Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/140522
defensive line Preseason Analysis ★★★★ National Title Contention; ★★★ BCS Contention; ★★ Top 25 Potential; ★ Too Unproven Starters ★★★★ What other team in the nation this year features two potential NFL first-round prospects in the 2014 Draft — senior Louis Nix III and junior Stephon Tuitt — along the defensive line? Not even the SEC might be able to lay claim to that this year. The closest such duo might be Stanford's Henry Anderson and Ben Gardner. Maybe just as notable is that Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly indicated that sophomore Sheldon Day — 23 tackles last season while in the rotation as a freshmen — is the best on the team at shedding blocks. Experience ★★★★ Nix's 22 career starts are tied for the most among returning Irish defensive starters, while Tuitt's 16 are fourth. They have recorded 174 tackles between them over the past two seasons and have played hurt. Nix battled through an illness last season that had him in infirmary the week of the Pitt game, which he didn't start but provided a strong finish to, and Tuitt played with a sports hernia late in the year that required surgery in the winter. Senior nose guard Kona Schwenke has been a regular, including two starts last year, while Day and junior Tony Springmann were effective relief men throughout 2012. Depth ★★★ This would have been four stars, too, had five-star California defensive end Eddie Vanderdoes not backed out of attending Notre Dame. Vanderdoes signed a National Letter of Intent with the Irish in February, but in June it became official that he will enroll at UCLA instead. Losing junior Chase Hounshell a second straight year because of shoulder surgery also is a setback. Sophomore Jarron Jones' development is going to be crucial in coming years. Senior Justin Utupo and fifth-year senior Tyler Stockton have barely played, but both enjoyed quality springs. Overall Grade ★★★★ Provided Nix and Tuitt stay relatively healthy, this is a national championship-caliber line with some good complementary pieces in the rotation. It would have looked better with Vanderdoes in the mix, especially if Tuitt decides to join Nix in the NFL in 2014. It shouldn't be overlooked that junior Cat linebacker Ishaq Williams did some work with defensive line coach Mike Elston during the spring and will line up at end in certain packages. His presence would bolster what already is, or should be, the strongest overall unit on the 2013 Notre Dame team. Sophomore Sheldon Day steps into a starting role this year, after providing productive relief duty last season with 23 tackles. photo by bill panzica Tuitt's 12 sacks last season were easily the most by an Irish sophomore since the stat was first kept separate in 1982 (Justin Tuck's five in 2002 is a distant second). Making a lot of those plays possible was Nix's presence in the middle. His control of the line of scrimmage with his 326-pound frame (his listed weight in 2012) — which can easily fluctuate into the 350-pound range — made him a facilitator for others. Elston said seldom has he seen a more ferocious competitor than Nix. "He's trying to impact every single play," Elston said. "He's forcing the offense to do things that they're not necessarily going to have to do against other teams because of how he plays. … He's a very important player that can change the game at any time, and he changes the mindset of those offensive linemen across from him. They really have to pay attention to him." Along with the entire Notre Dame defensive front. Dawn Of A New Day What will distinguish whether the Fighting Irish defensive line can become the best overall in the nation will be the depth and production it builds beyond the Nix/Tuitt tandem. First, the Irish must replace 42-game starter Lewis-Moore, whose 40 stops last year included 8.5 behind the line of scrimmage (six sacks). Equally important, he was one of the most crucial figures in the locker room with his leadership and levity. Stepping into that role is sophomore Sheldon Day, whom defensive coordinator Bob Diaco labels an "old soul." Notre Dame's rush defense Year Rush YPG NCAA Rank 2003127.1 20 200488.2 4 2005132.3 34 2006136.9 61 2007195.4 96 Year Rush YPG NCAA Rank 2008134.2 45 2009170.3 89 2010142.2 50 2011138.9 47 2012105.7 11 "He's one of the favorites on the team in terms of the guys," Diaco said. "He's like the mayor of the town. He's got energy every day, he's smiling, he's happy. "He's fundamentally sound, he plays hard and he's got leverage. He understands the plays, and he's got high football intelligence. He's a special guy." The first man off the bench for the line and last year's No. 2-ranked scoring defense posted rookie numbers — 23 stops, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass defended and one forced fumble — that rivaled Tuitt's freshman year (30 tackles, three stops for loss and two sacks). Although Day does not fit the classic physical profile of the 6-4, 306-pound Lewis-Moore in the interior, he has skills that cut through size or measurables profiles, said Kelly. "He's got unique first step quickness and the ability to get off blocks," Kelly said. "Whether he's 6-1, 6-3 or 6-2, his skill set overcomes length at that position. … There's nobody that we have defensively that gets off blocks like Sheldon Day. It's an innate trait that you have — and he just has that." Despite his youth, Day also is not reticent when it comes to taking on a vocal role in the locker room. "I kind of learned from 'Kap' [Lewis-Moore] when to talk and when not to talk. I feel like I can take on that role as a vocal leader," he said. "Just knowing that I was a contributor on [the 2012] team feels good. I feel like I got a learning experience on what to do and when to do it. "When I first got here I thought I would just be another redshirt freshman, but I got the opportunity and I feel like I embraced my opportunity." Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview ✦ 85 84-88.DLs.indd 85 6/25/13 2:13 PM