Notre Dame DL notes: Al Washington assimilating into ‘the brotherhood,’ vyper backups taking shape

Spring practice is, in many ways, an introduction of new coaches to their players.

Sure, coaches can meet their new pupils during winter workouts, treat them to a group dinner and feel them out during position meetings. There is, though, an element that doesn’t show up until the pads are on and the whistles blow.

Players have to learn a coach’s style on the field. Coaches have to understand how each player learns best. This is where both must be at their best and where connections are truly formed.

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Notre Dame has seven new assistants – plus, of course, a first-time head coach – and all of them came over from another program. Some didn’t start until February. No get-to-know-you process is a breeze, but defensive line coach Al Washington’s is certainly tricky.

Washington replaces Mike Elston, who left after 12 seasons (the last five with the defensive line) to take the same job at Michigan. The Irish’s front line was its best defensive unit, if not its best overall unit, the last few seasons. Its depth and production were consistent.

Just as important, though? Talk to any current or recent Notre Dame defensive lineman, and they’ll bring up “the brotherhood” – a connection and culture Elston was critical in fostering and upholding. Washington steps into a carefully guarded tradition he has no interest in messing up as the new boss. But he still has to be the boss. And he’s his own personality with his own ideas, not a clone of Elston.

He has approached it by being himself.

“It’s just being genuine, laying it out there that I’m here to help,” Washington said. “Just time, just being honest. Don’t lie and be full of crap. It sounds simple, but those things are important. Ultimately, we care about them. I’m here to coach and them.”

The brotherhood has eagerly accepted him.

“The biggest thing is the brotherhood is with the D-Line,” junior Rylie Mills said. “It’s bigger than one person. If someone leaves, the brotherhood is not over. It’s the Notre Dame D-Line. Everyone’s always a part of that.”

Justin Ademilola staying put at vyper, No. 3 battle taking shape

Notre Dame had an avenue for sticking its second-most productive pass rusher last year in the 2022 starting lineup.

Justin Ademilola’s 5.0 sacks in 2021 ranked second among Irish players, behind only Isaiah Foskey – the man he backed up at vyper. His 9.9 percent pressure rate was a near-match to strong-side end Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa’s (10.2 percent). He had 35 tackles, which ranked ahead of two defensive line starters.

“He’s explosive,” Washington said. “He obviously has a lot of experience. He’s sharp.”

Sounds like a player worthy of a bigger workload. Tagovailoa-Amosa’s departure opened a starting spot. Ademilola had played strong-side end before. He’s a fifth-year senior. An easy fit, at least on paper.

The Irish, though, have other plans. Mills is the leading candidate to replace Tagovailoa-Amosa. He was a three-technique tackle last year, but started one game at end and has mainly worked there this spring. Notre Dame hasn’t made up its mind on a starter opposite Foskey, but Ademilola isn’t in the mix and remains Foskey’s backup. That’s not to say he couldn’t end up there outside of sub-packages, but it’s not in the current plans.

“So far, we haven’t gone that way,” Washington said. “He’s certainly capable of doing whatever the defense would need.”

It’s worth noting Ademilola’s 2021 role netted him 445 snaps, only 119 fewer than Foskey. He’s still in a position to make an impact subbing for Foskey on some drives and playing on third downs.

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Ademilola’s presence might make the No. 3 vyper job a gameday non-factor like it was in 2021. Even if that battle is a deep cut and not for a 2022 role, it’s still an interesting one between two players with much to prove.

Senior Osita Ekwonu and sophomore Will Schweitzer are battling for the right to be, at worst, one injury away from a weekly role. A strong impression might force Notre Dame’s staff to shoehorn them in the lineup. They’ve rarely been in the public eye during their career.

Ekwonu is healthy after missing all of 2021 due to an Achilles injury suffered last summer. He was stuck in a deep linebacker room in 2020 and was visible only on special teams and in garbage time. He played three games and took a redshirt in 2019.

“He’s fully healthy now, getting his feet under him a little bit,” Washington said. “He has done well. Very engaged.”

Schweitzer, meanwhile, arrived in winter 2021 as a developmental player. He was a high school linebacker who weighed fewer than 220 pounds when he signed. A redshirt was inevitably in his future, and sure enough, he played just two games on defense and totaled 20 snaps.

“Will played last year a little bit,” Washington said. “High effort. We’re doing some different things with those guys to put them at the point of attack.”