Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1479280
8 SEPT. 24, 2022 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY PATRICK ENGEL T hrough two games, the Notre Dame defense has resembled a hockey team changing lines. The Irish have gone two deep at nearly every defensive position — and occasionally three. Play- ers have shuttled off the field mid-drive and drive-to-drive. All told, 25 defensive players logged at least one snap over the first two games. The Irish used 22 players on defense in the opener at Ohio State and 25 against Marshall Sept. 10. The timing of the rotation, though, has caught more attention than the depth itself following the surprising 26-21 loss to the Thundering Herd. Notre Dame has been unafraid to send its second-teamers onto the field in key situations. Freshman cornerbacks Jaden Mickey and Benjamin Morrison played in the fourth quarter each of the first two weeks. Junior defensive lineman Alex Ehrensberger — who is listed as the No. 3 strong-side end — logged fourth- quarter snaps against Marshall. Just as notable are the players on the sideline in key moments. For example, star defensive end Isaiah Foskey was not on the field for a third-and-7 early in the fourth quarter, a play that ended with a combined sack from No. 2 vyper Justin Ademilola and second-string safety Ramon Henderson. Marshall's go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown drive, though, raised a new question. How much rotation is too much? Notre Dame used 21 players on the Thundering Herd's 11-play, 94-yard touchdown march. Mickey, Ehrens- berger and junior rover Jordan Botelho (another No. 3) were among them. The latter two did not play at all on defense at Ohio State. Ehrensberger had logged just three snaps prior to that drive. Some of the backups were involved in key plays, and not in a good way. Botelho was responsible for one of the four missed tackles on Marshall running back Khalan Laborn's 42-yard run that set up a goal-to-go situation. Hender- son — who played just six snaps against Marshall — lost track of tight end Devin Miller in man coverage when he fell for a play fake. His hesitation allowed Miller to turn upfield after catching a screen pass and convert on third-and-9. Is that too much rotation for that game situation? There's a strong case to be made. But expect the frequent sub- bing to stick around. "We're going to stay with it," de- fensive coordinator Al Golden said. "Whatever we have to do to be fresh in the fourth and finish, that's paramount for us right now. Everybody's reps are earned in practice." Notre Dame having a backup the coaches trust at each position is a lux- ury that keeps starters fresh for key moments and late-game situations. The depth it has developed across the defense ought not to be taken for granted. The Irish saw the inverse and its neg- ative effects last year when they had no dependable backup Will linebacker be- hind starter JD Bertrand. Cornerbacks not named TaRiq Bracy, Cam Hart or Clarence Lewis played just three non- UNDER THE DOME IN AND OUT Notre Dame's defense has rotated heavily to start the year, even in key moments Notre Dame used 25 players in coordinator Al Golden's defense over the first two games. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER