Mike Denbrock Schemes that Fit Notre Dame's Offense in 2024
Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock will be tasked with turning the Irish offense into a more explosive unit in 2024 and his full impact likely won’t be felt this season.
The good news for Notre Dame is they have many more pieces to play around with this fall than they did a year ago, which could lead to big plays and more points. It obviously starts with quarterback Riley Leonard, who should be an upgrade with his ability to push the ball and make explosive plays in the run game.
Denbrock won’t have the skill talent he had last fall at LSU, but his strength is being able to find the right matchups and attack it while also finding ways to put his best players in position to make plays, which Notre Dame has struggled with at times.
Here are a few examples of what you could see this fall from Denbrock from a schematic standpoint.
DEEP SHOT
I really like this concept and how Denbrock achieves it. The bunch formation is something many college programs use and find success in. It forces the defense to communicate on the back end, which can lead to easily missed assignments or late reactions. It also draws the defense's attention to that side of the field.
Motion is used twice on this play, which also forces more communication from the defense. Ole Miss doesn’t hide the fact its playing zone from the start, so the tight end motion doesn’t really give LSU too much more info other than they know Chris Hilton Jr. will be one-on-one given how Ole Miss shifted the safeties to get numbers to the strongside.
From there, LSU has its top two receivers working across the field at different levels, and most defenses will do exactly what Ole Miss did and make sure Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas aren’t getting space. Nabers runs his route just deep enough to hold the strongside safety so he isn’t able to make up enough ground to impact the deep post to Hilton, while the other safety has to pick him up coming across the field and that gives LSU a chance at a big play.
It’s a play Hilton should have made as the ball fell through his hands.
Now, Notre Dame doesn’t have Nabers, Thomas, or Hilton, but one can see something like Jaden Greathouse and Beaux Collins working in the middle of the field with Kris Mitchell getting the opportunity deep. Or, given the formation, it’s easy to see Greathouse and Mitchell working the middle and someone like Jordan Faison working the post, which he’s done a time or two.
SIMPLICITY IS KEY
It’s easy to overthink schemes in the red zone or short-yardage situations, but Denbrock is an experienced play-caller and coach, for that matter. First-and-goal from the 6 is a common situation for any team and one that can also be tricky.
The distance is just far enough away that a run will likely get you closer, but you’re into second-down playcalling while there is still a lack of space for a pass, and defenses can be aggressive.
Denbrock called his bread-and-butter RPO play to get the best of both worlds. And he called it a ton while at Cincinnati as well.
It’s a simple play call. Logan Diggs is getting the rock if it’s open or Jayden Daniels pulls it. The added layer is Denbrock has a tight end coming across the formation into the flat, which could lead to an easy score if he gets lost in the chaos at the line of scrimmage. I mean, how many times have you seen the tight end wide open coming across the field behind the play.
Mississippi State does a great job of being disciplined and the tight end is picked up right away. It’s almost like they knew what Denbrock likes to run through film study and prepared for it. Yet, it’s also a numbers game and LSU has too many options to stop. I guess you can argue the safety could have likely made a quicker read, but that’s the beauty of having reads if you’re a quarterback.
It’s a simple play at the core, but one where Denbrock gives his best player the ability control and use his athleticism to make the play. It’s not a groundbreaking concept. Putting your best athletes in a position to be the best athlete normally works out.
DOING WHAT IT TAKES
As it relates to game one, Notre Dame’s offensive line will likely be at a disadvantage against Texas A&M as the Aggies have recruited, developed and have massive athletes along the front - and spent the last seven months with MIke Elko and his staff. That’s not a secret, but it will make every third down a dog fight.
The first play is 3rd-and-4 and it’s likely a concept Notre Dame will have to use at times in week one. I don’t want to say it’s a cheap play, but it’s one where Denbrock has to get a little crafty to steal a third down.
It’s a simple rub route to free up the inside guy. Yes, Notre Dame doesn’t have a great history with those (Florida State 2014), but if you can steal a third down on the road in a hostile environment, you do it.
This seems like it’s made for Mitchell Evans to motion over with Jaden Greathouse or Jordan Faison slipping under for a quick gain - and I bet they catch it.
The second play is likely what Notre Dame will have to do from a schematic standpoint to have success in the run game against A&M. LSU’s running backs ran 15 times for 36 yards (2.4 ypc) last year against the Aggies, while Jayden Daniels had 120 yards on 11 carries and 49 came on a broken pass play.
It won’t be easy to get the ground game going and it will likely be impossible if Notre Dame plays in loaded boxes as they did under Tommy Rees and Gerad Parker.
This play was not successful by any means, but Notre Dame will need to create favorable boxes by spacing the A&M defense out. Here, the field receiver is on the numbers and A&M is forced to go with a six-man box with a safety creeping up, which is dangerous given the quarterback and receivers.
If Riley Leonard and the receivers can make A&M pay, then that safety doesn’t creep up as much, which leads to even more favorable numbers and space. It’s almost a shame Audric Estimè didn’t get the opportunity to have a light box, as he might have had another 300 yards in 2023.
It’s not going to be an easy game in the run game against the Aggies, but Denbrock has to give his guys a chance and getting Love and Price in favorable boxes seems like the smart play.
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