Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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18 OCT. 29, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY LOU SOMOGYI I n their nine seasons together at Notre Dame, both head coach Brian Kelly and associate head coach/defensive line coach Mike Elston agreed this spring and summer that the 2018 Fighting Irish defensive line would be the deepest in their time here. That was even after de- fensive end Jay Hayes, who started all 13 games last sea- son, opted this spring to use his fifth season as a graduate transfer at the University of Georgia. The postulate was especially put to the test at drop end during Notre Dame's 45-23 victory at Virginia Tech Oct. 6. The co-starting drop end tandem of juniors Daelin Hayes (229 snaps in the first five games) and Julian Ok- wara (224 snaps through five games) both were sidelined. Hayes was ham- pered by a brachial plexus ("stinger") that precluded him from making the trip to Blacksburg. Then late in the second quarter, Okwara was ejected for a targeting hit on quarterback Ryan Willis, just before the Hokies pulled within 17-16 at halftime. Consequently, fellow juniors Jamir Jones (48 snaps) and Adetokunbo Ogundeji (40) played the bulk of the second half, along with classmate Khalid Kareem, in a challenging at- mosphere that put College Football Playoff aspirations on the line. "We've been prepared for this a long time," Kareem said with a non- chalant shrug of the sudden setbacks the end position faced at Blacksburg. "Since the spring, guys have been coming in and out, rotating. … We do chaos periods where different people come in, different people come out. "We're built for this. … We don't have a 'second- or third-string,' just a next man coming in. There's no drop-off, and there's a confidence in the depth chart. We have each other's backs." The Irish outscored Virginia Tech 28-7 in the decisive second half even minus Hayes and Okwara. The most important aspect is never allowing the standard to be altered. "It's business as usual, but [the ab- sences of Hayes and Okwara] gave us a little more juice, play our heart out for them and everyone back home," Kareem said. "We're better with Julian and Daelin, no question, but those guys played to a standard," Kelly summarized of the reserve unit. "… It's not just the next guy coming [in] and playing — he's got to play well. I think that's what stood out for me. "We'd like to see a little bit more from them in certain situations, but I think in their first time out there in significant roles, we're really pleased with their discipline and the way they played." Prior to the Virginia Tech game, the rapidly ascending and disrup- tive Ogundeji was already averaging 21 snaps per game, while Jones was around nine per contest. At tackle, freshman Jayson Ademi- lola was one of nine defensive line- men — among them sophomore Kurt Hinish spelling fifth-year se- nior Jonathan Bonner at nose tackle — averaging about a dozen snaps per contest. The broken foot incurred by sophomore Myron Tagovailoa- Amosa in the opener versus Michi- gan, which was projected to shelve him approximately 10 weeks, has created more opportunities for the other young linemen. Two years ago when Notre Dame was at rock bottom among Power Five teams in total sacks (14) and sacks recorded by defensive linemen (three), Kareem, Hayes, Okwara, Ogundeji and Jones were freshmen with vast skills but limited polish and were still developing in the weight room. Halfway through this season, the Irish defensive front ranked at the top in statistical analysis/produc- tion according to Pro Football Fo- cus, along with the likes of Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson. It is the con- fluence of second-year strength and conditioning coach Matt Balis' influ- ence that is taking hold, the cultiva- tion under Elston, and seniors such as Jerry Tillery and Bonner meshing with the junior ends, the year when college athletes begin to blossom the most as upperclassmen. "This is the time where ev- erything is kind of working it- self out," Kareem said. "This is the best condition we've ever been in. … Everyone in this class, on this team, has come together well." However, it's not merely about sacks but more about the ATQ — Af- fecting The Quarterback — numbers via pressures, passes broken up, four-man rushes with limited blitzes to enhance coverage, etc. "We're much more interested in quarterback hurries and getting them out of the pocket and getting them out of rhythm, much more than any- thing else," Kelly said. "Today, the passing game is a three-step [get the ball out fast]. Pass deflections are also part of that, getting your hands up. The 'escapability' of quarterbacks make it much more difficult [to re- cord sacks], the ability to run. "… If we can get him to escape to one third of the field, get him out of the pocket, we're affecting the pass." At Virginia Tech, Kareem, who originally committed to Alabama, re- corded his strip sack of quarterback Ryan Willis, after getting up from the ground. It resulted in a fumble and touchdown return by junior corner- back Julian Love. "That's something I feel like my lit- tle league coaches and my dad have instilled in me — don't stop until the whistle blows," Kareem said. "It feels like the first time I've actually done that, and it worked out. "We love getting sacks and it's one of the greatest feelings, but as long as you help the team win and do your job, that's all that matters. If I tip the ball instead of getting the sack, but we get an interception … you have to be selfless, but you also have to be on your job, don't try to do someone else's job on a play. THE ENDS TO A MEAN ND's strength up front emerges beyond just sack totals "WE'RE MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN QUARTER- BACK HURRIES AND GETTING THEM OUT OF THE POCKET AND GETTING THEM OUT OF RHYTHM, MUCH MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE." HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY ON THE IRISH PASS RUSH