BGI Special Edition

2013 Notre Dame Football Preview

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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defensive line Heart And Soul The front wall should be Notre Dame's No. 1 strength again in 2013 By Lou Somogyi he face, conscience, leader and playmaker of Notre Dame's stellar 2012 defense was Mike linebacker and Heisman Trophy runner-up Manti Te'o. However, the heart and soul of its overall success was the defensive line. Te'o has graduated, but the bulk of the defensive front — literally and figuratively — returns and once again could be the most powerful cornerstone of the team. Strength in the trenches is where all football excellence begins, and that's where Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly is most confident when looking at the 2013 campaign. "Yeah, I feel pretty good about the lines, no question," Kelly replied after the April 20 Blue-Gold Game when asked if the lines would once again be Notre Dame's centerpiece in 2013. "Up front, we are pretty good on both sides of the ball." Notre Dame's 12-0 regular season in 2012 probably would not have been possible had Te'o and tight end Tyler Eifert opted to leave early for the NFL rather than return for their senior seasons. In 2013, the return of senior nose guard Louis Nix III and fifthyear senior offensive tackle Zach Martin might not elicit as much of a "wow factor" the way Te'o and Eifert did at more glamorous positions, but their choice to put the NFL on hold for another year in order to anchor Notre Dame's lines might prove to be just as valuable. Nix and junior defensive end Stephon Tuitt — who will have his own decision at the end of this season on whether to turn pro — highlight the nation's premier tandem this year along the defensive line, and one of the best in the past 50 years at Notre Dame. Mere statistics really don't do justice to their value, although their 97 combined tackles last season included 20.5 for lost yardage. Rather, it was their control of the line of scrimmage (along with the graduated Kapron Lewis-Moore) that opened up gaps for Te'o and the rest of the linebacking corps, and also helped protect a rebuilding secondary that included three first-time starters. While helping lead Notre Dame to a berth to the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama, Tuitt became the first Notre Dame sophomore defensive lineman ever to receive multiple first-team T 2 By The Numbers Rushing touchdowns permitted by the Fighting Irish during the 2012 regular season, the fewest in the country. In the BCS National Championship Game, Alabama scored on the ground twice in the first 15:04 en route to 265 yards rushing in its 42-14 triumph. Sacks recorded by Stephon Tuitt during his sophomore season in 2012. Since 1982, when sacks were first recorded separately from tackles for loss, Tuitt's single-season total is the second most in one season at Notre Dame, behind Justin Tuck's 13.5 in 2003. The last time Notre Dame had two defensive linemen chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft: Walt Patulski (first overall pick) and Mike Kadish (25th). On draft guru Mel Kiper Jr.'s 2014 "Big Board," he has senior Louis Nix III at No. 7 and junior Stephon Tuitt No. 13. The Irish defensive line hasn't had a firstround pick since Renaldo Wynn in 1997. 12 1972 Senior nose guard Louis Nix (left) and junior end Stephon Tuitt (right) are one of the nation's premier tandems along the defensive line, and one of the best in the past 50 years at Notre Dame. photo by Mike bennett/lighthouse imaging All-American notice — including CBSSports.com, Sports Illustrated and ESPN — and the first to even place on the Associated Press' first three All-America teams by earning a spot on its second team. Ironically, Tuitt wasn't even considered the best lineman on his own team. Nix was the recipient of the 2012 Notre Dame Moose Krause Defensive Lineman of the Year award. He also received thirdteam All-American recognition from CBSSports.com. Even more remarkable is Tuitt played the second half of the 2012 campaign with a sports hernia that necessitated surgery over the winter. Through the first seven games last season, Tuitt had 28 tackles with eight sacks. Over the last six, he recorded 19 tackles and five sacks. He still remained productive … but by his immense standards and ability, the effort was subpar. "It affected him a tremendous amount," Fighting Irish defensive line coach Mike Elston said. "His production went down, his confidence in his play went down and that's something we need to work on to make sure we can get that back this fall. "He's to be commended for fighting through it. That's a tough injury, and he fought through that for however many weeks and was a very serviceable player. He's the kind of guy that wants to change the game, and physically he was unable to change the game. But he fought through it and did a great job." The offseason surgery led to some inactivity this winter, and Tuitt added at least 20 unwanted pounds to his chiseled 303-pound frame from last season. The Notre Dame strength and conditioning staff, headed by Paul Longo, will endeavor to get Tuitt back to no more than 315 pounds by the time the season commences. 84  ✦ Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview 84-88.DLs.indd 84 6/25/13 2:40 PM

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