Michigan Wolverine Football: The Irish Defense
Posted at 12:00pm — 9/5/2014
Michigan Wolverine Football: The Irish Defense
Michigan at Notre Dame
Notre Dame, like Michigan, has publicly vowed to play a tougher, more aggressive defense than during the past few years. And as with Michigan, the lynchpin of the aggressiveness will be the cornerbacks. The Sam will need to hold the edge as the tackles take up inside real estate.
Notre Dame has been acquiring and stockpiling some very good 4 and 5 star talent the past few years. It could be argued, however, that Michigan may have better overall depth on defense.
Aug 30, 2014; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder leaves the field after Notre Dame defeated the Rice Owls 48-17 at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY SportsBrian VanGorder, a former NFL coach, is the new defensive coordinator who is incorporating a more aggressive scheme. The initial question was whether or not the old 3-4 defense of Bob Diaco would remain or be replaced by the aggressive 4-3 package similar to what Michigan is attempting to execute. The answer is that teams may see both and better be prepared for multiple schemes. But look for the 4-3 with multiple blitz packages.
Some important cogs of last year’s Irish defense, such as Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt, have departed. But excellent players, like Sheldon Day, remain on the defensive front. The 3-4 defense was meant to not give up easy scores, but instead make the opponent work and work to get the ball downfield. In essence, this was a bend but not break approach. The new 4-3 look will place guys directly into one gap, to attack, much as Michigan’s approach, so players will not be responsible for two gaps, or simply holding the point of attack.
The defensive line 4-3 alignment that uses a nose tackle and two in close tackles is meant to plug the run game and also free up the middle linebacker. Turn the running game to the outside is an objective. Like Michigan, the safeties will be used in different packages. Look for Notre Dame to assign one safety to play in the short middle to counter Nussmeier’s crossing patterns. This can dare a team to throw long.
Michigan will need to counter with formations if the inside zone scheme goes broke. Look for Nuss to overload a side to try and outnumber Notre Dame. We will clearly see the off-tackle dive and the horizontal game trying to achieve the edge either by land or air.
Notre Dame will send the fort on blitzes, probably the same as Michigan. The best cure is a quick outside game or get the ball over the top. Notre Dame will pay attention to the tight end and attempt to make him a non-factor. Both Notre Dame and Michigan will probably fake the dive from the gun and attempt to go over the top. Notre Dame will go deep, this is a part of Kelly’s football DNA.
Nov 9, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly (center) waits to lead the Fighting Irish onto the field to play the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. PITT won 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsThe secondary will play many cover schemes and if Coach Nussmeier floods one side with three receivers and focuses on an isolation with a single receiver to the other side, Notre Dame may play a cover scheme with two defenders on the isolation side of the pass formation. But that can open some holes on the quick hitters to the flooded side of the formation.
This is a new scheme, as is Michigan’s. Like Michigan, the Irish will be aggressive, press, blitz, and play multiple schemes. Notre Dame’s nickel package will be an object of observation by football techies. The nickel may back off to protect the safety who cannot bite on the run fake and get toasted over the top. The nickel will see plenty of slot matchups and the strong safety will meet the tight end.
Notre Dame now has the athletes in the secondary to make the change to an aggressive style. But it takes time to master such a venture, a Michigan fans should well know.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu
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