Picking up where we left off yesterday, let’s look at the midseason grades for the various components of the defense and special teams. We’ll also add a few words about the coaching staff – the old, the new and the refurbished. Regarding the schedule, the Irish will open the second half of the season with three home games before traveling to Miami, FL, returning home to face Navy, and ending the regular season at Stanford.
Defensive Line
Grade: A
This group represents the biggest and most pleasant surprise on the team. Daelin Hayes has continued to demonstrate elite level talent, but the improvements realized by tackle Jerry Tillery and end Jay Hayes have made a tremendous difference from 2016. Tackle Jonathan Bonner completes the front four, and he has given everything he has despite average level talent. The other positive factor for these starters is their obvious physical condition and ability to avoid injury. Tillery in particular has transformed from a soft player to an intimidating force.
Another unexpected factor in the success of the unit is the quality minutes provided by the reserves. Ends Andrew Trumbetti, Khalid Kareem and Julian Okwara are not every down players, but their situational contributions have been superb. Even more surprising is that freshmen Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa and Kurt Hinish have been able to hold down the fort while Tillery and Bonner catch a breather. There was speculation that Hayes would have to move inside to cover the lack of depth, but this pair of youngsters has held up so far.
Noteworthy statistics include only 134 rushing yards allowed per game, down from 182 last year; one rushing touchdown surrendered in six games, as compared to 23 in all of 2016. As far as rushing the passer is concerned, the team has 13 sacks this season against only 14 in all of last season. The current group also has 33 quarterback hits in six games versus only 29 total in 2016.
Linebackers
Grade: A-
Niles Morgan is the stud in this group, but the nagging preseason concerns regarding who would be able to effectively flank him have largely been answered. Coordinator Bob Elko has created a role that is just perfect for Drue Tranquill, who is too small to play a classic linebacker slot and too slow to excel at safety. Tranquill is simply a football player whom Elko has put in a position to make plays. While Morgan is the leading tackler, Tranquill has been the emotional leader. On the other side, Greer Martini and Te’von Coney have rotated with Morgan to account for 125 tackles. I don’t know exactly how many tackles they have missed this season, but it’s not very many. Technique and the overall energy level have noticeably improved.
Cornerbacks
Grade: B
The success of Elko’s defense is driven in large part by the ability of the cornerbacks to deploy man coverage on opposing receivers. This strategy has generally worked in that the team has surrendered only 17 points per game, but there have been some noticeable cracks in the foundation. Fortunately for Notre Dame, none of the opposing quarterbacks had starting experience prior to this season, and it showed.
Individually, Nick Watkins had a poor game against Miami while Julian Love has been steadier. Nickel back Shaun Crawford, however, has been nothing short of sensational and may be the MVP of the defense. All have played well against the run, but USC’s receivers threaten to expose any weaknesses in this area. These matchups will likely determine the outcome of that game.
Safeties
Grade: B
One positive thing I can say about starters Jalen Elliott and Nick Coleman is they have not been caught blatantly out of position and beaten for long, easy touchdowns. That is already a huge upgrade from the past couple of seasons. The quality of the opposition to date has not been very challenging, however, but teams have managed to score ten touchdowns through the air. In my mind, the safeties have not yet been truly tested, but USC and Miami of Florida will take care of that. Will they arrive in time to break up a deep post to deny a score? We’re not quite sure. The real best friend for this Irish secondary has been the rejuvenated pass rush. Another positive to add about Elliott and Coleman is excellent run defense and sure tackling, which are certainly important.
Punting
Grade: A-
Tyler Newsome is averaging 45 yards per punt, which is obviously fine. Only 11 of his 32 punts have been returned. The Irish also ran a successful fake punt in the game against Miami of Ohio.
Cover Teams
Grade: B+
Opponents have gained an average of eight yards when they are able to bring back a punt, and kickoff returns are only modestly successful at 23.6 yards. Notre Dame has not allowed a touchdown on a return or any truly embarrassing play.
