Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME This has not been a peaceful year for the Notre Dame defense — even with a Tranquill figure. Freshman safety Drue Tranquill, that is. Safety had seen the worst problems this year with early-season injuries to fifth-year senior and team captain Austin Collinsworth, a season-ending injury to junior reserve Nicky Baratti, and senior Eilar Hardy unable to see any action the first two months because of an academic investigation. Then head coach Brian Kelly decided to start Tranquill over sophomore Max Redfield at free safety versus Northwestern Nov. 15. Redfield started the first nine games and was tied with junior strong safety Elijah Shumate for third in tackles with 48. However, such data doesn't always equate with defensive production, and Redfield — who played mainly special teams against the Wildcats — is on an extremely steep learning curve. "We felt like he needed to see the game from the sideline," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said. "Hopefully he'll be able to learn more and understand what's going on and take that to the practice field, and hopefully we see more and more development. "I know we will. He's just a young player." One of the nation's elite safety prospects when he signed with the Irish in 2013, the Mission Viejo, Calif., product Redfield takes a backseat to no one in physical traits. But just because you are a better athlete doesn't mean you are a better football player than someone else at a specific time, similar to four-star freshman Nyles Morgan having excellent physical skills but nowhere near the football acumen of former walk-on and current injured senior Joe Schmidt. "The football part is still coming, and just recognition of formations and understanding alignments and assignments, that's where we're still working with a young player," Kelly said of Redfield. "There are a number of guys in that similar boat. "We just don't have any other answers at other positions." Although the 6-1½, 225-pound Tranquill is younger than Redfield, Kelly said he is more advanced in football IQ. "The game comes a little bit easier at times," Kelly said. "Max is learning the game still. Drue has a little bit better feel for the game. It doesn't mean he's there. He certainly made a lot of mistakes in his first start. … we'll evaluate where we are at that position. "We thought that Drue gave us a better chance at that position. But we'll evaluate it from week to week." During Arizona State's crucial touchdown drive in the fourth quarter while leading only 34-31 Nov. 8, Redfield was harshly criticized by ABC color analyst Chris Spielman, a former All-Pro linebacker, for avoid- ing a hit on running back D.J. Foster near the sideline. "I think he felt like the guy was going out of bounds," Kelly said of Redfield, who had been criticized earlier in the year for being too aggressive. "It didn't look good. It certainly affected him. He's got a lot of pride, like most players do, certainly. … He is our guy. "We've got to get him to the level where the game becomes easier for him and that's what we're working toward." Kelly also admitted Tranquill's frame is not the prototype for free safety and he might be moved "closer to the ball" in the future. "He's forced into a role that he's doing the best he can with right now," Kelly said. Drue Tranquill Gets Opportunity