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Notre Dame Football: Could The Linebackers Be Better Than Last Year?

By Joshua Vowles

Sep 5, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker James Onwualu (17) tackles Texas Longhorns quarterback Tyrone Swopes (18) during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker James Onwualu (17) tackles Texas Longhorns quarterback Tyrone Swopes (18) during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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After losing two starters from the 2015 squad, could Notre Dame be in better shape at linebacker this year?

It sounds insane. It sounds like a ridiculous spring storyline that gets carried over into summer camp, and then you get it pregnant, and then you get engaged, and then you find out she’s been sleeping with your best friend Pedro, and then you realize that the baby isn’t even yours… and now your stuck with this absurd story attached to you for the next decade.

Yes, suggesting that Notre Dame might be better at linebacker even after losing Butkus Award winner Jaylon Smith is THAT bad of a story. But still… but still.

There is a possibility that the Irish backers could be better collectively as a group in 2016 as opposed to 2015. Please, just give this relationship a wee bit of a try before you sulk off in utter disappointment.

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Basically we are talking about three parts to this equation. One part, is the same thing we had last year with James Onwualu. So, already we are a leg up because it’s fair to assume that Onwualu will improve yet again.

Now we move on to a changing part, and one of those is at the MIKE. Nyles Morgan is finally the man after the departure of Joe Schmidt. Fans had been screaming for Morgan to play over Schmidt last year, but we were told that his grasp of the defense was minimal compared to Joe Schmidt, the cerebral gridiron genius that he was. Now, we are being told that Morgan HAS grasped the defense and in every physical measurement imaginable, Nyles Morgan would trump Joe Schmidt by leaps and bounds (that’s probably literally too).

Sep 19, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Justin Thomas (5) runs with the ball chased by Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Greer Martini (48) in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Justin Thomas (5) runs with the ball chased by Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Greer Martini (48) in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports /

That leaves us with the open spot left by Jaylon Smith. Two guys in contention for that spot Greer Martini and Te’von Coney are injured this spring, but Asmar Bilal and the early enrollee freshman Daelin Hayes have been getting good reviews. Regardless of the reviews, there is no way in hell that they compare to Jaylon Smith right now (nor would Martini and Coney).

So really, this is what it comes to… Onwualu will be better, Morgan should be insanely better than even a healthy Joe Schmidt, and no one will be as good as Jaylon was- but they could still be pretty good. Does that all add up to the linebackers having a better season and providing better play than last year?

Next: 2016 Defensive Recruits

I’ll say “yes,” but I’m not buying the damn engagement ring. Not yet.

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