Notre Dame Football: Strengths, Weaknesses and Secret Weapons
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Fourth of July weekend has come and gone, and we’re somehow within two months of Notre Dame football’s season opener against Texas.
It won’t be long until the Irish begin fall camp, and football Saturdays are nearing ever closer.
Let’s take a summertime look at the Irish squad, analyzing strengths and weaknesses and projecting potential under-the-radar weapons.
Strengths
Overall Depth
As Irish head coach Brian Kelly noted even before spring practice began, Notre Dame was able to go about its work differently because of its sheer roster numbers.
With Kelly entering his sixth season in South Bend, the Irish have accumulated depth across the board, making the 85-man scholarship limit a legitimate discussion heading toward the season.
The members of Notre Dame’s recruiting class of 2012 are set to be fourth-year seniors, and the depth really stems from the successive classes. After all, Notre Dame’s class of 2012 consisted of eventual Irish footnotes such as Gunner Kiel, Davonte’ Neal, Will Mahone and Justin Ferguson.
But in 2013, Notre Dame hauled in the No. 5 class in the country, headlined by linebacker Jaylon Smith, safety Max Redfield and running backs Greg Bryant and Tarean Folston and buoyed by many others. Of that 24-man class, 23 are still with the Irish, many of whom will start in 2015.
Notre Dame’s crop of rising second-year players—the class of 2014—appears promising, too, with linebackers Nyles Morgan and Greer Martini, defensive end Andrew Trumbetti, safety Drue Tranquill and tight end Tyler Luatua all boasting starting experience and guards Quenton Nelson and Alex Bars, cornerback Nick Watkins, defensive lineman Jay Hayes and punter Tyler Newsome readying for enhanced roles in 2015.
Returners
Many have already banged the drum about all the returning starters Notre Dame brings back in 2015. They’re vital.
But let’s focus here on the key cogs the Irish have back, specifically the ones who weren’t guaranteed to return or weren’t on the field in 2014.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Day and left tackle Ronnie Stanley both eschewed the NFL draft for a fourth year in South Bend. With all the other talent the Irish have on this squad, re-recruiting the top lineman on each side of the ball is a massive victory for Kelly and company.
And, of course, Notre Dame grows stronger in the secondary with the return of cornerback KeiVarae Russell, a 26-game starter over his first two seasons in blue and gold.
“He’s an alpha player,” Kelly said of Russell. “He’s got that warrior personality where he will hold others accountable. You add him to the mix with a Joe Schmidt. And you add him to a Jarrett Grace. That changes the personality of our defense from what it was late in the year when we really didn’t have those personalities on the field.”
Defensive Leaders
Kelly’s point on Russell’s personality presents another strength of this Irish squad: the defensive leaders.
Linebacker Joe Schmidt was the heartbeat of the Notre Dame defense for the eight games before his ankle injury. Fellow linebacker Jarrett Grace, a starting inside linebacker in 2013, is another smart, savvy veteran possessing the wherewithal to direct the defense.
Add in Russell and a charismatic 2014 captain in Day, as well as Smith, now a junior, and the Irish are loaded with leaders on the defensive side of the ball.
Weaknesses
Inexperience
For as much overall depth as the Irish possess, there’s inexperience, amid the talent, at a few important spots.
To begin, quarterback Malik Zaire is the new conductor, and he sure seemed capable in the Music City Bowl and through 15 spring practices. But that doesn’t change the fact that he’s made one start, appeared in seven games, attempted 35 passes, thrown for one touchdown and taken just one sack.
Behind him, redshirt freshman DeShone Kizer and true freshman Brandon Wimbush combine to tally as many years on campus as Zaire has career starts.
That’s not to say Zaire will struggle; he could very well make people forget he’s a first-year starter. But there’s certainly value in experience.
At tight end, the Irish will turn first to Durham Smythe to step into the long line of productive Notre Dame tight ends. Nic Weishar, Tyler Luatua and Alize Jones are options too.
Quenton Nelson and Alex Bars will debut in 2015, and without Matt Hegarty and Conor Hanratty, the Irish don’t have as much proven depth along the offensive line.
Do-everything specialist Kyle Brindza is off to chase his NFL dreams, leaving true freshman kicker Justin Yoon and redshirt freshman punter Tyler Newsome to divvy his chores.
Pass Rush
The Irish ranked tied for 70th in the country with 26 sacks last season, per CFBStats.com.
The pass rush wasn’t putrid, but it was rarely a consistent weapon for Notre Dame. Defensive end Romeo Okwara powered the way with four sacks, while Smith and defensive back Matthias Farley each added 3.5 sacks apiece.
Notre Dame discussed a committee-like approach in the spring. It will need that or a singular breakout performance to help the defense to the next level in 2015.
Secret Weapons
There really aren’t many secrets in the Notre Dame football community, and that’s a credit to the fans. So when we say secret weapons, let’s consider it on a national scale. Which Irish players, lightly registering on the national radar, could make healthy impacts in 2015?
C.J. Prosise
Running back C.J. Prosise garnered spring darling rights after his positional adjustment and a 64-yard performance in the Blue-Gold Game.
“It’s our job to get the best 11 players on the field, and right now it’s hard to make the case that he’s not one of the best 11,” Kelly said after the spring game.
Prosise was a big-play threat as a junior slot receiver in 2014, but the well-built speedster could be poised to provide even more game-changing plays this season.
Alize Jones
As mentioned above, Notre Dame’s tight ends are unproven. That includes true freshman Alize Jones, who arrives as a heralded pass-catching option.
How quickly he acclimates to the offense and how comfortable the Irish offensive minds are with using him—in addition to someone like Smythe or Luatua and/or as a solo tight end, at times—remains to be seen.
But, Jones is a massive talent and was ranked as the No. 1 tight end in the class of 2015.
Jerry Tillery
Speaking of massive, true freshman defensive tackle Jerry Tillery impressed in his first semester on campus. The early enrollee, who checks in at 6’6½”, 300 pounds, was the runner-up to Prosise in the spring breakthrough department.
A healthy Jarron Jones figures to start along the interior next to Day, but Tillery’s maturity has already been impressive.
Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting stats and information are courtesy of 247Sports.com and all quotes were obtained firsthand. Star ratings reflect 247Sports composite rankings.
Mike Monaco is the lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco_ on Twitter.
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