James Onwualu: 'I love Playing For Coach VanGorder'

Notre Dame senior linebacker James Onwualu is aware of the criticisms of Brian VanGorder’s defensive scheme.

“People say that the defense is too complicated and that he does too much, too exotic and it doesn't work,” Onwualu said. “But you know, as a player, you know, I respect what he does and his system is one that I have enjoyed playing in.”

It’s Onwualu’s job to try and ignore those negative voices and focus on his own game, a message he tries to pass on to younger players.

As one of Notre Dame’s four captains and an experienced player on defense, Onwualu — who is second on the team with 18 tackles through three games — welcomes the challenge.

“It's important to me that I have a coach that's going to continue to give me as much information as possible and give me the opportunity to do as much as I can in the game, and he does that,” Onwualu said.

“So obviously, you know, there's things on every team that you can fix, and the players have to execute certain things no matter what defense it is. So those are things that you can clean up, but overall I love playing for Coach VanGorder.”

VanGorder and his defensive troops have come under fire through the first three weeks of the season. The Irish defensive unit is ranked 102nd in the country in total defense (439.3 yards per game allowed), 99th in rushing defense (198.67 ypg), 84th in passing defense (240.7) and 94th in scoring defense (32 ppg) during a 1-2 start.

And though the numbers speak for themselves, one thing that can’t be questioned is the team’s effort.

“I feel good about a lot of things. One of them being just the effort and how committed a lot of the guys on our defense are right now,” Onwualu said. “But I mean, you watch the film and there's no question on effort.

“So you've got to be proud of that. That's something that you can really build off, no matter what it is. There's some things that you can't fix within a defense but that being — you know, that already is, like I said, something you can build off.”

There is, however, a gap between that effort level and what's actually being accomplished.

“You just keep working on that every week and focusing,” Onwualu said. “As long as that’s set in stone, that effort aspect of it, you just continue through practice to try to continue to get better, like I said. Work on the things we haven’t done as well and try and bring that and show that within the game.

“Obviously we didn’t start the season exactly how we had imagined, but a lot of guys on the team, it’s not like we’re like a lot of other teams in the country where after you lose a game or two, you just continue to go downhill. A lot of guys have high character and want to win no matter what, very competitive defense. You don’t have to really say much to them. Just have them to continue to compete and remember that we’re representing the university and our families.”

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