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Notre Dame football's o-line conundrum: Coaches still experimenting with lineup

While there has been some talk about who will be starting, the Irish aren't committing to a lineup yet.

By Oliver Vandervoort

Notre Dame football offensive line coach Joe Rudolph talks to the media.
Notre Dame football offensive line coach Joe Rudolph talks to the media. / Rick Wood / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
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The biggest news for the Notre Dame football team since fall camp started has been who will start on the offensive line. The buzz around that position group only got louder when Charles Jagusah got injured and was reported out for the season.

Originally, it was thought that Tosh Baker would be the guy to step in. And then, almost immediately, freshman Anthonie Knapp was thought to have jumped over him.

Now, Notre Dame football coaches are going out of their way to make it clear that we all have it wrong. For now at least, there isn’t a guy who has specifically taken the left tackle spot. In fact, the offensive line rotation isn’t set anywhere just yet.

Notre Dame football still working through o-line combos

Speaking at Saturday’s press conference, Freeman said the coaches are still looking at what works. He added there are definitely more discussions ahead. 

Freeman added that the coaching staff have been using multiple guys at tackle and guard positions. He also said that when they opened the practice to reporters and they saw Knapp starting at left tackle, that hasn’t been decided.

Notre Dame football has a problem still brewing

The issue with all of this talk about the starting offensive line is rather obvious. The Irish have long known that its Achilles heel was its o-line. In a season where so many things are set and look like a strength, the only thing that might stand in their way would be an offensive line that can’t block anyone.

My latest projections have the Fighting Irish as a No. 5 seed in the College Football Playoffs. But they aren’t going to get there if the offensive line is a crazy mess. And right now, it looks like that’s exactly what it is.

We’re now inside of two weeks until Notre Dame football opens the regular season against a solid squad in Texas A&M. They’re going to need to have things settled by then. And the problem is that even if things are settled for Week 1, it doesn’t feel like it will be settled for the season.

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