Notre Dame Football: Offseason Fact or Fiction

Fact or Fiction: The Irish defense will force more than 20 turnovers this season.

Mason: Fact. Similar to my answer about Notre Dame being a top-10 defense in terms of points per game allowed, I think this defense can only get better. In 2017, the Irish forced 20 turnovers. It was an even split of 10 interceptions and 10 fumbles. The 2018 offense is returning so many athletic, ball-hawking players that 20 turnovers could be easy. I expect this defense to force somewhere between 22 and 25 turnovers during the course of the season. I truly believe this defense will be something special. One that will rival the 2012 defense as one of the best in school history.

JP: Fiction. Twenty is a pretty big number in terms of turnovers. As I said previously, the Irish don’t play many high-powered offenses. That alone is going to limit the opportunities. Notre Dame’s defense isn’t one that has to force turnovers to be successful. They rely on getting stops, and they excel at doing just that.

Nathan: Fact. This is the exact number of turnovers Notre Dame forced last year, and I expect them to improve on this number. In all honesty, it would be a disappointment if they did not at least reach this number. My prediction: they blow last year’s total out of the water and force closer to 30 turnovers.

Sonny: Fact. They were right at twenty last year and there’s no reason they can’t do it again. I think Julian Love will become an elite cornerback this season. Along with Te’von Coney and Jerry Tillery, who I believe will be the best player on the defense, there should be plenty of turnovers.

Jack: Fiction. The Irish have a better chance of finishing with twenty turnovers or less than finishing with more than that. Averaging more than one turnover per game is solid – provided you limit your own turnovers. I think the 2018 defense will be better than last year’s, but I don’t think that will translate into an increase in forced turnovers.