Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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derstand the game a lot more and I'm older and more mature. "I feel like I'm a big part of the team like I was last year. Everyone has a role they have to play, and we'll see how far we can take it." One of the most beneficial factors in Luke's early development was having Russell and his infectious personality next to him to act as a second teacher to defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks. "It's helped tremendously," he said. "When I played nickel last year, he helped a lot and he grabs me and puts me in the film room. He's always pushing me to be a better football player and a better man, so it helps a lot." The common mantra from Van- Gorder this spring has been to create plays and force turnovers, two cat- egories in which the Irish fell short in 2013. Notre Dame ended up tied for 61st after finishing with a zero turn- over margin last year. "It fits the defense with the players we have," Luke said. "I like it a lot. It's a lot more aggressive. I'm sure [the transition] was difficult for ev- erybody, but it is what it is. "We're all going to jump on it, and I feel like everybody understands it pretty well and everybody likes the new defense. It's going well. "It's about getting a hand on the receiver and getting a jam. … We're athletes and flying around and mak- ing plays. … There's a lot of credibil- ity behind [VanGorder 's hiring]. The first day he came in we went right to business. I know he's about business, and that's a good thing." Luke's hoping it will be a good thing for him as well. ✦