Love and Notre Dame Defense Ready to Attack Sparty

Notre Dame had questions about its defense entering the 2017 season under new defensive coordinator Mike Elko entered his first year in South Bend. Elko has built top defenses at every stop, but there was a sense of hesitation from most Notre Dame fans. 

There is plenty of work to be done, and it has only been three games, but the positive steps taken are noticeable. Perhaps the biggest change is the defense is getting off the field on third down. 

The Irish defense is allowing opponents to convert third downs at a 25.5% clip. Notre Dame wasn’t horrible a year ago as they let the opposition convert on 35.1% of third downs, but the improvement is significant. 

“We do very well on third down,” stated Notre Dame cornerback Julian Love. “We need to do better on first down. We have the ability to close out drives, and it’s something we’re still building. It’s something that has come forward during the last few games.” 

It’s clear there has been a focus on grit and attention to detail over the last nine months, but Love and his teammates are seeing the offseason lessons pay off during the games.  

“Since the summer, we have been pounding the aspects of grit in our conditioning and everything,” Love said. “I feel at times we are more conditioned than other teams. It’s showing, and we feel great.” 

The ability to get teams off the field on third down isn’t all due Matt Balis and Brian Kelly. Elko deserves credit for making sure each one of his defensive players knows the importance of getting off the field. 

“Coach Elko has really emphasized third down, and we know we have to win it,” explained the sophomore. “Coach Elko is very demanding. He wants the best for us. In practice, you’ll hear him on third downs, ‘We have to win. We have to win.’ It’s something ingrained in our heads and minds in game situations. It’s translating into our production. 

“Even though he’s in the booth, I am hearing him in the back of my head saying ‘We have to win.’”

When Love talks about emphasizing third down, the 5-foot-11, 193-pounder is talking about Elko teaching the game to his players. The ability to understand what teams are trying to accomplish has helped Love, and it’s allowing the defense as a whole to make plays. 

“Third down is a big tendency down,” stated Love. “You have to know what they are trying to accomplish, where the sticks are and basically execute at the highest level. Coach Elko will put us in a great position to execute. 

“He’s really teaching us plays, but he’s also teaching us why we’re running the play. It’s something that’s different. We know what we’re supposed to be doing and I think it’s really helping us.” 

That teaching started at Culver Academy when the Irish got into third down.  

“After each practice, we usually install certain plays, and we go over fundamentals in regards to down and distance and what we’re striving to do each down,” recalled Love. “It’s basically Football 101. It’s really helping us, and we did that after every day of camp.”  

On the season, Love has recorded 11 tackles, three pass breakups and defended three passes. The Illinois native see’s the improvement in his game, but he also knows he needs to pick it up at times. 

“I feel my intensity needs to pick up,” said Love. “I’m a player with high load. I’m on multiple special teams and play a good amount on defense. I can’t take any rep for granted. I have to go rep by rep and attack each play. 

“It’s something I need to push, and I have been focusing on it in practice. I am really going had every single play.” 

Love and his teammates have also been looking forward to Saturday night’s game at Michigan State for a while. The Spartans knocked off the Irish 36-28 and held a lead of 36-7 at one point in the third quarter.  

“Michigan State is a very tough program,” Love said. “They are very skilled, and you can tell they are really gritty like us. They are going to compete and not back down. I feel like they hit us in the mouth last year at times. This year we’re not standing for any of that, and we’re going to attack them. We’re coming into their house and going to embrace it all.”