Given everything that will be expected of Darius Fleming this fall, the sophomore linebacker has a lot of catching up to do this summer.
Maybe more than anybody on the Irish defense, Fleming’s athleticism is going to make him kind of “Jack of all trades” on this unit. He’ll drop into coverage as a standup outside linebacker one play, rush the passer out of a three-point stance as kind of a defense end the next.
A lot will be asked, and Fleming is already running behind because of a shoulder injury that kept him out of any contact work this spring. No surgery was required.
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Fleming gives the Irish defense a dynamic player that is serviceable in multiple roles.
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“August is the biggest time of the season and this is not August right now,” Fleming said when asked about the severity of the injury. “So it’s really just letting me rest.”
It’s still difficult to get a firm grip on exactly what a switch back to a 4-3 scheme this season will mean for “hybrid” type players such as Fleming.
The most likely scenario seems to be Fleming starting and splitting some time with Scott Smith at outside (Sam) linebacker in the traditional look. And on nickel packages, Fleming will line up as a pass rusher on the end, with Ethan Johnson and Kapron Lewis-Moore shifting inside to the tackle positions, and Kerry Neal rushing from the opposite end position.
Before spring ball, Fleming was trying to put on more weight to become a better pass rusher. But after learning of the wide variety of assignments he will face, Fleming decided that his current weight of about 240 pounds is right where it needs to be.
“I feel really good right now,” he said. “I feel like I can still rush the passer and be comfortable running around now at 240, so I’m just going to stick there. At least I’m not going to try to put on any weight.”
Fleming made an immediate impact last season with three starts, 24 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 198 appearances on special teams (second on the team to Steve Quinn 239). The Chicago native came in with high expectations, and he seems ready to reach all of them, even though he fell behind this spring.
“It kind of sucks not being out there right now, learning a lot of things (my teammates) are, and competing with them,” Fleming said of being sidelined. “At the same time, I plan on doing what I have to do this summer and catching up where they are now and compete with those guys in the fall.”
In the running game, Fleming offers the Irish defense the size that 212-pound Harrison Smith could not provide last season. Teams such as Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Boston College and even Syracuse were able to push the Irish around because Smith was playing out of position.
With Smith moving to his more natural safety position, and Fleming taking over the outside responsibilities, the front seven should be sturdier this season. Now, it’s just up to Fleming to get that shoulder sturdier. He was able to lift weights during the spring but was not at 100 percent in terms of strength. Once the strength returns this summer, Fleming will be able to start concentrating on the finer points of his job, scheme and technique.
“It’s going to be rough at the beginning,” he said. “But at the same time, I plan on doing everything I need to do to get myself to this level.”
What’s a good season?
Become as good as advertised.
If the summer ends up as productive as Fleming promises, he is one of those many Irish sophomores who could have a breakout season. All the tools are in place – speed, size, instincts, aggression – and the opportunities will be there both in the rotation and on special teams.
Fleming played about 90 minutes of defense last season. And with Smith out of the picture this season, Fleming should see about three times that action this year, and the statistics will climb along with the minutes.
After recording 24 tackles as a freshman, Fleming will at least double that this season and finish in the 50s, with at least four sacks and a couple of big plays, claming his spot on what could become one of the strongest linebacking units in the country.
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