This week is that week. The return of Brian VanGorder is that event.

Back in January of 2016, Shane put together his greatest video work, highlighting the soon-to-be-fired ND defensive coordinator. It’s time to bring this work of art back to the forefront for one of the most important games the Irish will have in 2019.

Marvel at BVG’s inspirational coaching methods like asking his players if they are comfortable playing in the red zone. Watch in wonder as he questions if Jaylon Smith, now one of the highest paid linebackers in the NFL, makes anyone else around him better. See him casually slide into frame in ways that would make Chris Collinsworth jealous. Delight in his sideline hand signals that involve uncomfortable amounts of nipple grabbing.

This is BVG in all his true glory. This, is the Essential Brian VanGorder.

The post HLS Vault: The Essential Brian VanGorder appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

Who To Watch

Syracuse (7-2) vs Louisville (2-7), Fri 7:00 PM ET on ESPN2

via GIPHY

Syracuse is quickly becoming a force thanks to future Notre Dame Head Coach Dino Babers. This Friday night matchup won’t be close — the betting line currently has the Orange favored by three touchdowns, but Irish fans *will* get to drink in some sweet Brian “No Spaces In My Last Name” VanGorder as he (probably) wraps up his tenure as defensive coordinator for Louisville. While there’s still a slim chance Notre Dame will see Louisville head man Bobby Petrino when the season kicks off next year, this will probably be the closest we get to a BVG sighting.

Irish fans looking ahead to next week’s showdown in Yankee Stadium should look at Louisville’s offensive yards-per-play, as the Orange defense isn’t known to be too stingy.

Also this Week

Other Upcoming Opponents

• Southern Cal (5-4) vs California (Sat 10:30 PM ET, ESPN)

Past Opponents

• Wake Forest (4-5) at NC State (Thu 7:30 PM ET, ESPN)
• Northwestern (5-4) at Iowa (Fri 3:30 PM ET, Fox)
• Vanderbilt (4-5) at Missouri (Sat 12:00 PM ET, SEC Network)
• Navy (2-7) at UCF (Sat 12:00 PM ET, ESPN2)
• Michigan (8-1) at Rutgers (Sat 3:30 PM ET, Big Ten Network)
• Virginia Tech (4-4) at Pittsburgh (Sat 3:30 PM ET, ESPNU)
• Stanford (5-4) vs Oregon State (Sat 9:00 PM ET, )

Strength-of-Schedule Rankings

Last week, ND opponents went 4-7. On the year, opponents have a combined record of 56-52 (51.9%) with an average schedule strength of 39.

Rank	Team		Record	Weekly Change
6		Stanford	5-4	↑ 3
11		Northwestern	5-4	↑ 9
17		Pittsburgh	5-4	↓ 2
18		Michigan	8-1	↑ 5
22		Southern Cal	5-4	↓ 14
33		Vanderbilt	4-5	↓ 6
35		Florida State	4-5	↑ 3
46		Notre Dame	9-0	↓ 1
48		Wake Forest	4-5	↓ 1
51		Virginia Tech	4-4	↑ 10
64		Navy	2-7	↑ 9
74		Syracuse	7-2	↑ 2
90		Ball State	3-7	↑ 11

The post Opponent Watch: Sad VanGorder Edition appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

The Fighting Irish 4-8: We began the 2016 season ranked tenth and widely expected to vie for a place in the Freemason’s playoff scheme. And then we lost…to nearly everybody including the Navy (again). How terribly unexpected! We can beat Duke in their beloved Cameron Multipurpose Indoor Room, but we can’t defend Notre Dame Stadium from a team with a .490 all-time record. We cast our Dutch scapegoat into the desert, but we were not ritually purified. Our conference officials didn’t help matters, though their literacy classes in the offseason might enable them to read the rule book next year, with special concentration in the sections on “The Varieties of Pass Interference,” and “Targeting: That Elusive Pixie.”

