least playing a ton of snaps.
The situations of Martini and Bilal are a little more interesting, but again, it’s mostly about how much they’ll be playing and where in Elko’s defense. Most feel pretty good with this top 4 regardless of how they’re shuffled about this spring.
The bottom guys should have many eyes on them this spring as the Irish will lose two seniors and a new youth movement needs to start soon. Jamir Jones is on grow-into-a-lineman watch, while Barajas should have Jon Jones hot on his tail for backup snaps.
CORNER
Julian Love, SO
Donte Vaughn, SO
Nick Coleman, JR
Troy Pride, SO
Nick Watkins, r-JR
Ashton White, r-SO
Shaun Crawford, r-SO
Competition: 9/10
Intrigue: 7/10
Who’s ready for a fight to the death!?? This could be a battle supreme for spring where everyone except White has started a game at Notre Dame. Unfortunately, it’s expected that Shaun Crawford won’t be fully healthy from his Achilles injury. That put’s a little bit of a damper on the competition.
Otherwise, assuming Watkins is fully healthy (he should be) there should be an amazing spring for 5 players seriously in contention for starters minutes. Also, keep in mind that Nick Coleman was mentioned on National Signing Day as someone who could move to safety.
SAFETY
Drue Tranquill, r-JR
Devin Studstill, SO
Jalen Elliott, SO
Nicco Fertitta, JR
Spencer Perry, r-FR
D.J. Morgan, r-FR
Isaiah Robertson, FR
Competition: 8/10
Intrigue: 7/10
The Irish return 4 players who saw the field at least somewhat extensively last season but there are numerous question marks all over the place and rumblings of major changes. For starters, Tranquill may be moved to Rover as could at least another safety. We already discussed a corner like Coleman inserting himself into this party, as well.
Studstill and Elliott are likely to be the main guys and for all the mystery surrounding the placement of players and re-positioning with a new defensive coordinator they could be wire-to-wire starters this spring. The addition of an athletic and physically gifted Isaiah Robertson is certainly something to keep an eye on early and often.
Transfer Threats: Ogundeji, Tiassum, Barajas, D.J. Morgan
For the spring the defense will be carrying 2 more scholarship players than the offense but when you factor in the YCNHEOL rule and that we haven’t seen a legit transfer on the O-line since Alex Bullard (and a non-family emergency transfer since…?) it feels like there’s 10 more scholarships on defense, or at least twice as many transfer threats.
Ogundeji is a complete mystery at this point and would fill the seemingly annual transfer from the defensive line before a career got off the ground. Tiassum doesn’t look like he’ll play at Notre Dame which makes him a risk factor. That could be the case for D.J. Morgan (he’s our next Reviewing the Redshirt) although he’s in better position to do something in South Bend. Josh Barajas looks like a good candidate to fill in for Justin Brent as the disappointing Indiana recruit.
Breakout Star: Daelin Hayes
Hope is a beautiful thing. A major breakthrough for Hayes could be the breath of fresh air the defense needs in a big way. However, the scary part is I don’t know if there are many other candidates who I’d stump for in this category. Could it be Vaughn? Bilal? Elliott?
Each of these guys could develop into starters but only Hayes feels like he could conceivably be one of the Top 5 players on the team with a booming NFL stock at year’s end.
Major Story Line: Rearranging the Pieces with Elko
The story line is the abundance of story lines at every position. Who’s filling out the depth chart at Rover? What does that do to the safety depth chart? How will Elko change the defensive line and will that jump start someone’s career? Who fits best at corner in the new scheme?
Just as I was last year, I’m absolutely terrified about that D-Line. I think teams are going to destroy us on the ground, and QBs are going to have all day to throw. I feel bad for the DBs. They’re going to have to do work in coverage, plus the safeties are going to need to be strong in run support. I can’t see Elko being a complete miracle worker in just his first season here, so I think we are in for another long season on defense. At least the linebackers should be strong enough to clean up some of the run defense weakness.
It is scary. Feels like we need to “hit” on about 5 guys and that’s tough. Tillery fulfilling potential, Taylor emerging as a quality option, Daelin becoming a good starter, and maybe 2 impact freshmen.
Low odds for sure.
If you were scared of the D-Line last year when we had Jones and Rochelle coming back, and Tillery and Trumbetti could be considered poised to break-out, this year has me thinking two words: Train Wreck. Trumbetti has experience, which he has used to prove himself barely adequate, and that is being kind. SDE is a complete joke. Hopefully, Kareem or Jay Hayes flashes talent. Assuming Cage does not come back, and spring availability will tell, there is nothing in the middle. Tillery has proven to be an enigma and for a kid with a lot of personality and civic initiative, the last way he showed himself on the field was reprehensible. Counting on him to be a starter and play like one is expecting too much. As a DL, he makes a pretty good OL. Taylor looked good for a few snaps against USC and then didn’t play the rest of the game, or, if he did, was a nonfactor. The other DTs are nothing more than practice players at this point. If one went missing, it might take all of spring practice before someone noticed. Wasn’t Mokwuah BVG’s one success in recruiting? Perhaps it is for the best that he didn’t recruit if that is any indication.
