Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons the Irish will be just fine without Mike Elko

2. An improved offense should help take the pressure off

The Irish were in an odd position last year, as they brought in new offensive and defensive coordinators despite head coach Brian Kelly retaining his job. Few could’ve predicted just how this season would’ve played out, leaving tensions high as both the offense and defense marched out under completely different orders.

However, things should be a tad less fuzzy this year as offensive coordinator Chip Long looks to move into his second year as the leader of an explosive offense. A second year under Long should do well for Notre Dame’s offense, taking a significant amount of pressure off a defense that could potentially witness some growing pains.

With that said, there’s still a good chance that the Irish’s new defensive coordinator sees results similar to those under Elko. If this is the case, don’t be surprised to see the Irish put together a potential playoff run in 2018. With so much weighing in Notre Dame’s favor in terms of locking up a capable coordinator, look for a strong showing from this Irish group come Week1 of next season.