Isaac Rochell Archives - Her Loyal Sons https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog A Notre Dame Football Blog Wed, 14 Sep 2016 14:56:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.3 https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/HLS-Avatar-Option-2-150x150.png Isaac Rochell Archives - Her Loyal Sons https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog 32 32 Morning Roundup: Sept. 10, 2016 https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/09/10/morning-roundup-sept-10-2016/ Sat, 10 Sep 2016 09:00:33 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=35721 Torii Hunter Jr. is ruled out for today’s game due to ongoing recovery from a concussion. This story and much more from the past 24 hours of Notre Dame football. 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...

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]]> Torii Hunter Jr. is ruled out for today’s game due to ongoing recovery from a concussion. This story and much more from the past 24 hours of Notre Dame football.

FROM OUR SITE

PODCAST

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

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

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

SCHEDULE

RECRUITING

LAST GAME: Texas 50, Notre Dame 47

MISC.

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]]> Morning Roundup: Sept. 3, 2016 https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/09/03/morning-roundup-sept-3-2016/ Sat, 03 Sep 2016 12:15:22 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=35550 I want to thank Tex for spending countless hours working on the redesign and giving the Morning Roundup a place on the Her Loyal Sons front page. Without further adieu, here’s what’s transpired in the world of Notre Dame football in the past 24 hours. FROM OUR SITE Good Fridays with Padre: Sunday Services Revisiting...

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]]> I want to thank Tex for spending countless hours working on the redesign and giving the Morning Roundup a place on the Her Loyal Sons front page. Without further adieu, here’s what’s transpired in the world of Notre Dame football in the past 24 hours.

FROM OUR SITE

NEXT GAME: vs. Texas (7:30 p.m. ET Sunday, ABC)

2016 TEAM

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

RECRUITING

SCHEDULE

IRISH IN THE NFL

MISC.

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]]> Defensive Line: Know Thyself, Know Thy Enemy https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/08/30/defensive-line-know-thyself-know-thy-enemy/ Tue, 30 Aug 2016 19:00:06 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=35499 You can have the best playmakers in the country, whether it be wide receivers, cornerbacks, or running backs, and it doesn’t mean you are going to win. The game of football is won up front, in the trenches, with the big boys. If you missed it, we covered Mike McGlinchey of the offensive line. In...

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]]> You can have the best playmakers in the country, whether it be wide receivers, cornerbacks, or running backs, and it doesn’t mean you are going to win. The game of football is won up front, in the trenches, with the big boys. If you missed it, we covered Mike McGlinchey of the offensive line. In this installment of Know Thyself, Know Thy Enemy, we cover the players who take a pounding every year: the defensive line.

For The Irish: DT Jarron Jones (Sr.), 6-foot-5, 315 lbs

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 11: Jarron Jones #94 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rushes against Jon Heck #71 of the North Carolina Tar Heels at Notre Dame Stadium on October 11, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 11: Jarron Jones #94 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rushes against Jon Heck #71 of the North Carolina Tar Heels at Notre Dame Stadium on October 11, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

After missing the entire 2015 season to a torn MCL, the senior defensive tackle is primed to end his Irish career in a big way. The Irish faithful last saw Jarron Jones at Notre Dame Stadium on Nov. 22, 2014 in a game against Louisville. Jones had a successful year in 2014, recording 40 tackles, 7.5 for loss, and 1.5 sacks. Jones also has blocked four kicks in his career, two shy of the Notre Dame all-time record. It takes a special type of 315 pound man to barrel through another large man, jump, then block a kick in just about a 2-3 second range.

It is that type of athleticism that makes Jones a top NFL defensive line prospect despite his injury history. Jones underwent surgery after a suffering a Lisfranc injury – basically a bone break mid-foot. NFL scouts see the upside to Jones, comparing him to 2014 46th overall pick Stephon Tuitt. Both players are strong, athletic, lengthy, and are versatile in defensive front schemes. Jones’ strengths include his quickness, flexibility, power, and length. Jones is projected as a late second round pick in pre-season mock drafts.

