Morgan Already Comfortable in New Defense

Linebacker Nyles Morgan enters his senior year with a new defensive coordinator, and over the course of his career, new defensive coordinators are the norm for the 6-foo-1, 238-pounder.

Morgan has entered his time in South Bend during Brian VanGorder’s first year and then went through the transition of last season’s turnover at defensive coordinator.

The Crete (Ill.) native feels comfort in Mike Elko’s scheme just weeks into the change and is embracing what his new defensive coordinator is preaching.

“Every coach has their ways of doing things,” Morgan said on Friday. “Coach Elko has a great emphasis on getting to the ball, making plays on the ball, and everyone needs to know the situation of the game. We need to know how to the play the game from 3rd and 3 versus 3rd and 7.”

Forcing turnovers is one aspect of the game Elko wants his defense to improve on. Notre Dame finished 104th in takeaways per game in 2016 and getting the football has been emphasized this spring.

“We have a turnover circuit,” stated Morgan. “Defensive linemen are doing things defensive backs are doing. Linebackers are doing the same thing. Everyone is getting a chance to do different things to get the ball out.”

As Elko implements his scheme, Morgan will be leaned on to convey his message. Morgan will lean on Elko to get him prepared for the NFL, and the two are on the same page.

“He told me to relax, and I was going to learn it,” Morgan said of his first meeting with Elko. “He said it wasn’t that hard and to keep my head on straight. So far, he has been right. It’s not overly complicated, and guys get it. It makes sense to everyone.”



The simple scheme is a welcome one, as VanGorder’s defense was challenging to many players. Elko has made sure his scheme is player-friendly and one where the defense doesn’t think too much.

“He just makes it where things are said and done a certain way,” explained Morgan. There are things that change based on the offense. If they do a certain thing, we are going to do being our thing. All defenses are going to have adjustments, but ours aren’t hard.”

The scheme isn’t the only the thing the Irish defense is learning this spring. Elko has made sure to let his defense know the expectations of each thing they do, including the most basic drills.

In one of the first practices of the spring, Elko didn’t like how the defense finished a basic drill and made them repeat the drill.  

“We thought we did it right, but he wanted a full-blown sprint off and sprint back,” recalled Morgan. “Some guys will get to the cone and kind of stop, but he wanted guys running through the cone. He made us do it until we did it right and now we are up to his speed.

“It wasn’t we didn’t do it last year, but we didn’t understand. He was serious about going through the cone and not just to the cone. Once his point was made, it never happened again.”  

It’s the little things Morgan is expected to do as he is one of Notre Dame’s captains. Morgan is doing the little things, but he also wants to impact the team on a larger scale.  

“My next step is making more impact on the team,” Morgan stated. “Not so much as the defense, I feel like I have done that, but I want to make more a drive towards the offensive side of the ball and special teams. I want to play a bigger role.

“I am trying to connect with more of my offensive buddies. I have friends on the offensive side of the ball, but I am trying to get to know them and know what they do. I want to make sure they are doing the best they can and giving all they got, even thought I am on the other side of the ball.”  

One area Morgan has shown leadership is in the weight room. Matt Balis has come in and changed the culture of the training program in recent weeks, and Morgan is making sure he leads.

“Balis’ regiment is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I’m sure a lot of guys feel the same way,” he said. “I’ve never seen the same guys puke more than twice in workouts. Every day you anticipate someone puking. It’s good, but it’s bad. Overall, it’s good.

“I remember the first day was on a Tuesday – we just lifted and guys were puking during the lift. Guys are starting to adapt and grow. We have built a great mentality we need.”  

The new workouts are the talk of the team, and the results have been noticeable with some players. Notre Dame is training harder and training different muscles than they had under Paul Longo.

“It’s the reps, weight, no breaks, and no water,” Morgan said of why the workouts are difficult. “It’s like your utilizing the entire weight room. I remember going through warmups and guys were dying, and we hadn’t even started yet. He knows how to use the full weight room and different body parts we don’t use as much.

“We do bench and squat, but work on shoulders and especially the neck. We do neck every single day. He doesn’t miss a day with the neck.”

Morgan is down 15 pounds, and he has already seen it translate to his game.  

“I feel like I am moving around a lot better,” said Morgan. “I have the opportunity to slip into the backfield, and I feel way more explosive. I can cover guys better, so everything is working out pretty well.”