Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1037156
18 OCT. 15, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY BRYAN DRISKELL F or years there has been an in- cessant complaint about the Notre Dame defense. It goes something like this: "Notre Dame can't recruit top defensive line- men — especially edge rushers." There was a time when that was a legitimate grievance, but that has not been the case for the majority of Brian Kelly's tenure in South Bend. Since Kelly arrived, Notre Dame has signed 16 defensive linemen that ranked in the Rivals250, includ- ing three five-star recruits. Another seven defensive linemen to sign with the Irish were ranked as top-250 players by one of the other major recruiting services. Development has been a bigger is- sue than a lack of talent, but both have changed over the last two sea- sons. Notre Dame had an outstand- ing defensive line in 2012, and in 2015 it was ranked by Football Out- siders as the 18th-best group in the country. The 2017 line was ranked as the nation's 28th-best such unit. Both the 2012 and 2015 lines were dominated by standouts such as Ste- phon Tuitt or Sheldon Day, but the 2018 group has thus far been Notre Dame's most balanced unit and the team's greatest strength. Following Notre Dame's win over Stanford, Pro Football Focus ranked the five best pass rushing units in the country. Not surprisingly, peren- nial powers Alabama (No. 2), Ohio State (No. 4) and Clemson (No. 5) were near the top — but unexpect- edly Notre Dame was No. 1. Through the season's first five games there was only one team in the country to have four defensive linemen with at least 10 quarterback hurries — Notre Dame. The Irish's defensive line has fu- eled the team's early success, with the front four players combining for 20.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks through five contests. If the defense stays on its current pace it will set a program high under Kelly with 53 tackles for loss, eclips- ing the current high of 48.5 in 2012. In addition, it is on pace for 27.5 sacks, which would fall just short of the 29.5 QB takedowns in 2012. APPLYING PRESSURE Maligned not long ago, Notre Dame's pass rush was ranked the nation's best during the 5-0 start