Chip Long Notebook: Spring Practice
Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long spoke following Thursday’s practice.
On the quarterbacks:
“I see great improvement in both of them. It’s good see young Avery (Davis) getting reps with real team action instead of reading it off a card on scout team. Brandon (Wimbush) and Ian (Book), you can see how their game has elevated from last year. They’re so much more comfortable and can anticipate things.
“Guys are making plays for them. If guys are making plays for the quarterback, they are going to get more confident and believe in yourself a lot more.”
On Wimbush’s footwork:
“His hard work this offseason is paying off right now. He’s doing a good job of executing what we want him to do and taking charge of the offense.”
On goals this spring:
“I want to get an evaluation of the young guys to see what I have and don’t have going into fall camp so I can move pieces around. I want to see guys play tough and physical. I want to see if they’re tougher than last year or if we have to make changes to get them tougher this summer.
“Moving guys around up front and seeing certain things. I want guys competing and earning it to get our best five out there. It’s better competition all around than what we had last year.
“Last year’s team was special, but this year’s team is way more competitive overall as a group. That’s really making me happy.”
On the offensive line:
“I think we’ll have somebody established by the end of spring. I have a pretty good idea, but someone might surprise you. I had a pretty good idea last year heading into fall camp, and Robert Hainsey made me play him.
“I told them it's their job to make me play you. Hainsey did it, and if you do that, I’m going to put you on the field somewhere. I like being able to have those rotations. We have 10 guys that can play winning football with right now and that’s made the competition even better.”
On offensive competition:
“It’s the fourth day and second day in pads. I really start evaluating around day eight or nine when guys are tired and sore. I want to see the grind and who is elevating their game or who is falling.”
On simulating game situations for quarterbacks:
“You can’t. Right now, third down situations, we have a lot of pressure. You can’t simulate getting hit, and it’s hard as a young quarterback. It takes a year to understand how to play when getting hit or when things aren’t going well.
“That’s what’s exciting. You see growth in both of those guys. You talk about it and keep challenging them. The more you grow and mature, you’re going to be able to protect yourself more and understand it’s part of the position.”
On making the quarterback live in the spring:
“No, not right now in the spring.”
On quarterback reps:
“It’s pretty close. Whoever has the hot hand that day will take more work with the first team. I like Brandon going with the twos with all the chaos with the young guys and having to operate.
“Ian getting reps with the twos as well. We make it match up pretty good.”
On receiver Miles Boykin:
“He’s had a big performance in the bowl game, and he’s carried over to the weight room. He’s always been a good player, but he wasn’t strong. He’d get thrown around, but now he has a strong upper and lower body. He can get off press. He’s good at playing the ball in the air, and he’s stepped up his game.”
On emerging receivers:
“Chase Claypool has had two good days. Michael Young has been very consistent and playing well. Chris Finke has had a good four practices. A lot of the young guys who were swimming like Jafar Armstrong and Micah Jones are playing really well right now.
“Guys are playing fast, physical and competing.”
On the running backs:
“I have a lot of confidence in the two backs we have, and they have to keep growing, believing in themselves and getting tougher. You have two dynamic backs. When they figure out what it takes, it’s going to be exciting.”
On quarterback Avery Davis:
“He’s extremely athletic. He’s got to start learning the offense, and it will come as spring goes. You can see what he can do and help us. I don’t need him on the sideline signaling. We’ll have a package for him and get him on the field.
On tight end Cole Kmet:
“Awesome. He’s what I thought he’d be. What’s amazing with Cole, he’ll come in Sunday around 3 in the morning from baseball and be the first one at weights at 6:30 a.m.
“Him and Alizè are playing at a high level. You can see the benefits of another year in the weight room.
On tight end Alizè Mack:
“He’s trying to care of things off the field, and he knows he needs to perform. It’s his last year. Guys seem to wake up. He’s jumped in full board and done a great job in the weight room. He’s being a great teammate right now.”