Notre Dame Football: Defensive Backfield Hopes To Improve In 2016

Despite losing two starters from last year, Notre Dame might have an improved defensive backfield for the 2016 season.

This coming season will be year three for the Brian Van Gorder defense. The former assistant NFL coach came with high credentials, but after two years, his defenses have produced average defensive results. His defense is complex and aggressive in comparison to the “bend but don’t break” defensive philosophy of former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco. There were probably many Notre Dame fans yearning for Diaco as Stanford drove about 50 yards in 40 seconds to beat the Fighting Irish in last season’s final regular season game.

Van Gorder’s defensive backfield will be critical to the team’s success, so let’s take a look at Notre Dame’s defensive backs and what Fighting Irish fans can expect this season. Returning at one cornerback positon will be Cole Luke. Luke, a four-star recruit from Arizona is a senior and two-year starter. He had a tremendous sophomore season in 2014. He started every game and had 48 tackles, four interceptions, and led the team with 11 pass breakups and 15 passes defended. Unfortunately, last season Luke’s overall play was not as good as 2014. He had 41 tackles, one for loss, and five passes defended.

For the Fighting Irish to be successful, Cole will have to have a very good year.

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Starting at the other cornerback position will be Nick Watkins. Watkins, like Luke, was a four-star recruit. Watkins is a red-shirt sophomore from Texas who played as a backup last season even though he started in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State and did fairly well. An intriguing aspect to the cornerback positon is the development of Shawn Crawford. Crawford will be a red-shirt freshman this year because he had to sit out last season with an ACL tear last August. He could push Watkins for the starting position and definitely be part of Notre Dame’s nickel and dime packages.

At free safety, two-year starter Max Redfield was playing with the second unit for most of spring practice. Redfield, a five-star recruit from California has been a major disappointment. Notre Dame does not regularly recruit five-star safeties and that caused high expectations for Redfield. Most Notre Dame fans were probably shocked to ewe that Devin Studstill, who will be a true freshman this fall and is an early-enrollee, was getting most of the first team snaps. We can’t be sure if Redfield is being sent a message or if Studstill is that good, but it will be interesting to see who is named the starting free safety after summer camp.

At strong safety it looks as if Drue Tranquill will start. The junior has missed parts of the last two seasons with ACL tears. When healthy, Tranquill is a load. He is 6’1”, 225 lbs. who can play in the box and sometimes be used in special packages as a linebacker. Having him healthy will be a large boost to the defense as he is a hard hitter and is very athletic. Avery Sebastian, the sixth-year transfer from Cal looks to be Tranquill’s backup.

Over the last two seasons the defensive backfield has taken its lumps as the weak-link to the defense. This may or may not be correct because Van Gorder’s scheme may to be blame. With this being the third season of Van Gorder’s defense, maybe there will be a greater comprehension of the defense by the corners and safeties that will allow them to “act” more and “think” less. The personnel is very good. Most are four-star recruits who are very athletic. The corner combination of Cole Luke, Nick Watkins or Shawn Crawford should limit opponents’ passing attacks. If Drue Tranquill can remain healthy and either Max Redfield or Devin Studsill play well, the defensive backfield, even though less experienced than last year’s, could be much better.

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It will be fun to watch this unit grow and develop and hopefully it will be even more fun watching them lead Notre Dame to a great season.

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