Happy 2019 Notre Dame football Media Day everyone! This year brought a new format for media availability, and with that, we must adjust when it comes to our coverage. Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly led off the day, as is tradition, with his press conference in the auditorium at The Gug.
After that, things were switched up in regards to assistant coach media availability, as all ten full time assistants came to the podium after Brian Kelly. Each individual coach was then given a ten minute Q&A with the assembled media. So we’ll run through the news, notes and notable quotables from the day in two parts.
This is part two, reporting on the ten Notre Dame football assistant coaches. The first part, covering Brian Kelly session is linked here.
Offensive Coordinator Chip Long
When asked about how the injury to Michael Young will affect what he wants to do with his unit, he responded: “Just a little bit, we use a lot of multiple personnels.”
Long also praised LT Liam Eichenberg, saying that the big guy has had one of his better training camps, been very even keel this fall. Eichenberg rivals DE Julian Okwara when it comes to who has the highest NFL Draft stock on this team.
Khalid Kareem is special too. “They’re elite defenders,” Kelly said of the two DL.
Defensive Coordinator Clark Lea
By far, the highlight of this session was Lea discussing who will be in the running to take over the corner position opposite Troy Pride Jr. You know, the one that’s open with Julian Love now with the New York Giants.
Lea said:
“we feel great about the people we have, it’s going to be based off of the opponent, who do we need to stop, and who has the skill sets…it’s not going to be a two man show, we’re going to be creative in the way we go about putting our people in the right positions.”
Special Teams & Recruiting Coordinator Brian Polian
“We’re on to Cincinnati,” Polian said when asked who’s going to start on kickoff returns now that Young is out. Polian was obviously channeling his inner Bill Belichick, and he later overtly said so.
Associate Head Coach & Defensive Line Coach Mike Elston
“As a whole, this is the best defensive line we’ve had here in quite some time,” Elston said, making it known just how optimistic he is about his position group.
Asked about how he was going to find enough playing time for everyone to keep them all happy, he said:
“The season is long and there is great opportunity for everyone, we played 12 in the playoff game and they all came away with something.”
Terry Joseph says Jalen Elliot and Alohi Gilman played above expectations last year, but they played too much. Goal is to have more guys play to give them a break.
— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) August 21, 2019
Defensive Pass Game Coordinator Terry Joseph and Defensive Backs Coach Todd Lyght
For these two sessions, we’ll hold quotes and analysis until later this week, as we’re preparing two pieces relating to the secondary. One will focus on Julian Love, perhaps the most important Notre Dame football player last season, and his transition to the NFL.
The second will be a preview of the pass defenders in general. There was a lot to takeaway from these two sessions on the secondary, but it’s better served in upcoming separate future posts.
Offensive Line Coach Jeff Quinn
Offensive Line Coach Jeff Quinn is now speaking. Says starting center Jarrett Patterson really understands what their offense is all about. Patterson has made a lot of progress since the Spring.
— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) August 21, 2019
Wide Receivers Coach Del Alexander
Alexander said that he’s seen senior wide receivers step up take the lead during his days at ND, and he doesn’t expect this year to be any different. Miles Boykin is gone, and now Chase Claypool will get to be the primary target.
Quarterbacks Coach Tom Rees
Rees hailed backup Phil Jurkovec for his improved footwork, and starter Ian Book for his improved by deep ball. He said the improved deep ball has come from better timing as anticipation.
Running Backs Coach Lance Taylor
Coach Taylor says the biggest asset to the running back room in the Notre Dame football program is its depth.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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