Notre Dame Defensive Line Works Toward Chipping In More Actively
When Notre Dame equipment manager Ryan Grooms distributed shoulder pads this month to the defensive linemen for training camps, chips atop of them were not included.
Nevertheless, popular opinion through the first 11 days of camp was that the rebuilding defensive line has had the proverbial chip-on-the-shoulder mentality to earn plaudits from head coach Brian Kelly on how well they’ve performed against the more heralded offensive line.
Until proven otherwise throughout the season, the Fighting Irish defensive line is classified, along with safety, the least proven area on the team, and it often has been the most maligned.
“They’re human, they listen to it as well,” Kelly acknowledged.
Last year Notre Dame allowed more than 170 yards rushing per game for a school record third year in a row, and the defensive line finished last among the 64 Power 5 Conference teams in sacks (3). Now, its two best linemen from that team — Isaac Rochell and Jarron Jones — are vying for spots on the NFL roster. So what would evoke optimism in 2017?
Kelly believes three factors have led to the defensive line becoming somewhat of a surprise so far. One is the infusion of “new blood,” especially sophomore and former five-star recruit Daelin Hayes at drop end, to help cultivate energy, hunger and competition.
Second is “trusting the coaching” with new coordinator Mike Elko, plus Mike Elston returning to coach the line (where he was from 2010-14) after mentoring the linebackers in 2015-16. Third is the development in off-season conditioning with a new staff there as well.
“And maybe the last thing is a little bit of a chip on their shoulder,” Kelly said.
Maybe no one better reflects the questions that still exist along the defensive line than senior tackle Jonathan Bonner, who is perhaps the most under-the-radar starter on defense or offense. He joins classmates Jay Hayes and Andrew Trumbetti as the prime five-man defensive line nucleus — along with Daelin Hayes and junior Jerry Tillery.
Bonner is the least heralded, as he originally enrolled as a consensus three-star, 245-pound outside linebacker recruit. Shifted to an end as a sophomore after redshirting as a freshman, Bonner had to undergo turf toe surgery and adjust to the redefining of his body. He unofficially took 69 snaps during the 10-2 regular season, mainly in mop-up time, but had 37 in the 45-27 Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State when attrition took its toll along the front.
Last year as a reserve, Bonner’s snap count went up to 255 (about 20 per game) in 12 contests, including a start versus Army, and he was credited with nine tackles, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble during the season.
This spring, Notre Dame actively recruited Clemson graduate transfer Scott Pagano, who was projected to immediately step in as a starter in the interior with Tillery, but he opted for Oregon.
With junior Elijah Taylor sidelined since the spring with a Lisfranc injury and classmate Micah Dew-Treadway shelved pretty much all of last year by an injury, and not having taken a single snap yet in college, it might appear Bonner has won the position by default. Not so, says Kelly.
At 291 pounds this year, the 6-3 3/4, Bonner’s coordination has caught up with his growth, and it's been augmented by his playing experience. Competing on a daily basis against one of the elite guards in the country, Quenton Nelson, doesn’t hurt either.
“I love it,” Bonner said. “I know I’m going against the best every day.”
“He’s just so much more agile, moves so much better,” said Kelly of Bonner. “He was a bit mechanical last year in the sense that he wasn’t as comfortable with the position. He’s so much more comfortable with the position that he’s playing.
“I know I keep reverting back to this, but the correctives in his weight training, in his conditioning, has allowed him to be much more athletic in his movements. He’s had a really good camp as well.”
The flexibility was good enough in high school for the Chesterfield, Mo., product to record 26 tackles for loss (17 sacks) on defense and catch five touchdown passes at tight end as a senior, but adding too much weight too soon in college hampered him to a degree.
“My body had to go through some changes,” Bonner noted. “I was thinking a defensive end type of thing when I came in, and then they put me inside. So it was definitely a whole new body type to deal with bigger players, combos, double teams …
“This off-season gave me the chance to really bulk up and get more explosive and do what I need to do and be a more productive player. I wasn’t comfortable with the weight gain at first, so I gained it over time and I think it allowed me to get comfortable with it and play how I want to play.”
An emphasis on fundamentals, including hand placement, also has facilitated his development with the revamped staff.
“Less focus on the plays and more focus on the technique,” Bonner replied on the prime difference this year. “Once you know the playbook, then you can start focusing on what you need to do to execute your role. I can go in and hold my gap and tear off and make plays with proper technique and hands.”
As for any chips on his shoulder, Bonner prefers to block out the noise, negative or positive.
“My focus is listening to the coaching,” he said. “There were a lot of things I really needed to be coached on. My body was less comfortable being in there early on but once I really accepted my role in there, then I realized that what I need to do is take the coaching to get better with my hands and footwork. Know that I’m going to be double-teamed, so I needed to change my mind-set to be confident in what I would do.
“We have a clear set of goals and expectations. Look forward to the present and future. We know what we need to accomplish.”
It will require everyone to chip in.
----
• Talk about it inside Rockne's Roundtable
• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes
• Learn more about our print and digital publication, Blue & Gold Illustrated.
• Follow us on Twitter: @BGINews, @BGI_LouSomogyi, @BGI_CoachD,
@BGI_MattJones, @BGI_DMcKinney and @BGI_CoreyBodden.
• Like us on Facebook