Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/705594
UNDER THE DOME It Starts On Defense By Lou Somogyi Championship-level football is foremost about controlling the line of scrimmage, and any as- piration toward grabbing the brass ring begins on defense. In today's college football, 30-point outputs are the norm and this fall Notre Dame shouldn't be any different, just like last season when it averaged 34.2 points per game. The offensive line is the easiest position to recruit at Notre Dame — since Brian Kelly's arrival in 2010, only USC, Texas and Ohio State have signed more Rivals top-250 offen- sive linemen — and O-line coach Harry Hiestand has established a prominent culture there. If Notre Dame wants to go to a higher level, though, the defensive front must appreciably im- prove, from having a much more disruptive pass rush (75th last year in sacks) to not allowing what head coach Brian Kelly said was an "unacceptable" 175.6 yards rushing per game (only the 3-9 team in 2007 allowed more the past 18 years). During the glory years from 1964-80, Notre Dame was "D-Line U" with Joe Yonto directing that unit. When the glory days returned in 1988, linemen out of nowhere such as Chris Zorich and Frank Stams led the charge, plus Bryant Young for the No. 2 team in 1993 — and even Stephon Tuitt, Louis Nix and Kapron Lewis-Moore for the 12-1 edition in 2012. It's not a coincidence. Led by a veteran such as Isaac Rochell, Notre Dame's D-line must control the front if the Irish are to be a College Football Playoff contender. Offense Must Carry Team More By Bryan Driskell I agree that controlling the line of scrimmage is important, and with the exception of Oklahoma all four of the 2015 College Football Playoff participants had at least one defensive lineman selected in the first two rounds of the 2016 NFL Draft. I also agree that despite changes to the college game, defense still wins championships. The reality for Notre Dame, however, is that a 2016 playoff run will not be possible without consis- tently dominant play from the offensive line, led by senior left tackle Mike Mc- Glinchey. The Irish came within a failed two-point conversion and a red-zone turnover away from winning at national runner-up Clemson, and within a last-second field goal of beat- ing Pac-12 champion Stanford on the road. Defensive improvements will be vital, but dramatic strides there aren't needed for a playoff run. Moder- ate improvement should be enough, assuming the offense can play to its ability. Everything Notre Dame does offensively is built around the line playing at a high level. When it didn't in 2015 — against Clemson, Temple and Ohio State — the offense sputtered. Notre Dame lost two of those games and needed a late fourth-quarter come- back to knock off Temple. If the Irish want to make it through the 2016 sea- son unscathed, the line will have to play consistently dominant football and will have to do so despite not having first-round NFL Draft pick Ronnie Stanley at left tackle, two-time captain Nick Martin at center and 30-game starter Steve Elmer at right guard. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHICH LINE MUST BE BETTER IN 2016 FOR NOTRE DAME TO THRIVE? DL ISAAC ROCHELL OL MIKE MCGLINCHEY