2015 CFB Preview – Notre Dame


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This time around, Notre Dame is legitimate.

By Pete Fiutak | @PeteFiutak

The run to the 2012 BCS championship game was filled with a slew of close calls and several overachiever moments. The defense was the real deal, and the offense did its part, but as Alabama showed, there was a harsh reality waiting for the Irish once they got to Miami.

It took two years, but with the deepest and most talented group yet in the Brian Kelly era, now Notre Dame really and truly has the type of team that could not only get into the playoff, but do some damage once it arrives.

When healthy, last year’s team started to take on the look of the 2012 version, pulling off a minor miracle to beat Stanford on the way to a 6-0 start. Had the offense not been nailed – correctly, by the way – on a pick play late against Florida State, and had the touchdown pass counted, the Irish would’ve been in everyone’s top three and the hype would’ve been off the charts.

And then what turned out to be the downfall of the 2014 team now looks like a massive positive for the 2015 version.

QB Everett Golson – who would’ve been the midseason Heisman front-runner had he pulled off the win at Florida State – couldn’t stop turning the ball over, several key defensive players started going down with injuries, and all of a sudden, the wheels totally came off in a four game losing streak to close out the regular season.

However, Golson’s problems opened the door for Malik Zaire to get a chance to show what he could do in the bowl win over LSU. All of the injuries on defense allowed several untested players to get on the field in expanded roles. Throw in the preseason academic scandal that was quickly contained, but meant the loss of five players who would’ve been key factors, and there was a legitimate reason for the collapse.

Now is when the payoff comes.

Depending on who you want to count, at least 11 defensive players who were supposed to be big factors last season were missing late in the year, but that also means that ten starters are back on D to go along with a ton of developed depth. On the other side, eight starters return, and that doesn’t count Zaire along with a ton of depth on the line to help fill in the gaps.

You’ll have to forgive Irish fans, though, if they’re going to be a little bit leery of high expectations. After all, in his first five years in South Bend, Kelly has only lost fewer than four games once. Take out the 2012 season, and he’s 33-19.

This year and this team, though, will give the record a huge boost.

What You Need To Know About The Offense: Everett Golson is at Florida State and Malik Zaire steps in and has to be fantastic. Everything else is in place around him to shine with a loaded and deep line with plenty of options to tinker with. Tight end is the one concern with Ben Koyack gone, but Will Fuller leads a scary-good receiving corps. The rushing punch of Tarean Folston is outstanding behind the veteran line, but Zaire might turn out to be the most dangerous runner at times. As long as the O can stop turning the ball over like it did when Golson was at the helm, and if Zaire can be solid, look out.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: The Irish defense went through a laughably absurd array of problems last season from suspensions to injuries to major inconsistencies. It all leads to what should be a phenomenal season with ridiculous depth and experience returning ten starters and plenty of key players who need a home. Jaylon Smith leads a terrific linebacking corps that should be able to roam free behind Sheldon Day and a line overloaded with option. The only missing starter is at corner with Cody Riggs gone, but in steps KeiVarae Russell, who spent last year suspended. Unlike last season, there’s no excuse not to be outstanding.

What to watch for on offense: Malik Zaire, you’re on. With Everett Golson now a Florida State Seminole, all the eggs are in the left-hander’s basket, because everything else is in place. If the line isn’t the best in the Brian Kelly era, it’s at least the deepest it’s been in several years. The running back situation is a wee bit thin with Greg Bryant being suspended for the year for the dreaded violation of team rules, but Tarean Folston is terrific. While the tight ends need to emerge, the Irish are loaded at wide receiver. That leaves it all up to Zaire. He has to go from being the quarterback everyone was waiting to see, to one who’s good enough to lead the way to a playoff spot.

What to watch for on defense: Lots and lots and lots of depth. There’s a reason the defense gave up around 1,300 yards more last season than it did two years ago, and it’s all about the injuries. The Irish never had the same starting 11 two weeks in a row starting 20 players throughout the season. This year, not only do ten starters come back, but star corner KeiVarae Russell and defensive lineman Ishaq Williams are expected to be back after missing last year suspended. As bad as the defense was after the first five games of last year, that’s how good it should be throughout this season. This time around, with so many options, the D might be injury-proof.

The team will be far better if … the running game finds its Music City Bowl groove. The receiving corps is fantastic, and the passing game should be solid, but especially early on, the less Malik Zaire has to carry on his shoulders, the better. The O line was able to blast away on an undersized Navy, rolled up on Rice, and like everyone else, did whatever it wanted to against North Carolina. But those were the only three games the Irish ran for more than 170 yards – until LSU. In the bowl win, Zaire ran for 96 yards, but it was the front five that did the job in a physical, tough performance. With Texas up first, the line has to shine.

