Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is not ignoring the glaring issues on defense, but he refuses to turn the page on first-year coordinator Chris Ash.
Instead, Freeman framed the Irish’s early struggles as a “fight-or-flight” moment, insisting that the program will fight together rather than assign blame.
Through three games, the Irish have surrendered at least 27 points each time, sitting 117th nationally in scoring defense and 99th in yards allowed per play.
That trend now collides with an Arkansas offense ranked fifth in yards per play and top 15 in both passing and scoring.
With key defensive backs Leonard Moore and DeVonta Smith listed as questionable, Freeman is demanding unity and execution before one of the toughest tests of the season.
Freeman rallies staff and players ahead of Arkansas test
Freeman directly addressed speculation about reclaiming playcalling duties, clarifying the problem lies in execution, not Ash’s schemes.
“Trust me, I know the definition of insanity and, if that was the case, you’ve got to do what’s best for the program,” Freeman said. “That’s not, to me, the issue when I’m evaluating our defensive play. It’s not what we’re calling at this time, or why we’re calling it. It’s why aren’t we executing it?”
Ash assumed the role from Al Golden, who left after winning the 2024 Broyles Award to coach the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense.
The former Rutgers head coach and Texas coordinator now shoulders the responsibility of fixing a unit that has consistently been exposed.
Freeman emphasized the need for accountability within the staff after a blunt Sunday meeting.
“We’ve got one of two options, as I told them: ‘We’re going to do this and get our guys better and believe in what we’re doing, or we’ll separate,’” he said. “And if we separate, it’s not going to be good for anybody.”
Framing the challenge as a test of resolve, Freeman outlined his vision:
“During tough times, like, there’s two options — you fight or flight. The fight mode is, ‘Gosh, call man again. I promise you my man’s not going to catch the ball.’”
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