All season, the Fighting Irish have wanted to pressure their opponents.  Blitz, blitz, and blitz and pound the quarterback into submission.  Harass him until his his jersey was covered in mother earth.  Hit him until his bones were ready to snap as it became apparent he never listened to the slogan “Milk, It does a body good.”  Hound him until they got the kind of pressure that would force a quarterback to retire from the sport, disappear from the public eye, forsake his family, begin wearing high heels, lipstick, and search for a place to tuck his weiner back for the new dress he is going to buy.  It hasn’t happened.  But, finally there are signs.

They showed up during the Irish drubbing of Washington.  The blitzes were timed well.  Brian Smith and the linebackers made some plays.  Most importantly, the signs were there because of the increase in playing time to guys like Ethan Johnson and Darius Fleming.  These are two young guys that have serious ability to beat offensive lineman straight up.  If the defense is to play better through the last part of the season, it will be because of these young guns.

The signs are there, but it’s time to make them more noticeable.  Time to make them glow neon.   Maybe these kids have what it takes to add some illumination.