The talent for Jones is clearly there, but Brian Kelly’s number one concern is obviously his ability to stay on the field. In a defensive line rotation that includes sophomores Elijah Taylor, Jerry Tillery, and five-star recruit Daelin Hayes, Jones and fellow senior Isaac Rochell will be the leaders on the defensive line.

For The Enemy: Michigan State DT Malik McDowell (Jr.), 6-foot-6, 276 lbs

The junior defensive tackle will be the best defensive lineman the Fighting Irish play this season, as he may just be the best defensive tackle in the country. McDowell is listed a top 10 2017 pick and the first defensive tackle off the board. McDowell is the most talented player on the Spartans and will dictate personnel used on the defensive line.

In his 23 career games, McDowell has recorded 54 tackles, 17.5 for loss, 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception. The five-star recruit has been head coach Mark Dantonio’s biggest recruit and earned second-team All-Big honors. Similar to Jones, McDowell uses his lengthy arms and athleticism to cause havoc on the defensive line.

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]]> Analyzing the Fall Camp Depth Chart https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/08/11/3-fall-camp-buzzwords/ Thu, 11 Aug 2016 09:00:05 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=35116 Fall camp produces the perfect mix for any college football junkie – immeasurable aspirations coupled with unlimited potential. The 2016 Fighting Irish are no exception. Many positional battles follow #NDFB into fall camp and understandably so with the solid depth at all positions. Let’s do a quick rundown of what to expect. Depth, baby! Everything...

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]]> Fall camp produces the perfect mix for any college football junkie – immeasurable aspirations coupled with unlimited potential. The 2016 Fighting Irish are no exception. Many positional battles follow #NDFB into fall camp and understandably so with the solid depth at all positions. Let’s do a quick rundown of what to expect.

Depth, baby! Everything this fall will revolve around the exceptional depth that has slowly been built year over year. The coaching staff has recruited exceptionally well over the past few years (the 2017 class aka #IRISHEL17E and the 2018 class aka #IrishBouND18 are stacking up quite nicely as well) especially addressing specific positional needs.

adamsThe depth is far and above where it has been in years past. The offense returns multiple assets at every position. Proven running backs Tarean Folston and Josh Adams will lead the ground game along with Dexter Williams guaranteed to be fighting for carries.

The offensive line depth is nothing short of incredible considering it lost two future NFL starters from last year in Ronnie Stanley and Nick Martin. Junior guard Quenton Nelson has been named a Sports Illustrated preseason All-American and senior tackle Mike McGlinchey is garnering elite status as the 64th best player in the nation – according to ESPN. These two woolly mammoths will anchor the left side of the offensive line, and the right side anticipates a battle between junior Alex Bars and seniors Hunter Bivin and Colin McGovern.

Tight end, once a surging position of depth, took a hit in the academic ineligibility ruling against Alize Jones. As reported, Jones will miss the entire 2016 season. The return of transferring/not transferring Tyler Luatua provides the group with a huge (255 lbs. pun intended) veteran h-back, and his decision to not transfer now proves to be vital to the position group. Nic Weishar and Durham Smythe are both capable and consistent targets from a three point stance and split wide – this groups presence and overall utility within the red zone should not be understated.

Credit: Matt Cashore

Credit: Matt Cashore

The wide receiver cupboard is full – yet unproven. The only shoe-in to start is senior Torii Hunter Jr. Behind him will be an intriguing battle between Equanimeous St. Brown, Corey Holmes, Miles Boykin, C.J. Sanders, and potentially true freshman/early enrollee Kevin Stepherson. Finishing on the offensive side of the ball, who could forget the quarterback situation, in which the Irish arguably have the most collective talent at the position in the entire nation (including Brandon Wimbush)? *Insert your own opinions about the QB situation* and find my own here.

The defensive line (also unfortunately known as the Irish’s Achilles heel in recent years) is loaded with talent and (FINALLY) depth. Isaac Rochell, Jarron Jones and Daniel Cage are battle tested veterans while Andrew Trumbetti, Jay Hayes, Jerry Tillery, Jonathan Bonner, Micah Dew-Treadway and Elijah Taylor all look to make significant impacts and potentially break out. Also, look for the word “sub packages” to be thrown around as highly talented true freshman defensive ends Daelin Hayes and Khalid Kareem could be utilized as pass rushers in such schemes.

