They obviously played outstanding yesterday and looked good against Texas(as most teams will) but struggled against UVA. They were not good on defense last year, ranking 69th in total defense. However, 6 of the starting 11 were freshmen or sophomores so they were a really young team. The biggest leap players make in a program is usually from their first year starting to their second year playing regularly. Its during that time that talent is introduced to experience. As Dabo says all the time you cannot replace experience.
This year Notre Dame starts 10 out of 11 players that are juniors, seniors, or graduates. Thats a lot of experienced players starting on a defense. However, just because you are experienced does not automatically mean you are talented. So let's look at their talent according to Rivals.com
DE-- Okwara, Romeo---- 3 star, 5.7 RR
DT-- Day, Sheldon----- 4 star, 5.8 RR
DT-- Cage, Daniel----- 3 star, 5.7 RR
DE-- Rochell, Isaac--- 4 star, 5.9 RR
OLB-- Onwadu, James-- 4 star, 5.8 RR
MLB-- Schmidt, Joe-- no ranking
OLB-- Smith, Jaylin---- 5 star, 6.1 RR(#3 overall)
CB--- Luke, Cole------ 4 star, 5.9 RR
SS--- Shumate, Elijah--- 4 star, 5.8 RR
FS--- Redfield, Max--- 5 star, 6.1 RR
CB-- Russell, KeiVarae-- 4 star, 5.8 RR
8 of their starting 11 are at least 4 star athletes according to RR. Obviously Notre Dame has a lot of talent on their roster on the defensive side of the ball. The question is how much better does the experience that those young guys got last year, make their defense this year? I think the jury may still be out on that question for a few more weeks, but I don't think it would be wise to underestimate the experience that all that talent got last year, just because they were poor defensively last season.
On the other hand, I decided to look at Clemson's talent on defense as well since everyone is so happy with the way they have played up to this point. Again, I think its important to point out that BV recently cited Dabo wanting to get a lot of players PT that helped this group be as far ahead as they are. Here is what we look like..
DE-- Kevin Dodd--- 4 star, 5.8 RR
DE-- Shaq Lawson-- 4 star, 5.8 RR
DT-- Scott Pagano-- 4 star, 5.8 RR
DT-- Carlos Watkins- 4 star, 5.9 RR
LB-- Travis Blanks-- 4 star, 6.0 RR
LB-- Ben Boulware-- 4 star, 5.8 RR
LB-- BJ Goodson--- 3 star, 5.6 RR
CB-- Mac Alexander-4 star, 6.0 RR
CB-- C. Tankersley---3 star, 5.7 RR
S-- Jaron Kearse--- 4 star, 5.8 RR
S-- TJ Green--- 2 star, 5.4 RR
So thats 8 of our starting 11 are also 4 star kids. The only difference seems to be Notre Dame has 2 five star kids starting on their defense and we don't have any. I think we all believe you could easily say that Mac Alexander and Shaq Lawson could both be 5 star players if they were re-ranked, but Notre Dame could possibly believe they have some of theirs as well.
I also didn't account for second team guys that are getting a lot of PT like Christian Wilkins for us that was obviously a 5 star recruit. But to be fair Notre Dame also has a 5 star DT that is second team.
I like BV much more than Van Gorder, but just looking at talent, Notre Dame has a lot of it. Besides FSU, we won't play another team with as much defensive talent according to RR than Notre Dame. Obviously in regards to sheer talent, that can be debated as @Larry_Williams seems to think Louisville is the better defensive team from tonight's article. I guess the only answer to the debate will come in a few weeks or when we see how the NFL draft unfolds.
This year Notre Dame starts 10 out of 11 players that are juniors, seniors, or graduates. Thats a lot of experienced players starting on a defense. However, just because you are experienced does not automatically mean you are talented. So let's look at their talent according to Rivals.com
DE-- Okwara, Romeo---- 3 star, 5.7 RR
DT-- Day, Sheldon----- 4 star, 5.8 RR
DT-- Cage, Daniel----- 3 star, 5.7 RR
DE-- Rochell, Isaac--- 4 star, 5.9 RR
OLB-- Onwadu, James-- 4 star, 5.8 RR
MLB-- Schmidt, Joe-- no ranking
OLB-- Smith, Jaylin---- 5 star, 6.1 RR(#3 overall)
CB--- Luke, Cole------ 4 star, 5.9 RR
SS--- Shumate, Elijah--- 4 star, 5.8 RR
FS--- Redfield, Max--- 5 star, 6.1 RR
CB-- Russell, KeiVarae-- 4 star, 5.8 RR
8 of their starting 11 are at least 4 star athletes according to RR. Obviously Notre Dame has a lot of talent on their roster on the defensive side of the ball. The question is how much better does the experience that those young guys got last year, make their defense this year? I think the jury may still be out on that question for a few more weeks, but I don't think it would be wise to underestimate the experience that all that talent got last year, just because they were poor defensively last season.
On the other hand, I decided to look at Clemson's talent on defense as well since everyone is so happy with the way they have played up to this point. Again, I think its important to point out that BV recently cited Dabo wanting to get a lot of players PT that helped this group be as far ahead as they are. Here is what we look like..
DE-- Kevin Dodd--- 4 star, 5.8 RR
DE-- Shaq Lawson-- 4 star, 5.8 RR
DT-- Scott Pagano-- 4 star, 5.8 RR
DT-- Carlos Watkins- 4 star, 5.9 RR
LB-- Travis Blanks-- 4 star, 6.0 RR
LB-- Ben Boulware-- 4 star, 5.8 RR
LB-- BJ Goodson--- 3 star, 5.6 RR
CB-- Mac Alexander-4 star, 6.0 RR
CB-- C. Tankersley---3 star, 5.7 RR
S-- Jaron Kearse--- 4 star, 5.8 RR
S-- TJ Green--- 2 star, 5.4 RR
So thats 8 of our starting 11 are also 4 star kids. The only difference seems to be Notre Dame has 2 five star kids starting on their defense and we don't have any. I think we all believe you could easily say that Mac Alexander and Shaq Lawson could both be 5 star players if they were re-ranked, but Notre Dame could possibly believe they have some of theirs as well.
I also didn't account for second team guys that are getting a lot of PT like Christian Wilkins for us that was obviously a 5 star recruit. But to be fair Notre Dame also has a 5 star DT that is second team.
I like BV much more than Van Gorder, but just looking at talent, Notre Dame has a lot of it. Besides FSU, we won't play another team with as much defensive talent according to RR than Notre Dame. Obviously in regards to sheer talent, that can be debated as @Larry_Williams seems to think Louisville is the better defensive team from tonight's article. I guess the only answer to the debate will come in a few weeks or when we see how the NFL draft unfolds.