When one gazes upon the Campus CrossToBear Crossroads construction reaching its climatic conclusion, and then considers the shambolic collapse of the football team, one can only be put in the mind of the Tower of Babel. And, oh, did the Alumni babble about this season, this coach, this athletic director. Yet, nothing says ‘reasoned dialogue’ like an angry letter to the newspaper. And nothing says ‘unhinged screed’ like having to pay to get your letter printed. Note to disgruntled Alumni: If you have a serious concern you would like to bring to the attention of Father President and the men behind the Board of Trustees curtain, take a sheet of bond paper (preferable watermarked) and, using a fountain pen, in your best calligraphy, list everything you appreciate about your Alma Mater, followed by a very brief description of what currently burns your ass frustrates you, and enclose a big fat check. Better still, make the check really, really big, and take your place behind the curtain. But full-page ads designed with all the flair of a fifth-grade science fair poster only make you look petty and small-minded; in short, you look like Michigan fans.

First Championship in 108 Years: No, it hasn’t been that long for the Fighting Irish (though it might feel that way); but it was that long for a hapless baseball team from Chicago. How chronologically unexpected! It’s always nice to see a perennial loser finally grab the brass ring. I just wish we weren’t edging dangerously close to becoming that perennial loser. Perhaps we can take a page from the Cubs’ playbook. They believed in their old, and storied team no matter how bleak recent seasons had been (check); They sank lots of money into stadium enhancements (check); they devoted even more money and effort into getting the best leadership and coaching talent available (how ‘bout them Cubs!). Yes, in the Cubs I believe we can see that there is always hope for the future, no matter how interminably long that hope as to wait. We may not know the day nor the hour when victory will strike…but there are a few constructive things we can do to hasten its arrival. Above all, the Fighting Irish do share one critical characteristic with the Chicago Cubs: Both teams are owned by Catholic families.

NCAA Sanctions: You have to love a supervising authority that rewards honesty with harsher penalties than obfuscation, deception, and lies. Yet, we must ask what our administration thought would happen when they “self-reported” a purely internal and substantially inconsequential matter. This was not unexpected. And now our administration is behaving like the zookeeper who lives with lions and, despite dealing with their claws and feces for years, is still bitterly disappointed when one bites him in the neck. In the new year, we need to recall that the NCAA was created by colleges and universities to assist them, not to rule them; and in assessing punishments for bad behavior, proportionality, justice, and equality must be the guiding principles. Well, if any collegiate administration does that, it will be truly unexpected. For my part, I am going on a New Year’s diet – I’m not swallowing any more of the garbage the NCAA is shoveling.

New President: Right on schedule there was a presidential election. Nothing unusual here. But a very loud man won that election in a manner that was quite unexpected to many. I myself am rather a-political; but watching the debates between the two candidates, I couldn’t help yelling, “We want Barabbas!” Whether he was our choice or not, we should wish the new President well. To do otherwise is no better than hoping the captain of your ocean liner finds the nearest iceberg because he didn’t invite you to sit at his table. Our own Father President will have to decide if he should invite the new President of the United States to deliver the Commencement Address in the coming year. Whether he does or he doesn’t, Father President can expect several more angry letters in the newspapers and full page ads. If you are thinking of preparing either of these, see my advice above. And stop making fun of the new President’s hair; I enjoy my untamed locks that reach past my shoulders and are mirrored by my waist-length beard. Believe me – nothing is so presidential as a sick flow.

Basketball School: This may be the most unexpected aspect of the fading year – we’re pretty damn darn good at basketball. Amidst the ashes of the football conflagration, let us hold onto the warm bricks of hope that constitute another successful basketball season. Maybe bricks aren’t the best metaphors when talking about basketball, but you get my point…or my three-pointer. In any event, no matter what infelicities 2016 brought, we must all have hope for 2017. And remember, 1879 was a pretty unexpected year for all of us at Notre Dame – but what we rebuilt that very year still proudly stands today.

EFS CSC

The post Good Fridays w/Padre: Unexpectations appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder yells from the sideline during the Notre Dame Blue-Gold Spring football game on Saturday, April 16, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. South Bend Tribune Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

VanGorder was hired in 2014, following the departure of Bob Diaco to become Connecticut’s head coach. The criticism of Diaco was his “bend but don’t break” approach made his defenses appear somewhat vanilla or “boring.” So what? They were fundamentally sound, rarely beat themselves and were always in the top half of the nation in total defense.

