Bryce young sees the benefit of better technique
Notre Dame's defensive line continued to improve against the run and pass over the past two seasons. At the conclusion of the 2025 regular season, they led the country in total pressures and played a major role in the Irish rattling off 10-straight victories to end the year. The departure of Al Washington eventually led to the hiring of defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, who is known as a great teacher and developer on the college and NFL level. Junior Bryce Young was incredibly physically gifted when he arrived in South Bend, and injuries pressed him into service as a true freshman. Since then, heavy expectation have followed him, and he somewhat met them in 2025, trailing only senior Boubacar in pressures.
Young has taken to being challenged by the teaching and focused approach to technique from Partridge this off-season and he's seeing the benefits with each rep and practice.
“Yeah, he’s challenged me in so many places. There's always areas I can grow. But I would say one of the things is consistency in my pass rush and the run game, consistently getting that crush we need on the edge in terms of pass rush. The details, like getting my hips in position to be able to counter or make a move, all that. It all ties into seconds off the clock that I can get back there faster.”
Yeah, I would say there's definitely a learning curve at first, but once it starts clicking, it clicks. What he's teaching is really sound stuff, because he's had a lot of experience everywhere, and I appreciate his knowledge, and I'm taking it into account and being consistent with what he's telling me, and I've seen it already pay off.”
The talented edge rusher still has profound respect for former defensive line coach Al Washington, who recruited and coached him during his first two years in South Bend before heading down south to coach in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins. He excited about what he’s learning from Partridge, but he gives both shared responsibility for his success and growth.
"First of all, I want to thank Coach Washington for everything he’s done. He helped me a lot as a player and on this journey. He’s given me so much insight and I’m extremely grateful for that. Adding Coach Partridge to my journey has been great too. He has so much knowledge of the game. He’s been in the game forever. He knows things and he’s telling me things he’s seen from his many years of experience that I’m actually seeing on the field and I can apply it. It’s really cool."
Young has spent a lot of time this spring battling new starting left tackle, Will Black. Marcus Freeman said one of the reason he’s been happy with how much further ahead they’ve been in early practice, was because of the depth of talent that’s been acquired that’s allowed his team to go “best on best”. That has created a fast paced, competitive atmosphere that makes everyone better. Both are physical freaks and seen as candidates for breakout seasons, and Young has taken notice of how they’re making each other better.
"Will is great. We compete every day. He is definitely helping me get better and I’m helping him get better. So the collaboration is there and also being a good teammate. We’re talking to each other after each rep and ask each other what do you feel I have to work on. He has all the athletic traits. He’s a freak of nature, he's huge and quick out of his set. It’s been great to have someone like that to go against every day."
The collective pass rush that Coach Partridge has his guys focused and the added talent on the interior of the defensive line should put Young and Traore in more 1-on-1 situations on the edge, and that could lead to both guys having their best seasons in a Fighting Irish uniform.
