Grades: Notre Dame Defense vs. Virginia Tech

Grades for the Notre Dame defense from its 21-20 victory over Virginia Tech

Matt Cashore, USA TODAY Sports

DEFENSE - OVERALL

Notre Dame bounced back in a big way against Virginia Tech. After a abysmal second half against USC and a season-worst performance against Michigan, the Irish had to take on the potent Hokie offense. The Irish were ready for the test, and the defense completely shut down the Virginia Tech offense.

Virginia Tech had its lowest total yards game since 2015, its lowest yards per play game since 2016, its lowest yards per pass attempt since 2016 and its fewest first downs since 2015. When an offense has its worst performance in years in that many categories it means the defense played an outstanding game.

Notre Dame shut down Virginia Tech on the ground and through the air thanks to a strong game plan and even better execution.

Defensive coordinator Clark Lea employed a game plan geared towards shutting down the ground attack by playing gap sound with the line, and the linebackers attacked aggressively downhill and the safeties were used to play the alleys.

The front and linebackers both played well, which played a major role in Notre Dame holding Virginia Tech to just 101 yards rushing and 2.8 yards per rush attempt. Both numbers were the second worst offensive performance of the season for Virginia Tech.

You can see an example in the above video. Defensive end Ade Ogundeji does a great job setting the edge, forcing a quick inside cut, and nose tackle Ja’Mion Franklin controlled his outside gap, which forced the cutback. On the backside, defensive tackle Jayson Ademilola beat the backside tackle up the field and blew the play up. Buck linebacker Asmar Bilal beat the backside guard into the A Gap and cleaned up the run.

We saw plays like this throughout the game, and they were major factors in the Irish performing so well against the run.

After a rough game against Michigan, the Irish linebackers played aggressive and sound football, and that was another key factor in the defense shutting down the Hokie offense.

The linebackers struggled playing gap sound football against Michigan, but you can see here both linebackers doing their job, and doing it well. Bilal is the force player, and he beat the pulling tackle to the outside, which forced the runner back inside. White scrapes over top, doesn’t over pursue and is there to clean up the run.

Lea put his corners in a tough position, but they responded well and played outstanding football.

One of the unique things we saw from the defense in this game was two different looks up front. When Virginia Tech went to its two tight end personnel, Notre Dame counted with either a 4-4 personnel (four down linemen, four linebackers) or a look that had four defensive ends and one defensive tackle on the field. Out of that they mixed up their looks, which included a Bear look that covers up the center and both guards with defensive linemen.

Tackling has been an issue for Notre Dame all season, but the Irish were quite good in this area against Virginia Tech. In fact, PFF had Notre Dame down for just four missed tackles the entire game.

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

I’m not sure I’ve ever graded out a game quite like this. Not one player graded out with an A- grade or higher, and no one graded out below a B-. It was one of the best group effort performances I’ve seen.

DE #53 Khalid Kareem - Grade: B+ — Notre Dame needed its veterans - and especially its captains - to step up and lead against Virginia Tech, and Kareem did just that. Kareem stepped up and made clutch plays in the win, which included multiple stout plays on third-down, and a late third-down sack, but his snap-after-snap dirty work was really what stood out in this game.

Kareem’s motor, toughness and playmaking set the tone for the entire defense. The senior set the edge with authority all game long, which is why the Hokies had such a hard time getting outside with its run game. Virginia Tech could not get downhill with its run game whenever it ran at the senior end. Kareem had several quality pass rushes, including a clutch third-down sack late in the game that allowed Notre Dame to get the ball back for its game-winning drive.

Kareem’s leadership was a huge part of the victory for Notre Dame.

DE #42 Julian Okwara - Grade: B — Okwara didn’t provide much of a pass rush, but he was still effective in the game. His run defense has been subpar all season, but against the Hokies we saw Okwara look like the 2018 version of himself. Okwara was strong at the point of attack and like Kareem, he set the edge effectively throughout the game.

Okwara had a clutch stop in the second half that stopped a Virginia Tech drive. The Hokies tried to run a 2nd-and-2 read-zone play with its 245-pound quarterback, but Okwara played it well, forced the quarterback to pull and then tackled him behind the line for a three-yard loss. Virginia Tech was then put in a passing situation, which fell incomplete.