Much enthusiasm ensued when the Irish brought VanGorder and his NFL pedigree to South Bend. Many media types ballyhooed Van Gorder as an NFL mind that would immediately upgrade the Irish to an SEC style of defense. The media types quickly sold the fans on his various “exotic blitz” packages.

This brought great excitement to the masses.

Apparently no one saw or really seemed concerned with the uneven career of VanGorder prior to his arrival at Notre Dame. For starters: In 34 years as a coach prior to coming to Notre Dame, VanGorder made 18 different stops with various levels of success. Not much was made of VanGorder’s stint as the defensive coordinator at Auburn, which was his college stop previous to coming to Notre Dame. During that season the Tigers went 3-9 and VanGorder’s defense was ranked 81^st in the nation.

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder on the sideline during the Notre Dame-Michigan State game. (Photo: SBT Robert Franklin)

VanGorder’s defenses at Notre Dame were inconsistent, undisciplined at times, and often gave up points and big plays in bunches. Trouble was brewing early in VanGorder’s first year. After a very good start, the Irish were scorched for big plays as they stumbled to an 8-5 finish. This included giving up 43 against North Carolina and Northwestern and being lit up for 55 versus Arizona State. We may have gotten some fool’s gold at the end of the year when they played reasonably well vs. LSU in the Music City Bowl.

At that point, we were told that year two of “Uncle Rico” would be better. It was, slightly, as the Irish improved from 69^th in total defense to 45^th. Though the numbers improved and the team went 10-3, they still surrendered a late lead at Stanford and were just beaten down vs. Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Additionally, this was a defense that featured Jaylon Smith and Sheldon Day, two of the better players in recent memory at Notre Dame.

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly looks back at an official during the Notre Dame-Texas NCAA college football game on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. South Bend Tribune Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

Despite the experience and high level talent, VanGorder’s defense was nowhere close to a dominating unit. Enter 2016, the Irish are ranked 109^th in the nation, play with zero sense of urgency, and seemingly cannot tackle. Duke was the final straw. But, a fair question is: How did we even get to this point?

In my opinion, the hiring of VanGorder seemed to be a panic move from the get-go, like a gambler in Las Vegas back at the ATM chasing the money he lost. Perhaps Kelly gambled that he needed to change to grab the ring that has eluded Notre Dame since 1988? With the offenses that he features at Notre Dame and the changing landscape of college football, he needs discipline over pedigree and consistency over resume.

Kelly is at his crossroads at Notre Dame. His next hire will likely help define his own tenure at Notre Dame.

The post I Never Liked The VanGorder Hire appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

In a statement, Kelly said:

“This is a difficult decision. I have the utmost respect for Brian as both a person and football coach, but our defense simply isn’t it where it should be and I believe this change is necessary for the best interest of our program and our student-athletes.”

Credit: 247 Sports

The new defensive coordinator is Greg Hudson, who held that position at Purdue, East Carolina and Minnesota previously.

Hudson said he was “excited and honored about the opportunity that Coach Kelly has afforded me. We’ve got to improve on defense, without a doubt, and I’m confident that we will. We have great student-athletes and a tremendous defensive coaching staff. I can’t wait to get started with our group.”

Hudson is a 1990 graduate of Notre Dame and served as a graduate assistant to Lou Holtz before embarking on his collegiate coaching career.

Morgan VanGorder, the daughter of Brian, may have inadvertently been the first person to break news of her father’s dismissal.

The post Brian VanGorder Fired; Greg Hudson Is New DC appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

Notre Dame’s Nick Coleman (24) brings down Nevada’s Hasaan Henderson (12) during the Notre Dame-Nevada NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. South Bend Tribune Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have failed to develop an identity three games into the 2016 season. Or, as Brian Kelly insinuated, the Irish have an identity – but it isn’t what most would like it to be. In the coach’s words, the Irish are sloppy.

“The entire football team, and my coaching staff in particular, is in a position where they have to coach better. I’ve got to coach better…We’re sloppy as a football team.”

