Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/651219
WHERE IS THE MOST SHORING UP NEEDED? This is probably a toss-up among offensive line, linebacker and safety — or the defense in general. Graduating three starters along the offensive line leaves a myriad of combinations to assess. Will junior Alex Bars end up at guard or tackle? Are the two center candidates, junior Sam Mustipher and sophomore Tris- ten Hoge, two of the five best line- men? If so, can the No. 2 man in their spring competition start at another position to get him on the field? Can right tackle Mike McGlinchey seam- lessly move over to left tackle? Linebacker loses not one but two captains in Butkus Award winner Jaylon Smith at Will and Joe Schmidt at Mike. At Sam, senior James On- wualu and junior Greer Martini were a tag team. Plus, Martini and sophomore Will linebacker Te'von Coney are both coming off January surgeries that might sideline them this spring. For all the outside criticism about Schmidt's play in 2015 while he battled injuries, Nyles Morgan, who will be entering his junior campaign, could not supplant him. Can Morgan grasp coordinator Brian VanGorder 's scheme that has often been hinted at as being overly complex for the col- lege game? And speaking of complex … the last line of defense at safety remains a conundrum. Senior Max Redfield's roller-coaster career has him coming off a Fiesta Bowl suspension, while junior Drue Tranquill is returning from his second ACL surgery in two years. ARE THERE ANY POSITION CHANGES IN THE WORKS? The most notable might be shifting right tackle McGlinchey to left tackle to replace projected first-round pick Ronnie Stanley. The move would be to provide a lethal, ultra-physical left side with junior Quenton Nelson at guard, one that could rival, if not surpass, the Zack Martin/Chris Watt combination from 2011-13. (Nelson hinted at Mc- Glinchey's switch on his Twitter ac- count.) With only three scholarship tight ends, the Irish could probably use an- other figure from the defense to sup- plement the position as a blocker. Last year, Chase Hounshell — who report- edly will use his sixth season of eligi- bility at another school this fall — did just that after coming from the defen- sive line. Senior Jacob Matuska, who was recruited as a tight end by many schools, would be a plausible candidate this year. Kelly has also admitted that find- ing a settled spot for current running back Justin Brent, who was a wideout as a 2014 freshman before getting red- shirted last season, might be evaluated. Senior John Montelus, a right guard his first three seasons, purportedly has been working out with the defensive line this winter. WHAT IS THE HEALTH STATUS OF SO MANY OF THE WALKING WOUNDED FROM LAST SEASON? On offense, quarterback Zaire al- ready began doing light workouts during the Fiesta Bowl practices in De- cember, while Jones and senior tight end Durham Smythe both battled back to see action in the bowl outing.