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Link: Debunking Notre Dame's Lack of Defensive Talent
If not, then what's the point of spending as much as they do for recruiting?
There is absolutely enough talent on Notre Dame to field a respectable defense. Especially with an offense that consistently scores in the mid to upper 30's There is no excuse. How sad is it that ND is 1-5 in it's last 6 games and has averaged 35 ppg in those six games?
...there's nobody on the 2016 starting 11 who could start in place of the 2012 starting players, except Cole Luke, and even he's having a rough start to the season (no pass rush makes it difficult for even the best). Jarron Jones could probably have made a case if he weren't hobbled, but aside from them? I can't really see anyone else.
We got very, very lucky with the 2012 season as well, since there weren't any crippling injuries or roster removals that sidelined any of our starters for significant lengths of time. Had we been as unlucky as we have been recently when it comes to those situations, back in 2012, we would have been praying to be given an invitation to a late December bowl.
I do agree that overall, there's more talent on the 2016 roster, but until that talent shows signs of being properly developed, we're in for some long shootouts.
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Pretty solid dbs.
What's equally important as the talent ratings is how well does the coaching staff develop and use these players.
If you have a defensive coordinator the likes of Jon Tenuta or Brian Van Gorder trying to fit too many square pegs in round holes, then talent ratings aren't going to mean much at all.
The same could be said about Ty Willingham and Bill Diedrich trying to make a power option team run a finesse West Coast offense using a triple option quarterback. I don't recall any of the years (2002-2004) being known for our having a potent, prolific offense, despite some pretty good talent levels on those teams...