Going into fall camp my guess is the top of the depth chart will have D, Hayes at WDE; J. Bonner at DT and K. Kareem at SDE. If Pagano comes, great. Lots of playing time for the FR DT either way.
I know Pagano has stated a preference for the West Coast, but how can he look at our depth chart (and academic prowess) and not be enticed by all of the playing time? I think he’s a must-get for this year.
In my opinion, if the D does not improve quite a bit, Elko should go. He most likely had 3* recruits at Wake at best. He has more raw material to work with. He just has to develop the players. The scheme should also be important as will being adaptable by having the right packages in place at all times.
What?
The old guy was all about scheme and packages. More packages than you could shake a stick at (I’d say shalalee but I can’t spell it).
Can we save all this talk about shaking packages for 18SAD?
LMFTFY, MDIRISH:
It’s “Shalala,” not “shalalee.”
Scott Pagano: just take a look at that “depth” chart. That’s basically the opposite of splitting snaps with Dexter Lawrence.
Kelly presser cliff notes:
Non contact for Crawford. Also, McKinley not 100%.
Cage is full go.
Alize Jones, which is still his last name, is on track to be eligible.
Long has full control over the offense. Tempo will be important.
Kelly has been at 545 AM workouts for first time after interviews with players. He will be involved in all 3 phases of gameplans while spending more time with players instead of with staff or fund raising.
4 or 5 guys could compete on the right side: Kraemer, Eichenberg, Byrne, Bars, or Hoge.
Wimbush will get 60% of reps this spring and 40% to Book.
Coleman and White moved to safety.
That’s really good news to hear about Cage. Hope he’s able to stay healthy all year, for his sake/long-term sanity and the team’s.
Banks 310 -10
Barajas 239 -1
Bilal 229 -1
Bivin 318 +10
Bonner 284 -2
Book 205 +5
Boudreaux 288 -7
Boykin 225 +3
Byrne 294 -6
Cage 329 +14
Claypool 224 +4
Coleman 187 -7
Crawford 175 -10
MDT 299 -1
Eichenberg 294 +14
Elliott 208 +13
Fertitta 179 -6
Finke 177 -8
Hainsey 292 +17
D. Hayes 255 +5
J. Hayes 281 -4
Hoge 303 -7
Holmes 206 +6
Alize 245 +5
Jam. Jones 243 +18
Jon Jones 227 +7
T. Jones 224 +9
Kareem 267 -4
Kraemer 313 -2
Luatua 260 +5
McGlinchey 312 +2
McIntosh 190 +10
McKinley 220 +10
Mowuah 326 +9
D.J. Morgan 208 +8
N. Morgan 238 -7
Mustipher 305 -5
Nelson 329 +4
Ogundeji 251 +11
Okwara 235 +7
Perry 209 +5
Pride 183 +3
Robertson 208 +13
Ruhland 303 +3
Smythe 256 +11
St. Brown 204 -1
Stepherson 180 -1
Taylor 280 -5
Tiassum 304 +2
Tillery 308 -2
Tranquill 230 +5
Trumbetti 252 -3
Vaughn 209 +9
Watkins 203 +3
Weishar 242 +2
White 197 +2
Dexter 202 -8
Wimbush 226 +1
Wright 252 +7
^^^^^^^^^
Weight changes from updated spring roster.
Dexter Williams is like a Brazilian soccer star. No need for a last name.
So Trumbetti losses 3 pounds, and they want to move him to the strong side?
I wonder what the standard was from the previous year. In the presser BK seemed to indicate that Trumbetti is keeping is weight better (not sure how they know that know when it is probably during the season that he loses the weight), but at any rate that’s what he said about the weight.
Bilal for Rover 2017!
Bilal with “starters” this morning at Rover.
NOICE
Bring on the cool aide! D is gonna ball. Elko for president.
In today’s presser after practice, interesting tidbit that J. Hayes, and Trumbetti they see as fitting as the strongside end where the weakside end he mentioned as more of a “hybrid” guy – who could also drop (didn’t mention any names). The obvious is D. Hayes and probably Okwara, but after that who could play in that position? Maybe Jamir Jones? That is scary unproven.
Maybe ND can get this guy. http://www.si.com/college-football/2017/03/07/daniel-faalele-img-academy-recruiting
My favorite line from the article: “It is common for Polynesians to be tall, wide or solid,” Ruth says. “But it’s not common to be all three in one.”