Notre Dame’s secondary felt like it would or should have been the least of the team’s concerns coming into this season but after two games it is already at crisis levels. Through two games the Irish rank No. 124 in passing yards allowed this season and they will have to piece meal their safeties for at least a half this week against Purdue while Adon Shuler sits the first 30 minutes of the game after his targeting penalty in the second half of last week’s loss to Texas A&M.
Shuler’s 117 total snaps are the third most for any Irish player after cornerbacks Christian Gray (140) and Leonard Moore (139). Tae Johnson and Luke Talich will both figure more prominently in the game plan while Shuler is out Saturday.
“You'll see all three of those guys between Tae Tae, (Jalen) Stroman and Luke Talich in the first half,” Irish head coach Marcus Freeman said in his Thursday media call. “You'll probably see Davante...I'm sorry, Tae Tae go out first with Stro, and ou'll see Luke in there a lot, too. So, (I am) confident. All three of those guys had a really good week of practice and then obviously Adon will come in the second half.”
No JaDon Blair Yet
Freshman JaDon Blair appeared to be in the mix to be in the safety rotation during fall training camp is yet to see the field for the Fighting Irish. The 6-5, hard hitter from North Carolina is still working behind the scenes.
“He's getting better,” Freeman remarked. “I mean, he's improving. Is he at a point where he is going to play over those four guys that are playing for us consistently? No, but he's, practiced his tail off. He's working. The future is uncertain. You know I'm going to say that. But I'm really pleased with his progression in terms of how he's improving as a football player. But right now, he's just not going to play over those four guys we have out there.”
Nickel Update
Veteran nickel back DeVonta Smith remains “questionable” to play this week after missing last week's game with an ankle injury. Karson Hobbs saw his snap count jump from 21 in the season opener against Miami to 56 last week while Smith was out. Others could see reps there this week if Smith cannot go.
“We've been repping a couple guys at the nickel position,” said Freeman. “We've been repping Christian (Gray) a little bit at Nickel. We’re repping Dallas Golden in and Ben Minich. “So, a couple guys that we feel confident can go out there and play and that will be dependent on DeVonta’s health and what he can do. Again, I'm optimistic about it. He's had a good Tuesday and Wednesday. We’ve got to make sure that we can see what he can do first, and then if he can't go, then we have a plan behind him.”
More Josh Burnham and Loghan Thomas?
Notre Dame’s defense has just one sack and five total quarterback pressures through two games. The Irish want to get pressure predominantly with four linemen but it hasn’t happened yet. Josh Burnham saw his snap count fall from 25 to three from week one due to injury while Loghan Thomas, who blocked a put last week against the Aggies, has played just one defensive snap through two games. Could those defensive ends have more impact going forward?
“Josh (has) been available every week,” Freeman explained. “It’s just that he’s going through some of the normal strains and injuries that you get during fall camp, and he wasn't practicing as much as we would like to be able to say you're going to play 40 plays. But we're very confident. Josh, you know, when he's 100% he is an extremely good football player that can help you in the run and the pass game, and so his numbers and reps will continue to progress as he hopefully gets back to 100% or as close to 100% as he can be.
“With Loghan, he's improving,” Freeman continued. “(He is) a very talented, explosive player. We’ve got to continue find ways to utilize him and on defense and his special teams. We'll see what the game kind of dictates in terms of how much he'll play defensively, but he's a guy that I agree with you, that could help us in the pass rush game.”
Kickers
Placekicker Noah Burnette has been “questionable” on Notre Dame’s injury report all week with a hip injury. Freeman said earlier in the week that junior Marcello Diomede and freshman Erik Schmidt would compete during the week to kick field goals and extra points against Purdue if Burnette is out.
“As far as the kicking competition, that will go through probably today,” Freeman remarked. “They've been competing all week. It's a close competition, I think, one more day of practice and letting them compete a little bit more, and then we'll be ready to name a starter for that position.”
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