Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1105789
32 MAY 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY BRYAN DRISKELL T he foremost story on defense at the end of the spring is the same as it was going in — the linebackers. Defensive coordinator Clark Lea warned early on that answers likely would not be found by the end of April, but he was upbeat about the progress of the unit by the time the spring session ended. "We're in a very different place; that's part of the evolution of the unit," Lea said just before the Blue- Gold Game. "There still is … stra- tegic movement of parts and pieces just to try to figure out the best com- bination. I think we're doing the right thing coaching it conceptually, the ability to move people around becomes an advantage. We are to a man better equipped, better skilled from where we started. "The picture is clearing up, but it's still early. … Hopefully by the time we line up at Louisville, we have a unit that we think can win at a high level for us." The closest thing Notre Dame has to a lock in the inside linebacker rota- tion is fifth-year senior Asmar Bilal, who moved inside this spring after starting 10 games at rover in 2018. "Asmar Bilal has done a great job this spring," Lea said. "He's going to be a factor for us. He's playing two positions even this spring. "Physically, and in terms of game experience, he enhances the unit." On the outside there is more cer- tainty, at least based on how things stand at the conclusion of the spring. Junior Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and sophomore Paul Moala — a con- verted safety — have handled the po- sition this spring, and Owusu-Kora- moah especially showed impressive playmaking potential. Junior rover Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah displayed impressive playmaking potential during the spring. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL Spring Overview: DEFENSE Questions remain at all three levels for the Fighting Irish