Where Notre Dame Was & Is: Defensive line, suddenly inexperienced and unproven New Notre Dame offensive coordinator Gerad Parker’s wide array of offensive experiences in his own words With Gerad Parker as offensive coordinator, Notre Dame’s offense still geared to feature ground game and QB Sam Hartman Marcus Freeman stands by Notre Dame’s interview process, praises promotion of Gerad Parker Notre Dame’s promotion of Gerad Parker official, ending dramatic week

Javonte Jean-Baptiste is not Isaiah Fosky. He also doesn’t Justin Ademilola. Accordingly, his play could be a mixture of two defensive ends that Notre Dame wants to replace.

The Ohio State Graduate Transfer isn’t as big as Fosky or as sturdy as Ademilola, but it brings years of experience to an Irish defensive line otherwise lacking in proven commodities, especially proven defensive moves. He can start with the Viper, where Fosky set Notre Dame records of his career, or the “Big” end, where Ademilola split time with a part-time defensive tackle. Riley Mills. Jean-Baptiste has both the range (6’5″ height) required from the Viper end, and the pass-rush ability (highlighted by his flexibility) required from the “Big” end.

This broad opportunity could be part of what Drew Jean-Baptist in South Bend. He considered declaring himself in the NFL after five seasons at Ohio State, which included four years of part-time work, but part-time jobs don’t produce the sort of statistics that would normally draw the attention of the NFL.

“It was just a long evaluation with my family and thinking about what would really be the best step for me and the path I want to take in my future,” Jean-Baptiste said earlier this month, adding that his decision was taken by Notre Dame, Mississippi and Texas. Of the three, clearly only one is in the Midwest, with Jean-Baptiste not only coming from Ohio State, but originally a product of New Jersey, not to mention a multi-playoff program.

The Irish are also the only program of the three to boast multiple coaches already familiar to Jean-Baptiste. Defensive line coach Al Washington used to coach linebackers for the Buckeyes, and alumnus defensive line assistant Nick Sebastian came with the Washingtons from Columbus a year ago. Jean-Baptiste may not have been in Washington’s positional group at Ohio State except for one game, but he still knew him well. Obviously defensive sevens have to work together.

“Introducing Coach Wash and even Coach [Sebastian] did a lot for me,” said Jean-Baptiste. “I’ve been with them for three years, just knowing them and how they treat their players and their guys, seeing them in action, let me play for them.”

Whatever the reason he ended up in South Bend, Notre Dame needs Jean-Baptiste. Not to replace Fosca or Ademilola, but perhaps to be a bit of both.

WHERE WAS NOTRE DAME
The loss of the first three defensive players this winter for the first time in several years will make this positional group a clear spring question mark.

This hasn’t been a concern in the past few days because the Irish knew they had an All-American in Fosca at one end, and the Ademilol twins provided enough consistency in the rest of the line to give Notre Dame’s reserves and youth time to grow into their roles. . And it worked.

Fosca may not have had the dominant senior season that summer headlines heralded, but he hit double-digit sacks for the second year in a row, setting the Irish record for most career sacks. Justin Ademilola has been a quiet defensive producer since the inaugural 2018 season, one of the few Notre Dame defensemen to pull off the challenge against Clemson in the college football playoffs. And protective equipment Jason Ademilola survived repeated shoulder injuries and became one of the most tenacious Irish defenders in the past two seasons, which the head coach remembered Marcus Freeman not to worry at the most intense moment against BYU in October, and then proceed to capture the game.

The depth of Notre Dame’s defensive line in 2022 has not been as credible as it has been in recent years, but the presence of these three proven and productive veterans has made it an advantage nonetheless.

