technical details
  1. is_video => false
  2. alias => "chicago\/\/notre-dame\/notre-dame-understanding-why-brian-vangorder-year-2"
  3. nid => "344891"
  4. title => "Notre Dame understanding the \u2018why\u2019 of Brian VanGorder in Year 2"
  5. is_chrome_page => false
  6. article_body => "<p>SOUTH BEND, Ind. \u2014 It wasn't a coincidence Notre Dame\u2019s defense allowed 43 points per game without linebacker Joe Schmidt last November. Brian VanGorder\u2019s defense lost the guy who understood it best, with Schmidt both the team\u2019s leading tackler and defensive quarterback.<\/p>\n<p>While his teammates struggled to grasp their own assignments in Year 1 of VanGorder\u2019s scheme, Schmidt had a strong understanding of where he and his 10 teammates fit in the defense as well as why his defensive coordinator would make a certain call on a certain play. With Schmidt, the Irish had a solid defense; without him, it imploded. There were other factors involved \u2014 like the losses of Sheldon Day and Jarron Jones that left the interior of the defensive line thin \u2014 but without Schmidt\u2019s ability and knowledge, Notre Dame\u2019s defense quickly became combustible.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was definitely a learning experience for all of us, just seeing how we kind of switched everything up week to week,\u201d Day said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t too much, but sometimes people just kind of worried about themselves and worried about their fits and didn\u2019t understand the whole.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve heard plenty about how Notre Dame\u2019s defense will be better off for its November struggles, and how so many young players who had experience during that dismal month will enter 2015 with a better understanding of VanGorder\u2019s scheme. But more importantly, the stars of Notre Dame\u2019s defense have a greater understanding of their roles, the roles of their teammates and why VanGorder will make a call in a given down and distance scenario.<\/p>\n<p><strong>[ND CENTRAL:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnchicago.com\/notre-dame\/notre-dame-how-good-can-jaylon-smith-be-2015\" target=\"_blank\">How good can Jaylon Smith be in 2015?<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>So in Year 2 under VanGorder, those players \u2014 who have the talent to power Notre Dame\u2019s defense to be among the better groups in the nation \u2014 feel they can marry the kind of ability and knowledge that made Schmidt the team\u2019s MVP in 2014. And that\u2019s a reason to believe Notre Dame\u2019s defense could be good enough to put together a legitimate playoff push.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLast year, a lot of the times it was maybe you just do it because he said to do it or that\u2019s what\u2019s written on paper, this assignment,\u201d linebacker Jaylon Smith said. \u201cBut now, guys have an understanding of why this needs to be done and in what situations should this be called and things like that. It\u2019s not like he didn\u2019t teach this to us last year, we just didn\u2019t grasp it how we should have. But with any young defense there\u2019s going to be those flaws.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Notre Dame returns starters at 10 positions on its defense, with freshman Jerry Tillery the lone greenhorn (and he\/Daniel Cage will only start because Jones suffered a season-ending MCL injury during preseason camp). Plenty of reserves have experience in VanGorder\u2019s scheme, too, like defensive end Andrew Trumbetti, linebacker Nyles Morgan, cornerback Devin Butler and safety Drue Tranquill.<\/p>\n<p><strong>[ND CENTRAL:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnchicago.com\/notre-dame\/five-freshmen-who-could-make-impact-notre-dame-2015\" target=\"_blank\">Five freshmen who could make an impact for Notre Dame in 2015<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While Notre Dame players said they quickly bought into VanGorder\u2019s scheme a year ago, there\u2019s an added layer of trust that comes with a year of experience in the system. Day said that trust and knowledge allows members of the defense to play faster since they\u2019re not worried about what the guys next to them are doing.