Toryan playing running downs against the big thumpers, Te'o playing against teams that spread you out.

and in Toryan's case, he may still be a major player in the mix. His problem isn't a lack of effort or focus, he simply has some physical limitations (lack of top notch speed and athleticism).

A DC can game plan around one or two starters with limitations. And there are certainly a few games where ND can use his strengths in stopping the run between the tackles.

If Toryan can maximize his play, it would be nice to see Brian Smith play Will, that's for sure.

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the two guys I expect the least from this year. Don't get me wrong, I hope to hell I'm 100% wrong.

I reserve the right to change my opinion after the BG game, but from what I saw, I'm not overly optimistic.

http://www.blueandgold.com/content/?aid=6917

If he can put it together then him along with Ian could make us a good front seven. Another thing I think we'll see is T. Smith at linebacker against heavily running teams. Toryan could be a force against the run.

but I hadn't heard anything official.

I could be whistling dixie, but I thought I read that someplace.

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our 3rd corner being our dollar back (I believe the ND staff uses dollar rather than dime).

But our nickel back, I'd bet my life on it, will be Sergio. The kid can play, and the coaches are very high on him.

Plus, he's full of energy and swagger in practice.

Depth at DB is something most of us (as ND fans) can't fathom.

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I love what that says about our depth of talent in the secondary. And that doesn't even include highly recruited studs like Gray, Slaughter and D. McCarthy, and a 5th-year senior in Herring.

Saw it in that article where Harbaugh said he wants some players to play both ways.

Sounds like he could beat out Pritchard.

Stanford was 19th in the country in rushing, and much of it was between the tackles. They're committed to power running more than anyone.

U. Conn is a bit of a mystery at this point since they switched OCs. Joe Morehead came from Akron and he's putting in a no-huddle spread.

I expect Sergio to have a great year.

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We aren't exactly facing a battery of veteran quarterbacks, as we have in recent years. So maybe we can afford to focus more on the run and put our secondary on an island a bit more. This is not a murderer's row this year. It may be the first time in a while we won't face at least one bona fide first-round pick.

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NEVADA - Kaepernick is a multi-year vet, the most experienced we'll face.

Michigan - Forcier? Who knows? New starter.

MICHIGAN ST. - New starter. Cousins or Nichol.
http://www.collegefantasyfootballinsider.com/stats/player-news.aspx?newsID=10192

Purdue - Painter's gone. So is Siller. Either 5th year pinerider Elliott or a redshirt frosh.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/wire/chi-ap-fbc-purduequarterbac,0,6333397.story

WASHINGTON - Locker coming off an injury. Probably will be solid under Sark.
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/huskyfootball/2009/04/02/_jake_its_the_stule.html

SOUTHERN CAL - Corp, probably. First year starting.

BOSTON COLLEGE - new starter, TBD. Likely Davis.
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/college/football/view/2009_03_18_Boston_College_face...

Washington St. - unsettled.
http://www.seattlepi.com/cougars/404266_cougs26ww.html

NAVY - n/a

Pittsburgh - Stull returning, being pushed by Bostick in camp.

CONNECTICUT - probably Frazer, but they're installing a new O.
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=924961

Stanford - likely Pritchard returning. Loukas (their "slash" QB) tore an ACL.
http://stanford.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=931110

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USC, MSU, Pitt, and who else? One of the things that's really going to help ND is that we're gonna be able to play a great deal of base nickel and that plays right into our wheel house

It's a lesson I learned with the OL in 2007. We got a lot of glowing reports about Wenger, Olsen, Carufel, Stewart, etc. I allowed myself to think it was an easy thing to reload a line with three first-time starters (not to mention a still-raw Sam Young). Stupid me.

I look at the prospect of KLM, Hafis, EJ (yeah, even EJ), Fleming, Filer, etc, all starting or having significant playing time, and I have to remind myself that as exciting as the potential is for these players, they are essentially still rookies, and are learning their positions. If there are going to be mistakes anywhere on this team, they will be here.

but I'm also greatly comforted by Tenuta's track record. Tenuta makes no secret of the fact that his two defensive priorities are to shut down the run and to make the QB and OL uncomfortable with his blitzes. I don't know the exact numbers, but I believe that every one of his defenses in the last eight years or so has ranked in the top 25-30 against the run. He wasn't the coordinator last year, but with his help ND improved from 96th nationally against the run (195 ypg) to 45th (134 ypg), despite the loss of one of the most productive DL in school history (Laws).

Tenuta has the further advantage of what could be an exceptional secondary, which should allow him to commit more resources in support of a green but talented front seven.

There is a HUGE difference between "boy strength" and "man strength". Our kids have the former.

I would worry even more if we were playing a read and react scheme. There is no way some of these kids would win the battles, week in and week out, trying to hold a gap or defeat a double-team.

The aggressive scheme will help, but I'm betting we'll still struggle against the better running teams on our schedule.

Two keys: No big plays and success on 1st down.

No big plays will make an offense have to convert over and over again to score. Which leads me to...

Defensive success on 1st down. If the Irish are able to put the offense in a 2nd and 8 or more quite a bit, even power running teams will be forced to throw on second or third down much more often (which I believe will be our strength - defending the pass).

I'm a huge believer that getting a sack on 1st or even 2nd down is so much more important than on 3rd down. On 3rd down, all you need is an incompletion. On 1st or 2nd down, you can kill a drive with a sack.

The DL will not be required to play quite the same mental game that OL does. If there is one way to slow down a player, it is to have him thinking more than acting and reacting. The way this D-line is being coached, it is all about speed, and as coach Hart says "strike a blow, get off the block, pursue the football, and tackle." If you make a mistake, you want to make it at 100 mph, because then you can still be disruptive.

I understand the cautious attitude, but I think it's apples to oranges.

My favorite thing about Hart/Young's DL philosophy is something Hart said to me at the social, repeating a sentiment in either Alvarez's talk or Tuberville's... "It's not the defensive lineman's job to make the LB an All-American. His job is to become the All-American."

I'm afraid we will once again struggle against tough, strong running teams. That's why I think we'll have problems with MSU, even without Ringer. I also think the Nevada game will be close.

For all the rosy reports we get about the front seven, it is still likely to be our main trouble spot.

It's a lesson I learned with the OL in 2007. We got a lot of glowing reports about Wenger, Olsen, Carufel, Stewart, etc. I allowed myself to think it was an easy thing to reload a line with three first-time starters (not to mention a still-raw Sam Young). Stupid me.

I look at the prospect of KLM, Hafis, EJ (yeah, even EJ), Fleming, Filer, etc, all starting or having significant playing time, and I have to remind myself that as exciting as the potential is for these players, they are essentially still rookies, and are learning their positions. If there are going to be mistakes anywhere on this team, they will be here.