Notre Dame Football: Why Weak Linebacker Play Will Keep the Irish Out of the BCS

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Saved by Kyle McCarthy, again.

As he's been every week, Notre Dame's senior safety was the team's leading tackler against Michigan State, and his third interception in as many games saved the season and Charlie Weis' job.

Know how many top ten teams currently have a strong safety leading the team in tackling?  One.

Yet Notre Dame's top TWO leading tacklers are safeties (McCarthy and Harrison Smith, respectively).  I won't waste your time by asking if any top ten teams have to endure that ignominy.

So it's no wonder the Irish rank 96th nationally in total defense, and can safely be eliminated from BCS contention as a result, in spite of the Heisman candidate at quarterback and perhaps the best offense in school history:

Linebacker letdown. 

The stats from Saturday's game against Michigan State are galling:

Total tackles by starting middle linebacker Toryan Smith: 1

Total tackles by three starting linebackers COMBINED: 8

Total tackles by McCarthy: 9

Watch the game again and you'll observe a toxic combination of linebackers being an easy target for blockers and whiffing on tackles when unblocked. 

Half of the two-deep at that position is named Smith (Toryan, Brian, and Scott), and yet Notre Dame Stadium public address announcer Mike Collins has had little reason to recite that surname more frequently than any other this season.

While the linebacking corps is most at fault, it can't bear all the blame.

A dearth of sacks, tackles, and turnovers at that position is often an indication that defensive linemen aren't demanding enough attention. This is unfortunately reflected in the fact that despite Jon Tenuta's name being synonymous with "blitz," Notre Dame has recorded a whopping four sacks this season, and just one at defensive end.

Kerry Neal, Ian Williams, Ethan Johnson, and Kapron Lewis-Moore have to do more to create opportunities for linebackers to make plays, certainly.

But through three games, the three players in the middle of that Irish defense have been the most disappointing. They compose the position group that is holding Notre Dame back and will ultimately cost the Irish a trip to the BCS. Even highly-recruited freshman Manti Te'o, after a dynamic opening effort, has somehow become mired in the mediocrity.

Dominant defensive teams have dominant play at linebacker, and Notre Dame's must step up.  Without injured wide receiver Michael Floyd, the Irish have to anticipate a lull in offensive production, and a corresponding commitment to defense is the only way to compensate.

So how can the men in the middle become more productive?

If I were them , I'd ask Kyle McCarthy.

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