Nyles Morgan (Credit: Chicago Tribune)

Nyles Morgan (Credit: Chicago Tribune)

Nyles Morgan is an automatic upgrade at the Mike linebacker position, and while replacing the “once in a century” freakish athleticism of Jaylon Smith is no small task, the linebacker corps is well stocked with young talent. Te’von Coney saw limited action last year and is reported to be fully recovered from a shoulder injury suffered in the Fiesta Bowl. His classmates and other blue chip linebacker recruits, Asmar Bilal (2015 defensive scout team player of the year) and Josh Barajas redshirted last year. This young talent will push upperclassmen, Greer Martini and James Onwaulu for reps.

The secondary returns Jekyll and Hyde aka Max Redfield along with sixth year Cal transfer Avery Sebastian and fan favorite Drue Tranquil – all at safety. Garnering spring ball notoriety was true freshman and early enrollee Devin Studstill, who was my “most likely to make an immediate impact” of the 2016 recruiting class.

Rounding out the secondary at cornerback is senior multi year starter Cole Luke along with juniors Nick Watkins and Devin Butler. They are surrounded by younger talent in sophomore Nick Coleman and Shaun Crawford, who was slated to be the team’s starting nickel back last year until suffering a torn ACL in fall camp. Crawford drew incredibly high praise during the 2015 fall camp before his injury, and his return provides a massive athletic boost to the secondary.

Credit: UHND.com

Credit: UHND.com

Over the past few years the Notre Dame special teams have often been regarded as the “not-so-special teams.” Last year, however, the group made great strides and improvements. Returning “The Big Three” key specialists in kicker Justin Yoon, punter Tyler Newsome, and long snapper Scott Daly should pay dividends for the special teams in 2016. DeShone Kizer has been relieved of his holding duties and he will be replaced by Montgomery VanGorder. The Irish also have the luxury of Sanders’ electric and ever-elusive return skills. As a true freshman, Sanders returned both a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown last season. The special teams should continue to build off of last year’s success.

With the well-rounded depth in place, #NDFB is primed for an entertaining fall. Don’t forget that it is your civic duty as a Domer to recite one Hail Mary each day of camp for the shake of keeping this vital depth healthy!

Cheers and Go Irish!

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]]> ND Football Supports Fundraiser To Prevent Child Abuse https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/06/24/football-players-support-fundraiser-child-abuse-prevention/ Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:45:04 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=34665 Sixteen Notre Dame football players signed autographs and met community members as part of a fundraiser Thursday for Prevent Child Abuse St. Joseph County. The meet-and-greet was part of a four-day event called Roofsit, which is in its 20th year. It’s the brainchild of two U93 DJs who wanted to help abuse victims. This year,...

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]]> Courtesy: @BigPermU93 / Twitter

Courtesy: @BigPermU93 / Twitter

Sixteen Notre Dame football players signed autographs and met community members as part of a fundraiser Thursday for Prevent Child Abuse St. Joseph County.

The meet-and-greet was part of a four-day event called Roofsit, which is in its 20th year. It’s the brainchild of two U93 DJs who wanted to help abuse victims. This year, their on-air marathon and fundraiser is happening at Martin’s Super Market in Granger.

Players who participated were: QBs DeShone Kizer (#14), Montgomery VanGorder (#4) and Brandon Wimbush (#7); TE Nic Weishar (#82); P Tyler Newsome (#85); K John Chereson (#43); CB Jalen Elliott (#21) and Troy Pride Jr. (#18); S Drue Tranquill (#23); RBs Austin Ross (#28), Bailey Ross (#49) and Josh Anderson (#46); LB James Onwualu (#17), LS Scott Daly (#61); DE Isaac Rochell (#90, but not wearing a jersey). I’m not sure who #41 is, but it looks like WR Buster Sheridan. (It’s walk-on linebacker Jimmy Thompson, according to BGI’s Lou Somogyi.)

