Scouting Notre Dame: Safeties

Time to take a look at the Notre Dame starting safeties.

It is time to take a look at the Notre Dame safeties. While the corners will try to lock down our receivers (should be a fun match up to watch) the ND safeties will cover deep and will also play the middle of the field and try to stop any running game or blow up passes underneath. Here are the names you will need to know for this game. [keep reading]

The Irish enter the 2011 season with a solid secondary that has plenty of experience and ability to both play the pass and even come up to stop the run. With the Bulls relying on the athletic ability of their speed receivers, this will be an interesting matchup to see if the WRs can get by them and make plays deep and not get knocked out underneath.

Starter

Jamoris Slaughter - 6-0 - 198-pounds - Senior

The back up to Motta is Senior James Slaughter (great name). Slaughter started in 5 games last season so he is experienced as well. He finished the season with 31 tackles, 3 pass break ups and intercepted a pass as well. He missed some time last season due to injuries, but is healthy and ready to get started. He can play corner as well, so he is a great defender when dropping back in the pass.Reserve

Zeke Motta - 6-2 - 215-pounds - Junior

Motta started 8 games for the Irish in 2010 and brings strong leadership to the field this season. He had 50 tackles last season with 1.5 tackles for a loss, forcing 1 fumble, broke up 2 passes and intercepted one pass. Motta originally was recruited to ND as a linebacker, so he has the ability to come up in the box in run support and lame the hammer down when he needs to.

Harrison Smith - 6-2 - 214-pounds - Graduate Student

Smith is a 5th year senior and has put his name in the records books while playing for the Irish. He started 13 games last season, so he may win the starting job at the end of the Fall. He registered 93 tackles last season, including 5 for a loss, broke up 7 passes and intercepted passes, so Daniels will have to watch out for him all the time. He was a co-captain and also made his name in the records books as one of the few Irish players to record 200 tackles in their playing career.

Reserve

Dan McCarthy - 6-2 - 205-pounds - Senior

McCarthy played in 7 games last season, recording 5 tackles, including .5 for a loss, and also forced a fumble. He was injured a lot last season, but was a key member on special teams and could get onto the field this season depending on his work through the Fall camp.

Overall Assessment: The Irish have two solid starting safeties, but they are not the most explosive players in the world. The back-ups are also fairly talented, but the USF players will be able to get to them with their speed and the passing game will have to attack them at every chance they can get.