Position:  Defensive Line

Projected Starters:  Justin Brown or Morrice Richardson (DE), Pat Kuntz (DT), Ian Williams (DT), Kerry Neal or John Ryan (DE)

Backup(s): Ethan Johnson, Paddy Mullen, Emeka Nwankwo, Brandon Newman, Kapron Lewis-Moore, Kallen Wade

2008 Outlook: Just to note, the previews of both the defensive line and linebacker will probably be a bit screwy since we’ll be rotating between the 3-4 defense and the 4-3 defense.  We’ll see a lot of different personnel sets on the field and it’s tough to predict who the starting front seven will be.  Regardless, let’s talk some defensive line.  Notre Dame lost it’s top defensive lineman in Trevor Laws but returns pretty much everyone else from a somewhat average 2007 defensive line.  They welcome back senior defensive tackle Pat Kuntz (left, with new mullet haircut), who had a solid year in 2007.  He’s probably not the fastest or strongest guy, but he plays hard and should have a good season.  He’ll likely switch between tackle and end depending on the alignment and could see some of the success that Laws saw at the defensive end position last year.  Lining up besides him at tackle is Ian Williams, a Freshman All-American last year.  Williams is only in his second year at Notre Dame, but expectations are high for him coming off an impressive freshman season.  He’s not the classic run-stopper defensive tackle that the 3-4 defense likes, but he’s quick off the ball and active around the line.  The starters at defensive end are a little less known at this point as a number of players have been running with the first unit over the course of the preseason.  Senior Justin Brown and junior Morrice Richardson will probably battle it out at one position while sophomore Kerry Neal and John Ryan will compete for the other position.  Justin Brown is a fifth-year senior (only one of three back) and probably has the most collective experience of all the defensive ends.  He has good size and is consistent, but won’t wow you with his play.  Richardson is an undersized, but quick defensive end that will benefit from the 4-3 personnel set more so than the 3-4 set.  He will get some good pressure but might be over-powered in the running game.  At the other side, it looks to be the same situation.  John Ryan was moved from outside linebacker to defensive end and will be seen in obvious running situations.  He has some experience but struggled early on last year.  Sophomore Kerry Neal might be Notre Dame’s best pass rusher and will see a lot of different looks both with his hand down as defensive end and as a linebacker.  He has the chance to have a very good year.

Depth is a concern for Notre Dame outside the first 5 or 6 guys.  True freshman Ethan Johnson has impressed early on and will be tough to keep off the field this season.  He was one of the more highly sought-after players in the country and can play both end and tackle.  If he impresses, the Irish defense will be much better.  Junior defensive tackle Paddy Mullen has finally shown up and Coach Weis thinks he’ll offer some solid backup for both Kuntz and Williams.  Sophomore Emeka Nwankwo turned some heads in the spring, but has been plagued by some injuries early on in the preseason.  He might be another year away from contributing but the Irish might need him in a pinch.  True freshmen Brandon Newman and Kapron Lewis-Moore might or might not burn their year of eligibility, depending on need.  Both have looked good as freshmen, but they’re still very young.

Grade:  C-.  The Irish have some young talent on the defensive line but could struggle against both the pass and rush.  Luckily the linebacking crew and defensive backfield should be solid and give them some support.  Kuntz and Williams will be solid up the middle but there is a lack of experience and depth at the defensive end position.  The Irish struggled especially against the run and that was with Trevor Laws, who graduated last year after racking up more than 100 tackles.  As goes with most of the Irish squad, this unit could impress and earn a better grade but they’ll have to look much improved for that to happen.  We’ll see a lot of different looks out of the front seven and hopefully at least one will impress.