NFL rosters. Okwara, Day, Smith, Russell, Rochell, Farley. Should have been a championship quality defense.
I certainly don't dispute that it could have / would have / should have been a significantly better defense.
The big problem, is that the defense, as a whole, was not equipped to be an aggressive, attacking-style defense that Van Gorder kept trying to run. If anything, it was a lot like 2009, where our defensive players weren't chopped liver, but Jon Tenuta foolishly kept trying to run jailbreak blitzes every down. That ham-handed approach single-handedly resulted in 4 of those losses.
Van Gorder's (and Tenuta's) biggest problem, was that he kept trying to run that aggressive scheme, and couldn't bring it upon himself to play a more conservative scheme. If you're a decent defensive coordinator, then it's up to you to realize that some things aren't going to work, and that you need to try alternative methods.
that year, Farley and Rochell are borderline and probably not difference makers. I loved Day, great attitude and he overcame the short arm label. I hope Smith starts to kick ass in the pros. Okwara on a similar timetable to Justin Tuck, but that is tough to live up to. He is awful young.
bowl 2 or 3 times and is known as a hard hitter on defense. He also comes back to Knoxville and gives motivational talks to students at Sacred Heart grade school and Catholic HS that he attended. An underrated player at ND that never forgot where he came from. I just hope he doesn't get hurt.
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