Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME Brian VanGorder Needs Strong Bounce Back By Lou Somogyi Every new coordinator experiences a honey- moon phase in which he is the latest Messiah Coach. Brian VanGorder experienced that last season when he was the successor for Bob Diaco, the 2012 Frank Broyles Award winner as the nation's top assistant coach be- fore accepting the Connecticut head coaching position in 2014. VanGorder 's aggressive style was deemed a welcome change from Diaco's more conservative bend-but-don't break style — until the 2014 defense started breaking to the tune of allowing the most points per game ever in a season at Notre Dame (29.2). In fairness, the unit was in rebuild mode and endured massive attrition via graduation, ac- ademics, early draft entry and injury. Even its fumes were running on fumes by the middle of November. Nevertheless, the defense had problems adjusting to up-tempo offenses and VanGorder's NFL-like system was considered too complex for such a young unit. In year two, VanGorder's system will be scruti- nized much closer because he will have a defense replete with senior and junior starters, the major- ity of them bona fide NFL prospects. Head coach Brian Kelly said tweaks were made this spring to aid making adjustments, be it versus up-tempo or facing confounding triple-option attacks em- ployed by Georgia Tech and Navy. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has more of an "out" because Kelly will call plays and there is now yet another quarterback transition. Van- Gorder will be under the gun more to produce a vastly improved product. Mike Denbrock Wearing Many Hats By Bryan Driskell There will certainly be pressure on Brian Van- Gorder to perform this season, but Mike Den- brock has the greater burden. It is true that Brian Kelly will call the plays, but it is up to Denbrock to design the game plan that Kelly will call. VanGorder 's work is geared toward him build- ing what he wants. Denbrock must spend the entire week of preparation trying to figure out what he likes, but more impor- tantly to figure out a game plan that Kelly will feel comfortable using. Denbrock also has the re- sponsibility of getting all the bright offensive minds on the staff moving in the same direction. Line coach Harry Hiestand and quarterbacks coach Mike Sanford are intelligent, talented coaches with strong opinions. Running backs coach Autry Denson is Notre Dame's all-time leading rusher and will understandably want a say. This job alone is difficult, but doing so while putting together a game plan for someone else is tremendously pressure packed. No one is asking VanGorder to re-create the 2012 defense, but many expect the offense to rank among the nation's elite. Many are expect- ing the Irish offense to be able to go point for point with anyone. Denbrock will have to do that with a first-year starting quarterback, a talented but still unproven line and a group of skills players that to this point has been more about potential than it has been about consis- tent production. Certainly not an easy task. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHICH GAME PLANNER HAS GREATER BURDEN IN 2015? DENBROCK VANGORDER