Notre Dame defensive coordinator Chris Ash chasing some dubious history

In what could best be called a case of “opposite deja-vu” — if there is such a thing — Notre Dame finds itself in the same situation this season as it did last season through three games, only on opposite sides of the football.

Remember last season?

Through three games under first-year offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, Notre Dame with millionaire grad transfer quarterback Riley Leonard ranked 112th out of 133 FBS teams in passing efficiency, 104th in passing offense and 121st in passing yards per completion. 

Leonard had yet to throw a touchdown pass on the season and looked confused and uncomfortable in Denbrock’s offense.

When asked early last season if improvement was coming, even Denbrock admitted, “It looks like a long and dusty trail now, doesn’t it?” 

Leonard improved, Notre Dame scored at least 31 points in eight of its final nine regular-season games, won all nine and finished national runner-up. 

Fast forward to this season, and only time and performance will tell if an Irish defense that has also looked confused and uncomfortable this year can make the same turnaround the Irish offense did last year. 

All hands on deck

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman became so frustrated with his defense after Purdue scored 30 points against it last Saturday — the most for the Boilers in this in-state series since 2007 — he summoned an emergency meeting of his defensive staff the following day, despite an easy 26-point Notre Dame victory in the game. 

“Not a comfortable meeting, and I didn’t want it to be comfortable,” shared Freeman about sending this strong message to his staff. “We’re going to do this and get our guys better and believe in what we’re doing, or we’ll separate. And if we separate, it’s not going to be good for anybody.”

In the same way Denbrock was taking his share of heat this time last year, the bulk of the defensive blame so far this season is falling on first-year defensive coordinator Chris Ash.

Notre Dame enters its game against Arkansas Saturday giving up 32.7 points per game (117th nationally) and 398.7 yards a game (101st). The Notre Dame record for most points and yards allowed in an entire season came in 2014 when it gave up 29.2 points and 404.2 yards per game under infamous defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. 

Following the Purdue game, Pete Sampson of The Athletic shared on social media an interesting statistical nugget that the 98 points Notre Dame had already surrendered this season were the second most through three games in program history. 

The only worse defensive start than this year’s came in 2007 when the unit led by head coach Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Corwin Brown allowed 102 points during an 0-3 start and a 3-9 season.

Not far behind in third place, Notre Dame in 2016 led by head coach Brian Kelly and VanGorder, gave up 96 points in its first three games.

That 2016 defense allowed another 38 points in a loss to Duke in Game 4, leading to the abrupt in-season firing of VanGorder.  

For what it’s worth, if the high-powered Arkansas offense scores more than 36 points Saturday against Notre Dame, Ash’s unit will leapfrog VanGorder’s as the worst scoring defense in Fighting Irish history through four games. 

Things could get worse 

And things could get worse because six future Irish opponents feature offenses this week that rank top 25 in total yardage: USC (3rd), Arkansas (8th), Boise State (11th), Navy (17th), Syracuse (23rd), and Boston College (25th).

With proven players at every position group, the Irish certainly have the defensive talent to make a similar turnaround this season under Ash that the Notre Dame offense made last season under Denbrock.

But there is one notable difference between the two coordinators. 

The pressure on Denbrock during his slow start last season wasn’t as intense as what Ash is facing this year.

Denbrock came to Notre Dame after leading LSU to the best and highest-scoring offense in the country, and quarterback Jayden Daniels to the Heisman Trophy. 

Ash came to Notre Dame having not coached a college defense since 2020. 

For the time being, Freeman said he has no intention of taking away play-calling duties from Ash.

“It’s not what [play] we’re calling at this time, or why we’re calling it,” Freeman said. “It’s why aren’t we executing it?”

Instead.

“We’re going to do whatever it takes to get this thing fixed, because we believe in it,” Freeman added. “We believe in each other and we believe in this coaching staff.”