We did some situational work, some red zone. We needed to get our guys acclimated, especially we wanted to put Malik in some pressure situations today. We've had some of that situational work. We've got to develop him as a quarterback. The guy hasn't played a lot of football. Good situational work for him and our defense. We got a lot of special teams work today. It was a good day all in all as we continue to install. Our guys are doing a really good job. Basic sore hamstring, sore groin. Nothing of major consequence. We have a couple guys that are out that should be back in the next couple of days, so no real concerns from an injury standpoint, nothing that's long-term.
Durham Smythe's scheduled to be back with us in a day or two. Alize Jones had a neck injury. He should be back — he did cardio today — I'd say he's a couple of days. So really, knock on wood. All in all, we're taking it one day at a time. Keep building on the install, keep building on the situations.
We've got a great competition. That's the biggest difference between this team compared to any of the other teams I've had here at Notre Dame is the great competition. A lot of it is built up from last year and this freshman class has added a lot to the competition as well.
Te'Von Coney
He got poked in the eye. We've got to wait for that cornea to kind of — again, I'm probably using the wrong term — but it has to scar over and get an adhesion back over it. It should be another couple of days. He'll be back. No damage other than he got a scratch.
Anything stand out about the team?
There's another of different things. I love the on-field leadership. Guys really stepping up. Today it was Nick Martin holding the offensive line accountable. Yesterday it was Sheldon Day with the two practices being the best player on the defensive line in both practices. Generally you see upperclassmen waning off in the afternoon. He was locked in for the second practice. That doesn't happen very often. We're holding the guys to a high standard.
The leadership part, outstanding, then I'd say the freshman class and how they have really upped the competition in a number of different areas. That's probably the second.
Then Jaylon Smith is remarkable in terms of what he's doing on the field. He is on his game. We ran a guard pull move where I don't know how a guy that's obviously very aggressive at the line of scrimmage, he's able to wheel, turn around and get underneath the 18-yard over route to take it away. It's just remarkable the things he's doing right now.
Those three things stand out for me right now.
Nic Weishar
He got up to about 242 to 245 [pounds], so his offseason weight, putting on weight, getting stronger, but I would say we knew he was a pass catcher. He was prolific in high school. He caught everything. I think in the state championship game he had a record-setting performance. We knew his ability to catch the football was there. It was in-line blocking that was going to be a question. He had a terrific offseason and putting on weight and getting stronger in the weight room. He's still got a ways to go, but that coupled with the toughness and resolve, he's put himself right in the mix there to play a lot of football.
Weishar's success on the goal line today
We saw a little bit of it at the tail end of last year on scout team. He had great toughness. He got thrown around on and ragged on a little bit if you will. It's still a matter of him being able to put on the size. We have to be careful because we're two tight ends down. We don't want to run him ragged right now, so we pulled him out of a couple of drills today to keep him fresh, but he's been outstanding for us. We'll be able to do a lot of things with him in the offense.
Offensive line vs. the defensive line
It's been a great battle. Those two groups going at it is as impressive as it gets in camp. They're going against really good players on both sides of the ball. Ronnie [Stanley] has been outstanding not only as a player for us, but as a leader for us. Nick Martin's leadership had been outstanding. Steve Elmer continues to get better. Mike [McGlinchey] has got to be more consistent. Mike gets a little emotional at times. We've got to cut that down. He wants to do so well all the time. His technique's getting better and better. Then of course Quenton [Nelson] and Alex [Bars] and both of them are competing and they're still both going to play at the guard position. We feel pretty good about those guys. Sam [Mustipher] has done a nice job. The guy that has been a bit of a surprise is Tristen Hoge. Physically we didn't think he was going to be ready to compete this year, but he has physically changed his body in a short period of time. He's got the quality reps and and has done a nice job for us. Those five plus Bars, those are your six guys right now. It's been some great battles with the offensive line and the D-line.
D-line improved from the spring?
Oh yeah. Sheldon Day has clearly shown himself, but Isaac Rochell is a beast. If he continues to play at this level, he's virtually unblockable in a 1-on-1 situation. Our guys have a very difficult time blocking him. He's faster, stronger. He's an outstanding player.
Do you need to settle on a top two tight end combo going into the season?
