Offensive Notebook | WR Lorenzo Styles , OL Jarrett Patterson & QB Chase Ketterer
Notre Dame quarterback Chase Ketterer, receiver Lorenzo Styles and offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson spoke ahead of Saturday's game against Navy.
WR Lorenzo Styles
On the impact of parents being a big influence on his maturity:
"Since I was a little boy, my parents always demanded a lot of me. They always put that pressure on me. I put that pressure on myself too, so when you have those two things together, it goes well."
On the importance of enrolling early:
"That helped me so much. When I first came in, I was playing a little bit slower - a little bit timid. I got the playbook and everything down, so when I came into fall camp, I was playing fast and ready to go."
On the steep learning curve:
"I feel like in high school, I was always trying to go super fast. I feel I was playing fast and never really thought about the game. I really had to break the game down and the game really slowed down a lot looking at coverages and schemes."
On what has allowed him to stay healthy:
"My coaches hold me accountable and my teammates all hold each other accountable to get that extra rehab or extra things needed for our body so we can be ready to perform.
On the transition from a run-heavy offense to college offense:
"I didn't know a lot about receiver coming in, so I feel enrolling early really helped me a lot. There was a bunch of technical things. I always had the athletic ability, but the technical and fine details are what I really had to work on when I first came in."
On ceiling for the freshman class:
"It says a lot. We have a bunch of talented guys. Everyone wants to work. Everyone wants to be the best and hungry. That's all you can ask for from the young guys. Just being hungry, wanting more and getting better every single day."
On his drop against UNC:
"During the game, I try to refocus and run back to get ready for the next play. In the film room, I've been thinking about that drop. You always want to be better and always want to do better. I've been thinking about that and working not to let it happen again."
On the ability to bounce back from the drop in the moment:
"Next play mindset. I knew my coaches believed in me. I went on the sideline and Coach Kelly said I was going to get another opportunity. Knowing I had my coaches behind me made it really easy to move to the next play and make the catch I did right after."
On relationship with QB Jack Coan:
"When I came in, I was a young guy and texting Jack every day to throw. He was texting me every day to throw. Since we came in, me, Tyler (Buchner) and Jack were throwing every single day.
"Watching him develop and watching all the quarterbacks develop has been a fun experience. I appreciate all those guys because they really helped my growth."
On injuries to teammates:
"I really look up to Braden (Lenzy) and all the seniors in general. They're leading the way for all of us and it's on their back this year. I'm just trying to do my part for those guys to have a great senior year."
On relationship with QB Tyler Buchner:
"We're actually still roommates. When I didn't know something, it's like, 'Hey, Tyler. What do I need to do on this.'
"We're both bouncing stuff off each other. I'm super excited for him. He's a freak athlete to be a quarterback."
On watching his brother, Sonny, go through his recruitment:
"I know he's taking all his visits and going on his own path. Of course, I want him to come here and be here with me, but it's super exciting watching him grow up and get to have this fun experience."
On if he would still win a 1-on-1 matchup vs. Sonny:
"Of course. Of course."
On which receivers he watched growing up:
"Being honest, I never really was into football growing up. My dad never forced it on me. Of course, we talked about it all the time, but I just really loved playing the game.
"As aI got older, I really liked watching Devonta Smith. Watching him last year as a wide out and a smaller guy - just super talented and super smooth. That's a guy I really want to have a similar game to, but be a little bit more physical."
OL and Captain Jarrett Patterson
On the growth of the offensive line:
"It's been good. Joe (Alt) and Andrew (Kristofic) stepping up for us is huge. I think really the biggest thing at the end of the day is guys are playing with a lot of confidence out there. We have to keep building off what we've done the past three games and keep this thing rolling to finish strong in November."
On what's allowed for the quick growth:
"I think part of it is chemistry and working together. That time together and extra film we do at night and drills. The biggest thing is just confidence. Guys are firing off the ball and not being hesitant and I think that's the biggest thing for us."
On if there was frustration with the start to the year:
"I don't think it was frustrating. We just needed to have patience. We knew we were one guy away from busting out a big run or things like that. It starts up front and finishes with us, but Coach Rees tells us it takes all 11. It takes the tight ends, the quarterback getting us in the right look and the back making the right read and wideouts blocking on the perimeter. As an offense and up front, we've been playing together."
On tempo helping the offense:
"I think Jack's been phenomenal with us. We've been practicing with tempo more frequently in practice and I think it's catching defenses by surprise, especially last year, we huddled a lot. Now, you see us going tempo and it's exciting. It lets us fire off the ball and wear out the defense so they can't make any substitutions."
On growth from RG Cain Madden:
"For Cain, working with me and Josh (Lugg) and setting up those combo blocks. He's a pretty big body inside and we're blessed to have him up front this year for his sixth year from Marshall. Cain's done a great job the past couple of games. He's going to keep building off that."
On freshman center Pat Coogan:
"We love having Pat in the room. He's really nasty and has had some huge blocks during practice. He has a really bright future. I'm excited to see how he builds off that in the years moving forward."
On if he's given thought to returning or testing the NFL waters next year:
"Honestly, not really. I guess I'll see what they say at the end of the year. The biggest thing is focusing on finishing strong and putting this team in the best position as we go into the postseason."
On what factors he'll consider when deciding to leave for the NFL or returning:
"Probably the final grade when the grade comes back. I'll talk to my family and see what's best for me."
On challenges of different quarterbacks playing:
"I told them early in the season they're the quarterback and they're in charge of the offense. They're calling the shots. I told them when they're in there to be confident, loud and tell us what to do and we'll do it for them. At the end of the day, Coach Rees has those guys prepared to do all of that."
On RB Kyren Williams:
"Freak. That run Saturday night was unbelievable. He's just a phenomenal player. People see it on the field, but off the field, he's just as good of a person. We're lucky to have him in the locker room as a captain of this team."
On Kyren Williams' attitude:
"He's just so firey and passionate. You see a guy like that and it just fires you up to block for him harder. He's just an amazing person. We're lucky to have him out there on the field for us."
On playing Navy:
"As far as their defense goes, they do a lot of movement. They show a variety of looks. They try to cause confusion from what we've seen on film. At the end of the day, I played Navy in 2019 and they're a gritty team. They'll come and hit you. We have to be prepared for that and they will bring their best like every team does for Notre Dame."
QB Chase Ketterer
On running scout team this week:
"It's been pretty hectic. The practice schedule is a little different. I had to be out here at 3:00 pm when practice started at 4 to start walk-throughs and watch film.
"It's been good, but definitely very busy."
On experience in high school helping him run scout team this week:
"I think it helps me a lot. I've been running triple-option since I was probably in fifth grade. I kind of know it like the back of my hand.
"Reading guys is definitely a little different with everyone being fast. Isaiah Foskey is coming off the edge and stuff like that, but I think it definitely has helped."
On role of preparing the defense:
"I take it very seriously. I think most of the walk-ons do too. It's different than being in high school and coming here to be on scout team. I think all of us take pride in not necessarily getting in the game on Saturdays, but being part of the win by helping the team during the week."
On why he wanted to walk-on at Notre Dame over going somewhere he could potentially play:
"I'm from here and a hometown kid. I always watched Notre Dame growing up and that was a big part of it. The education and getting to come to school at Notre Dame is something you really don't get anywhere else. I had to take the opportunity."
On experience at Notre Dame to this point:
"It's changed me a lot. I feel like I've matured five years in a matter of two. It's like a job here. It's different than high school. You have a strict schedule and you have to be there and be ready.
"It really prepares you for more than just football - life after football. I think it's really matured me."