Return Teams
Grade: D
One positive is the absence of penalties for blocking in the back, but this is probably because the Irish don’t try to block anyone at all on returns. Punt returner Chris Finke and kick return man C.J. Sanders are entirely on their own out there. No lanes are created, no blocks are sustained and physical contact with the enemy happens only by chance. Return yards are below average and inferior to the opponents, so Notre Dame is losing the field position battle in these exchanges. This weakness hasn’t risen to a critical level as yet, but it’s bound to bite them somewhere down the line.
Coaching
Grade: B
Even though the 5-1 record may be due in part to weak opposition, there are many things to like about this team. The confident attitude we see goes hand in hand with improved physical conditioning, so the new strength coaches are delivering. Game management is less frenetic, probably because Brian Kelly is not immersed in his laminated play sheet. You also don’t see players trying to manufacture enthusiasm on the sidelines as they did last season. This year, the positive vibe has evolved naturally.
I have issues with some of the play-calling by Chip Long. For example, asking Ian Book to throw 25 passes in the first half against Carolina was ludicrous, and the opening 30 minutes of the Boston College game was an exercise in too cute by half. Credit is given for red zone efficiency, and the 23 rushing touchdowns have allowed me to put away the Maalox for the most part. On defense, coordinator Mike Elko has received plenty of recognition and praise for the performance to date, but he deserves it.
The best coaching jobs among position groups are the defensive line, which has evolved from a perceived weakness into a strength, and at running backs, where everyone runs hard, blocks well and don’t fumble. The offensive line and linebackers are right behind, followed by a bit of a gap before we hit the tight ends and secondary. As discussed earlier, the areas in need of improvement are at quarterback, wide receiver and the return teams. The production from these groups has fallen short of the talent level, and in the football business it’s the coaches who are held to blame.
Bill says:
Well done, complete, analysis. Am sorry that I didn’t discover your work last year.
SubmarineAlum_2012 says:
I will agree, yes, that the lack of yardage on special teams returns is maddening, making flipping the field that much more challenging, but to play devil’s advocate, how many fumbles have they had? Granted, I was deployed for the first 2 games under the ocean, so I didn’t see the games,but I count 0 turnovers on kick returns. Our mantra playing college ball was “you want to have to ball at the end of the return” so in that regard, I’d say more of a C- than D. Again, there’s room for improvement, they can definitely jam and trail wayyyyyy tougher off the snap, but when the ball goes in the air, our offense takes the field afterwards, which is nice.
Nice analysis with the other grades, it’s great to see our d-like perform this year, I think the credit there is due to the new strength and conditioning program. They look more powerful off the ball, and coach Elko is doing an amazing job, but that pop the front 4 are getting is coming from the weight room, well done new S&C coach. Fingers crossed they can keep it going when the stakes rise these coming weeks.
John Vannie says:
If all you ask of the return teams is that they don’t fumble, you can’t set the bar any lower.
SubmarineAlum_2012 says:
Doing what needs to be done to ensure the offense takes the field to give my team the best chance of winning?
Yup, that’s a pretty low bar.
John Vannie says:
Either you’ve been under water too long, or I’m going to have to rename this unit, “Not So Special Teams”.
SubmarineAlum_2012 says:
3 patrols on a ballistic missile submarine, maintaining a third of the nation’s nuclear strategic deterrence triad, but please let me know how youre an expert on time spent on alert.
The only thing that is not so special is your snarky attitude to any semblance of counterpoint.
John Vannie says:
We’re going to do a deep dive with the latest submersibles to see if we can find you a sense of humor, but I’m not optimistic. Could very well be another Malaysia 370.
I fundamentally disagree that a return team that just manages to hang onto the ball should receive a passing grade. I imagine that Tim Brown and Rocket Ismail would agree with me.
If you expect to have a more productive discussion about one of your counterpoints, you need to come up with something more persuasive.
Chrisnd93 says:
You said the following about Drue Tranquill:
“Tranquill is simply a football player whom Elko has put in a position to make plays.”
This sentence could have been said exactly six years ago about the one guy that Tranquill reminds me of the most – Harrison Smith. Smith was the kind of guy that you just put anywhere on the field that you needed him to be, and he “made plays”. He turned out to be a pretty good player for Irish, and now he is a Two-time Pro Bowler with 14 career interceptions and nearly 450 tackles.
