Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/176703
Upon Further Review todd D. burlage N Leadership Search Still Marching On otre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and the Irish players insist Kelly talked at length through- the surprising fundamental flaws out training camp about the demonstrated so far this year — esleadership dynamic on his football pecially on defense — have nothing team. to do with a lack of leadership, and After losing four strong voices everything to do with a lack of exfrom last year 's defense — Manti ecution. Te'o, Kapron Lewis"The leadership is Moore, Zeke Motta very strong, it's just and Danny Spond — that people have to trying to replace leadget the work done," ers within essentially said senior linebacker every defensive posiPrince Shembo, betion group was a chalcoming obviously irlenge many of us took ritated by the incesfor granted. Players sant questions about graduate every year, the early defensive and the next wave of struggles. "Everyone leaders always moves knows how to play up and moves in. football. Everyone The Irish had plenty has been doing the of experienced playsame thing. Everyone ers returning this seaknows. We preach on son, presumably some During the early portion of the 2013 cam- it." with take-charge per- paign, the Irish defense has been missing The court of public sonalities and leader- the type of leadership that Manti Te'o dis- opinion has placed its played during last year's magical season. blame for the earlyship qualities. photo by bill panzica Well, the regular season inconsistencies season is already a quarter of the way on Kelly and his coaching staff. But through, and finding leadership and a Shembo hypothetically compared the strong identity for the Notre Dame de- defensive problems to a father trying fense remains a work in progress. All to teach his son the everyday lessons of which is somewhat surprising for a of life. team that had the perfect blueprint for When your son slips up once or leadership last season after riding the twice, some of that blame might fall cape of Te'o all the way to the national on dad, perhaps for not making the championship game. message clear enough. But when the