To my knowledge, this is Pride’s first reveal of his jersey number. Pride said in a May 19 interview with Blue & Gold Illustrated that he has a fondness for the number 17, which he first wore during Little League. The South Carolina speedster wore #5 in high school, but said he didn’t care what number he was assigned. “I could be a number 63, and I’ll go out there and be a lockdown 63,” he told the publication.

Today is the final day of the Roofsit fundraiser. You can donate in one of four ways:

  • Visit Martin’s Super Market, 7355 Heritage Square, Granger.
  • Visit the online donation page.
  • Call the fundraising hotline: 1-800-853-KIDS (5437)
  • Write a check, payable to Roofsit, and send it to P.O. Box 6535, South Bend, IN 46660

In its two decade history, Roofsit has raised more than $2 million funds. Last year’s grantees were agencies that assist survivors of abuse and educate the public about child violence. They included: CAPS of Elkhart County, CASA of St. Joseph County, The Center for the Homeless, Dunebrook, Kidspeace, St. Margaret’s House, Hannah’s House, The CASIE Center and Healthy Families of St Joseph County, among others.

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]]> Recasting “Hamilton” With ND Football Players https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/06/05/recasting-hamilton-nd-football-players/ https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/06/05/recasting-hamilton-nd-football-players/#comments Sun, 05 Jun 2016 12:00:41 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=34478 “Hamilton” is the smash Broadway musical that has garnered a Grammy, a Pulitzer Prize and 16 Tony nominations. Since the hip-hop musical (listen here) about our the founder of our nation’s financial system is currently on repeat in my house, I decided to combine my two loves and ask: Which Notre Dame football player would...

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]]> “Hamilton” is the smash Broadway musical that has garnered a Grammy, a Pulitzer Prize and 16 Tony nominations. Since the hip-hop musical (listen here) about our the founder of our nation’s financial system is currently on repeat in my house, I decided to combine my two loves and ask: Which Notre Dame football player would I cast in each “Hamilton” role?

I don’t know anything about each player’s rapping and singing skills, so instead I’m going to assign players based on how similar their personal traits are to each character in the musical.

GEORGE WASHINGTON

Isaac Rochell“Here comes the general!”

Senior Isaac Rochell is a likely pick for captain of the 2016 Notre Dame football team, which makes him the perfect person to play our first commander-in-chief.

Washington prioritized the health of the country more than his own ambition. In the musical, he’s assured in his convictions and has a strong sense of ethics that he will not violate. Hamilton looks up to Washington, and the general responds in kind by putting Hamilton under his wing.

Christopher Jackson as George Washington in "Hamilton."

Christopher Jackson as George Washington in “Hamilton.”

With the graduation of Sheldon Day and Romeo Okwara, Rochell has stepped into a leadership role on the defense. Rochell is also looking to make his mark off the field, securing an internship with Street Bean Coffee. It’s a nonprofit that helps young, homeless individuals receive job training they need to become employed and improve their situation.

Rochell, like Washington, recognizes the platform that he has been given and intends to make full use of it for the greater good.

Jerry TilleryTHOMAS JEFFERSON

I’ll have sophomore defensive tackle Jerry Tillery play the role of Thomas Jefferson.

Jefferson rivals Hamilton in intellect. He’s well-traveled, having spent several years in France as an American diplomat. If there’s a word that comes to mind, it’s ambitious. Jefferson drafted a version of the Declaration of Independence, served as Secretary of State during Washington’s tenure and later became vice president and president of the United States.

Daveed Diggs as Thomas Jefferson

Daveed Diggs as Thomas Jefferson

Ambition is also a characteristic of Tillery. He has designs to be a doctor and a professional football player.

“Plenty of people have done it before me,” Tillery told NDInsider.com last year. “I don’t think I’m the first one with those aspirations. I’m handling the coursework, and I’m doing pretty well on the field. Why can’t I have both?”

Tillery is an avowed supporter of Hillary Clinton and seems very interested in political discourse, having served as campaign manager on a student body ticket that ultimately fell short. He’s also traveled to Ireland and Germany during his brief breaks from the gridiron.

