We spoke to Notre Dame defensive line coach Al Washington following Wednesday's practice. Here's a transcript of that conversation.
Questions may be paraphrased.
AL WASHINGTON
How has Jason Onye improved?
“He's smart. He's very coachable. He cares. He's impressive. We just have to keep working on little things.”
Where does his physical transformation show?
“His overall athleticism. He can bend better. His output’s higher, longer. Especially inside the trenches. When you're in better shape, everything's calmer. He's maturing that way, and that investment’s helped him.
How are you feeling about the quality depth of guys you could actually put in a game such as Jason Onye?
“We're definitely trending. Jason's a guy coming into the spring we said, ‘Hey, we're counting on him to take that step.’ We have guys that have played. The first wave of guys and even (Gabe) Rubio played a lot last year. I wouldn't say a lot, but he played enough. Jason is really kind of making a point to assert himself in that role. The thing I trust about Jason though is I know he's going to know what the heck's going on. The challenge sometimes is when a kid is out there, you don't always know they know what they're doing. Like Jason, at least I feel like if he makes a mistake, we can address it. Say, ‘What did you see?’ You get the feedback. That's the biggest thing being a young guy that you can catch that. He's trending well. I'll let his play do the talk, but he's fun to work with. It wasn't handed. Last year, he's come a long way. He wasn't happy all the time. He wasn't playing. He kind of bunkered in there and didn't complain, didn't run, just anchored down and got better. He just has to keep doing that. He's been a joy.”
Do you feel like you have a rotation that you could roll with in a game?
“Yeah. We definitely do. We can be pretty good. I don't want to talk it. The play is going to do the talking. But I feel we're trending in the right direction. We have just enough, the right pieces, to be not only talented but tough. We have a bunch of guys that are kind of like, I don't want to say chip on their shoulder, but nobody's really been established yet. I don't want to say nobody. Rylie Mills, Howard Cross, those guys have played. JB [Jordan Botelho] has played. I'm talking about the younger guys, like the guy you just talked to [Onye]. That's a healthy combination we have, so I feel good about it. I really do. Feel really good about it.”
How is Javontae Jean-Baptiste?
“Good. He’s doing great.”
Is he a vyper? Strong side?
“Javontae hasn't played that vyper position. He's been the [field] end. He'll play off the edge quite a bit. He's done a great job. He's embraced everything. I know him. I've been around him three years. I know where he's coming from. He’s played a lot of ball. This isn't his first rodeo, but he has taken it upon himself to take those next steps. He's been great. He's done a really good job.”
How has Nana Osafo-Mensah handled an elevated role?
“He's progressing fundamentally, but I think overall, as a leader, he's emerging as one of the top leaders on defense. He has a talent in terms of communicating, and the kids respond to him. To his credit, he's kind of embraced that. He's progressing very, very nicely. He’s going to help us this year. He's done a fine job.”
Why does Jordan Botelho fit at vyper?
“Here’s the deal: the vyper position, historically, when you look at defenses, that is a guy that has linebacker traits because of what you can do with him. JB’s a great example. He was a rover at one point. He was a linebacker at one point. Now he’s in that role. Junior [Tuihalamaka], same deal. Josh Burnham, same deal. That ability to play off the ball and be comfortable is really, really important. It speaks to what you want to be able to do. We have packages where we have true, four-down linemen. We do that too. That position, historically, has been a guy that has traits off the ball as well as on the ball. The more comfortable that guy is off the ball the more you can do.”
What can Botelho do to seize the role as an every-down guy?
“Jordan just has to take care of Jordan. Jordan has to take care of his business. He has to take care of his body. He has to take care of the things that are important to him. Keep the main thing the main thing, and everything else will take care of itself. He’s a great kid. He works his tail off. He really cares. He’s really matured and really made a point to go for it. He could’ve went any other way but forward with it, and he decided to go forward with it. JB’s thing is him taking care of his business. Because the kids love him, and I certainly love him. He’s a joy to work with. He’s progressing. He’s turning into an every-down guy, not just a third-down guy. Be a guy out there every down. That’s the goal, and I think he’s becoming that.”
What’s been Junior Tuihalamaka’s development from linebacker to vyper?
“Junior is so damn smart. He’s really sharp. When he was playing linebacker, stack backer, he was damn good. He can see it. He can feel it. He’s instinctual beyond his years. That element has been awesome. He’s a guy on the grass that can solve problems. And he’s tough. Obviously talented. He’s taken off. He’s progressing really nice. I have a high level of faith in him, trust in him, in terms of him knowing what’s going on and him willing to fight in tough moments. He’s progressed really nice. I’m excited about him. A year ago, again, he was another guy in the linebacker room. He didn’t really come to us until summer, late summer. And really it was kind of like he was doing double duty during the year. Now it’s all vyper. That’s helped him, and he’s done a fine job.
What’s Tyson Ford’s upside playing inside?
“Tyson’s thing is he’s very athletic. For him it’s been a shift moving inside. Right now he’s filling out. He’s like 285-290, whatever it is. The thing Tyson has going for him is athleticism. He just has to put it all together. He’s a young kid. Sometimes the rush to have it now, it’s not really — he’s trending fine. He’s putting it together, and he’s done a fine job. He’ll be a really good player. For an inside guy, he’ll be that athletic big boy that you want, that you recruit, that you’re trying to find. He just has to stay the process and continue to develop. He’s still young. He came here last year as a freshman and early enrolled, right? So he’s still young. He’s working at it, and he’s doing a really fine job.”
How’s Aidan Keanaaina doing?
“Yeah, he’s fully healthy now. He’s working in at the nose position. We’re pretty deep there. He’s part of the depth. He’s working at it getting himself going. That group, the tackles group — the tackles and nose combination — we have a chance to be pretty doggone stout in there. He’s doing well.”
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