New Defense!

[FaithInIrish Forever 5,591]

The New Defense Springs hope and has me smiling when I think of the Irish!

 

I watched the spring game from the stadium and you always saw Martini,Tranquill, either Hayes making plays.

 

I think putting Tranquill at outside linebacker finally maximizes his talent.

 

We used to hear comments that Tranquill was a fast as Jaylon. That's fine but for most of their careers they played different positions.

 

Generally speaking having safety as fast as a linebacker makes a slow safety, as linebackers cover less defensive space.

 

Finally someone realized what most have thought on here. Drue would make a faster linebacker. He's hard to block at the second level. There were even times where they moved Drue closer to the middle, he's strong enough, so it was fun to see him moving in the right direction.

 

Secondary got a few picks and most the time were in good positions.

 

The team still needs to work the tackling circuit but I saw improved approaches

 

Above all. I think they played really hard and not looking confused.

 

i went excited to see the new QB and offense. I left thinking "Wow, those veterans on defense played well."

 

The saying is defense wins Championships, while I think I'd have to put my brightest green glasses on to confidently predict anything like that after 4-8,

 

I will say Defense Improves Teams I look for an improved team in 2017.

[hawaiiirish 62]

The defense was a Chinese fire drill for the last two seasons......absolutely nowhere to go but UP!!!

 

100% guarantee the defense will be vastly improved from the mess we have been living with.....

 

A talented DC will turn this roster into a pretty good defense.....sure we will have limits and will still have a 3 star defense relying on a 4 star offense to win games ......but they will NOT likely be losing games by themselves

 

It took effort and planning to be as bad as we were under BVG.....

 

Things will change for the better---how much better will be interesting to see.

 

aloha

[Jersey Irish 207]

The defense was a Chinese fire drill for the last two seasons......absolutely nowhere to go but UP!!!

 

100% guarantee the defense will be vastly improved from the mess we have been living with.....

 

A talented DC will turn this roster into a pretty good defense.....sure we will have limits and will still have a 3 star defense relying on a 4 star offense to win games ......but they will NOT likely be losing games by themselves

 

It took effort and planning to be as bad as we were under BVG.....

 

Things will change for the better---how much better will be interesting to see.

 

aloha

 

It certainly can't get any worse, that's for sure!

[Handsome Jack 0]

Not to throw water on this but those who went to the spring game say that the defense looks nothing like the defense of a top 20 team and it would be a miracle to just get an adequate performance out of them.

 

Also heard a couple of people say the reason that Kelly has been trying to win with offense is because defensive players simply don't want to come to ND. They are all about football and the NFL with a junkyard dog mentality and want nothing to do with academics. And frankly, it's over for ND because the landscape is going further and further away from ND values in regard to college football. It's only going to get worse and not going back.

 

I didn't watch the game so I don't know but that is was pretty depressing to hear.

[TheRizz 5]

I don't discount that kids do not see value of education anymore

[FaithInIrish Forever 5,591]

Not to throw water on this but those who went to the spring game say that the defense looks nothing like the defense of a top 20 team and it would be a miracle to just get an adequate performance out of them.

 

Also heard a couple of people say the reason that Kelly has been trying to win with offense is because defensive players simply don't want to come to ND. They are all about football and the NFL with a junkyard dog mentality and want nothing to do with academics. And frankly, it's over for ND because the landscape is going further and further away from ND values in regard to college football. It's only going to get worse and not going back.

 

I didn't watch the game so I don't know but that is was pretty depressing to hear.

 

i was there lol. never said top 20 but this defense will be pesky to be sure just like WAKE FOREST

[Handsome Jack 0]

i was there lol. never said top 20 but this defense will be pesky to be sure just like WAKE FOREST

 

Not a top 20 defense. The defense of any team that would be considered top 20 as a team. That bad. And when you think about it, it makes sense. Honestly, how often does Notre Dame actually finish a season in the top 20? Twice in the last 10 years?

