Notre Dame Football: How Offensive Line Shakeup Impacts Irish

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Despite all the good that has come out of Notre Dame football’s 3-0 start and ascension to No. 8 in the national polls, the Irish have not been able to find the right answer on the offensive line.

In three games, Notre Dame's opponents have tallied six sacks—just two fewer than the Irish surrendered all of last season. The rushing attack has looked slow and plodding at times, slowly churning its engine around the line of scrimmage. Notre Dame rushed for 54 yards on 31 carries against Michigan (1.7 yards per attempt) and 139 yards on 38 rushes against Purdue (3.7).

The day after the Purdue game, Irish head coach Brian Kelly said the coaching staff would evaluate the offensive line and consider shifting personnel. Nine days later—following the bye week—Kelly offered a new projected starting line but was not ready to set it in stone. On Thursday evening, Kelly confirmed the line will feature left tackle Ronnie Stanley, left guard Nick Martin (from center), center Matt Hegarty (from guard), right guard Steve Elmer (from right tackle) and right tackle Christian Lombard (from right tackle).

It’s not too difficult to see why Notre Dame felt changes were necessary. But how will the moves play out?

“Physicality at the guard position, more than anything else, is what we were looking for at that position,” Kelly said Tuesday.

Kelly praised Martin’s physicality, and Elmer is listed at 315 pounds. That should, in theory, lead to better pushes along the interior.

But shifting four players around on the offensive line—leaving just Stanley as the lone starter remaining in his same position—is a bold move. Offensive linemen seem to always preach the importance of chemistry and comfort with their line mates.

Now, it helps that the personnel doesn’t change much—with the exception of Hegarty starting and senior guard Conor Hanratty heading to the sideline. But Martin is playing a completely new position. Lombard is playing right tackle for the first time since the 2012-13 season. When asked about the chemistry, Kelly was quick to note Hegarty, Elmer and Lombard all have past experience at their new spots and there’s “a real comfort level for those three guys at that position.”

“I think it's really about when they're at that position, it's their comfort level lining up at right guard, right tackle and center,” Kelly said. “That choreography comes in time. That will take time, that choreography, if you will.”

It very well could take time for the unit to sync up. While that may be slightly more acceptable against Syracuse this weekend, Notre Dame will have a smaller and smaller margin for error with communication and protections when it faces Stanford, Florida State, Arizona State and USC.

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

As far as communication goes, Kelly said Thursday that Martin will help Hegarty with some of the snap calls.

“It will allow [Hegarty] to keep his eye on snapping and execution,” Kelly said. “… Matt’s got his hands full with taking care of his own position as well.”

Kelly didn’t seem too concerned with the communication along the line, saying the Irish worked hard at it all week and adding Stanley helps with calls from the outside in.

All things considered, we’ll have to wait and see how this line performs Saturday and in the coming weeks. But something needed to be done. On paper, increasing the interior physicality should help—as long as it doesn’t come at the expense of communication lapses.

An improved line would help keep Everett Golson upright and healthy and, potentially, jump start the running game. If Notre Dame’s three-headed backfield can run successfully behind an experienced offensive line, this already impressive Irish offense could take another step forward.

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Mike Monaco is a lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco_ on Twitter.