The Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s defense is stout. Can the defense lead the Irish to an ACC title?
Through two games this season, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have given up an average of 6.5 points. Despite those two games being against Duke and South Florida, this iteration of the Notre Dame defense has the potential to dominate the ACC.
The Irish are stout in the trenches. Notre Dame’s defensive line has played in the backfield in both games this season. 10 players have at a tackle for loss for the Irish so far this season. Against Duke, Notre Dame’s defense pressured Chace Brice nearly every dropback. The Clemson transfer had little time to set his feet and throw the football.
Duke’s running game fared no better, averaging just 2.5 yards per carry.
The linebackers have been sound in the first two games of the season as well. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has been the star early for the Irish on defense, leading the team in tackles. The redshirt junior has flourished in his role as the rover back. The hybrid linebacker/safety position takes advantage of Owusu-Koramoah’s speed and versatility.
Isaiah Foskey has been another standout on the defense for the Irish. Notre Dame needed to figure out how to replace the pass rush production of Khalid Kareem and Julian Okwara. Foskey, a redshirt freshman, is proof of the immense depth the Irish have along their defensive line.
In addition to the front seven, the secondary has been outstanding. Kyle Hamilton, Shaun Crawford and Tariq Bracey return, but Alohi Gillman, Troy Pride and Jalen Elliot are gone this season. So far, the secondary looks just as good as it did last season.
The first two games of the season clearly show the Irish got faster defensively. Notre Dame defenders were flying toward the football and seemed comfortable in Clark Lea’s defense. Lea’s hybrid scheme takes advantage of the speed and versatility of Notre Dame’s defenders.
Can the defense lead this team to the Playoff?
Since Brian Kelly has been the head coach of the Irish, they’ve played for two National Championships. In 2012 they played in the BCS Championship Game, and in 2018 the Irish played in the College Football Playoff semifinal game.
During their 2012 run to the BCS Championship Game, Notre Dame finished second in points allowed surrendering under 14 points per game. Led by All-Americans Manti Te’o and Stephan Tuitt, the 2012 team was stout both against the run and the pass. The run defense allowed just 105 rush yards and 3.5 yards per carry.
The pass rush was something to be feared that year. Stephan Tuitt led the Irish in sacks with 12, followed by Prince Shembo‘s 7.5 and Kapron Lewis-Moore‘s six. The defense surrendered more than 20 points in just two games — Pitt and Alabama — and gave up less than 10 points five times pitching one shutout.
The 2018 version of the Irish, who made it to the Cotton Bowl, was also one of the best defensive units in the country. Te’von Comey led the team in tackles with Jerry Tillery and Julian Okwara tying for the team lead in sacks. What made the 2018 team so unique, however, was the secondary.
Alohi Gillman, Troy Pride, Julian Love and Jalen Elliot comprised a secondary that made it hard on teams to sustain drives by passing the football. They were not ballhawks, but sure tacklers who knew how to separate receivers from the football.
Coming into this season, the Irish secondary looked to be outstanding again despite being without crucial veterans like Alohi Gillman and Jalen Elliot. Kyle Hamilton leads a secondary that includes Ohio State transfer Isaiah Pryor and North Carolina State transfer Nick McCloud. The concern was fixing the run defense line.
Part of the issue was the injuries the Irish endured. Julian Okwara, Shaun Crawford and Daelin Hayes were three of the many defensive players to miss time due to injury. This season, the Irish come into the season healthy.
Their balance of experienced veterans and athletic youth could lead them to the National Semifinal once again.
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