Here is that play:

Pro Football Focus gave Okwara his highest run stopping grade of the season, and it wasn't even close.

DE #44 Jamir Jones - Grade: B+ — Jones continued his strong all-around season against Virginia Tech. He was asked to do a lot in the game, and Jones handled each part of his duties well. Jones was strong on the edge against the run, his block destruction was sound, he was disruptive in the run game and he thrived in coverage. Jones was tasked with lining up over a Virginia Tech tight ends many times, and Jones thrived in those situations in both the run game and pass game.

On one particular play, Jones jammed the tight end at the snap and was all over him on the crossing route, which helped force an incompletion. He was tasked with lining up near the line and then dropping deep into coverage on multiple snaps, and he was effective each time. Jones had an impressive tackle for loss in the game in which he beat a cut block and exploded to the ball for a stop.

DE #91 Ade Ogundeji - Grade: B+ — Ogundeji got off to a strong start this season, but his performance in recent games has tailed off. Against Virginia Tech he was in peak form as both a run defender and pass rusher. Ogundeji had three strong power pass rushes, but his run defense was where he truly stood out. In the first clip of this breakdown you see an example of what made Ogundeji so good against the run.

Ogundeji was quick off the ball, played with good pad level, got excellent extension when engaged and he consistent drove the Virginia Tech offensive tackles into the backfield. As good as Kareem played, a big part of the success Notre Dame had against the run was that when Ogundeji subbed in the run defense at the strong side end spot was every bit as good.

DT #95 Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa - Grade: B — Tagovailoa-Amosa is one of many defenders that struggled against Michigan, and like his teammates he bounced back with a solid performance against the Hokies. At times the Virginia Tech blockers were able to knock Tagovailoa-Amosa off the ball when they ran right at him.

When allowed to attack, Tagovailoa-Amosa was active and highly disruptive. He was able to get a push, get into the backfield and impact the offense. The junior was gap sound even when he got knocked back, which helped his teammates pick him up. His backside pursuit helped the defense limit the cutbacks we saw work so well against Michigan.

Tagovailoa-Amosa provided a strong rush up the middle, especially in third-down situations. According to Pro Football Focus, the junior defensive tackle led the Irish defense in quarterback pressures.

DT #41 Kurt Hinish - Grade: B+ — This was certainly one of Hinish’s best games in a Notre Dame uniform. If not for a facemark penalty in the first half his grade would have been even higher. Hinish fought hard in the game, anchoring well against double teams while also attacking gaps and getting into the backfield.

Hinish did not provide much in the pass rush department, but outstanding plays like the one above were seen frequently in this game, which is why his grade was so high.

DT #57 Jayson Ademilola - Grade: B — Ademilola didn’t play very many snaps - which was surprising - but when he was in the game he was highly disruptive. You saw one example in the first clip of this breakdown, but it was not his only disruptive snap in the game. Ademilola had a good pass rush in and outside of one play he anchored well against double teams.

DT #55 Ja’Mion Franklin - Grade: B- — Franklin saw his first true rotation action of the season, and he handled himself well. The sophomore was physical at the point of attack, used his leverage to his advantage and was gap sound. The last part is what surprised me the most considering his lack of experience, but Franklin played sound football. He isn’t as disruptive as Jacob Lacey, but Franklin showed the ability to be a stout run defender.

LB #22 Asmar Bilal - Grade: B — Bilal was a highly effective run defender for Notre Dame in the victory. Virginia Tech doesn’t have an overly complex rushing attack, which allowed Bilal to make quick reads and then attack downhill. Just as important, when he did attack the run game he did so with gap soundness and he played under control. Bilal was physical taking on blocks and he arrived at the ball with force.

His backside pursuit was especially good in the game, both when coming off the edge and when attacking the backside A Gap on run plays away from him. This helped eliminate any cutback lanes for the Hokie offense.

Bilal was not as good getting depth in the pass game as he has been in past games, and that is what caused his grade to be a tad lower.

