CULVER, Ind. -- Notre Dame opened practice Saturday looking to shore up a defense that was shaky at times last season.The Irish lost six of the top eight tacklers on a defense that ranked 45th in the nation in total defense, allowing 372.7 yards a game.The biggest challenge is replacing linebackers Jaylon Smith, who led the Irish with 114 tackles, and Joe Schmidt, the teams vocal leader. While three players will compete to replace Smith at weakside linebacker, the Irish know junior Nyles Morgan will take over for Schmidt in the middle.Coach Brian Kelly said Morgan, a former top recruit who struggled at first to learn the Irish defense, has gained the trust of defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder.The middle linebacker position is the most difficult position to get down and hes got it cold. He knows what hes doing, Kelly said.Morgan started the last four games of his freshman season after Schmidt went down with an injury, but played sparingly as a sophomore, finishing with 17 tackles. Morgan said he knew he needed to stay patient and remain hungry.I couldnt give up. That wasnt a question, he said.Up front, the Irish are hoping defensive tackle Jarron Jones can be a force again after missing all of last season with a torn MCL in his right knee. It was an injury he sustained when Schmidt fell into him during a practice last August. Jones, who practiced with the second team most of Saturday, admitted he played tentatively this past spring out of fear of another freak injury.The 6-foot-5, 315-pound senior said hes determined to prove himself, saying he has to show he can outwork his teammates.Just show I can be a dependable player because this past spring I didnt show that, he said. I did a horrible job at that. I did a horrible job of being in shape. I let my injuries get the best of me.Kelly said the Irish hope Jones can contribute.I think 25 to 35 plays is a pretty good for a big guy like that, if he can give us explosive plays, he said.The Irish also need some young players to step up in the defensive backfield and safety Max Redfield, another former top recruit, to play more consistently. Redfield was sent home before the Fiesta Bowl last season for being late to meetings.What we want to see is just that guy that does the basic things right, Kelly said. He was a guy that was up and down. Wed see great flashes and then we didnt see him for a couple of weeks. I think if we just get consistent play from him, were going to get really good play.Thats a challenge for an Irish defense overall that gave up too many big plays last season.Morgan said he believes this year the Irish will be better on defense because they are nastier.I can feel it. I can see it up front with the D-line, linebackers, safeties. Its just an attitude. Itd just attitude, he said. I love it. Bruce Boudreau Jersey . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Kris Versteeg Jersey . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. http://www.leafsauthority.com/authentic-josh-leivo-maple-leafs-jersey/ .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious. Connor Carrick Jersey .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Zach Hyman Jersey . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. SPRINGFIELD, N.J. -- Every caddie showed up for work, but not every caddie got to actually work on the course. The weather ruined a perfectly good Saturday, but not the spirits of the caddies. As soon as the horn blew, I left the media center to go hang out with my buddies in the caddie area. Heres what I learned.Collins: How different was the course Saturday, before the weather, compared to Friday? Caddie: It was a little drier, greens werent quite as soft, but still plenty soft. The rough was drier which made it easier to get it out.Collins: Mickelson said someone would drop a 62 this weekend. Do you see it? Caddie: If it was gonna happen (Saturday), it would have happened in the morning. You got the weather coming in which is going to soften it up, but if theres any wind I dont see it. But this morning it was pretty soft, and there was no wind, so it was easier to hit the fairways and get it closer to the pins. I thought somebody would really go low this morning.Collins: Whats this courses defense? Caddie: I think its putting, the greens. I think the greens are a little tricky to read. They have a lot of slopes and ridges. They find the places to cut the holes where theyre maybe just on a little bit of a hump... (Looking at the pin sheet) Today the 18th (hole) is literally right on a knob.Collins: There was an issue with the pin sheets on Friday... Caddie: Yes, there was. (leaning into the recorder for affect) Collins: For the caddies, how frustrating is it to not be sure if you have the right information? Caddie: When we teed off yesterday morning... Theres an official on the tee that says, Theres been a change to #16. Okay. So we play number one, two, (etc.) they blow the horn... we came inside with (another group) .... were talking about the hole locations, and I said, Did they tell you about the hole location change on 16? And theyre like, No! But they did tell us about the one on 10. And Im, Well they didnt tell us about the one on 10! (Starts laughing at the absurdity.) Then we get back on the course, and were on No. 6 and here comes an official saying, Theres been another change. This time it was No. 8. Collins: Two holes before you get to it?! Caddie: YES! So, I dont know, if you know you just had an inch of rain the night before, and you know theres more rain coming, why even put the (hole) locationns in a questionable spot? Collins: What reason did they give yall for the changes, and why they got the changes to you so late? Caddie: You know, No.dddddddddddd 16 (hole) was in a low area at the back left. Basically, what they did was put them (the holes) in higher areas... Like No. 8 ... No. 10. I dont know why, I looked at the... Collins: On No. 10, they didnt move the hole location. They had it wrong on the pin sheet! Caddie: Oh, is that the thing? Because that was where the hole was today -- what was on the original pin sheet yesterday. Collins: Ooooh, so they put Saturdays hole location on Fridays pin sheet! Because the first group that played yesterday on No. 10... Caddie: Yeah, Colt (Knost) was in it, and he claims (trails off), but you can see! You can clearly see if the pin was right or left! You can see from the tee box, I got there... Caddie#2 (whos been eavesdropping): Yeah, but heres the thing, (looks at me) plug your ears! He (Colt Knost) is only 5-foot-1!Collins: What do caddies normally do during delays like this? Caddie: Sit around and eat! Yeah, a lot of eating and a lot of storytelling. Just do whatever you can to kill time. Maybe FaceTime or call the family? Collins: Do the guys whove played a bunch of holes talk about conditions of the course to the guys who havent even teed of yet? Caddie: Yeah, but on this course (there isnt much to share). Plus, you know before you go out there because the books (Mark Longs yardage books) are so good, the green books especially, once you get a pin sheet before you even get out there you can tell, Okay, this is gonna be a dodgy pin... Like the hole on 18 today, (his player) even said, They had to do a lot of work to get a pin there!Caddie: The guys that you dont want to be are Russell Knox and Marc Leishman ... They were on 18, you see Russell Knox tap out (finish the hole), Leishmans got about a 10-footer, and they blow the horn! You see Russell Knox throw his putter and youre like, Whats he upset about? And then I thought, Hes got to sign (Leishmans) scorecard! (Knox) cant go anywhere until Leishman finishes, even though hes done. So thats the group right there... thats the one group you do not wanna be! Collins: True dat! Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Hockey Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys China Wholesale Baseball Jerseys China Wholesale College Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys Near Me Cheap Jerseys Online Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic MLB Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Throwback Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '