2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
Football: Smith and Neal provide spark for defense
Chris Khorey
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: Irish Insider
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Brian Smith and Kerry Neal broke the defensive huddle and headed to the line of scrimmage.
The two freshmen outside linebackers usually play on opposite sides of the defense, but on this play Saturday, defensive coordinator Corwin Brown had them line up together. Neal got into a three-point stance over Boston College left tackle Gosder Cherilus, while Smith lined up a couple feet inside him, leaning forward and threatening to blitz.
At the snap, Neal blew past the tackle on the outside. Cherilus dropped well off the line to cut him off, and safety Tom Zbikowski blitzed through the newly created gap.
Smith, however, did not blitz. Using the quickness that earned him his scholarship offer last winter, he backpedaled into pass coverage.
Eagles quarterback Matt Ryan saw Zbikowski flying toward him and got rid of the ball, but he never saw Smith, who intercepted it and returned it for a touchdown.
The play looked beautiful from the stands, but the secret is that Smith wasn't where he was supposed to be - and neither was anyone else.
"We blew the coverage," fifth-year senior linebacker Joe Brockington said. "None of us were in the right spot."
But whether or not Smith knew what he was supposed to do on that particular play, it still illustrates what he and Neal bring to the Notre Dame defense. That kind of dynamic play has earned the two freshmen more time on the field in recent games.
In recent weeks, Neal earned a starting spot at outside linebacker, and Smith, who plays on passing downs, became the first freshman in 31 years to return an interception for a touchdown.
"I can't talk enough about them," head coach Charlie Weis said. "I keep on saying how the arrow is pointing up on them."
Despite weighing 233 and 245 pounds, respectively, Neal and Smith bring an element of speed to the edge that the Irish haven't had since Justin Tuck was lining up at defensive end.
"They've brought a different dimension that coming into the season we weren't sure they could provide," Brown said.
The two freshmen outside linebackers usually play on opposite sides of the defense, but on this play Saturday, defensive coordinator Corwin Brown had them line up together. Neal got into a three-point stance over Boston College left tackle Gosder Cherilus, while Smith lined up a couple feet inside him, leaning forward and threatening to blitz.
At the snap, Neal blew past the tackle on the outside. Cherilus dropped well off the line to cut him off, and safety Tom Zbikowski blitzed through the newly created gap.
Smith, however, did not blitz. Using the quickness that earned him his scholarship offer last winter, he backpedaled into pass coverage.
Eagles quarterback Matt Ryan saw Zbikowski flying toward him and got rid of the ball, but he never saw Smith, who intercepted it and returned it for a touchdown.
The play looked beautiful from the stands, but the secret is that Smith wasn't where he was supposed to be - and neither was anyone else.
"We blew the coverage," fifth-year senior linebacker Joe Brockington said. "None of us were in the right spot."
But whether or not Smith knew what he was supposed to do on that particular play, it still illustrates what he and Neal bring to the Notre Dame defense. That kind of dynamic play has earned the two freshmen more time on the field in recent games.
In recent weeks, Neal earned a starting spot at outside linebacker, and Smith, who plays on passing downs, became the first freshman in 31 years to return an interception for a touchdown.
"I can't talk enough about them," head coach Charlie Weis said. "I keep on saying how the arrow is pointing up on them."
Despite weighing 233 and 245 pounds, respectively, Neal and Smith bring an element of speed to the edge that the Irish haven't had since Justin Tuck was lining up at defensive end.
"They've brought a different dimension that coming into the season we weren't sure they could provide," Brown said.