LB #40 Drew White - Grade: B+ — White has been an aggressive run defender all season, and that continued against Virginia Tech. The junior was physical and played with a great deal of fire. He made clean reads and then exploded towards the line, but unlike past games he was far more disciplined against Virginia Tech. This allowed White to be gap sound, but it also allowed him to play his cleanest game of the season from a tackling standpoint.

Combining discipline and aggressiveness allowed White to make play after play near the line of scrimmage, and when he arrived at the ball he did so with force and good pad level.

LB #6 Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah - Grade: B — Outside of one snap in which he over pursued on a third-down perimeter screen, this was the cleanest game of the season for Owusu-Koramoah. He did a good job keeping contain on the outside, which kept Virginia Tech from getting the ball outside with its run game.

Owusu-Koramoah was used to play on the edge of the line of scrimmage much more in this game, especially when Virginia Tech went to its two tight end offense. The junior thrived in those situations, taking on and beating blocks effectively, and he was outstanding in coverage. Owusu-Koramoah had a key end zone pass break up and recovered a Hokie fumble in the second quarter.

S #11 Alohi Gilman - Grade: B- — If the coverage call was what I believe it was, Gilman had one blown assignment early in the third quarter that allowed Virginia Tech to get a 28-yard gain on a quick post route. That gain allowed the Hokies to take a 17-14 lead early in the third quarter.

Outside of that I felt Gilman played good football and looked much more like his 2018 version. Gilman was much more disciplined attacking downhill in the run game, which allowed him to play with good angles and allowed him to be around the ball a great deal.

S #21 Jalen Elliott - Grade: B- — Elliott spent much of the game playing deep in coverage. He was sound with the assignments he was given in the game, but he also didn’t make many plays.

S #14 Kyle Hamilton - Grade: B+ — Hamilton had a strong performance against the Hokies. He was rangy in coverage and it seemed QB Quincy Patterson was mindful of Hamilton on several throws, which caused him to either be off target or not to make the throw at all.

When Hamilton was challenged he was tight in coverage and arrived at the ball as soon as it arrived. He had a third-down breakup early in the game and iced the victory with an interception with just a few seconds left in the game.

Hamilton was a strong tackler, making multiple plays in space and doing so with force. His ability to quickly close on ball carriers and routes was truly outstanding in this game.

CB #5 Troy Pride Jr. - Grade: B+ — At times Pride got a bit grabby, but it wasn’t as bad as it has been in past games, and that’s partly why he didn’t get flagged in the game. That tells me Pride was playing with a great deal more confidence, and it showed in his results. He played the ball well in the air, and Pride played with far better positioning on downfield routes. His footwork at the snap was clean, which was important considering how much Notre Dame used him to play aggressive man coverage.

Virginia Tech tried to attack Pride down the field many times, but he only got beat once, and on that play he was in good position but got out-played by the ball by a much taller defender. Pride was in good position on the touchdown pass he allowed but the Hokie wide receiver pushed off on the play but it was not called.

Pride was active coming up in support in the run game.

CB #8 Donte Vaughn - Grade: B+ — Vaughn was put on an island all game long, and he handled it extremely well. According to PFF, the senior gave up just three receptions on eight attempts, and two of those receptions were against off coverage.

Vaughn was tested early, with Virginia Tech going deep against him on the first third-down of the game, but the Irish corner was in good position and forced an incompletion. He was in the right spot on every downfield attempt in the game, and he played the ball effectively, breaking up two passes.

The Hokies also tried to go after Vaughn in the end zone, but both times he forced incompletions. Vaughn and Pride both forced incompletions in the end zone on Virginia Tech’s final scoring drive, and keeping the Hokies out of the end zone on that series allowed the Irish offense to ultimately win the game.

Early in the third quarter Vaughn allowed the Virginia Tech quarterback to get outside for a long gain, and the Hokies went right back after Vaughn on the next play, but this time he stepped up and took the QB down for a short gain.

CB #20 Shaun Crawford - Grade: B — Crawford played mostly slot in the game, but Virginia Tech never tested him. The fifth-year senior made his presence felt in the run game, making two crucial open-field stops against Patterson, who outweighs Crawford by at least 50 pounds.

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