Coach -

Notre Dame enters 2025 with championship expectations—and the Irish know their path to the Playoff will be defined by physicality and discipline. While much of the national focus sits on quarterback CJ Carr and a loaded offense, the other side of the ball quietly returns the DNA of a top-10 defense: smart, efficient linebackers who tie it all together.

That’s where the details matter. As Max Bullough teaches, great linebacker play isn’t about chasing the ball—it’s about eliminating space with efficient feet, sharp eyes, and leverage. Whether in man or zone, the mantra is simple: clean feet, clean eyes, clean play.

Video: LB Pass Fundamentals

• In man coverage: Bullough stresses close, gather, press—attacking the inside hip of a back or tight end to take away angles and force the receiver through the defender’s chest. Done right, it squeezes out space and leaves the offense with only one option.

• Against vertical threats: He teaches linebackers never to “open the gate.” If a tight end wants to go vertical, he must do it through the linebacker’s body, not untouched into space.

• In zone drops: The principle is rip, punch, burst. By ripping the elbow back and opening the shoulders, linebackers give themselves a chance to burst into coverage lanes and disrupt timing.

These aren’t flashy adjustments—they’re habits that win downs. As Bullough shows, teaching footwork and leverage translates directly into linebackers who play faster, cover more effectively, and set the tone for the entire defense.

2025 Outlook – Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Irish enter the season with all the tools to contend: a Heisman-caliber backfield, one of the nation’s deepest WR rooms, and a defense reloading with speed and physicality. If CJ Carr settles quickly under center and the retooled front seven clicks, Notre Dame has the balance and depth to make a serious Playoff run.

—Coach Grabowski & The CoachesClinic Team

Other Clinics from the Notre Dame Staff:

TE Driven RPO`s- Mike Denbrock

Skip RPO - Mike Denbrock

Tackling Situations - Chris Ash