How Notre Dame football DE Isaiah Foskey flashed versatility against FSU
It’s not often a rising college football junior gets to work out with who many deem to be the best defensive player in the NFL, but Notre Dame defensive end Isaiah Foskey did just that this past summer.
Foskey spent 30 to 45 minutes with Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald.
“It was a cool experience,” Foskey said. “It was surreal seeing him in person. You see him on TV and see how big he is, then you see him in person and he was way bigger than I could ever imagine. It was a great experience.”
It's saying something for Foskey to be starstruck by another player's physique. Foskey is 6-5, 260 pounds. Donald is 6-1, 280. Donald plays on the interior of the defensive line and Foskey plays on the outside, but the latter still picked the former's brain about technique and mindset.
Why wouldn't he?
“I asked him a lot of questions at the end of the workout,” Foskey said. “I already knew he was laser-focused during the workout. And I was too.”
Foskey asked Donald how to game plan to beat opposing offensive tackles.
“The stuff he was telling me was to simplify. Everything is simple,” Foskey said. “You come in with one or two moves and a counter off those moves. He does it so well. So I've been working on that. Trying to simplify my game. Try not to do anything spectacular for the look of it or a highlight or anything. If I do a good swipe, a chop, a good long-arm, I'm still going to get the tackle. I'm still going to get the game done.”
Did simplification work for Foskey in the Irish's season-opening victory over Florida State?
“I would say so,” he said with a smile.
The statistics would say so, too. Foskey had eight tackles, which was tied for second most on the team. He also had two sacks, nearly half of his entire total of 4.5 last season.
Much has been made of Notre Dame's decision to switch to a three-man defensive front in the fourth quarter, and rightfully so. Florida State ran all over the Irish in the fourth frame en route to erasing an 18-point Notre Dame lead and forcing overtime.
Something some fans might not have noticed in the fallout of the Irish losing its lead? Foskey played outside linebacker in the 3-3-5 formation Notre Dame employed.
“I thought I did well in coverage and seeing the run blocks and the guards pulling and everything, but the game to me looked pretty slow because with my preparation I could see it and react to it,” Foskey said.
Notre Dame's fourth-quarter collapse will overshadow what Foskey playing outside linebacker means for the Irish defense going forward. If the Irish can collectively correct its mistakes from the Florida State game, then Foskey can be a serious weapon stepping off the line.
“It's a great advantage because one mess-up the tackle or guard does or one bad call, there will be someone free,” Foskey said. “Not necessarily me but someone on the defensive line is free or one of the linebackers is free to blitz.”
Foskey said he has never played linebacker before. He's been impressed with himself in the way he's able to shine in pass coverage.
“It's different,” Foskey said. “I'm way more comfortable than I was the first time I did it. I'm excited when I see a tight end I'm about to cover or a receiver I'm about to cover or a running back I'm about to cover. I already know I can stick with them, get my hands on them and stay with them.”
Obviously, Donald rarely if ever is asked to do anything in pass coverage. But the conversation Foskey had with him a few months back still resonates with Foskey as he expands his responsibilities in Notre Dame's defense.
Simplify. If Foskey tries to do too much from an outside linebacker position, he'd get more exposed for making a mistake there than he would from his normal vyper spot.
“I have a lot of different keys,” Foskey said. “As a linebacker in the middle of the field, you have to see everything. It just opens up my eyes. At defensive end, I'm just looking at the quarterback and tackle. At linebacker, you see everything and have to have an open vision.”
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