ND Defense

[Irish Man3]

IrishIllustrated.com - Irish D pushes for elite status

 

[IrishinSyria]

What was with all the helmets coming off. There must have been at least 3 or 4 against USC+ Manti and Smith getting there face hurt.

 

[irishff1014]

Damn right just think next year will year to in the system and most of the same players hell yea.

 

[Kingbish01]

Damn right just think next year will year to in the system and most of the same players hell yea.

Louis Nix will be a great addition too!

 

[Irish Man3]

I cant wait to see Louis Nix step up next year. I think he will be in much better shape by that time and ready to step up.

 

[ryno 24]

NIX will be a monster he will not plug up holes he will eat them

 

[Irish Man3]

Also look for Shembo to continue to get better along with Kendall Moore and Danny Spond to show up on the scene.

 

[Rack Em]

I cant wait to see Louis Nix step up next year. I think he will be in much better shape by that time and ready to step up.

I see him from time to time around campus. He is enormous. With any kind of technique he should command a regular double team.

 

[irishff1014]

Man this is so exciting.

 

[ryno 24]

Our linebacker core is solid for the next couple of years

 

[Sherm Sticky]

NIX will be a monster he will not plug up holes he will eat them

Sean Cwyner played well this year, I wouldn't just give the starting job to Nix

 

[IrishinSyria]

Sean Cwyner played well this year, I wouldn't just give the starting job to Nix

I absolutely agree with this. If anything, I'd like to see a three man rotation at nose next year. Hafis and Cwyner have been as important to our team's success as any other players this November.

 

[Irish Man3]

Im not saying he's going to start. He doesn't have to start to have an impact (Shembo). As BK implements the rest of his system, the defense will be on the field for longer and longer periods of time. Backups will be leaned on heavily and key for our success.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Im not saying he's going to start. He doesn't have to start to have an impact (Shembo). As BK implements the rest of his system, the defense will be on the field for longer and longer periods of time. Backups will be leaned on heavily and key for our success.

I see what you are saying...We will have great depth at DT: Cwyner, Nix, Stockton, Newman & Hafis who can play DE and swing to DT

 

[irishff1014]

Depth on the defense is going to be very important once we get our fast moving offense going.

 

[Kingbish01]

Not real excited about our DB's though, that always seems to be our weakness. If you wanna compete for a NC you gotta be able to cover....Gary Gray is probably the closest to a shutdown corner since Shane Walton.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

IDK if I would call Shane Walton a shutdown corner...Now Bobby Taylor that was the man!

 

[Kingbish01]

IDK if I would call Shane Walton a shutdown corner...Now Bobby Taylor that was the man!

I was trying to think of one in the last decade. lol

The numbers speak for themselves: 151 career tackles, 14 for loss, 11 career inteceptions including seven in 2002, 25 passes broken up, good enough for third on the all-time list, and three career inteception returns for touchdowns. A consensus All-American selection in 2002 and the team MVP that same season. Walton was everything for Notre Dame in his career. He was so good, he was paid the ultimate compliment by receiving the "Deion Sanders" treatment. Teams were so afraid of him they wouldn't throw to his side of the field, yet he still made plays. Without Shane Walton the Irish may not have made a BCS bowl in 2000 and definitely wouldn't have begun 8-0 in 2002 and put themselves in a position to compete for the national championship.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

Vontez Duff and Shane Walton some odd years ago were some INT machines. We played some good D those years.

 

[Kingbish01]

Vontez Duff and Shane Walton some odd years ago were some INT machines. We played some good D those years.

Duff was also a incredible return man....Remember his punt return vs Maryland in 2002 and his kick return vs Purdue (I think it was the same year)

 

[Irish Man3]

Blanton will also be back next year and he has had a very good year. Harrison Smith has also played very well of late and he will be back. Jamoris Slaughter and Zeke Matta will have another year to grow into the system. From there, it's going to fall on our young guys.

 

[Kingbish01]

What about Gary Gray? I thought he had another year? Didn't he sit out a year with an injury.

 

[Irish Man3]

What about Gary Gray? I thought he had another year? Didn't he sit out a year with an injury.

Yea but I thought someone had already brought him up earlier in the thread.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I still don't know...Duff and Walton were good college players, but weren't very high draft picks and never made it in the NFL.

Bobby Taylor was a second round pick and if he didn't leave a year early would have been a first round pick. Plus Taylor had an all pro career in the NFL. Players like Taylor, Jeff Burris & Brock Williams were elite athletes we had in the secondary.

 

[irishff1014]

But some of these good recurits will be able to do their part in the next few years.

 

[Kingbish01]

I still don't know...Duff and Walton were good college players, but weren't very high draft picks and never made it in the NFL.

Bobby Taylor was a second round pick and if he didn't leave a year early would have been a first round pick. Plus Taylor had an all pro career in the NFL. Players like Taylor, Jeff Burris & Brock Williams were elite athletes we had in the secondary.

Very true, alot of great names there. But you can win a national championship with guys like that.....just like we did with Stonebreaker, Zorich, Rocket, Tony Rice

 

[lookingdeadred]

Depth is crucial

Depth is crucial

rotate guys in and keep throwing fresh bodies at the offense.

I absolutely agree with this. If anything, I'd like to see a three man rotation at nose next year. Hafis and Cwyner have been as important to our team's success as any other players this November.

 

[Riddickulous]

DEs = Good
NTs = Good
OLBs = Okay
ILBs = Te'o is spectacular, Calabrese good
CBs = Good
S = Okay

The player who needs the most work on the defense, IMO, is Jamoris Slaughter. He misses a lot of assignments. He was the safety who missed Jonathan Baldwin and let him slip free for a deep touchdown against Pittsburgh (although he showed impressive speed catching up to a guy who was 15 yards behind him), and the guy who missed his assignment and allowed the 3rd and 26 against Tulsa.

 

[lookingdeadred]

Getting close to elite status

Getting close to elite status

The LBs I think will be elite next season.

The DL if they can get quality NT play will be close to elite if not completely elite.

The DBs look to be the biggest question mark. HSmith and Gray returning would make the DBs close to elite.

One more year of experience and comfort level with Diaco's defense will make a big difference, too. They are very close to being an elite defense, the kind that wins titles.

Exciting times.

 

[IrishinSyria]

DEs = Good
NTs = Good
OLBs = Okay
ILBs = Te'o is spectacular, Calabrese good
CBs = Good
S = Okay

The player who needs the most work on the defense, IMO, is Jamoris Slaughter. He misses a lot of assignments. He was the safety who missed Jonathan Baldwin and let him slip free for a deep touchdown against Pittsburgh (although he showed impressive speed catching up to a guy who was 15 yards behind him), and the guy who missed his assignment and allowed the 3rd and 26 against Tulsa.

I've noticed Slaughter seems to be playing better this November as well. He hardly ever is mentioned, and when he is he's usually helping out on a tackle or laying someone out. Haven't noticed any blown coverage from him at all.