Notre Dame remains at No. 24 in the AP Top 25 despite beginning the season with two losses to No. 4 Miami and No. 10 Texas A&M. The focus was initially on how the Irish would perform offensively with freshman CJ Carr as the starting quarterback; however, the defense has been the main issue. They have conceded a total of 68 points in these games, with Texas A&M overwhelming them 41-40 during a thrilling match in South Bend.

As they prepare to face Purdue this week, coach Marcus Freeman is not intending to alter who oversees the defensive calls, but he plans to devote more time to guide his defense back on track. “I dedicate a significant amount of time to our defense; that’s where my experience lies, and I will continue doing so,” Freeman tells ESPN. “If I need to spend more hours there to ensure improvement, I will. Our aim is to uphold the standard expected of Notre Dame football.”

Notably, there is a new defensive coordinator this season, Chris Ash, who took over from Al Golden, now with the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL. While Ash assured that there wouldn’t be drastic changes to the schematics employed, early results on the field suggest a disconnect. “In terms of scheme, it’s all about concepts,” Ash mentioned in August, emphasizing their intent to enhance their performance continually.

The Irish’s previous season under Golden featured a fast-paced and confident play style, contrasting sharply with the slow, disjointed approach observed this year. Freeman acknowledged the execution flaws but insists that it’s the coaching staff’s responsibility to position players effectively to execute the game plan effectively.

Although Notre Dame has lost some key players, such as All-American safety Xavier Watts, the team retains enough talent to perform at a high level defensively. Freeman remains cautious about making immediate changes to Ash’s play-calling but is increasing his involvement in training and strategic planning.