Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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I BY LOU SOMOGYI their third season with champion- ship play have their statues encircl- ing Notre Dame Stadium. SPRING FOOTBALL OVERVIEW Layden (1934-40), who finished No. 8 in the Associated Press poll in his third season. His 6-2-1 season that year defined his seven-year tenure as well — respectable, but not quite at the elite level. Brian Kelly isn't about to state pub- games in year three didn't last be- yond five years, if that, with the Irish. The one wild card was Elmer The seven who lost at least five licly that his third season at Notre Dame will be his make or break cam- paign, but he does acknowledge it's a time to go beyond the status quo. "Year one, it's the typical learn the your players, understanding your strengths and weaknesses as a team, and now having, by and large, put in the schemes offensively, defensively and special teams." Notre Dame has posted five con- secutive seasons with a minimum of five losses, including 8-5 in each of Kelly's first two years. Thus, conver- sation about returning to the top 25 in 2012 would seem to be more real- istic than playing for championships, or at least outside the football office. Another phase to 2012 — the 125th names of the players, begin to im- plement your schemes," Kelly said. "Year two, try to develop that depth in the units. And I think for year three it's a comfortable feeling that I know my football team very well. "Building those relationships with year of Notre Dame football — began with spring practice on March 21. The 15 practices will conclude with the April 21 Blue-Gold Game in Notre Dame Stadium, which will be telecast by the NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus) for the second year in a row. Here is a thumbnail sketch of the roster entering the spring: POSITION CHANGES 22 APRIL 2012 Many of the position changes actu- The five since 1918 who thrived in t has been well documented over the years that the third season of a Notre Dame head coach ends up defining his career. TOPICAL SPRING A thumbnail sketch of the Irish personnel Troy Niklas — a 6-7, 252-pound sophomore — is making the move from outside linebacker to tight end this spring. ally are on the coaching staff, most notably Chuck Martin shifting from the defensive backfield the past two years to offensive coordinator/quar- terbacks coach. From the player personnel side, there are a handful of major changes. Troy Niklas' 2011 freshman num- ber 58 at outside linebacker and as a special teams mainstay flips to 85 at tight end. The 6-7, 252-pound Niklas is the consummate "Big Skill" athlete who was recruited as a tight end by Stanford. He joins All-American Ty- ler Eifert and another top 2011 tight end recruit, Ben Koyack. "It gives us a lot more flexibility PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND the outside linebacker position and that we had the ability to make that move," Kelly stated. Speaking of outside linebackers, there might be a tweak there with the shift of Prince Shembo from the drop outside linebacker position (Dog) to the hybrid Cat/end slot, where his pass-rush skills might be better utilized. Junior Danny Spond and sophomores Ishaq Williams and Ben Councell all could fit in somewhere on the outside, making the shift of Niklas easier. The running back/slot position with Tyler Eifert," Kelly said. "Now you could possibly see Tyler moving to a number of different positions." The Irish did not sign a tight end this February, and a few of Notre Dame's safeties can also line up at outside linebacker versus option or spread teams. "We feel like we're pretty good at is also replete with candidates this spring, never mind the fall, but the shortage is acute at cornerback, espe- cially with the departure of early en- rollee Tee Shepard. Sophomore Cam McDaniel therefore is moving from the offensive backfield to corner, where he is one of only five scholar- ship players for the two slots. Recruited as a safety in 2011, Mat- thias Farley apprenticed at wide re- BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED