What could Notre Dame's defensive depth chart look like?

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On the Still Independent Podcast this week, J.B. Long and I took a stab and what Notre Dame's depth chart might look like this fall (we covered the offense on Wednesday). This is a look at a base 4-3 defense, but one of the larger positive developments from spring practice was the ability for Brian VanGorder's group to use the kind of sub packages they weren't able to deploy last year without more than two reliable cornerbacks. 

Listen to our podcast here, and check out how the depth chart could shake out below with some quick thoughts, including on how some of those nickel/dime packages could shake out:

Strongside defensive end

1. Isaac Rochell (Senior)
2. Jonathan Bonner (Redshirt sophomore)
3. Khalid Kareem (Freshman)

Weak side defensive end

1. Jay Hayes (Redshirt sophomore)
1A. Andrew Trumbetti (Junior)
2. Daelin Hayes (Freshman)
3. Julian Okwara (Freshman)
3A. Adetokunbo Ogundeji (Freshman)

Notre Dame looks well set on the strong side with Rochell and Bonner there. But figuring out the weak side -- which is where Romeo Okwara exploded for eight sacks last year -- is a more muddled issue. Jay Hayes took plenty of first-team reps after being moved here from defensive tackle in the spring, and Trumbetti is an athletic, shifty player on the edge. But Daelin Hayes, if he's back to 100 percent and immediately realizes his five-star potential, could be the key to unlocking the Irish pass rush. 

Defensive tackle

1. Jerry Tillery (Sophomore)
2. Elijah Taylor (Redshirt freshman)
2A. Micah Dew-Treadway (Redshirt freshman)

Nose guard

1. Jarron Jones (Graduate student)
1A. Daniel Cage (Junior)
2. Pete Mokwuah (Redshirt sophomore)
3. John Montelus (Redshirt junior)
3A. Brandon Tiassum (Redshirt freshman)

It was telling during spring practice that VanGorder said nobody had locked down a starting role at either of these two positions. At nose guard, that's mostly because Jones and Cage will split time, with each player pushing each other for reps. It's was a less positive endorsement at defensive tackle, where Tillery struggled at times to transition over from nose guard. Notre Dame's defense needs the athletically gifted Tillery to play well at defensive tackle, where Sheldon Day turned in outstanding season last fall. 

Sam (outside) linebacker

1. James Onwualu (Senior)
2. Greer Martini (Junior)
3. Jamir Jones (Freshman)

Will (inside) linebacker

1. Te’von Coney (Sophomore)
2. Greer Martini (Junior)
2A. Asmar Bilal (Redshirt freshman)

Mike (middle) linebacker

1. Nyles Morgan (Junior)
2. Josh Barajas (Redshirt freshman)
3. Jonathan Jones (Freshman)

Without a star in Jaylon Smith, a whiz in Joe Schmidt and a valuable depth player in Jarrett Grace, Notre Dame has an awful lot to figure out at linebacker this fall. Morgan and Coney are both talented former four-star recruits, but outside of Morgan's handful of games as a true freshman, neither have been entrusted with the Irish defense yet. Onwualu's coverage abilities should keep him on the field in VanGorder's nickel and dime packages in which he can move inside. 

Cornerback

1. Cole Luke (Senior)
2. Devin Butler (Senior)
3. Nick Coleman (Sophomore)
4. Julian Love (Freshman)
4A. Donte Vaughn (Freshman)
4B. Troy Pride Jr. (Freshman)

1. Shaun Crawford (Redshirt freshman)
1A. Nick Watkins (Junior)
2. Devin Butler (Senior)
3. Ashton White (Redshirt freshman)
4. Julian Love (Freshman)
4A. Donte Vaughn (Freshman)
4B. Troy Pride Jr. (Freshman)

The loss of Crawford last August might've been the biggest blow Notre Dame's defense sustained until Smith's Fiesta Bowl injury, because without him, VanGorder didn't feel comfortable with his nickel packages (even though Matthias Farley, who excelled as a nickel in 2014, was still on the roster). Crawford looks set to play both inside and outside in 2016, but Notre Dame will need Watkins and/or Butler to play well to maximize the effectiveness of its secondary. 

Strong safety

1. Drue Tranquill (Junior)
2. Avery Sebastian (Sixth-year graduate student)
3. Spencer Perry (Freshman)
3A. Jalen Elliott (Freshman)

Free safety

1. Max Redfield (Senior)
2. Devin Studstill (Freshman)
3. D.J. Morgan (Freshman)
3A. Nicco Fertitta (Sophomore)

Both Tranquill and Sebastian have lengthy injury histories, and Redfield has been one of Notre Dame's more inconsistent players over his three years in South Bend. There remains a lot of potential in this group -- Studstill, for one, roundly impressed coaches and teamamtes during spring practice -- that has to be tapped into to avoid the kind of crippling defensive breakdowns that've been an unfortunate part of Notre Dame's defensive identity over the last two years. 

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