Notre Dame’s Depth Will Continue To Be Key Factor In Championship Pursuit
Just like it has all season long, Notre Dame will have to call upon its depth to fill in holes left behind by injured starters. Up to this point, the Irish have been successful when doing so, filling gaps left behind by the likes of Benjamin Morrison, Charles Jagusah and a now healthy Howard Cross.
But the most recent loss may be a devastating blow too tough to come back from.
On Monday, Marcus Freeman announced standout defensive lineman Rylie Mills will be out for the remainder of the season with a right knee injury.
“You can’t replace Rylie Mills,” Freeman said. “Yes, the production but the leadership … very similar to the things I said about Benjamin Morrison when he was out. You feel awful for him as a person, a guy that decided to come back, improve his draft stock, be a captain. The value he provided this team is tremendous and he’s done an excellent job as a football player and a leader.”
Freeman knows the Irish won’t be able to fully replace Mills, a captain, and what he means to the program on a day-to-day basis. But for the Irish to be able to compete with Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 — they are going to have to try and replicate his on-field production. The Lake Bluff, Illinois native had 37 tackles and 7.5 sacks before his season ending injury.
“You have to replace the production, you have to replace what he did for our defense in different ways,” Freeman said. “We have capable guys that will step up, that have stepped up all year that we’re very confident in, and those guys will have a bigger role this week.”
Replacing a star defensive lineman isn’t foreign territory for Notre Dame this season. The Irish were without Howard Cross for three games after he suffered a high ankle sprain on Nov. 9 against Florida State. Donovan Hinish had success in filling in the role — recording 17 tackles and three sacks — and Gabe Rubio is also listed as Mills' backup on the depth chart.
“You have to prepare in a way in practice that you are one improving, but two you’re ready if your numbers called,” Freeman said. “We got a lot of guys that prepare that way and that will have a bigger role, but obviously Donnie’s played at a high level, Gabe Rubio’s playing at a high level and Howard’s back so we’ll get whoever that fourth and fifth are ready to roll. They’ve been preparing for this moment all season long.”
With the loss of Mills and the bad injury luck the Irish have had all season it would probably be easy for many within the program to throw up the white flag. Freeman has a different approach.
“Don’t feel sorry for yourself,” Freeman said. “I feel sorry for Rylie Mills because I love that guy and he’s just a great person, a great player but you don’t feel sorry for yourself. You own it and you say, ‘Okay how do we find a way to improve’ and that’s what we are going to do.”
“You find out the most about your team and yourself as an individual in tough times, in the lowest moments. What I’ve learned about this program in the lowest moments is they’re resilient, they’re tough, they continue to battle and they choose to find ways to elevate. You lose a captain and it’s tough, it’s a terrible loss but this program knows what it has to do to continue to prepare and perform at a high level and that’s what you have to do.”
The Irish will need a playmaker to step in and make an impact on the game against a potent Bulldog offense. They may very well have that in true-freshman Bryce Young. The lineman was a standout in the win against Indiana in the pass rush, tallying a sack in the third quarter.
“He played really well,” Freeman said. “He’s a difference maker. To be a true freshman and play at the level he’s playing at — he’s got some great genetics. But he prepares the right way and he’s performing at a high level and he’s a huge part of what we’re doing defensively. We’re going to need another big game out of him as we get ready for Georgia.”
In other injury news, Freeman announced Jagusah was set to return to the practice field for the first time since Aug. 3 after a shoulder injury that was expected to keep him sidelined for the entire season. It’s unknown how far along he is in the recovery process or if he’s close to returning to play, but it’s an interesting development considering Rocco Spindler is questionable for next week.
“He really hasn’t been practicing much,” Freeman said. “This is going to be his first full week of practice so we’ll figure out what his best position is as we continue to game plan to move forward. There’s a consistency in that offensive line, they’ve been doing a really good job and at the end of the day we’re going to do what’s best for Notre Dame.”
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asu has also been upgraded to questionable after being out since Nov. 23 with a knee sprain. The linebacker recorded 29 tackles before the injury.
“Mostly he’s been rehabbing,” Freeman said. “Getting mental work in but hasn’t been able to practice. Now we want to see that progression in practice and then build that confidence in him and also in his coaches and doctors that he can go out there and get his job done.”
Notre Dame’s depth has been a testament to its coaching staff and their ability to have every single player on the roster ready to play. It’s been a theme that Freeman has been preaching all year and it’s clearly resonating with the locker room.
“I think it’s a great reminder that the future is uncertain,” Freeman said. “You might not be a starter today but the future is uncertain, just continue to focus on individual improvement and on Saturdays continue to choose to put the team in front of yourself and then all of a sudden you might be thrust into a meaningful situation without even knowing.
“I think that’s more important than anything is that we all recognize that the future’s uncertain. There’s a lot of guys that are different from the guys that started the year off in Fall Camp. We’re going to need everybody and that’s so important because you can’t wait till you need somebody to all of a sudden make them feel they have value to the team. Your value isn’t determined by your role on this team.”
The Irish will need to be as close to a 100% as they can get to compete with Georgia in nine days, but no matter who’s on the field, it’s clear Freeman has full confidence in his players to get the job done.