Advertisement
football Edit

Irish Defense Looks To Force More Turnovers In 2016

Drue Tranquill and the Irish defense hope to force more takeaways in 2016.
Drue Tranquill and the Irish defense hope to force more takeaways in 2016.
USA Today

When most people hear “aggressive defense,” they equate that style with one with a proclivity to force turnovers.

For Notre Dame, that hasn’t been the case since defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder arrived two years ago.

Fans were pleased with the change from former defensive coordinator Bob Diaco’s bend-but-don’t-break 3-4 scheme to VanGorder’s 4-3 look that includes exotic blitzes, but the takeaways haven’t materialized in greater numbers.

Last fall, only 13 teams forced fewer turnovers than the 14 Notre Dame achieved. That total was produced by a unit full of NFL talent, including three NFL Draft picks from a month ago as well as two players that were quickly scooped up as undrafted free agents. Perhaps more alarming than the 14 takeaways was the team’s -6 turnover margin, a figure only eclipsed during the Brian Kelly era by the 2011 Irish that featured a staggering -15 net total with 29 giveaways by the offense.

VanGorder’s first season in 2014 included 23 takeaways, but that modest result was overwhelmed a crippling 26 giveaways by the offense with Everett Golson at the helm.

Tale of the Turnovers
Year Takeaways Nat. Rank Team +/- Nat. Rank Record

2015

14

T-110th

-6

T-102nd

10-3

2014

23

T-41st

-3

T-84th

8-5

2013

17

T-103rd

0

T-61st

9-4

2012

23

T-48th

+8

T-28th

12-1

2011

14

T-112th

-15

119th

8-5

2010

25

T-36th

+1

50th

8-5

Note: Bob Diaco led the Irish defense from 2010-13, with Brian VanGorder taking over prior to the 2014 season.

The Irish defensive coordinator has admitted frustration with Notre Dame’s poor play on defense the past two seasons but is hopeful that this fall’s unit will perform better.

“I would say that you’ve got to be pretty smart to play in our defense,” he said. “We’re multiple in what we do, but if I looked at those plays that bring about that term inconsistency to describe, they wouldn’t involve anything that was complicated or should have been really an issue. That’s player and coach responsibility to solve it. Get it better, and certainly stay focused through a game and avoid those scenarios. So hopefully we can be consistent in this ballgame and we need to be.”

The Irish coaching staff hopes a few changes this offseason — namely, the presence of Shaun Crawford at nickel back after his 2015 season was wiped out by an injury — will make a significant difference on the field. A more productive pass rush that is disrupting and pressuring the opposition could also play a factor.

In 2014 and 2015, Notre Dame forced only 26 and 24 sacks, respectively, while ranking in the 70s both seasons. An offense with a quarterback that does not face consistent pressure is typically one that will make fewer mistakes.

Notre Dame’s will look very different in terms of personnel this fall with all of the losses, but the coaches hope an infusion of young and inexperienced talent could also help fuel a better showing in takeaways.

Advertisement