They’re sloppy on offense. The Irish receivers drop balls that hit them in the hands. The offensive line is missing pivotal blocking assignments. Players are coughing up the ball trying to gain additional yards.

They’re sloppy on defense. There’s a downright unacceptable amount of missed tackles and an equally unacceptable amount of blown coverages. There’s no quarterback contain and sub-par athleticism.

They’re sloppy on special teams. There’s a lack of consistency in the punting game. They’re turning the ball over. There’s unnecessary penalties that have negated scores and decent field position.

AUTOPSYING A SLOPPY DEFENSE

The most maddening facet of the team remains the desolate defense. Once again faced with the challenge of coaching up young players due to attrition and injury, the coaches are teaching sloppily. One doesn’t need to look further than the Twitter-sphere to conduct a post-game autopsy of the Brian VanGorder defense:

• Two teams have allowed four plays of 60+ yards this season: Appalachian State and Notre Dame (via @JJStankevitz).
• Notre Dame ranks 103rd in defensive passing efficiency, 99th in defensive rushing efficiency and 102nd in total defensive efficiency. The Irish are 89th in 3rd down defense, 104th in 4th down defense and 93rd in red zone defense. There’s 128 FBS teams. (via @EHansenNDI).
• Notre Dame is currently the only Power 5 program that has failed to register a sack this season – one of two FBS programs in this category. (via @PeteSampson_).
• Against Texas and Michigan State, the Irish defense allowed 10 red zone trips – nine converted touchdowns (via @PeteSampson_).
• In the past 5 games against Power 5 opponents, the Irish defense has allowed 23 red zone trips – 19 touchdowns and 4 field goals (via @PeteSampson_).
• In the past three games, Notre Dame has allowed eight scoring drives of at least 75 yards (via @BGI_CoachD).

COACHING STAFF CHANGE IS IMMINENT

Despite the abysmal performance the above tweets so eloquently describe, Brian Kelly maintains that a coaching staff shakeup is not in the cards. When asked if there is confidence in defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder and the overall scheme Kelly replied, “Oh absolutely. Yeah, without question, that’s not even part of the conversation.” Surely there exists an adequate answer to the question without sounding completely delusional.

Maybe the question should be rephrased, “What is the level of confidence in Brian VanGorder’s ability to coach and teach his confounding, inefficient, lackluster, disappointing, underachieving scheme…?” For obvious working relationship reasons, reporters are encouraged to refrain from such blunt questioning. However, make no mistake. Due to the inability to change, coaching staff change is imminent, regardless of how often Kelly shields them under a stubborn facade.

“The coaching staff must learn to adapt to the personnel at their disposal. Otherwise, fans can expect more of the same – busted coverages and missed assignments, which put the Irish on a path to a painfully mediocre season.” Less than two weeks ago, I wrote these words (perhaps echoing the many fears among the Irish faithful). And, sadly, the leadership within the Irish football program is making these words seem awfully prophetic.

With their College Football Playoff hopes essentially derailed, making some changes soon may ultimately be the first step to getting the train back on the tracks.

Cheers and Go Irish!

The post “Sloppy” May Be Football Team’s True Identity appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

R.J. Shelton #12 of the Michigan State Spartans scores a touchdown in front of Drue Tranquill #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half of a game at Notre Dame Stadium on September 17, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Notre Dame is a deeply flawed team this year; last night confirmed that. It was almost hard to watch the Irish make huge errors on special teams, continue to play defense with the density of Swiss cheese and make questionable coaching decisions in a game they absolutely had to win. There was seemingly no rational reason for handing the ball back to Michigan State down 36-28 with 3:37 remaining.

I know we will hear the arguments and excuses.

The Irish had three timeouts left.

It was fourth and 7 and the Irish were on their own 32.

Blah, blah, and blah!

COACHING FAILURES DOOMED IRISH

With 3:37 to go, the Irish needed two yards on third down to keep the drive and, in all reality, the season alive. Did Brian Kelly have that little confidence in the run game that he didn’t believe they could get him two yards? If the run is stopped, it’s fourth and short.

Despite analysts dramatizing time, football fans know a team almost never runs out of clock. A turnover or a failure to get 10 yards in four downs kills the two minute drill. Kelly opted to take the ball out of his best players’ hands and put the game on a defense that allowed more than 500 yards of total offense.