The schedule: As always, the Notre Dame schedule is nasty with several huge games of national significance. It all starts out against Texas in a game the Longhorns need to kickstart the Charlie Strong era. If the Irish lose this, they’ll have to run the table to be in the playoff discussion – that’s a lot to ask.
– In the ACC world, the Irish go to Virginia, Clemson and Pitt, host Georgia Tech and Wake Forest, and play Boston College in Fenway Park. There’s no Florida State, but Georgia Tech is good enough to win the Coastal, and playing Clemson in Death Valley stinks.
– Three of the first four and five of the first seven games are in South Bend, but four of the last five games are away.
– There are several winnable games among the powerhouses. UMass, Temple – even with its great defense – Wake Forest and Navy – even though it’s going to be strong again – should provide a few relative breathers.
– WATCH OUT FOR … Boston College. It’s a quirky-weird game considering the Shamrock Series will be played on a baseball field, and it’s just late enough in the season that it might be a grind. With the road date at Stanford to close things out, there can’t be a misfire.

Best offensive player: Senior OT Ronnie Stanley. The hope is for Malik Zaire to turn into the superstar who can carry the offense, and there’s no arguing against the idea of WR Will Fuller or C Nick Martin to be considered among the team’s best offensive stars, but Stanley is the best pro prospect on the O and he’ll be the main man of the deep and talented line. He has prototype size, pass protection skills and pounding ability. While he doesn’t have to anchor the line, he’ll be able to.

Best defensive player: Junior LB Jaylon Smith. While key defensive parts were falling by the wayside, every day Jay came up with game after game full of big plays and plenty of tackles. He’ll be helped in a big way by the healthy return of Joe Schmidt, who suffered a broken ankle, and an outstanding line up front. No matter what, he’ll once again come up with more than 100 tackles, and he’ll once again be the leader – only this year, he should be used to the guys around him.

Key player to a successful season: Freshman PK Justin Yoon. The Irish are experienced and talented everywhere else, but the season might come down to an inexperienced kicker. Considered by some to be the No. 1 kicking prospect, the hype and accolades don’t matter if Yoon can’t come through in the pressure moments in what should be some of the biggest games of the season. Kyle Brindza did a decent job as the punter, and he only hit 14 of his 24 field goal attempts, but he proved himself in 2012 and 2013. Yoon will likely have to hit at least one clutch game-winner.

The season will be a success if … the Irish win ten games. They’re good enough and deep enough to legitimately push for a playoff spot, but with Texas, Georgia Tech, at Clemson, USC, at Pitt and at Stanford to deal with – not to mention dangerous battles at Virginia and Boston College along with the Navy game – going unbeaten is going to be impossible and finishing with just one loss will be a problem. 11 wins and the playoff might be the goal, but 10-2 would be terrific.

Key game: Oct. 3 at Clemson. The Irish have to take care of home to have any sort of a successful season, and that means there can’t be any losses against Texas, Georgia Tech or USC. Of all the road games, the battle against Clemson will be the toughest by far until the regular season-ender against Stanford. The Irish can go to the playoff at 11-1 with a loss in Death Valley, but a win would take the season to a whole other level. This will be just the third time the two programs have played. Clemson won 16-10 in 1979 in South Bend and Notre Dame won 21-17 in 1977 at Clemson.

2014 Fun Stats:
– Penalties: Opponents 79 for 696 yards – Notre Dame 58 for 487 yards
– Opponents failed on all four of their onside kick attempts. Notre Dame didn’t try any.
– Fumbles: Notre Dame 24 (lost 12) – Opponents 13 (lost 7)

Players You Need To Know

1. LB Jaylon Smith, Jr.

A superstar of superstar linebacker recruits, Smith was brought in from nearby Fort Wayne to be the next great Notre Dame defensive star. In his first year, he didn’t disappoint finishing third on the team with 67 tackles with one pick and a forced fumble, and last year he took his game to a whole other level coming up with a team-leading 111 stops with 3.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss. A monster tackler who’s as steady and reliable as they come – he lasted while others around him were falling away – he came up with 14 tackles against Stanford and tried to do everything late in the year after all the injuries to the defensive front, finishing up the regular season with three straight double-digit tackle games with 35 stops. At 6-3 and 235 pounds he has the right size to go along with the range and the blast to run through a ball-carrier. With his athleticism as well as his size, he’s a pass rusher who can work at any linebacker spot, being tried out everywhere this offseason.

2. OT Ronnie Stanley, Sr.
Is he the first offensive tackle off the board in the 2016 NFL Draft? He isn’t there quite yet, but the pro spotlight is on to see if he can take his game up a few notches to really and truly be a first round-caliber pro blocker. The Las Vegas native went from being a little-used backup to a starting right tackle who got the call in every game, and then last year he turned into a rock of a left tackle. An outstanding pass protector with 6-6, 315-pound size, he’ll get physical and can blast away, but he’s at his best when he’s able to engulf pass rushers. Able to be an anchor when needed, the one-time four-star recruit now knows what he’s doing and can become the reason the running game works. He doesn’t have to do it all for a deep and talented line, but he’ll be the best of the bunch.