No. No. We know their strengths and what they can do. We've got some roles for each one of them. Chase Hounshell has done very well for us. Chase will play for us in certain situations as well. He's physically the strongest player that we have in-line. You're not going to see him running down the field and catching a lot of footballs. He'll have as many touches as the fullback would in the offense in terms of catches or carries, but he can block for us and provide a very good role for us as one of our tight ends. The pass catchers are Durham, Alize and Nic. We've got three really good pass catchers and also the size to block. We've got some good versatility there. Tyler [Luatua] has been getting better every single day at both ends.
Any clarity yet on Ishaq and KeiVarae?
A little bit of clarity. KeiVarae passed one of the hurdles with the NCAA and now has one left which is more of an academic waiver situation that has been submitted and we should hear something pretty soon. One hurdle has been cleared positively and we have one left out there for him. We should hear something pretty soon on that.
Ishaq's is still pending and there's not much to report on that, other than that one is still pending.
Following the Greg Bryant saga?
I am. I'm following it like you guys — thirdhand.
My feeling for most would be that I want Greg back here if he wants a Notre Dame degree if he is committed to a Notre Dame education and obviously from what I'm hearing, that's not what he's interested. I think he's interested in playing football. At Notre Dame you have to do both and you have to really be committed to an education.
It's not to say anything about what his decision is. His decision is — it seems like — is that he's going to go to junior college and that's fine. But to be here you have to be committed to your education. I love Greg. He's a great kid. It seems like from what I'm hearing is that he's choosing to go [to junior college]. But I have not spoken to Greg. It's purely the speculative version of it.
Does going to junior college close the door on him being able to come back to ND?
Sure. He could bounce back here. I haven't had a conversation with him. I'd love to have one, but he seems to be a bit elusive right now in terms of trying to get ahold of him.
Showtime documentary- pros and cons
The cons are a distraction. You've got cameras around and most of these guys that are at Showtime don't shower. I'm kidding, guys.
The production part of it can concern you a little bit, but we're used to it. We have cameras around. Three Penny Films has been embedded with us the last three years now. It's kind of something that we're used to here. We have an opportunity to showcase our program and what we do and how we do it with the people from Showtime. We thought it was something we couldn't pass on. That ultimately was why we went with it.
Recruiting advantage?
We're definitely going to be able to tell our story each week during the year and we're going to talk a lot about why 17 year olds should come to Notre Dame.
Greatest concerns
I think we're going to have great collaboration. So anytime that you're putting together a weekly show that you want to make sure you're real and it's not a public service announcement each week. Their production people will want something that is certainly indicative of what goes on here on a daily basis. Having said that, we never want to embarrass any players or coaches of the university. I think we're pretty clear on that whole collaborating thing.
Durham Smythe's scheduled to be back with us in a day or two. Alize Jones had a neck injury. He should be back — he did cardio today — I'd say he's a couple of days. So really, knock on wood. All in all, we're taking it one day at a time. Keep building on the install, keep building on the situations.
We've got a great competition. That's the biggest difference between this team compared to any of the other teams I've had here at Notre Dame is the great competition. A lot of it is built up from last year and this freshman class has added a lot to the competition as well.
Te'Von Coney
He got poked in the eye. We've got to wait for that cornea to kind of — again, I'm probably using the wrong term — but it has to scar over and get an adhesion back over it. It should be another couple of days. He'll be back. No damage other than he got a scratch.
Anything stand out about the team?
There's another of different things. I love the on-field leadership. Guys really stepping up. Today it was Nick Martin holding the offensive line accountable. Yesterday it was Sheldon Day with the two practices being the best player on the defensive line in both practices. Generally you see upperclassmen waning off in the afternoon. He was locked in for the second practice. That doesn't happen very often. We're holding the guys to a high standard.
The leadership part, outstanding, then I'd say the freshman class and how they have really upped the competition in a number of different areas. That's probably the second.
Then Jaylon Smith is remarkable in terms of what he's doing on the field. He is on his game. We ran a guard pull move where I don't know how a guy that's obviously very aggressive at the line of scrimmage, he's able to wheel, turn around and get underneath the 18-yard over route to take it away. It's just remarkable the things he's doing right now.
Those three things stand out for me right now.
Nic Weishar
He got up to about 242 to 245 [pounds], so his offseason weight, putting on weight, getting stronger, but I would say we knew he was a pass catcher. He was prolific in high school. He caught everything. I think in the state championship game he had a record-setting performance. We knew his ability to catch the football was there. It was in-line blocking that was going to be a question. He had a terrific offseason and putting on weight and getting stronger in the weight room. He's still got a ways to go, but that coupled with the toughness and resolve, he's put himself right in the mix there to play a lot of football.
