Inside the Irish · Sep 28, 2021
Notre Dame’s defensive line depth once again proves itself, while the offensive line depth faces an unprecedented test
When Notre Dame lost the core of its 2014 defense to injuries in the season’s latter half, it collapsed to an 0-4 regular-season finish, falling in shootouts at Arizona State, in overtime against Northwestern and against Louisville before getting run over by USC.
The Irish simply did not have starter-caliber players to fill in the gaps, perhaps most notably along the defensive line.
With fifth-year defensive tackle Kurt Hinish sidelined this past Saturday by a concussion, and still in the concussion protocol this week, the same problem could have befallen No. 7 Notre Dame (4-0). Instead, the defensive line was no worse for wear.