3. DE Sheldon Day, Sr.
While he might not be a superstar in his style compared to recent top Irish defensive linemen, the 6-2, 285-pounder has decent bulk as a 3-4 end or a 4-3 tackle with the ability to produce no matter where he plays. He’s not much of a pass rusher, but he holds his own against the run making 40 tackles with a sack and 7.5 tackles for loss in 11 games. Great from the start, he stepped in as a true freshman and produced, and his loss late last year to a knee injury showed just how much he’s worth. He’s not going to be an anchor, and he might not receive a ton of accolades, but he’ll be a key part of a potentially strong run defense.

4. WR Will Fuller, Jr.
Where did that come from? The 6-0, 180-pound Fuller didn’t do much as a freshman, making six catches for 160 yards and a score, but he blew up last season as a steady scorer and all-around No. 1 target with 76 grabs for 1,094 yards and 15 touchdowns. He didn’t get into the end zone against Stanford or USC, but that was it coming up with at least one touchdown in every game with three against Northwestern and two against both Syracuse and North Carolina. He was a good recruit, but not an elite one. However, he has quickly figured out how to produce at a high level as the key part of the fantastic receiving corps.

5. QB Malik Zaire, Jr.
Here we go. The star of the 2014 spring session had everyone buzzing, and he saw a little time throughout last year before getting the work in the bowl game running 22 times for 96 yards and a score against LSU, while completing 12-of-15 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. Remember, though, despite the turnovers, Everett Golson was terrific – Zaire will have to be that good, or better. The 6-0, 222-pound left-hander is built well, runs tough, and can push the ball for the passing game. He might not be an elite thrower, but he’s a dangerous dual-threat playmaker who has the pressure of the season on his shoulders. The talent is there, and now the production has to follow.

6. C Nick Martin Sr.
A natural center, he moved over the left guard for most of last season and did a decent job next to Ronnie Stanley. Versatile, he has also seen time at right guard, but he’s expected to be back at his rightful place in the middle. The 6-4, 301-pound veteran has been one of the leaders and most productive blockers up front no matter where he’s been over the last few years. He might not be the most talented player up front, and he’s not as good as his older brother, former star tackle Zack Martin, but he’s a tough guy hitter who knows how to run a line.

7. LB Joe Schmidt, Sr.
On his way to a massive season with 65 tackles and two picks in his first eight games, he suffered a broken leg against Navy and missed the rest of the season. It’s still taking a little while to come back, but he’s expected to be ready to roll after being able to start running and working out a bit this spring. It’s not a lock he takes back his job in the same role considering all the talent and depth returning, but the steady rock of a 6-1, 235-pound hitter will be a big factor in some way if he doesn’t get his starting gig back.

8. S Max Redfield, Jr.
The team’s second-leading tackler behind Jaylon Smith, the 6-1, 198-pound Redfield came up with a good all-around season for the good secondary making 68 tackles with a pick. All over the place against LSU, he came up with 14 stops with several meetings with Leonard Fornette when the ground game was getting to the second and third levels. A great recruit, he started to put it all together as a hitter last year with great athleticism and pop, but now he has to do more when the ball is in the air. With Redfield combining with Elijah Shumate, the Irish should be fantastic at safety.

9. RB Tarean Folston, Jr.
Greg Bryant was a very good, very tough back who was going to be a huge part of the running game throughout the year before getting suspended, and now Folston is the main man with the hands to catch 18 passes and enough punch to handle the ball 20 times or more a game with 889 yards and six touchdowns on the year. At 5-10 and 214 pounds, the Florida native has good size to go along with excellent quickness and vision, finishing off runs well. He came up with four 100-yard games in a five date span, and while he’ll be a part of a rotation, he’ll be the main man for the ground game.

10. CB KeiVarae Russell, Sr.
The secondary is absolutely loaded, and that’s helped by the return of Russell after being suspended last year after the academic scandal. Three starters are back, and now it’s up to the 5-11, 190-pound senior out of Washington state to fill in the other hole at corner. A hitter as well as a pure cover-corner, he can get physical, making 51 tackles two years ago with the ability to get after the ball when it’s in the air making a pick with eight broken up passes. Three years ago he came up with 59 tackles with two interceptions in a fantastic true freshman season, and while he’s versatile enough to play anywhere in the secondary, his home is at corner – assuming he’s back and all is well.

Head Coach: Brian Kelly
6th year: 45-20
12th year overall: 98-42
Schedule
Sept. 5 Texas
Sept. 12 at Virginia
Sept. 19 Georgia Tech
Sept. 26 UMass
Oct. 3 at Clemson
Oct. 10 Navy
Oct. 17 USC
Oct. 24 OPEN DATE
Oct. 31 at Temple
Nov. 7 at Pitt
Nov. 14 Wake Forest
Nov. 21 Boston College
Nov. 28 at Stanford
Ten Best Fighting Irish Players
1. LB Jaylon Smith, Jr.
2. OT Ronnie Stanley, Sr.
3. DE Sheldon Day, Sr.
4. WR Will Fuller, Jr.
5. QB Malik Zaire, Jr.
6. C Nick Martin Sr.
7. LB Joe Schmidt, Sr.
8. S Max Redfield, Jr.
9. RB Tarean Folston, Jr.
10. CB KeiVarae Russell, Sr.