DomerBill says:
Asking Ian Book to throw 25 passes in the first half against Carolina was ludicrous,
I disagree first the coaches have an unknown and unproven red shirt freshman back up and this was the perfect situation to find out what were his strengths and what needs work on. Second the coaches need to know his leadership abilities. Third can this young quarterback win?
John Vannie says:
Stick to your day job, Bill.
flirish says:
I think the assessment and grades all seem good except one which is highly inflated. The special teams return teams don’t deserve such a highly inflated grade. the most accurate grade would be F-. the are simply pathetic. this is unacceptable because we know in close games special teams are vital. Again–go back to Alabama FSU in the first week. special teams make difference. Kelly has never emphasized this and it seems as though he is protecting against fake punts etc but we can never expect to flip the field with a good return. good teams can do this and I wonder if we won’t be burned again the hard part of our schedule because of this. Look at the University of Miami and their punt return team. It is a vital part of their game and frankly had a huge impact in their win against G tech. Until Kelly decides that all phases of the game are important I don’t see us competing with the truly good teams
John Vannie says:
Obviously, you’ve never been in a submarine.
tc69 says:
Re Coaching….. Kelly is still owed a lot of money under his current contract, and he is not willing to negotiate a buyout for a lesser amount. The resultant stalemate is silently perpetuated between feckless administrators and a coach who has no other job prospects. Kelly fills his seat today while giving minimal effort, and he continues to embarrass the University with every self-serving public utterance. Meanwhile, the product for which he is responsible remains decidedly mediocre.
HAS YOUR OPINION CHANGED AT ALL SINCE AUGUST 19TH??
John Vannie says:
No, Tom, I continue to believe that Kelly is a mediocre coach and poor representative of the university who finds it all too easy to throw his players under the bus. He’s fortunate that he was forced to hire Mike Elko, and the players had to beg him to hire competent strength coaches. Even then, he resisted until he was pushed to ditch a worthless crony. Kelly continues to mail it in on the recruiting trail, where top recruits just say no thanks. At this stage, I’d wait a bit before declaring Brian Kelly version 2.0 a success. We’ve seen flashes of competence in the past but they were not sustained. You might recall your own impressions of him:
“Inconsistent, One-Dimensional, Snakebit and soft( both mentally and physicially) are 4 words that come to mind in describing current state of ND football…
I thought Kelly would be a major upgrade over Charlie… but it is more of the same if not worse…
Even in my worst nightmares, I thought we would finish no worse that 6-6… Boy was I wrong!!!”
ocmj says:
Another pleasant surprise from the Defense this season is going for the ball and causing turnovers. Crawford is just a stud; coming off that terrible injury. His ball awareness in punching it out then recovering the fumble in the end zone was epic. So much more fitness and fire on this side of the ball. If Wimbush and the receivers (I’m just at a loss about St. Brown but haven’t given up on him yet) can get on the same page consistently, we will be a force to be reckoned with.
Return2Glory says:
Its a fair grade on Kelly and the staff. Although, there is a lot Kelly needs to show starting with winning the next two games at home, he should get some credit for changing the staff. Even if it was mandated he make changes, he still had to get the right guys in. Our Irish have gotten most if not all the help they need where they probably control their own fate to get into the playoff. Very long and difficult schedule ahead but should make Saturday night very fun!
Coach says:
John. I agree with your assessment of Kelly. I do not have access to inside information. But “mailing it in” regarding recruiting is a serious offense. I have always felt that as an alumnus who did not play varsity football that I could easily recruit 3 star guys to ND. Even today at age 60. Kelly’s average seems to be about 3.5 star recruits. I have never seen you more edgy than the above replies. I thought they were funny, and certainly noticeable. ND by 10 vs. Southern Cal and 14 vs NC State. Still hard to root for Kelly.
Mike Coffey says:
That’s the assessment of a number of guys who cover recruiting for the team, although there is an opinion he’s trying harder this year.