Weishar's success on the goal line today
We saw a little bit of it at the tail end of last year on scout team. He had great toughness. He got thrown around on and ragged on a little bit if you will. It's still a matter of him being able to put on the size. We have to be careful because we're two tight ends down. We don't want to run him ragged right now, so we pulled him out of a couple of drills today to keep him fresh, but he's been outstanding for us. We'll be able to do a lot of things with him in the offense.
Offensive line vs. the defensive line
It's been a great battle. Those two groups going at it is as impressive as it gets in camp. They're going against really good players on both sides of the ball. Ronnie [Stanley] has been outstanding not only as a player for us, but as a leader for us. Nick Martin's leadership had been outstanding. Steve Elmer continues to get better. Mike [McGlinchey] has got to be more consistent. Mike gets a little emotional at times. We've got to cut that down. He wants to do so well all the time. His technique's getting better and better. Then of course Quenton [Nelson] and Alex [Bars] and both of them are competing and they're still both going to play at the guard position. We feel pretty good about those guys. Sam [Mustipher] has done a nice job. The guy that has been a bit of a surprise is Tristen Hoge. Physically we didn't think he was going to be ready to compete this year, but he has physically changed his body in a short period of time. He's got the quality reps and and has done a nice job for us. Those five plus Bars, those are your six guys right now. It's been some great battles with the offensive line and the D-line.
D-line improved from the spring?
Oh yeah. Sheldon Day has clearly shown himself, but Isaac Rochell is a beast. If he continues to play at this level, he's virtually unblockable in a 1-on-1 situation. Our guys have a very difficult time blocking him. He's faster, stronger. He's an outstanding player.
Do you need to settle on a top two tight end combo going into the season?
No. No. We know their strengths and what they can do. We've got some roles for each one of them. Chase Hounshell has done very well for us. Chase will play for us in certain situations as well. He's physically the strongest player that we have in-line. You're not going to see him running down the field and catching a lot of footballs. He'll have as many touches as the fullback would in the offense in terms of catches or carries, but he can block for us and provide a very good role for us as one of our tight ends. The pass catchers are Durham, Alize and Nic. We've got three really good pass catchers and also the size to block. We've got some good versatility there. Tyler [Luatua] has been getting better every single day at both ends.
Any clarity yet on Ishaq and KeiVarae?
A little bit of clarity. KeiVarae passed one of the hurdles with the NCAA and now has one left which is more of an academic waiver situation that has been submitted and we should hear something pretty soon. One hurdle has been cleared positively and we have one left out there for him. We should hear something pretty soon on that.
Ishaq's is still pending and there's not much to report on that, other than that one is still pending.
Following the Greg Bryant saga?
I am. I'm following it like you guys — thirdhand.
My feeling for most would be that I want Greg back here if he wants a Notre Dame degree if he is committed to a Notre Dame education and obviously from what I'm hearing, that's not what he's interested. I think he's interested in playing football. At Notre Dame you have to do both and you have to really be committed to an education.
It's not to say anything about what his decision is. His decision is — it seems like — is that he's going to go to junior college and that's fine. But to be here you have to be committed to your education. I love Greg. He's a great kid. It seems like from what I'm hearing is that he's choosing to go [to junior college]. But I have not spoken to Greg. It's purely the speculative version of it.
Does going to junior college close the door on him being able to come back to ND?
Sure. He could bounce back here. I haven't had a conversation with him. I'd love to have one, but he seems to be a bit elusive right now in terms of trying to get ahold of him.
Showtime documentary- pros and cons
The cons are a distraction. You've got cameras around and most of these guys that are at Showtime don't shower. I'm kidding, guys.
The production part of it can concern you a little bit, but we're used to it. We have cameras around. Three Penny Films has been embedded with us the last three years now. It's kind of something that we're used to here. We have an opportunity to showcase our program and what we do and how we do it with the people from Showtime. We thought it was something we couldn't pass on. That ultimately was why we went with it.
Recruiting advantage?
We're definitely going to be able to tell our story each week during the year and we're going to talk a lot about why 17 year olds should come to Notre Dame.
Greatest concerns
I think we're going to have great collaboration. So anytime that you're putting together a weekly show that you want to make sure you're real and it's not a public service announcement each week. Their production people will want something that is certainly indicative of what goes on here on a daily basis. Having said that, we never want to embarrass any players or coaches of the university. I think we're pretty clear on that whole collaborating thing.