ELIZA SCHUYLER HAMILTON

Nic WeisharRedshirt junior tight end Nic Weishar is my pick for this role. Eliza was Hamilton’s wife, a kind-hearted, moralistic woman who prioritized family over self. She had a well defined sense of purpose, throwing herself into the founding of New York’s first private orphanage.

Weishar helped establish The Andrew Weishar Foundation, a charity in memory of his brother. Andrew, a victim of colorectal cancer, wanted his family to “pay forward” the kindness and generosity he experienced while fighting the disease. The foundation provides financial donations to families who have a member battling cancer to pay bills, take a vacation or whatever they deem appropriate.

The foundation throws an annual WeishFest in Chicago to bring awareness of the charity and to raise funds. About two dozen of Weishar’s teammates attended last year’s music festival and signed autograph for attendees.

ANGELICA SCHUYLER

Corey RobinsonI choose senior wide receiver Corey Robinson for the role of Hamilton’s sister-in-law. If you’ve heard the musical, you know Angelica has the wattage of Beyoncé. She is a strong, witty, independent woman who is an equal to many men in intelligence and foresight. Angelica is also very well read and, from her introduction onward, is “looking for a mind at work.”

Robinson typifies many of these characteristics. The university’s student body president, Robinson matches his on-field achievements with excellence in the classroom. Robinson has started a non-profit, composed an album’s worth of songs and briefly considered leaving school early to help the homeless of Brazil.

Robinson is an obvious choice for the role of Angelica.

AARON BURR

DeShone KizerMy choice for Hamilton’s chief adversary and our county’s third vice president is redshirt junior DeShone Kizer. Unlike the outspoken Hamilton, Burr is decidedly more reserved. Burr, an artful and intelligent man, is a man of fewer words. But don’t mistake his silence for a lack of ambition. Burr definitely wants to be in the mix and to get ahead. Burr is also a man who is proud of his accomplishments and wouldn’t stand for anyone slighting them.

I see a lot of these attributes in Kizer, who is more soft-spoken than his counterpart at quarterback. Like Burr, Kizer didn’t exactly know what he wanted – until opportunity presented itself. Both made the most of it when given their shot.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Malik ZaireMy choice for the protagonist of the show is senior quarterback Malik Zaire. The musical is a story of an ambitious, driven individual who surprises adversaries who continually underestimate him. Hamilton is a leader, unafraid to offer his opinion even when it may be politically advantageous to hang back and see which way the winds blow. The Founding Father was obsessed with leaving his mark on the young country and being remembered long after his political career ended.

It’s no coincidence that I’ve cast Kizer in the Burr role and Zaire in the Hamilton role. Burr and Hamilton were friendly, although they approached similar challenges in different ways. Hamilton and Burr began to grow apart when Burr defeated Hamilton’s father-in-law for a U.S. Senate seat. Hamilton would vigorously campaign against Burr whenever the latter sought political office. Their acrimony was settled on the dueling grounds, with Burr fatally wounding Hamilton.

OTHER ROLES

  • Jarron Jones as James Madison – frequent collaborator with Jefferson (Tillery).
  • Corey Holmes as Lafayette – Who is faster? Holmes on the field or Lafayette with the raps?
  • Torii Hunter Jr. as Hercules Mulligan – Smooth, fun fellows who can command a presence
  • Cole Luke as King George III – Ruler of an island; keeps close tabs on enemies

Thank you to Lin-Manuel Miranda for inspiration.

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]]> https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/06/05/recasting-hamilton-nd-football-players/feed/ 1 Will The Irish Defense Improve Its Pass Rush? https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/05/27/will-irish-defense-improve-pass-rush/ https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/05/27/will-irish-defense-improve-pass-rush/#comments Fri, 27 May 2016 10:00:40 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=34411 Welcome to a series of posts we’re calling “Five Question Marks.” In this entry – the second on a series – BJ Konkle answers a question on the minds of many Notre Dame fans: Will Brian VanGorder and the Notre Dame defense have a disruptive pass rush this season? It has been no secret that...