I predicted the Irish would win this game last week because of Kizer. But, for me, the Irish sealed their fate the moment Kizer trotted off the field and the punt team entered. I would have “rolled the dice” on fourth and 7 in favor of leaving it the hands of the defense.

This week is no easier for Brian VanGorder. The Irish defense struggled. The Spartans manhandled them on the line. The tackling and pass coverage was simply abysmal. I don’t see any scenario where VanGorder returns next year.

It’s difficult to see many wins on the remaining schedule. I think Syracuse, Army, Navy and Duke are likely wins. But, at this point, who knows? NC State, Miami and Virginia Tech – games which, just weeks ago, seemed very manageable – now go into the “toss up” category.

CBS’s latest project has Notre Dame in the Russell Athletic Bowl versus Oklahoma. The leaves haven’t even fallen, and the Irish are out of the playoff race. It’s hard to believe.

The post After Last Night, I See Only Four “Likely Wins” Left appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

FROM OUR SITE

• Friday roundup: The “Hooked” episode
• Predictions: Growing our Wolf Pack

PODCAST

• Irish247: Wrapping Notre Dame-Texas, previewing Nevada
• Irish247: On-air talking Kizer, Notre Dame football with Fox Sports
• ND Insider: Recruiting update 9-8

NEXT GAME: vs. NEVADA (3:30 ET SATURDAY, NBC)

• ABC57: First Notre Dame game for Virginia couple, 50 years in the making
• Athlon Sports: Nevada Wolf Pack vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish preview and prediction
• Blue & Gold Illustrated: Staff prediction
• CSN Chicago: For Notre Dame, Nevada game an opportunity for positive momentum
• ESPN: College football line moves, sharp and public bets according to Las Vegas bookmakers
• Inside the Irish: Pregame six pack: No place like home
• Inside the Irish: Concussion to keep Torii Hunter Jr. out against Nevada
• Irish Sports Daily: Game predictions
• Irish247: Staff predictions Nevada game
• ND Insider: Campus activities for Notre Dame – Nevada
• ND Insider: Lesar: Keys to the game for Notre Dame-Nevada
• NWI Times: Looking back and ahead
• One Foot Down: The anti-preview: Notre Dame vs. Nevada
• One Foot Down: Notre Dame vs. Nevada weather report
• One Foot Down: Game preview: Notre Dame vs. Nevada
• One Foot Down: Notre Dame vs. Nevada: Staff picks
• One Foot Down: Picks to click – Nevada week
• One Foot Down: What’s special about playing Nevada?
• The Oregonian: Notre Dame football vs. Nevada Wolf Pack: What time, TV channel, live stream, live score updates
• Record Courier: Pack take on Notre Dame
• Reno Gazette Journal: Three keys to Nevada-Notre Dame game
• Slap the Sign: When does Notre Dame vs. Nevada kick off and other questions
• Slap the Sign: Friday night picks: Predictions for Notre Dame vs. Nevada
• South Bend Tribune: What to expect heading to Notre Dame home opener
• UHND: Frankie V’s prediction: Notre Dame vs. Nevada ’16
• UND: Notre Dame – Nevada 2016: Five things to watch

https://vine.co/v/5JqQ2WXm1hu

OFFENSE

• AP: Watching Golson helped Kizer win job as Notre Dame QB
• Irish247: Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer named the starter
• Irish247: St. Brown calls Denbrock ‘a major key”
• Irish247: Sanders on WR group: “Guys are ready to ball out”
• ND Insider: Notre Dame WR Equanimeous St. Brown a viral sensation
• ND Insider: Voices from the past and present inspire C.J. Sanders’ ascent at Notre Dame
• UHND: Torii Hunter Jr. injury update
• UHND: Desmond Howard: DeShone Kizer ‘one of the best QBs in college football’

