Leonard Moore returning for Notre Dame is changing everything for Chris Ash

After a 0-2 start to the season, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have come roaring back with three straight wins, all by double-digit points. However, the biggest win might be how the defense played against Boise State in Week 5.

For the first time this season, it felt like Notre Dame's defense was firing on all cylinders, especially with the return of Leonard Moore this week. Of course, last week Notre Dame looked good against an Arkansas team that fired its head coach the day after the loss, but the game against Boise State was against a good team with a solid offense.

Notre Dame defense is back in effect with Leonard Moore

Moore returned this week after being kept out of the Purdue and Arkansas games with a high ankle sprain that he suffered against Texas A&M. The return of Moore certainly had an effect on a defense that looked better last week, but came out scorching this week.

"It felt like we were just getting our identity in check," Moore said in his post-game interview. "We go out there playing fast and playing violent."

Moore has been a catalyst for this defense in so many ways, but most importantly in how he plays the game. Moore is the leader of this defense, and in his presence, it felt like there was a huge hole missing, especially against Purdue, which scored 30 points on the Fighting Irish.

The defense looked like a different animal against Boise State, and Moore led the charge with two of Notre Dame's four interceptions on the day. With all eyes on defensive coordinator Chris Ash, who, according to the Notre Dame fanbase, should be on the hot seat, his defense stepped up and made them look like a top defense in the country.

It is clear now what Moore means to this defense because without him, they are an average defense at best, but with him, they can do a lot as he can lock down a huge part of the field and take a lot of pressure off of Ash.