It’s year two at Notre Dame for defensive coordinator Chris Ash, and there’s a different feel around the defense.
There’s a quiet confidence coming from Ash, which could be credited to a number of factors.
Perhaps the most significant is that Ash is comfortable. He knows the college game, but more importantly, he knows his personnel.
“It's a completely different deal,” stated Ash. “I know the players that have been here a lot better. What their strengths and weaknesses are and what I think we can do well. We have a lot of work still to do, but we're just in a different spot at this point this year than we were at this point last year.”
Notre Dame’s defensive depth stands out on paper. It also stands out to NFL scouts, with multiple scouts noting that the Irish may have the deepest defensive unit in the country.
Ash has experienced plenty of depth during his career, while also going through seasons at other stops where he simply didn’t have enough bodies, much less enough talent.
“Every year is a new year,” said Ash. “Every roster is different. There are some years you're going to have more depth, and some years you're not. Some positions are going to have more depth than other positions.
“I think each year you just got to look at what you have, who's earned the right to go out there and who you think gives us a chance to be successful. If they have, then it's our job to rotate.”
The Irish secondary is deeper than almost any group in the country. It’s difficult to find a team that can go five deep at linebacker, especially when that group includes preseason All-American Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and two-time captain Drayk Bowen.
“Sometimes at linebacker and DB, depending on the year, there's not as much rotating,” Ash said. “We were able to do that a year ago and we think we'll be able to do that again this year as well. I just look at it as every year as a different year and just to evaluate the roster and the guys that you have.”
Sophomore cornerback Jayden Sanders is a prime example of just how deep Notre Dame is in the secondary.
The Michigan transfer could end up starting at field corner as he battles DJ McKinney for the job, yet he’s also cross-training at nickel.
And nickel isn’t even a position Ash expects Sanders to play long-term.
“No, but if we have an issue, we need someone prepared, so he's a guy that's got some position flex that can play multiple spots for us,” Ash said when asked if he intends to play Sanders at nickel. “We're just getting him ready and making sure that we develop the depth that we need across the board.”
As for who starts at field corner, Ash isn’t worried about it.
“No, it really doesn't,” Ash said when asked if it matters who starts. “We're not sure who's going to yet at this point. But they're both gonna play. We do know that.”
The return of Viliamu-Asa has been one of the biggest storylines of camp despite Notre Dame also returning Bowen, Jaiden Ausberry, Jaylen Sneed and Madden Faraimo.
Why?
Because Viliamu-Asa is a first-round talent, and every defense needs elite playmakers on the field.
“He’s really come a long way through training camp, being able to get back out there,” said Ash. “The doctors will tell us where he’s at at some point. But he’s had a lot of reps we didn’t think he would get. His confidence in himself is extremely high right now. Is it 100 percent? No. But it’s a lot higher at this point than we thought it would be.”
Notre Dame has also accomplished something on the defensive line that many questioned whether the Irish could do.
The Irish have six legitimate options on the interior and at least five edge defenders capable of playing at a high level.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Notre Dame will rotate six defensive tackles every game. But the option is there, and that’s what makes the depth so valuable.
“I don’t know if it’s set that we’re going to play six defensive tackles,” Ash explained. “I don’t think that’s realistic. They could, but a lot of it will depend on how the game is going. We have to do what we have to do to play our best because this is going to be a huge challenge for us.
“If we have to play six guys, we will. If we have to play four, we will. I like the depth and we have the potential of different guys that could play.”
On the edge, senior Keon Keeley and freshman Rodney Dunham would likely have been in the mix to start on past Notre Dame defenses. Instead, both are expected to begin the season as reserves.
Freshman Ebenezer Ewetade is another player who may not crack the rotation this fall, but easily could have been in the mix in previous seasons.
For Keeley, Ash has seen the growth necessary to play at a high level, but he’s still challenging the Alabama transfer to take another step.
“He’s a different player now than what he was this spring,” Ash stated. “He’s still not where he wants to be, or we want him to be, but he’s a lot closer than he was in the spring.
“In the spring, he was kind of like a lost dog a little bit. It was a big transition for him. There was a big learning curve from where he was to what we were doing. He really did a great job this summer. We’re really happy about the progress that he’s made.”
When it comes to Dunham and Ewetade, Ash doesn’t see any reason to rush either player.
“They're going to both help this program at some point,” said Ash. “Is it going to be in game one? Is it gonna be game 10? Is it going to be next year? I don't know. We've still got time to figure that out. We really like both players and what they've done so far.”
That may ultimately be the biggest difference for Ash in year two.
He knows what he has.
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