Notre Dame Football: Clark Lea doesn’t want to see a depth chart

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defense has a lot of parts to replace in 2019 — a lot of important parts. Naturally, fans and the media want to start to piece together a depth chart in the spring that will most accurately depict what we will see in week one of the season.

Clark Lea isn’t on the same page as fans or the media. Lea doesn’t want to see a depth chart.

The Irish have “the gut” to replace as starters next year with both defensive tackles, the BUCK, and the MIKE. According to Lea, the process of filling those roles is just getting started this spring, but will carry over into fall camp.

It’s easy to see each time when Lea speaks to the media why just about everyone talks about him being a true “teacher of the game.” When he talks about his players and the scheme, there such a calm and cerebral way in which he goes about it all, you can see how that translates onto the field.

The contrast between Lea and former Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder couldn’t be more clear.

It’s odd to think that last season was just Lea’s first ever as a defensive coordinator as he was hired to take on the job that Mike Elko left. He’s a natural fit at Notre Dame, and he makes it seem as if he’s been there for five years instead of two.

Among other things, Lea spoke with the media about:

• Shayne Simon
• Avery Davis
• Houston Griffith
• The defensive tackle situation
• Jalen Elliott
• Alohi Gilman

Here is the full video: