Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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men dotting the lineup everywhere (all 11 starters other than at nose guard were seniors or juniors), highlighted by But- kus Award winner Jaylon Smith at line- backer, senior Sheldon Day along the line and a seasoned secondary. The results were better statistically — other than finishing 109th in turnovers forced with only 14 (believed to be the lowest total by the Irish since at least 1951) — but the defense again was con- sidered the weak link, especially after capping the regular season by allow- ing Stanford's game-winning drive that began with only 25 seconds left on the clock in the 38-36 defeat and Ohio State moving the ball at will in its 44-28 vic- tory in the Fiesta Bowl. Kelly, though, continues to believe VanGorder can take the Fighting Irish defense to the next level. He has noted the unit had become too vanilla and predictable under Diaco, and that Van- Gorder 's more expanded, exotic and maybe even esoteric schemes would lead to some growing pains the first year or two, but reap huge dividends in the long run. "We made a pretty substantial change in defensive philosophy from a 3-4, two-gapping defense that played cover two, to a 4-3 attacking defense that played cover one," Kelly explained this February. "That's a huge change, and it requires a bit of a transition." Now the question is what constitutes "a bit"? One year? Two? Will a fourth year also be required in this "work in progress," or is it now or never to start showing much better results that can keep Notre Dame in the College Foot- ball Playoff discussion in years to come? There were high hopes for the 2015 defense because of its combination of