Fansided
Fansided

2016 Preview: Notre Dame Eyes First Playoff Appearance

By Shawn Spencer

Nov 21, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; The Notre Dame Fighting Irish takes the field to start the second half against the Boston College Eagles at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; The Notre Dame Fighting Irish takes the field to start the second half against the Boston College Eagles at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Nov 28, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly leads his team onto the field against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Stanford won 38-36.Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly leads his team onto the field against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Stanford won 38-36.Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Coaching Staff

Brian Kelly is back for his seventh season as head coach of the Fighting Irish. He’s now been at the school longer than any head coach since Lou Holtz left Notre Dame following the 1996 season. Kelly has won more than 70 percent of his games with the school, however he has yet to win a national championship. At a school with the history and success of Notre Dame, almost any season is a disappointment if it doesn’t end with a national title.

More from NFL Mocks

Joining Kelly on the coaching staff for his second season with Notre Dame is offensive coordinator and QB coach Mike Sanford. In his first season as offensive coordinator, the former Boise State QB led the Irish to over 466 yards of total offense per game; good for 27th in the nation. Not bad for a team down to the preseason third-string QB and a wide receiver playing running back. Even with eight new starters, the offense should be even better in 2016.

On the defensive side of the ball, Brian VanGorder will once again be at the helm. VanGorder is entering his third season at the school and has lost a ton of production from last year’s unit. The two biggest holes on the roster are at linebacker as both Jaylon Smith and Joe Schmidt are no longer with the team. Luckily for Irish fans, VanGorder is a LB specialist having played the position and also coached linebackers at the NFL level for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets. Senior James Onwualu, junior Nyles Morgan and sophomore Te’von Coney are expected to take over at Sam, Mike and Will LB respectively.

One of the more intriguing positions to watch will be wide receiver. Will Fuller left early for the NFL, Chris Brown and Amir Carlisle graduated and Corey Robinson retired. What’s left is a lot of young, inexperienced talent for WR coach Mike Denbrock to sort through. Denbrock, who also serves as associate head coach, is entering his seventh season with the school. He’s done a tremendous job developing receivers in the past, including first-round picks Michael Floyd and Will Fuller. Torii Hunter, Jr. and Alizé Jones are expected to see plenty of targets, with Corey Holmes, Miles Boykin and Equanimeous St. Brown also figuring into the mix.

Next: The Players

Home/College Football