[jessemoore97 1,479]

Not to throw water on this but those who went to the spring game say that the defense looks nothing like the defense of a top 20 team and it would be a miracle to just get an adequate performance out of them.

 

Also heard a couple of people say the reason that Kelly has been trying to win with offense is because defensive players simply don't want to come to ND. They are all about football and the NFL with a junkyard dog mentality and want nothing to do with academics. And frankly, it's over for ND because the landscape is going further and further away from ND values in regard to college football. It's only going to get worse and not going back.

 

I didn't watch the game so I don't know but that is was pretty depressing to hear.

 

I don't believe it. We have been able to get top rated defenders under Kelly. Can we get every elite player out there, no, but there are kids who can qualify to our standards. Is part of the problem the D we've been running and a DC who all but refused to recruit, couldn't simplify the system, or stress fundamentals like tackling? Is the problem our offense which looks like garbage against teams that are competent thereby leaving the defense out on the field all game?

[jimbo 405]

The defense was a Chinese fire drill for the last two seasons......absolutely nowhere to go but UP!!!

 

100% guarantee the defense will be vastly improved from the mess we have been living with.....

 

A talented DC will turn this roster into a pretty good defense.....sure we will have limits and will still have a 3 star defense relying on a 4 star offense to win games ......but they will NOT likely be losing games by themselves

 

It took effort and planning to be as bad as we were under BVG.....

 

Things will change for the better---how much better will be interesting to see.

 

aloha

 

Good one, Hawaii!

[corysold 0]

I don't believe it. We have been able to get top rated defenders under Kelly. Can we get every elite player out there, no, but there are kids who can qualify to our standards. Is part of the problem the D we've been running and a DC who all but refused to recruit, couldn't simplify the system, or stress fundamentals like tackling? Is the problem our offense which looks like garbage against teams that are competent thereby leaving the defense out on the field all game?

 

The problem, as you stated, has been all coaching. Stanford has smart players, who value academics, and they manage to put good defenses out there most of the time.

 

But I'll say one thing, I am totally shocked that players who had 14 spring practices under their belt weren't able to put together a top 5 unit in their first live action of a new defense.

 

Alabama just gave up 616 yards passing and 5 TD's in their spring game, over 300 of which came against a freshman. I'm sure they are very worried about that spring game performance.

 

If the defense sucks this season then it sucks, but the spring game has no value in judging that.

[FaithInIrish Forever 5,591]

Still feel this way in week four of the season.

 

Last Night Martini forced a fumble and Tranquil got a key sack.

 

Started this thread in spring after returning from my trip to the Spring Game.

 

Glad my eyes didn't deceive me.

[NDNorm 50]

Whenever I watch the most effective defenses, they are the ones who have developed a mentality to never give up on a play...never assume the play is over to you clearly hear a whistle, and this unit is playing with that. Passion, controlled aggression, tenacity. I freaking love it!

[AlabamaDuck 0]

The problem, as you stated, has been all coaching. Stanford has smart players, who value academics, and they manage to put good defenses out there most of the time.

 

But I'll say one thing, I am totally shocked that players who had 14 spring practices under their belt weren't able to put together a top 5 unit in their first live action of a new defense.

 

Alabama just gave up 616 yards passing and 5 TD's in their spring game, over 300 of which came against a freshman. I'm sure they are very worried about that spring game performance.

 

If the defense sucks this season then it sucks, but the spring game has no value in judging that.

 

Tranquill is the only player from Indiana that I can think of. It is not a hotbed of 5* players. Stanford on the other hand has a lot more to offer to players that grew up in California. Just guessing but I would guess that at least 50% of the players come from the West coast states.

[OklahomaIrish 0]

Still feel this way in week four of the season.

 

Last Night Martini forced a fumble and Tranquil got a key sack.

 

Started this thread in spring after returning from my trip to the Spring Game.

 

Glad my eyes didn't deceive me.

 

Next time you go to a game, even the spring game, let me know in advance and I will try to get up there. Haven't been since we beat Stanford in the rain. Very happy with the defense and will watch it continually get better through next year.