DEFENSE

• Irish247: Kelly confident Irish DBs will rebound from Texas loss
• Irish247: Martini: “We left a lot out on that field”
• Irish247 ($): Kelly, VanGorder focus on maximizing personnel strengths
• Irish247: Notre Dame’s Isaac Rochell talks message from Brian VanGorder
• Irish247: Morgan appreciative for fight, effort of defense
• Irish247: Luke impressed with early play of Devin Studstill
• Irish247 ($): Roll the dice with Studstill and Elliott

SCHEDULE

• MLive: Michigan State puts positive spin on early bye with Notre Dame looming

RECRUITING

• Irish Sports Daily (Free/$): ISD Intel
• Irish247 ($): Hezekiah Jones locks in Notre Dame official visit
• Irish247: Notre Dame commit update (Sept. 9)

LAST GAME: Texas 50, Notre Dame 47

• Burnt Orange Nation: Texas victory over Notre Dame could come to resemble 2004 win over Arkansas
• CSN Chicago: DeShone Kizer puts offseason improvements on display against Texas
• Football Scoop: Here’s the video Texas showed its players before beating Notre Dame

MISC.

• Forbes: Saturdays in the fall mean college football, tailgating and private jets
• FOX Sports: Watch basketball hall of famer Allen Iverson dominate as a HS football star
• Irish Sports Daily ($): The bigger picture: ND has come a long way
• ND Insider: New parking strategy set for Notre Dame Stadium
• UHND: Notre Dame’s road woes continue under Brian Kelly

The post Morning Roundup: Sept. 10, 2016 appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder yells from the sideline during the Notre Dame Blue-Gold Spring football game on Saturday, April 16, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. South Bend Tribune Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

Much has been discussed, written, and analyzed of the 50-47 loss Texas handed Notre Dame this past Sunday. Many have called for change among the defensive coaching staff as it relates to the 50 points a young Texas team hung on the Irish defense.

Ironically, the change that is being clamored for is due to the inability to do just that – change. In the ever evolving landscape of today’s college football, it is more important now than ever for coaches to adjust, adapt, and yes – change. The evolution of the spread offense, read option, and dual threat quarterback are prime examples of how defenses around the country have been forced to adapt in order to defend the relatively new, innovative, fast paced offensive systems.

In regards to Notre Dame, changes must be made in one way or another if the Irish hope to salvage the 2016 season. Look no further than the recent game at Texas as an example of the failure to successfully adjust and adapt.

Irish Illustrated’s Pete Sampson offered this interesting stat: Against Notre Dame’s 3-man defensive line, Texas rushed 38 times for 214 yards, or 5.63 yards per carry. Against a 4-man line, Texas rushed 11 times for 38 yards, or 3.45 yards per carry. Hindsight is 20/20, but why the Irish ever went back to the 3-man front in the second half may forever remain a mystery.

I have never been a defensive coordinator – nor do I pretend to be – so forgive me for what may appear as a naive interpretation of the “VanGorder Experiment.” To the common fan, the easiest change to make on defense would be to “simplify the scheme.” This is, and remains, the platitude that Irish fans continue to cling to. It wouldn’t be a stretch of the imagination to suggest that the complexities of Brian VanGorder’s NFL-esque defensive system have become counterproductive to general defensive goals.

Sadly, these complexities continually appear to be far more complex to our own defense than to the opposing offense. The current defensive scheme can be easily characterized by numerous busted coverages, players “overrunning” the ball carrier, failed blitz attempts, and quite simply poor tackling. When these miscues develop into patterns, rather than isolated incidents, you end up with historically poor results as summarized by long-time Notre Dame Football beat writer Lou Somogyi at Blue and Gold Illustrated:

The 132 points Notre Dame has surrendered in its last three games — a 38-36 loss at Stanford, a 44-28 defeat to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl and the 50-47 setback in Austin — set a school record for the most over such a stretch. Those 132 points yielded come out to an average of 44.0 points per game. The previous record was 129, or 43.0 per game, in 2014.

Unfortunately, that also occurred during VanGorder’s first season at the helm when Notre Dame lost 55-31 at Arizona State, 43-40 at home to Northwestern in overtime, and 31-28 versus Louisville. That’s not even including a 49-14 drubbing at USC in the regular season finale, or a 49-39 victory versus Navy the week before traveling to Arizona State. When you add those five games up, it comes out to 43.5 points per game, just short of the current 44.0 number through the past three contests.