<\/p>\n<p>Players also have a better ability to anticipate what VanGorder will call in a specific down and distance situation. Anticipation was a trait this defense didn\u2019t have last year \u2014 \u201cOutside of the end of the game when we knew he\u2019d call something that\u2019d have us sit back, no, we couldn\u2019t anticipate,\u201d safety Elijah Shumate said \u2014 but it's an important one in understanding a scheme.<\/p>\n<p>Even if anticipating what\u2019ll be called sometimes means to expect the unexpected.<\/p>\n<p><strong>[ND CENTRAL:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnchicago.com\/notre-dame\/notre-dame-ranks-no-11-ap-preseason-poll\" target=\"_blank\">Notre Dame ranks No. 11 in AP preseason poll<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou never know with VanGorder,\u201d defensive end Isaac Rochell said. \u201c\u2026 Two years with the same defense we start to understand concepts more, and then we can kind of get a feel for what\u2019s going on and what he might call. But he throws curveballs all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Notre Dame hopes to see its defensive results improve armed with this greater understanding\/knowledge\/trust. In 2014, the Irish allowed 5.6 yards per play (70th among FBS teams) and 185 plays of 10 or more yards (83rd). Opponents reached the red zone 50 times (80th) and scored 35 touchdowns (116th).<\/p>\n<p>Of those 50 opponent red zone possessions, 26 came in five November games, with opponents scoring 20 touchdowns on them. VanGorder\u2019s defense can\u2019t afford to have the same problems, not only in the red zone but all over the field.<\/p>\n<p><strong>[SHOP:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/shop.nbcsports.com\/NBC_Notre_Dame_Fighting_Irish\/partnerid\/13747\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ext\">Get your Notre Dame gear<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>But now that players can anticipate their defensive coordinator and know why he\u2019s calling a certain play, there\u2019s a belief those same season-ruining problems won\u2019t crop up again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKids today are smart,\u201d defensive line coach Keith Gilmore said. \u201cThey don\u2019t just run into a wall just to run into a wall, they want to know how is this going to be helpful. I think the fact they\u2019re understanding why this call is being made and how helpful it can be to our success helps them buy into it and execute and do a better job with it.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n"
  7. author => "JJ Stankevitz"
  8. mps => {"author":"JJ Stankevitz","league":"","sport":"","sponsor":""}
  9. published => "1440614700"
  10. created => "1440617596"
  11. changed => "1440617596"
  12. status => "1"
  13. section => "Notre Dame"
  14. team => "Notre Dame"
  15. chrome_data => "{\"league\":\"\",\"sport\":\"\",\"sponsor\":\"\"}"
  16. image => {"uri":"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/chicago\/2015\/08\/26\/6-3brianvangorder.png","alt":"6-3brianvangorder.png","title":"Notre Dame understanding the \u2018why\u2019 of Brian VanGorder in Year 2"}
  17. sponsor => ""
  18. region => "chicago"
  19. fb_url => "https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=330072974228200&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fnotre-dame%2Fnotre-dame-understanding-why-brian-vangorder-year-2&display=popup"
  20. tw_url => "https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Notre%20Dame%20understanding%20the%20%E2%80%98why%E2%80%99%20of%20Brian%20VanGorder%20in%20Year%202&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fnotre-dame%2Fnotre-dame-understanding-why-brian-vangorder-year-2&original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fnotre-dame%2Fnotre-dame-understanding-why-brian-vangorder-year-2"
  21. mailto => "mailto:?subject=Notre%20Dame%20understanding%20the%20%E2%80%98why%E2%80%99%20of%20Brian%20VanGorder%20in%20Year%202&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fnotre-dame%2Fnotre-dame-understanding-why-brian-vangorder-year-2"
  22. tags => []
  23. tags_hide => []
  24. type => "article"
  25. meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/chicago\/notre-dame\/notre-dame-understanding-why-brian-vangorder-year-2.json","assets":["public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/chicago\/2015\/08\/26\/6-3brianvangorder.png"]}
  26. orig_image => {"uri":"public:\/\/2016\/04\/12\/6-3brianvangorder.png","alt":"6-3brianvangorder.png","title":"Notre Dame understanding the \u2018why\u2019 of Brian VanGorder in Year 2"}
  27. article_type => "article"
Notre Dame

Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — It wasn't a coincidence Notre Dame’s defense allowed 43 points per game without linebacker Joe Schmidt last November. Brian VanGorder’s defense lost the guy who understood it best, with Schmidt both the team’s leading tackler and defensive quarterback.

While his teammates struggled to grasp their own assignments in Year 1 of VanGorder’s scheme, Schmidt had a strong understanding of where he and his 10 teammates fit in the defense as well as why his defensive coordinator would make a certain call on a certain play. With Schmidt, the Irish had a solid defense; without him, it imploded. There were other factors involved — like the losses of Sheldon Day and Jarron Jones that left the interior of the defensive line thin — but without Schmidt’s ability and knowledge, Notre Dame’s defense quickly became combustible.

“It was definitely a learning experience for all of us, just seeing how we kind of switched everything up week to week,” Day said. “It wasn’t too much, but sometimes people just kind of worried about themselves and worried about their fits and didn’t understand the whole.”

We’ve heard plenty about how Notre Dame’s defense will be better off for its November struggles, and how so many young players who had experience during that dismal month will enter 2015 with a better understanding of VanGorder’s scheme. But more importantly, the stars of Notre Dame’s defense have a greater understanding of their roles, the roles of their teammates and why VanGorder will make a call in a given down and distance scenario.

 

[ND CENTRAL: How good can Jaylon Smith be in 2015?]

So in Year 2 under VanGorder, those players — who have the talent to power Notre Dame’s defense to be among the better groups in the nation — feel they can marry the kind of ability and knowledge that made Schmidt the team’s MVP in 2014. And that’s a reason to believe Notre Dame’s defense could be good enough to put together a legitimate playoff push.

“Last year, a lot of the times it was maybe you just do it because he said to do it or that’s what’s written on paper, this assignment,” linebacker Jaylon Smith said. “But now, guys have an understanding of why this needs to be done and in what situations should this be called and things like that. It’s not like he didn’t teach this to us last year, we just didn’t grasp it how we should have. But with any young defense there’s going to be those flaws.”

Notre Dame returns starters at 10 positions on its defense, with freshman Jerry Tillery the lone greenhorn (and he/Daniel Cage will only start because Jones suffered a season-ending MCL injury during preseason camp). Plenty of reserves have experience in VanGorder’s scheme, too, like defensive end Andrew Trumbetti, linebacker Nyles Morgan, cornerback Devin Butler and safety Drue Tranquill.

[ND CENTRAL: Five freshmen who could make an impact for Notre Dame in 2015]

While Notre Dame players said they quickly bought into VanGorder’s scheme a year ago, there’s an added layer of trust that comes with a year of experience in the system. Day said that trust and knowledge allows members of the defense to play faster since they’re not worried about what the guys next to them are doing.

Players also have a better ability to anticipate what VanGorder will call in a specific down and distance situation. Anticipation was a trait this defense didn’t have last year — “Outside of the end of the game when we knew he’d call something that’d have us sit back, no, we couldn’t anticipate,” safety Elijah Shumate said — but it's an important one in understanding a scheme.

Even if anticipating what’ll be called sometimes means to expect the unexpected.

[ND CENTRAL: Notre Dame ranks No. 11 in AP preseason poll]

“You never know with VanGorder,” defensive end Isaac Rochell said. “… Two years with the same defense we start to understand concepts more, and then we can kind of get a feel for what’s going on and what he might call. But he throws curveballs all the time.”

Notre Dame hopes to see its defensive results improve armed with this greater understanding/knowledge/trust. In 2014, the Irish allowed 5.6 yards per play (70th among FBS teams) and 185 plays of 10 or more yards (83rd). Opponents reached the red zone 50 times (80th) and scored 35 touchdowns (116th).

 

Of those 50 opponent red zone possessions, 26 came in five November games, with opponents scoring 20 touchdowns on them. VanGorder’s defense can’t afford to have the same problems, not only in the red zone but all over the field.

[SHOP: Get your Notre Dame gear]

But now that players can anticipate their defensive coordinator and know why he’s calling a certain play, there’s a belief those same season-ruining problems won’t crop up again.

“Kids today are smart,” defensive line coach Keith Gilmore said. “They don’t just run into a wall just to run into a wall, they want to know how is this going to be helpful. I think the fact they’re understanding why this call is being made and how helpful it can be to our success helps them buy into it and execute and do a better job with it.”