Notre Dame Football: 8 Myths of Spring Practice

Apr 18, 2015; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Montgomery VanGorder (4) throws in the fourth quarter of the Blue-Gold Game at the LaBar Practice Complex. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2015; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Montgomery VanGorder (4) throws in the fourth quarter of the Blue-Gold Game at the LaBar Practice Complex. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 8, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Max Redfield (10) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Arizona State defeated Notre Dame 55-31. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Max Redfield (10) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Arizona State defeated Notre Dame 55-31. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

5. The defense finally has the scheme down

This seems to be the tune sung by the coaches every year. Those defensive backs who seemed to constantly make mental mistakes? They’ve come a long way in their understanding of the defense and how to read the offense (Max Redfield, everybody). Those linebackers that always seem to get caught in blocks or too slow reading the offense as plays develop? They’re really flying to the ball and showing great physicality and decision making.

Be especially wary of this myth with Brian VanGorder’s defensive scheme. Two years have only proven that defenses can actually get worse as their time with a coach goes further, and with the loss of various veteran stars and player-coach Joe Schmidt, the 2016 defense will be lacking in various areas (looking at you, safety and probably linebacker and pass rushers).

So when, at the end of spring, Kelly and VanGorder praise where the defense is in their third year with their coordinator, remember Ezekiel Elliott eviscerating the Irish in Arizona or Boston College’s horrific offense making a game of things at Fenway. If there is any improvement (without Smith, Day, Russell, Okwara, Shumate, Farley, and Schmidt, no less), it will be minimal, and it will be disappointing.

Next: Deep line gets deeper