Once again, a healthy dose of “simplify the scheme” would appear (on the surface) to be a potential cure to the poor defensive performances. If not a cure, perhaps simplifying a defensive philosophy rooted in NFL teachings could provide a much needed cough drop to the current disease defense.

Perhaps a simplification would allow for less scheme teachings and more fundamental tackling teachings, thus providing better results considering the original tally of missed tackles against Texas reached an inexcusable 24. Maybe even a Bob Diaco “bend don’t break” style defense would more justly fit the current defensive personnel. Comparing the Diaco era versus the VanGorder era provides for a nostalgic juxtaposition:

• Yards allowed per game: 343 (Diaco) vs. 393 (VanGorder) +50
• Points allowed per game: 19.0 (Diaco) vs. 27.1 (VanGorder) +8.1
• ND Offense points per game: 27.1 (Diaco) vs. 34.0 (VanGorder) +6.1 – essentially BVG has the luxury of a 6 point cushion that Diaco wasn’t fortunate enough to have.
• 2012 defense allowed one touchdown drive of over 75 yards (Diaco) vs. 2015 defense allowed 26 touchdown drives of over 75 yards (VanGorder) – also the Irish defense gave up four touchdown drives of 75 yards or more against Texas. (Stats courtesy of @NDMcFLY  & @PeteSampson_)

While these statistics may be superficial, they do make an ND fan appreciate the old adage: “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.”

The upshot is that the coaches can’t lose sight of their overall goal – to put the players in the best opportunities to succeed. This beautifully simple idea has been conflated and overshadowed on defense over the past three years by perplexing gap assignments, stunts, blitzes, and coverage responsibilities.

Looking back at the 2015 team, the lack of success on defense is maddening, especially after considering five members of that defense are currently on NFL rosters (Jaylon Smith, KeiVarae Russell, Sheldon Day, Romeo Okwara and Matthias Farley). Yes, the 2014 and 2015 defenses suffered unprecedented injuries, but would that not then prompt a coaching staff to change and/or adapt their complex philosophy to fit a young and inexperienced personnel? One could argue it certainly would not hurt.

This change needs to be made in order to put the current personnel in the best opportunities to succeed. Drue Tranquil and Avery Sebastian are very talented safeties who lack the physical traits necessary to succeed given their current responsibilities within the current system. Their backups, true freshmen Devin Studstill and Jalen Elliott, also can’t be expected to fully grasp the complex scheme when no one has truly demonstrated a distinct understanding in the three years of its implementation.

The last three years have been a clinic on how to handicap above average athletic talents due to strenuous mental expectations. It is expected that the defense “play fast.” But in order to do so requires less thinking and a more natural read and react style of play. In order to put the players in the best positions to succeed, the coaching staff must adapt and change their philosophies to fit their current personnel.

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” – Charles Darwin

The coaching staff must learn to adapt to the personnel at their disposal. Otherwise, fans can expect more of the same – busted coverages and missed assignments, which put the Irish on a path to a painfully mediocre season. If the coaching staff can’t make a philosophy change, the only other feasible option is to change the philosopher.

The post Defensive “Change” Must Come, One Way Or Another appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

FROM OUR SITE

• Notre Dame defense vs. Texas: The numbers
• Texas loss marks beginning of Kelly’s end at ND

PODCAST

• Blue & Gold Illustrated: Texas recap
• Irish Illustrated: Making sense of Sunday
• ND Insider: Five fixes for Notre Dame’s defense
• Slap the Sign: Notre Dame’s defenseless defense and other Texas topics

NEXT GAME: vs. Nevada (3:30 p.m. ET Saturday, NBC)

