Notre Dame Defense Looking To 'Pick' Up The Pace
The inability of Notre Dame’s defensie to generate turnovers has been a consistent topic throughout the past decade.
Last year’s 4-8 unit forced only 14 (eight interceptions, six fumbles) to tie for 104th nationally among 128 teams. The interception totaled tied for 93rd, while the fumbles recovered tied for 94th.
It was the second year in a row the Fighting Irish defense induced a modest 14 turnovers, and the second straight season that the interception total (nine in 2015) was fewer than the 10 interceptions recorded by defensive back Mike Townsend alone during the 1972 season, when passing was far less a major staple of offenses.
The 2011 Irish defense also generated only 14, which at the time per our research was the fewest in school history. During the 2013 regular season the total was only 13, which would have been the new standard had the unit not forced four by Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl to finish the year with still relatively low 17.
For context, three of the four Playoff teams last year each had least 19 interceptions alone to rank among the top 10, while Alabama had 16 interceptions (tied for 14th). Interestingly, Notre Dame’s Oct. 7 opponent this year, North Carolina, recorded only one interception (a 58-yard return for a touchdown) to finish dead last in the country (128th).
The eight interceptions last year tied for the second fewest in a season at Notre Dame, behind only the seven by Lou Holtz’s 6-5-1 team in 1994, on 335 attemtps.
Joining last year’s team that picked off only eight to have a second-place tie for fewest were three others:
• The 2011 crew had eight in 378 attempts, or one per 47.2 tries.
• The 2-8 team in 1960 had eight in the 10 games played — and the opposition attempted only 111 all year. That’s an average of 11.1 passes per game, which many teams today average in a quarter.
• Finally and surprisingly, Ara Parseghian’s final team in 1974 had only eight during a 9-2 regular season. However, in the 13-11 victory versus 11-0 Alabama in the Orange Bowl, Notre Dame picked off two late passes to clinch the victory. So if you included bowl games back then as you do now, the total would be 10.
In the seven seasons from 2005-11, Irish linebackers have combined for nine interceptions — the same as the career record held by John Pergine (1966-67) for Notre Dame linebackers.
Then in 2012, senior linebacker Manti Te’o, who had zero picks his first three seasons, had seven by himself to set the single season Irish record among linebackers. In the ensuing four seasons, Notre Dame linebackers have had a combined seven interceptions, and just one the last two years.
· In the decade from 2000-09, the fewest turnovers Notre Dame induced were 19 by the 2009 and 2006 teams of head coach Charlie Weis. The most it generated during that time was 33 in 2002, when the defense propelled an 8-0 start, one of two times the last 23 seasons the Irish had such a start. The other was 2012, when they forced 23 turnovers, with 16 of them interceptions.
· From 1990-99, the fewest turnovers forced by Notre Dame were 16 by Lou Holtz’s 1990 team that finished the regular season 9-2.
· From 1980-89, the fewest turnovers Notre Dame forced were 21 in Holtz’s 5-6 debut campaign in 1986.
· From 1964-80, the Ara Parseghian and Dan Devine eras, the Irish often forced 30 and 40 turnovers per year in an era where protecting the ball seemed more precarious. For example, Notre Dame’s 1977 national champions had 39 turnovers on offense — but generated 52 (not including six more in the 38-10 Cotton Bowl versus No. 1 Texas), or about five per game.
If the Irish defense under new coordinator Mike Elko is to improve appreciably, turnovers won’t necessarily tell the greatest tale, but they would likely serve as a primary storyline.
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