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]]> Welcome to a series of posts we’re calling “Five Question Marks.” In this entry – the second on a series – BJ Konkle answers a question on the minds of many Notre Dame fans: Will Brian VanGorder and the Notre Dame defense have a disruptive pass rush this season?

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 11: Jarron Jones #94 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rushes against Jon Heck #71 of the North Carolina Tar Heels at Notre Dame Stadium on October 11, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 11: Jarron Jones #94 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rushes against Jon Heck #71 of the North Carolina Tar Heels at Notre Dame Stadium on October 11, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

It has been no secret that the Irish defense has significantly lacked a strong and consistent pass rush the past few seasons under Brian VanGorder’s defensive system.

Yes, there have been flashes of well-designed blitzes and convincing individual performances. We all remember the thorough dismembering and countless cans of whoop ass that were opened on Michigan in 2014. How could anyone forget this marvelous shutout? (Quick update: Michigan still hasn’t scored). This was the game we were all formally introduced to the mustache riding, fist pumping, turn down for what defensive coordinator we collectively crushed on for a week.

It was also just a year ago that Romeo Okwara recorded three sacks in one game against Wake Forest. Okwara lead the team with 8 sacks, which was 45th best last year. Alabama, the reigning national champion, lead the country in sacks with 52, more than double Notre Dame’s lackluster output of 25. The Irish were tied for 74th in the country. As explosive as the Irish offense was last year, #NDnation drools at the thought of 10 more sacks potentially putting the offense in even better positions to light up the scoreboard. Since 25 sacks won’t cut it, is there any reason to believe this number will improve?

Yes – the defense will generate a better pass rush than last year. In terms of pass/fail, I would set the goal at 33 sacks. That output last year would have put the Irish in the top 30. I believe they’ll have a more effective pass rush than last year for two main reasons: depth and upgraded athleticism at key pass rush positions.

DEPTH

The defensive line has been a frustrating group to follow over the past few years. Depth has been a nagging issue. Sheldon Day and Romeo Okwara have left behind large voids, but there is still reason to be optimistic about the defensive line. There’s an intriguing mix of inexperience and veteran presences.

Daelin Hayes (und.com)

Daelin Hayes (und.com)

Daelin Hayes and Khalid Kareem, two early enrollees, provide much needed depth, talent and overall star power. The pair, who both hail from Michigan, were top rated defensive linemen within the recruiting class. Hayes was once a U$C commit and Kareem was pledged to Alabama. They’ll be pushing redshirt freshmen Elijah Taylor and Michah Dew-Treadway, big bodies that are expected to compete for supporting roles.

Sophomore Jerry Tillery – star of Showtime’s “A Season With” documentary series – and battle-tested juniors Daniel Cage and Andrew Trumbetti will be staples on the defensive line this year. All three will be crucial to the group’s success and bring a different attribute to the line. Tillery is a highly cerebral defensive tackle with above average athleticism, giving him the ability to wreak havoc in opposing backfields. Cage is a 315-pound defensive tackle that often requires a double team in the middle of the defense, thus allowing linebackers to roam more freely. Trumbetti has seen two years of work at defensive end and has shown bursts and flickers of becoming a true rush end.

Unproven junior Jonathon Bonner finds himself in a curious grey area. Brian Kelly explained that Bonner was one of the “impressive up-and-comers” of the 2015 spring season; however, Bonner was unable to translate this praise onto the playing field on Saturdays.

Moving into 2016, Bonner explained to Blue and Gold Illustrated that he has settled in and become far more comfortable with his position.

“I do (feel myself getting better).  I actually feel a difference this year compared to even the end of last year. Workouts are much better and you can use everything in your toolbox from last year and really put it into play during spring ball.” Minimally, Bonner provides the defense with additional depth, and has potential to become a solid situational player within the defensive line rotation.

Finally, promising NFL prospects Isaac Rochell and Jarron Jones will set the tone for the group and will likely have the biggest impact on its success.

Jones returns this year after missing the entire 2015 season due to a fall camp knee injury. Jones’ long frame – 6-foot-5.5, 315 lbs. – is uncharacteristic for a defensive tackle. If he can develop an ability to leverage this length against his defenders, he could become incredibly difficult to block.

Rochell has the versatility and experience to play both tackle and end. He is anticipated to fill the leadership void within the position group that departed with Sheldon Day’s graduation. He is also one of my picks as a potential captain.

This evenly distributed amount of talent creates depth that has been dreadfully needed. With this depth in place, it would be a pleasant change of pace to see far more rotation on the defensive line compared to last season. Great defenses, especially defensive lines, have the ability to platoon players in and out, thus keeping the big bodies fresh for key snaps. Notre Dame has not had this luxury in recent seasons, but barring any (*FEROCIOUSLY KNOCKS ON WOOD*) injuries, the Irish should be able to create a steady and fresh rotation of defensive linemen.

UPGRADED ATHLETICISM

The BVG defensive scheme doesn’t shy away from a blitz or two (or three or four or…. you get it).  Sadly, a number of blitzes and a number of sacks are not directly correlated.  Last year, Irish fans witnessed a heavy dose of blitzes that failed to get home – many executed by Mike (middle) linebacker Joe Schmidt. This isn’t the time or place to debate Schmidt’s play, but it’s fair to say that when he blitzed, he rarely got home – twice to be exact.

Nyles Morgan (Credit: Chicago Tribune)

Nyles Morgan (Credit: Chicago Tribune)

This upcoming year the defense will feature Nyles Morgan at Mike linebacker, and it’s with complete confidence that I conclude this will be an upgrade at the position. Morgan was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team, and to the Sporting News Freshman All-America Team in 2014. Many (including myself) were clamoring for Morgan to get more reps last year, but this simply didn’t happen. Many assumed it was due to a lack of totally understanding defensive schemes.  Morgan addresses this notion along with other intricacies of his position in a “Close Up” interview with WatchND.

Morgan is primed for a breakout year. His overall athleticism and three-year knowledge of the defensive scheme will produce vast improvements in the pass rush and in the defense as a whole.

Irish fans not only saw a bevy of blitzes from the linebackers, but also from the nickelback position. In the past few years, Matthias Farley often made a living firing off the line of scrimmage as a nickelback into opposing teams’ backfields. Redshirt freshman Shaun Crawford was going to be the team’s starting nickelback in 2015 before suffering a season ending injury in fall camp. He’ll be starting this year for sure. Crawford’s “quick twitch” agility and speed should be a deadly combination enabling him to come off the edge as an unexpected pass rusher. His pure athleticism, similar to Morgan, will be an upgrade at the position and a threat to opposing backfields.

Pairing the depth that has been created on the defensive line with the talent upgrades at other key pass rush positions, the Irish defense is in good position to improve from last year’s performance and inflict chaos on opposing pass protections.

Previous 5 Questions:

Will Another Star Receiver Emerge in ’16?

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]]> https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/05/27/will-irish-defense-improve-pass-rush/feed/ 1 Morning Roundup: April 3, 2015 https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2015/04/03/morning-roundup-april-3-2015/ Fri, 03 Apr 2015 12:00:59 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=28816 Good morning! I’m here to catch you up on all that has transpired with the Notre Dame football program in the last 24 hours. Here are your headlines: PODCAST Irish Illustrated (F): Irish hit spring stride (50:55) ND Insider: Podcast: ND Insider recruiting update 4-2 (10:42) RECRUITING – OFFERED Bruin Report Online ($): Video: Lucas...

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]]> Good morning! I’m here to catch you up on all that has transpired with the Notre Dame football program in the last 24 hours. Here are your headlines:

PODCAST

RECRUITING – OFFERED

RECRUITING – ND INTERESTED, NO OFFER

CURRENT TEAM

COACHING

IRISH IN THE NFL

MISC.

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]]> Morning Roundup: Feb. 25, 2015 https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2015/02/25/morning-roundup-feb-25-2015/ Wed, 25 Feb 2015 13:00:31 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=28164 Good morning! Here are your headlines: PODCASTS Irish Sports Talk: DaVaris at NFL Combine & Notre Dame scholarship at 82 – Feb 23 IST153 (46:45) Irish Illustrated: Insider Podcast #166 – Turnover margins (44:55) VIDEO StudentSports: GoPro: Manti Te’o – Hawaii linebacker coach (2:06) WatchND: Tire Wars (0:42) CURRENT TEAM Irish Illustrated: Spring questions: Defensive...

