Todd Lyght’s first year back in South Bend — this time as a coach — was a productive one.
The former Irish All-American came to Notre Dame as a coach without much prior experience or continuity. He served as defensive backs assistant coach at Bishop Gorman High School from 2009-10, a defensive intern at Oregon from 2011-12 and an assistant defensive backs coach with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles from 2013-14.
That means last season was Lyght’s first having a position group to himself at the collegiate level.
“I think I did a good job,” he said. “We won 10 games, and I’m proud of that. We lost a couple tough games.
“With the schedule that we play, being year one and winning 10 games, I was confident in that. I don’t think we played as well defensively in the Fiesta Bowl — Ohio State is obviously a really good team — and we didn’t compete on the perimeter like I wanted us to.
“But [rising junior cornerback] Nick Watkins, that was his first start. For a guy starting in his first game, it’s very difficult. There will be a little bit of butterflies, a little fear. But I think as the game went on, he ended up playing a lot better.
“First year, I think we did good, but we’re definitely going to elevate our game.”
Looking beyond the number of team victories, Notre Dame’s secondary helped the defense give up only 196.8 passing yards per game (26th nationally) last season, but that included a schedule with two run-heavy triple-option teams in Georgia Tech and Navy. Looking at yards per pass attempt allowed (6.9), the Irish’s ranking slips back to a tie for 54th nationally.
The defense as a whole only snagged nine interceptions in 13 games, which tied for 92nd in the country — although the defensive backs reeled in seven of those.
One way Lyght plans to improve in a number of those categories is increase the amount of players that see the field.
“I want to play more guys,” he said. “I think last year, we relied on the six-man rotation and sometimes five-man due to injury, and I want to where we’re running with a seven- or eight-man rotation.
“We’re playing a lot more plays because the game has changed with tempo. Teams try to get more snaps offensively. So going over the course of the year, guys wear down. If you can play a bigger rotation with more guys, it will spread the workload amongst the group and be fresh for the playoffs.”
Lyght spent time under some tremendous coaches throughout his playing career, which helped groom him for his current position. In 1997, his defensive coordinator with the Rams was Bud Carson, who coached the Steelers famed “Steel Curtain” defense.
Peter Giunta was Lyght’s defensive coordinator from 1998-2000 with the Rams, who has picked up three different Super Bowl championships throughout his career.
“I was very fortunate to be coached by some great coaches,” Lyght said. “Bud Carson was a phenomenal coach; I learned a lot from him.
“[Former Rams secondary coach] Steve Brown is another. He’s one of the finest defensive back coaches in the NFL, and I had a great job working with him. I really refined my technique with him. So I’ve been very blessed to have some great coaches.”
A difference Lyght has noted between his playing career in the ’90s to now is the kind of feedback that’s effective with athletes. Gone are the days when players handled criticism and teaching in stride — with this generation, a balance is important.
“In today’s age, the players are a little more sensitive than when I played,” Lyght said. “That’s just the way they’re brought up, but there’s nothing wrong with that.
“You have to be tough on them and you have to drive them, but at the same time you have to love them up and be positive. I think there’s a time and place where you scream and yell, but at the same time, you have to show them that you care. Once you show them that, and they know you’re there for their well-being and development as a student-athlete, they’ll give you everything that they got.
“Our guys are really working hard every day to improve their game, and ultimately be one of the best defenses in the country.”
