Romeo Okwara

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

Defensive “Change” Must Come, One Way Or Another

September 8, 2016 by BJ Konkle

"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." - Winston Churchill. 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, ...

Daveed Diggs as Lafayette in "Hamilton."

Recasting “Hamilton” With ND Football Players

June 5, 2016 by andrewwinn

"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 ...

Notre Dame defensive lineman Isaac Rochell. (Robin Alam/Icon SMI)

Will The Irish Defense Improve Its Pass Rush?

May 27, 2016 by BJ Konkle

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 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 ...

New York Giants defensive end Ishaq Williams runs through a drill during NFL football rookie camp, Friday, May 6, 2016, in, East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Checking In On The Undrafted Irish

May 12, 2016 by andrewwinn

Here's the latest on the athletes who played last year for Notre Dame, were not drafted and are now trying to make an NFL team: CHRIS BROWN: There are actually two players named Chris Brown on the Dallas Cowboys roster as of right now. The first is the Notre Dame graduate who was a great complement to Will Fuller in the 2015 Irish receiving corps. The second is a former Cal Poly QB who was invited to a minicamp to prove himself as a wide receiver. In a Tuesday post, SB Nation's Ryan Ratty ...

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 19: Cody Kessler #6 of the University of Southern California Trojans passes as Romeo Okwara #45 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rushes at Notre Dame Stadium on October 19, 2013 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 14-10. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Romeo Okwara Signs With N.Y. Giants After Draft

April 30, 2016 by BJ Konkle

Former Notre Dame defensive end Romeo Okwara announced after the conclusion of the NFL Draft that he has signed with the New York Giants. Okwara’s #NDFB career could be chronicled “The Curious Case of Romeo Okwara,” due to his unusual youth. Okwara, born in Nigeria, began school at the early age of 3, and he and his family moved to the United States years later. Once residing in North Carolina, Romeo had finished the 6th grade at age 10. He was a 3 star recruit (247sports composite ...

Notre Dame At NFL Combine: Early Results

February 27, 2016 by andrewwinn

With the NFL Combine half over, here are some of the emerging story lines regarding former Notre Dame players: JAYLON SMITH'S INJURY EXAMINED Linebacker Jaylon Smith gave contradictory - or confusing - answers to reporters' questions about possible nerve damage in his left knee. Smith tore his ACL and LCL during the Irish's Jan. 1 loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. NFL team physicians were allowed to examine Smith today to evaluate the extent of his injury. Doctors will need to ...

Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith (9) leaps over Boston College’s Myles Willis (23) as QB Jeff Smith (5) passes during the second half of the Notre Dame-Boston College NCAA football game on Nov. 21. SBT Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

Apples to Oranges: Fiesta Bowl Defensive Preview

December 29, 2015 by Moons

When the Irish and the Buckeyes take the field this Friday, the two offenses may be fairly similar with perhaps a slight edge going to the Irish, but the game's eventual outcome will be more a tale of how each side's defense handles these two explosive offenses. The season-long numbers provide a distinct edge to Ohio State. Let's consider how each team ranks nationally in several important categories (actual value in parentheses): Simply put: the numbers strongly favor Ohio State. Whether ...

Morning Roundup: April 3, 2015

April 3, 2015 by andrewwinn

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 at The Opening (⭐⭐⭐⭐ AZ RB Chase Lucas) Dawg Post (F): Big get for Dawgs - Price commits (⭐⭐⭐⭐ GA OT E.J. Price) Irish247 (F): Robinson, family ...

Enjoy this picture because it's probably the closest we will get to Zaire running the offense.

Morning Roundup: Feb. 25, 2015

February 25, 2015 by andrewwinn

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 line (Jarron Jones, Isaac Rochell, Romeo Okwara, Andrew Trumbetti, Grant Blankenship, Jhonny ...