The Irish remained in Loftus for practice and suited up in full pads.
The temperatures were in the upper 30s, and even though it was sunny, the snow from the night before hadn't fully melted yet. In addition to the wet ground, a strong, cold wind was blowing through South Bend, Ind.
General Observations
The starting time for practice was later than expected, so some of the players were still making their way in.
• Mike Golic Jr. definitely looks to have gained some necessary weight. He’s been getting reps with the first team due to Dan Wenger’s absence.
• As Golden Tate walked through the doors, he said in his usual comical fashion,” Here we go again.”
• Steve Paskorz has worked hard to fit the fullback mold. With James Aldridge, who was missing from practice, getting reps at fullback during the scrimmage, it will be interesting to see how the coaches decide to utilize the position.
• Joseph Fauria still looks fairly lean. He has the frame to fill out nicely for tight end, but I definitely couldn’t see him growing into a left tackle.
• Duval Kamara was back at practice, but wearing a custom-made DonJoy elbow brace on his left arm. Michael Floyd walked out to the field right behind him.
• Jonas Gray definitely looks the part. He has the tools to be a solid contributor, but working on fine tuning a couple areas this spring.
• Paul Duncan has looked solid going through the drills. At the end of the day, he brings experience to the line and a great deal of size. I wasn’t surprised to see him snacking on a granola bar on the way into the complex.
• Like Gray, Robert Hughes just flat out looks like a stud. He has shown a glimmer of what he’s capable of, but BGI’s web editor John Haynsworth agrees that his best is yet to come. Haynsworth overheard Alford telling Hughes, “Details,” as he walked out onto the field.
In addition to Aldridge and Wenger, Kapron Lewis-Moore and Deion Walker were missing from practice. At Friday's practice when the media last had access, Aldridge was present and Walker was noticeably slowed down with a sleeve on his left lower leg.
Still haven’t seen Dayne Crist with the knee brace on his left knee since early spring ball.
New defensive GA and former Irish defensive lineman Bryant Young was absent because he was sick.
Instead of being over by his area like at Friday’s practice, Frank Verducci was squatted down and talking to Dever.
Most helmets are beaten down so bad all you see is grey in the front (particularly the offensive linemen), but Kyle Rudolph had on a shiny gold one. It looks like an even newer version, so may just be giving it a trial run.
Making his usual trip up and down the stretch lines was Notre Dame’s No. 1 fan, Keith Penrod. I’m awaiting his first sign of the season before the opener against Nevada.
Defensive Unit
The defense started things off with pursuit drills.
The first team nickel package was Morrice Richardson and Ryan as defensive ends, Johnson and I. Williams as defensive tackles, B. Smith and T. Smith as linebackers, Sergio Brown as the nickel, Blanton and Walls as the cornerbacks, and McCarthy and H. Smith as the safeties.
The first team dime package was Johnson, Richardson, and Ryan as the defensive linemen, B. Smith and T. Smith as the linebackers, and Blanton, Brown, McCarthy, Raeshon McNeil, H. Smith, and Walls as the defensive backs.
Today, I watched the linebackers.
The defensive linemen began with their usual 2-man and 4-man hitting drill. Next I saw them doing a new angle tackle drill. A bag was set up sideways inside a set of cones and two players were lined up across from each other. One was the ball carrier and the other was the tackler. The ball carrier gave a little stutter step and then chose which side of the bag he wanted to run to, and the tackler had to fit in for the angle tackle.
The defensive backs worked on their backpedaling and opening their hips before coming back for the interception. Next a cornerback and safety teamed together to communicate and fit in for a tackle, one inside and the other outside.
The linebacker drills always move at a quick pace with Tenuta, but he gets in his critiques when needed. First they sprinted twenty yards and slightly slowed down there steps every five yards as though they were going playing the misdirection. Next they made a forward pursuit to an orange dot and broke down in front of it.
“You better gather,” Tenuta told the group. “Get your eyes up!”
Fleming went full speed through all of the non-contact drills. McDonald participated in the drills that required forward movement, but sat out in any drills where they moved laterally. He also had a separate dot to go at a slower pace and ran through the dot instead of breaking down.
The backers then got back into their lines and ran downhill to the dots.
“Downhill…don’t just pivot guys, just step,” Tenuta noted.
“That’s it, Darius,” he added after No. 45’s rep.
To wrap up the drill, they worked on counters to the right and left.
“Hands off your knees,” he told the group as they lined up.
Completing their individual period during the media’s viewing portion, they finished up with angle tackling.
“That’s it, Brian,” Tenuta said to B. Smith. “Run your feet!”
“Come on, Zeke,” he called to the freshman. “Use your shoulder pads!”
“Don’t kill him, Pos,” the backer coach joked towards David Posluszny.
“Atta boy, Smitty,” he added in reference to S. Smith.
“Don’t duck your head,” Tenuta reminded Filer. “Eyes, eyes…hit them on the rise!”
Athletic director Jack Swarbrick was seen talking to Charlie Weis on the sideline as the media was leaving from their 20-minute viewing time.
Braxston Cave's family and Dan and Kyle McCarthy's mom were in attendance. A few Penn High School coaches (Cave’s alma mater located in Mishawaka, Ind.) were present as well. One of the coaches was watching Frank Verducci work with the linemen and taking notes.
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