Two Notre Dame players spoke to reporters following Saturday's 49-14 win over Army: S Adon Shuler and RB Jeremiyah Love.
Transcripts below. Answers are largely verbatim. Questions may have been edited for brevity and clarity.
ADON SHULER
After the fourth-down stop of your offense, the defense forced a pivotal three-and-out. What was the mindset taking the field there? How important do you think that was?
“It was really important. Coach said we just had to play with our feet in the ground in our cleats. We couldn’t get really riled and startled by what the offense put us in. It’s a team sport, so if the offense is down one drive, we gotta get them up. Just like when we were down and they came and got points on the board.”
What did you learn from Army’s first scoring drive that led to the defense shutting them down for most of the way after that?
“We just gotta be better with penalties. I feel like that’s the reason they scored on that drive. We just weren’t playing as efficient on that drive. We eliminate the penalties and I feel like no team can score on us.”
How difficult is it to key on a quarterback who runs 39 times? What does it say to hold him to less than four yards per carry?
“Just being disciplined. That was the mindset all week: be disciplined, know your keys and play with great effort. I feel like our effort was the reason why we were able to play the way we did. Just listen to our coaches and trust in their process.”
How well is the defensive unit clicking right?
“Really good. It’s the relationship that we have with our coaches. As players, our coaches come with the game plan on Monday, we listen and we learn it and then together we solve problems.”
What was said on the sideline after Army’s first touchdown drive?
“Just play clean and keep playing with our feet in the ground. We didn’t really change anything. We knew that we weren’t really set on that drive. We were a little startled. So, we just had to kind of calm the nerves down and get back to playing our football.”
How important were the three-and-outs on the next two drives?
“They were really important. That was kind of the main point throughout the week. We had to get third down and fourth down stops. If we continue to do that, then we can get the outcome that we wanted.”
How much does the practice against the option during camp and bye weeks help by the time those teams come up on the schedule?
“It’s crucial. It’s really crucial. Our guys at practice, they do a great job. We call them the marauders. They do a great job whenever we have to face it. I just like to give the props to them, because without them we wouldn’t have been prepared to come out there and see the different looks and kinda feel comfortable and confident to play.
Who was the quarterback for the scout team this week?
“There was a few: Tyler Buchner and Anthony Rezac.”
What kind of development have you had in this defense?
“For me it’s just being consistent every week. I just want to keep building consistent weeks. Having great teammates like Xavier Watts that puts in an even, consistent week every week, it motivates me to just continue to be great. Understand from the last time I played this triple option, I have to get my feet in the ground and play more loose. Having that experience before helped a lot too.”
Transcripts below. Answers are largely verbatim. Questions may have been edited for brevity and clarity.
ADON SHULER
After the fourth-down stop of your offense, the defense forced a pivotal three-and-out. What was the mindset taking the field there? How important do you think that was?
“It was really important. Coach said we just had to play with our feet in the ground in our cleats. We couldn’t get really riled and startled by what the offense put us in. It’s a team sport, so if the offense is down one drive, we gotta get them up. Just like when we were down and they came and got points on the board.”
What did you learn from Army’s first scoring drive that led to the defense shutting them down for most of the way after that?
“We just gotta be better with penalties. I feel like that’s the reason they scored on that drive. We just weren’t playing as efficient on that drive. We eliminate the penalties and I feel like no team can score on us.”
How difficult is it to key on a quarterback who runs 39 times? What does it say to hold him to less than four yards per carry?
“Just being disciplined. That was the mindset all week: be disciplined, know your keys and play with great effort. I feel like our effort was the reason why we were able to play the way we did. Just listen to our coaches and trust in their process.”
How well is the defensive unit clicking right?
“Really good. It’s the relationship that we have with our coaches. As players, our coaches come with the game plan on Monday, we listen and we learn it and then together we solve problems.”
What was said on the sideline after Army’s first touchdown drive?
“Just play clean and keep playing with our feet in the ground. We didn’t really change anything. We knew that we weren’t really set on that drive. We were a little startled. So, we just had to kind of calm the nerves down and get back to playing our football.”
How important were the three-and-outs on the next two drives?
“They were really important. That was kind of the main point throughout the week. We had to get third down and fourth down stops. If we continue to do that, then we can get the outcome that we wanted.”
How much does the practice against the option during camp and bye weeks help by the time those teams come up on the schedule?
“It’s crucial. It’s really crucial. Our guys at practice, they do a great job. We call them the marauders. They do a great job whenever we have to face it. I just like to give the props to them, because without them we wouldn’t have been prepared to come out there and see the different looks and kinda feel comfortable and confident to play.
Who was the quarterback for the scout team this week?
“There was a few: Tyler Buchner and Anthony Rezac.”
What kind of development have you had in this defense?
“For me it’s just being consistent every week. I just want to keep building consistent weeks. Having great teammates like Xavier Watts that puts in an even, consistent week every week, it motivates me to just continue to be great. Understand from the last time I played this triple option, I have to get my feet in the ground and play more loose. Having that experience before helped a lot too.”