Cynic (me): It took Isaiah Fosky four years to reach 26.5 sacks. Justin Tuck only needed three.
Me, looking at their careers: Oh, were Fosca’s first four games really sack chances? If not …
So: 0.68 bags per game
Phoscos: 0.72https://t.co/7uaO38cjdk

— Douglas Farmer (@D_Farmer) December 9, 2022

2022 STATISTICS
Isaiah Fosky: 12 games; 45 tackles, 14 losses, including 11 sacks, plus six quarterback rushes. One forced fumble and one recovered fumble.
Justin Ademilola: 13 games; 39 tackles, 3.5 losses including 3 sacks, plus four quarterback rushes. One managed to grope.
Howard Cross: 12 games; 33 tackles, 2.5 losses including 2 sacks, plus five quarterback rushes. One forced fumble.
Jason Ademilola: 12 games; 29 tackles, 5 losses including 3 sacks, plus four quarterback rushes.
Riley Mills: 13 games; 24 tackles, 6 of them lost, including 3.5 sacks.
Chris Smith: 13 games; 17 tackles with 0.5 to lose. One forced fumble.
Gabriel Rubio: 12 games; 17 tackles, 4 of which were lost, plus two hurried quarterbacks.
And Priest-Mensah: 13 games; 14 tackles, of which 1 loss, plus two hurried quarterbacks.
Jordan Botelho: 13 games; 11 tackles, 6.5 losses including 4.5 sacks, plus three quarterback rushes.
Jacob Lacy: 4 games before transfer; 5 tackle, including 2 bags.
Aidan Keanaina: 1 game; 3 gear.
Don’t worry, Aekwon: 3 games/2 tackles.
Alexander Ehrenberger: 12 games; 2 tackle.
Jason One: 1 game; 2 tackle.

RELATED READING: Notre Dame gets letters: Four linebackers led by four-star Brenan Vernon

WHERE IS NOTRE DAME
The Irish have talent. Losing two NFL draft picks to Fosca and Jason Ademilola doesn’t make Notre Dame an absolute loss, let alone Justin Ademilola’s chances of making the draft.

In fact, the Irish starters should raise some thoughts about the strong line. Rising grown-up Jordan Botelho shone in the Gator Bowl in his first moment as an outspoken defender rather than a hybrid linebacker. In 48 defensive snaps against South Carolina, he counted two sacks, adding two more quarterback rushes. Whether it’s Jean-Baptiste or fifth-year Nana Osafo-Mensah (pictured above) across from Botelho, Notre Dame will appeal to a former fat rookie who has been beaten by future NFL players over the past few years rather than anyone else. who fell in his own regard.

Rising senior Riley Mills is likely to return to tackle after dabbled in the Big End last season, a reflection of both the Irish defensive setup (more 3-4 fronts than 4-3) and lack of thorough depth. than anything else. Mills will be working with fifth year Howard Cross, one of the most physical players on the entire roster.

Spring questions will focus on the main positions of Jean-Baptiste and Mills, but nonetheless, this group of five should give Notre Dame enough confidence ahead.

Then throw in rising junior Gabriel Rubio in the selection, rising senior Alexander Ehrensberger at the end, and rising sophomore Junior Tuihalamaka perhaps at the end, and you have a depth just unknown among them.

If by the end of April one of them becomes an obvious participant, it will be a surprise, but not the biggest shock. Such a step forward would have strengthened the Irish defensive front to near comfortable levels long before pre-season training began.

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FUTURE DEPTH
Only quarterback Dewan Houston signed up earlier this semester among four Notre Dame defensive line signers. In 2023 it will be possible to call for an agreed four-star perspective for some of the rotational representatives, think in the spirit of Kurt Hinisch and Myron Tagovailoa-Amos both needed to support veteran starters in 2017 and the two freshmen are amazing in tandem.

With only Mills, Cross and Rubio making a clear contribution to the selection, Houston will be in direct competition with Onye, Ford and Hinish to be the fourth part of the required rotation.

Brenan Vernon is one of the best defenders in the country. #Notre Dame Today … https://t.co/ss6SJkOnKo

— Notre Dame on NBC (@NDonNBC) December 21, 2022

@d_farmer tweet

New Coordinator of the Notre Dame Offensive Just ParkerThe resume is long and varied, making him a tempting candidate to head Ireland. Marcus Freeman. As Freeman interviewed Parker, more emphasis was placed on offensive features than on Parker personally, as they had known each other for over a decade, the applicability of the experience became more and more apparent.

“Being able to say what the crime (2022 Notre Dame) I was in, here are the strengths, here are some of the weaknesses, here are ways I think we can improve,” Freeman said on Monday about what was outside…