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]]> Good morning! Here are your headlines:

PODCASTS

VIDEO

CURRENT TEAM

RECRUITING

COACHING

IRISH IN THE NFL

SCHEDULING

MISC.

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]]> National Signing Day 2013 Recap https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2013/02/07/national-singing-day-2013-recap/ https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2013/02/07/national-singing-day-2013-recap/#comments Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:00:55 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=18043 After all the insanity that was January, we deserved a National Signing Day like this. All 18 unsigned verbal commits sent their national letters of intent to South Bend. There were no surprise defections; in fact, the only surprise of the day was a positive one as Eddie Vanderdoes became the 24th and final member...

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]]> After all the insanity that was January, we deserved a National Signing Day like this.

All 18 unsigned verbal commits sent their national letters of intent to South Bend. There were no surprise defections; in fact, the only surprise of the day was a positive one as Eddie Vanderdoes became the 24th and final member of the recruiting class dubbed as the Irish Mob.

Just how great was this recruiting class? Let’s take a look:

IrishMob13

 

And below is the full roster for the recruiting class of 2013 complete with links to their bios here at HLS:

Name Position Rating Status
Colin McGovern T 4 Stars Signed
Corey Robinson WR 3 Stars,4 Stars Signed
Devin Butler CB 3 Stars Signed
Doug Randolph DE, LB,WR 3 Stars,4 Stars Signed
Durham Smythe TE 3 Stars,4 Stars Signed
Eddie Vanderdoes DT 5 Stars Signed
Greg Bryant RB 5 Stars Signed
Hunter Bivin T 4 Stars Signed
Isaac Rochell DE 4 Stars Signed
Jacob Matuska DE, LB,TE 3 Stars Signed
James Onwualu WR 3 Stars,4 Stars Signed
Jaylon Smith LB 5 Stars Signed
John Montelus G, T 4 Stars Signed
Luke Cole CB 4 Stars Signed
Malik Zaire QB 4 Stars Signed
Max Redfield S 4 Stars,5 Stars Signed
Michael Deeb LB 3 Stars,4 Stars Signed
Mike Heuerman TE 4 Stars Signed
Mike McGlinchey T 4 Stars Signed
Rashad Kinlaw ATH, CB 3 Stars,4 Stars Signed
Steve Elmer T 4 Stars Signed
Tarean Folston RB 4 Stars Signed
Torii Hunter Jr. WR 4 Stars Signed
Will Fuller WR 4 Stars Signed

Personally, I’m thrilled with this class. The only thing that would’ve possibly made this class better would have been if Alex Anzalone had stayed in the fold to bring the class to a full 25, but, honestly, at that point, I’m just being greedy.

With this class the Irish could almost field an entire team of just freshmen on both sides of the ball save for one linebacker. The Irish managed to snag four five-star players (according to Rivals) which is the most I can ever remember the Irish having in a single class.

Notre Dame also only trailed a single school in the Rivals average star ranking. That school is Southern Cal, who bested the Irish’s 3.92 average stars with 4.42 average stars — of course, USC only managed to sign 12 players, so that skews that average ever so slightly.

Oh, and right below the Irish in the same ranking: Alabama with 3.84 average stars.

I could go on and continuously gush about this class, but the bottom line is that Notre Dame finished yesterday with an elite recruiting class. It is incredibly well balanced, addresses areas of need, and stocks the depth chart in crucial areas like both the offensive and defensive line (and Brian Kelly said he still considers those areas of need for 2014 — this is a man after my own heart).

Be excited, be very excited about what Brian Kelly and his staff just pulled off. This future is beyond bright for this team.

Finally, the folks at IBN Sports have reached out to us to share their ND signing day segment, featuring Mike Frank of Irish Sports Daily. They have loads of other signing day segments over at their site as well so be sure to check them out if you are interested.

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