Notebook: Al Golden finds new roles for Notre Dame's linebackers
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — In returning all three starting linebackers from last season, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden could stick with the status quo at his position group.
Mike linebacker JD Bertrand (82 tackles), rover linebacker Jack Kiser (58) and will linebacker Marist Liufau (51) finished the season as the top three tacklers on Notre Dame’s roster. They could very well do so again in 2023, but they’re each expected bring something different to the equation in the fall.
“Just challenging them to get better,” Golden said Saturday after spring practice No. 11, which consisted of a roughly 90-play scrimmage. “Find things to get better at.
“I think Kiser has done that. It has been great to see his progression, being able to play inside and outside. JD, challenged him to lead, continue to lead and be more of a team leader and unit leader, which has been great. Marist has to have the versatility to go on and off the ball. He has improved his edge stuff.
“All three of those guys have been challenged every day and responded.”
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Bertrand, the team leader in tackles each of the past two seasons, will be expected to elevate his game more than change his on-field role. An openness to playing Kiser more at will linebacker in addition to rover responsibilities should give him an opportunity to make an even greater impact in the fall.
Though Liufau led the team in defensive snaps (646), his production didn’t quite meet his usage. That’s why more pass-rush opportunities as a part-time vyper defensive end could find a better use for his skill set.
The added benefit of moving Kiser and Liufau into different roles is an opportunity for Golden to use the young talent champing at the bit for more playing time.
“The guys on the field have to do their job,” said head coach Marcus Freeman, “but a guy that can do multiple positions creates an opening for another guy.”
As Golden currently sees it, there’s playing time ahead for junior Prince Kollie and sophomores Jaylen Sneed and Nolan Ziegler, even though Kollie and Sneed have missed some practice time this spring with injuries.
“The three you just mentioned are going in the game, there’s no doubt about it,” Golden said. “They’re all in the rotation. PK was having a really good offseason until he got banged up. Sneed made a lot of progress as well. It was great to see Sneed back out there. Zieg’s off the field approach in terms of his preparation and studying the game has made a big difference for him.”
Kollie’s best performance last season came against Navy when he made seven tackles despite not being in the starting lineup, a decision with which he disagreed. He believes he’s put himself in position for more opportunities.
“I was always raised and taught to compete,” Kollie said earlier this spring. “None of us in the room shy away from competition. I got here looking up to Marist, because Marist was just a baller. I was amazed by how he'd fly around and hit everything. Like, yeah, I want to be like that. I feel like I can be like that.
“And then after last year, I'm like, 'OK, I can do a lot of the same things he does and maybe even a little bit better.' We're not afraid of competition. We encourage it. There's no hard feelings between any of us.”
For the linebacker room to get the most out of all the contributing pieces, there has to be a healthy split of selflessness and selfishness.
“I need everybody to get better, and everybody wants to play,” Freeman said. “But how can we make sure we have a culture of respect and love for each other? No matter who’s on the field where it’s what’s best for Notre Dame and what’s best for the team. That’s a constant message that’s preached every day, because this isn’t an individual sport.
“I only say this is an individual sport when you have failures. I want it to be an individual sport when we have failures. Everybody looks at themselves. But it is the ultimate team sport, so that, to me, is a message that has to be driven every day. I want you to get better as an individual. In order to get better as an individual, you’re going to have to practice. You’re going to have to study. You’re going to have to do things to develop that skill.
“But at the end of the day, whoever’s on that field represents this room and this program. Ultimately that’s all that matters.”
Defensive deception
When asked about the various defensive looks, which included a lot of blitz packages, observed by reporters in the two open practices this spring, Golden downplayed the idea that those things are being emphasized more this season.
“Probably just the days that you’re there,” Golden said. “We’re trying to improve in every area. We really spend a lot of time in the offseason making sure the defenses we install this spring are going to have use the entire year, and get rid of everything else. That has been our focus.”
But center Zeke Correll said the other day that the defense has seemingly been blitzing on every play. The results in the two open practices were poor performances from the Irish offense.
Because Notre Dame’s assistant coaches on defense remained the same and the starting linebackers all returned, there’s a lot more continuity on that side of the ball compared to Notre Dame’s offensive staff and personnel. That means the Irish defense is probably in a better position to handle all the different nuances.
As long as the offensive coaching staff was informed of what to expect in practice, Freeman supported the aggressiveness from a better-prepared defense.
“What you don't want to do is slow down the progress of the defense,” Freeman said. “You're talking about the defense being in year 2. All the coaches are the same. A lot of guys are returning. But what they're doing defensively is at a totally different level than what it was last year.
“There are guys that are playing at a really high level and doing multiple different things. And the offense, even though the terminology is the same and there's a couple coaches that are staying, they're still continuing to gel together as they move forward. But communication is vital.
“The other thing is it can't always be outcome-driven. That’s the one thing you’ll hear me say all the time is that I'm not always concerned about who wins or loses.”
Holding pattern at safety
Freeman is confident Notre Dame has three safeties that can playing with the No. 1 defense in graduate senior DJ Brown and seniors Xavier Watts and Ramon Henderson. The problem is that they’re the only healthy scholarship safeties on Notre Dame’s spring roster.
The Irish should be in a better position when Oklahoma State graduate transfer Thomas Harper (shoulder), and freshmen Adon Shuler (shoulder) and Ben Minich (thumb) are fully healthy in the fall. Golden revealed Saturday that cornerback Ryan Barnes has been doing some cross-training at safety. The Irish could look for more permanent help at safety from the cornerback position, but those discussions haven’t taken place yet.
“We’re stressed right now on the back end number-wise,” Golden said. “We have some help coming, and getting these guys healthy is going to be huge.”
Harper, who will also get a chance to play nickelback, came to Notre Dame in January already recovering from a shoulder surgery, so he hasn’t been able to put a lot of work in on the field yet. He’s still made good first impression this spring.
“He’s doing a good job learning and spending a lot of extra time with [safeties coach Chris O’Leary],” Golden said. “Love his energy. Love his passion and demeanor on the field. He loves the game. You can tell he loves the game. I’m anxious to see him make an impact, both at safety and nickel. Really enjoyed behind around him.”
Triple-option preparation dilemma
Freeman knows Notre Dame’s defense plans to do a little bit of advanced practice work next week to prepare for its season opener against Navy on Aug. 26 in Dublin, Ireland. But Freeman realized Saturday he’s not sure who will be working as the scout team quarterback replicating Navy’s triple option.
Senior walk-on running back Chase Ketterer from nearby New Prairie High School filled that role last season, but he’s currently sidelined with an injury. Justin Fisher, a sophomore walk-on tight end, also has some option experience from his days at nearby Mishawaka High School too.
“It isn’t going to be perfect no matter if it’s Chase Ketterer or anybody else,” Freeman said. “It’s hard to replicate what you’re going to see versus Navy. It’s impossible. But we have to be able to teach somebody to be able to get some good reps on Tuesday.”
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