• Bleacher Report: Betting odds, football pick
• Blue & Gold Illustrated: Nevada’s Brian Polian talks matchup with Notre Dame
• Blue & Gold Illustrated: Video: Brian Kelly press conference review, Sept. 6
• Inside the Irish: Irish move forward to Nevada
• Irish Illustrated ($): Insider’s Q&A: Nevada
• Irish Sports Daily: Notre Dame depth chart: Nevada
• Irish Sports Daily ($): BK notebook: 9/6
• Irish247: Impressions: Brian Kelly press conference (Sept. 6)
• ND Insider: Quick hits: Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly’s Nevada week press conference
• One Foot Down: Notre Dame football depth chart for Nevada
• One Foot Down: Tuesdays with Brian Kelly – Nevada week
• Sports Chat Place: College football pick, odds and prediction
• UHND: Notre Dame football depth chart: 2016 Nevada
• UND: Home opener Sunday vs. Nevada for #18 Irish
• UND: Brian Kelly press conference transcript

2016 TEAM

• Athlon: Five thoughts on Notre Dame after week one
• CSN Chicago: Notre Dame falls to No. 21 in coaches’ poll
• Irish Illustrated ($): Tim Prister’s tale of the tape
• NWI Times: Irish now crossing a minefield
• UHND: Notre Dame football stock report: Week 2

OFFENSE

• Campus Sports: Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly not ready to give up on 2 QB system
• CSN Chicago: Notre Dame in wait-to-meet mode on DeShone Kizer, Malik Zaire
• ESPN: Notre Dame WR Hunter deals with concussion symptoms
• Goshen News: Still no decision on QB plan, Kelly says
• Irish Illustrated ($): Looking back at the rise of Kizer
• Irish Illustrated: Video: Brian Kelly talks quarterback uncertainty
• Irish Sports Daily ($): Kelly talks QBs
• ND Insider: It’s not about naming who’s the No. 1 QB at Notre Dame, but how to keep No. 2 engaged
• NFL: Dare to compare: NFL comp for Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer
• Slap the Sign: St. Brown and Sanders could become two-headed monster
• Slap the Sign: Give Kizer keys to the offense
• 247Sports: Barton Simmons on DeShone Kizer, young QBs and Minnesota’s tricky skill

DEFENSE

• Blue & Gold Illustrated: Dubious defensive days at Notre Dame
• ND Insider: Video: Is Notre Dame DC Brian VanGorder the right man for the job?
• Irish Illustrated: Kelly comes to VanGorder’s defense
• Slap the Sign: Is Brian VanGorder the right man for Notre Dame?
• UND: Rochell lives by his father’s message

SCHEDULE

• Detroit Free Press: MSU’s next opponent: What we learned from Notre Dame’s loss at Texas

RECRUITING

• Blue & Gold Illustrated: Notre Dame commit tracker and recap video: Week two
• Irish Sports Daily ($): Video: C.J. Holmes excited for official, senior season
• Irish Sports Daily: Recruit roundup
• Irish247 ($): Position change in Pouncey’s future?

LAST GAME: Texas 50, Notre Dame 47

• Barking Carnival: Sights and sounds: Texas football vs. Notre Dame
• CBS Sports: College football writer: Notre Dame game a pivotal moment for Texas
• CSN Chicago: Big 12 official: Hit on Torii Hunter Jr. reviewed, didn’t warrant ‘egregious foul’
• Fox Sports: How DeShone Kizer ended Notre Dame’s QB battle by shredding Texas
• Horns247: Stathead: Breaking down the Texas Longhorns football win against Notre Dame
• Irish Illustrated: O’Malley’s game one musings
• Irish Sports Daily ($): Notre Dame-Texas film review (part 1)
• Irish Sports Daily ($): Notre Dame-Texas film review (part 2)
• Irish247 ($): Report card: Offense
• Irish247 ($): Report card: Defense
• Irish247: Proud of team’s effort, Kelly says Irish need to finish
• One Foot Down: The Texas hangover
• One Foot Down: 3 things to takeaway from Notre Dame’s loss to Texas
• UHND: Beyond the boxscore: Notre Dame vs. Texas ’16
• USA Today: Big 12 says hit on Notre Dame receiver was not targeting

IRISH IN THE NFL

• Irish Illustrated: ND in the NFL: Final cut downs

MISC.

• Blue & Gold Illustrated: Notre Dame basketball targets in updated Rivals150
• UND: Jerome Bettis to join Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame

Photo credit for featured image: Robert Franklin/South Bend Tribune

The post Morning Roundup: Sept. 7, 2016 appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.