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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. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Cheap Adidas Senators Jerseys . Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. http://www.cheapsenatorsjerseys.com/ . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. Wholesale Senators Jerseys . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Cheap Senators Jerseys Authentic . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU running back Leonard Fournette is sitting out Saturday nights game against Missouri with a left ankle injury that has bothered him since the season opener.Fournette, a junior, is LSUs leading rusher with 386 yards and two touchdowns on 67 carries in three games this season.He also sat out the Tigers second game of the season against Jacksonville State, then returned for a victory over Mississippi State and a loss at Auburn, where he appeared to aggravatte his in injury late in the game.ddddddddddddLSU interim coach Ed Orgeron, who took over when Les Miles was fired last Sunday, had said this week that Fournettes status would be a game-time decision.Derrius Guice started the last time Fournette sat out, rushing for 155 yards and a touchdown.---AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '