Chris O'Leary praises competitive and uncomfortable approach for Irish safeties
Notre Dame safeties coach met with media Thursday, shedding insight on Al Golden’s impact, the NFL elements to the defense and the competitive edge and mental approach this unit and team have that could lead to a special season.
Q: What has Al Golden brought, what’s the impact there?
CO: It’s been great. It’s been great. The situational stuff based on where we’re at on the field, red zone, all that, it’s been great to learn and exand on and it’s helped us as a defense.
And even some of the techniques, whether it’s punching the ball, it’s just another level of detail that they bring from the NFL.
Q: How impressed are you by that and guys are taking to it?
CO: It’s been great. I had no doubt, I’m going into my fifth year here, and the greatest part about these guys is that they do what you want them to do. Whatever you tell them, they’re going to do it.
When we bring that detail, those clips from the NFL, I know they’re going to take it all in so it doesn’t surprise me but it’s been encouraging.
Q: How have the lack of numbers receiver impacted the secondary in practice?
CO: It really only shows up in 1-on-1s, those go slower so we get less reps. Everything else has been fine. We get the same. One-on-ones, they each get one rep so they get mad at me because they’re not getting enough work.
Q: Brandon is working with both the 1s and 2s. How does that help the back-end?
CO: We’ve got four guys that go with the 1s and 2s. Nobody’s a starter. They know that, and when we go to the spring game it’s going to be the same thing. Nobody’s starting right now, we go to fall camp, I anticipate it being the same thing. We’ve got four guys, you can go with the 1s, the 2s and sometimes I might put you with the 3s and the quarterback that’s with the 3s better be shaking his head saying, ‘Why the hell are you out there versus the 3s?’ That’s the mindset. They know that and they understand that.
I think what it builds is the understanding is that all of you guys are going to play and we need everybody, so that unit strength that we’re looking for, that’s kind of how we’re starting to build that.
Q: How has DJ Brown progressed?
CO: He’s improved a lot. Our focus this winter was just improving that power that he has, finding a little bit more oomph in his tackles, being able to pop people a little bit. He’s done a great job in the weight room, it’s been a point of emphasis and it’s starting to show up. He can play either side and he’s definitely going to have enough power to play Brandon for us.
Q: It’s a versatile group back there, many with backgrounds other than safety. How does that help?
CO: Just the natural cover instincts. And it’s kind of hard to explain but there’s part of it that they’re just good football players. So by playing receiver or corner or nickel or whatever, you have that vantage point. Like I know what to expect if I get a bunch (formation). Like if a receiver gets (Watts), I kill him because I’m like, ‘you know what’s coming, you played receiver.’ Just that big picture awareness and ability to understand what’s going on helps them become better football players.
Q: Biggest growth from Watts?
CO: His movement skills, you go from receiver to safety, it’s challenging to get to the post, flip my hips, so I’ve seen an improvement there of just being able to cross over, run play and drive, pedal, play and drive. His movement skills, spent a lot of time on them, that’s probably been the best.
Q: When you mix and match as much as you are with this defense, does the importance of everyone knowing the different positions matter even more?
CO: Exactly. Like, I don’t want Brandon and DJ to have good communication but when X comes in with DJ, Dj’s not saying anything. It doesn’t matter who’s next to you, it’s the same standard all the way through. By mixing and matching, you’re testing them and challenging them to do that and I like them being a little bit uncomfortable. You start getting a little bit comfortable at safety, that’s when we start having problems on Saturday. So making them uncomfortable a little bit so that they’re used to just everything changing all the time.
Q: How does Kyle Hamilton hanging around some still help these guys?
CO: He’s been awesome and when he’s in the room, it’s been great. You feature a top-10 Draft pick, hopefully top five, that’s sitting there and been through what they’re going through, so it just adds weight to what you’re teaching them and all that stuff. It’s kind of proof of, ‘Hey, following the plan and what your goals are, whatever they are, you’re going to be able to get them if you stick with the process.’
Q: What are your thoughts on some folks questioning Kyle Hamilton as a prospect because maybe he didn’t run a little faster 40?
CO: They’re crazy. They’re crazy. It’s mind-boggling. Watch the film. I told an NFL coach I was talking to the other day, and obviously I’ve got bias, but in my mind he’s the biggest no-brainer that I’ve ever seen. There’s not a doubt in my mind that he’s going to have Pro Bowl success in the NFL.
Q: How were the conversations with DJ and Houston about coming back after last season?
CO: It was, I felt strongly, that felt strongly, what their goals are when they’re done playing, they can be reached from Notre Dame and the best chance for them to reach them is to stay here and get developed and continue to do what we’re doing to get to the NFL or whatever they want to do.
The second part is, you can transfer and start at a lot of schools in the country, but we’re going to push to win a national championship. And both guys, the No. 1 objective is to come back and win a national championship with the guys that they love. With TaRiq Bracy, with Clarence Lewis and those guys. That’s why they came back.
Q: What’s Houston’s top asset not?
CO: His vocal leadership and his execution. He’s in the right spot all the time. If you’re not getting talked about at safety, you’re probably doing your job. And so that’s what he did a good job for us last year, but he has a skill set that he can take another step. And that’s the focus right now for him, is, ‘All right dude, we’ve got to make some plays on the ball and when we tackle, let’s get some TFLs and some violent tackles.’ And he’s going to be able to do it.
Q: You mentioned liking making them uncomfortable now to benefit later. What are the ways you do that now to help later?
CO: The main way I do it is just no starters right now, so you can go with the 1s, 2s or 3s and when they go with the 3s, they’re really uncomfortable but they better be making plays.
Just rotating guys that way, leaving them left and right so they’re playing field and boundary in the same series, that’s challenging. And what that does, you get in a game, you’re only playing field safety that game, it’s easy. It’s easy. Just helping them, making them problem-solve when we’re together and when you get to Saturday, it’s a lot easier.
Q: That discomfort, several guys have discussed playing with a chip, with an edge, so do you see that feeding into and further fueling things?
CO: Yep. Yeah. Absolutely. We want to be smart, competitive and violent. That’s what I talk about with those guys, smart, competitive and violent. So the area that has improved probably the most would be competitiveness, and that’s that chip, like every time they go out there, they’re trying to make plays, win on the ball, all those things, and then you’ve seen the violence, too. Sometimes it’s dumb-violent, making stupid plays, but we’re getting there. I think that’s showed up in spring.
Q: If the competitiveness is maybe the biggest change, is that top-down?
CO: I think so, the older guys, Brandon, Houston and DJ, they know. They know. Last year it was learn the defense, first time those guys were taking major reps, be in the right spot. Now it’s like we want to be the best unit in the country, best safety unit in the country. What does that take? It takes making plays. And so when you’re out there, you’re not just out there to be out there, you’ve got to go make plays.
Q: And I guess is that also a reflection from top down of Marcus Freeman’s impact?
CO: A lot man, because he always says, ‘One play, one life.’ Like, we’re not playing out of fear, we’re chasing excellence. Go make plays. So that freedom has allowed them to really be extra-competitive and leave it all out there.
Q: What kind of progress has Justin Walters made this spring?
CO: Good, good and he’s got to get to the competitive level that everybody else is at. And that’s where we’re spending time right now. He’s thinking a lot of times about what to do and what we tell him to do is put in best position to win the rep. He’s shown improvement in technique and all that, but we’re still just training that competitiveness.
Q: How would you assess what you've seen from the group halfway through spring:
CO: It's kind of like what I told them today. I've seen competitive excellence. The most important thing coming out of spring is to make this group a competitive group. Handling some new defenses, some of the old defenses, working through it, but ultimately, going out there and competing every day whether it's one-on-one, seven-on-seven. What we care about are guys going out and thinking about winning the rep every time.
"That's what I've seen from top to bottom. That's been the positive part of it."
Q: Has anything surprised you after watching Brandon Joseph this spring:
CO: I wouldn't say surprised. I've been pleased with how he fits the culture of Notre Dame. He's a Notre Dame guy. What that means is he's blue-collar. He's going to work, grind, lead by example, so he fits our room and he fits the team very well.
Q: Where is Xavier Watts at in his development:
CO: He's at a good point. The way I see it is he's still growing as a defensive player, not just a safety. He's still got to get the whole defense - the understanding of the scheme and where he fits. That's where he's at, but what I have liked is that competitive excellence.
"When we go live, you're going to see him making tackles. At the end of the day, if he keeps that same mindset, he'll get to where he wants to get to and where we want him to get to in due time."
Q: Where does communication stand with the safeties:
CO: It's taken a step up from last year and that was a focus coming into the spring. They are the vocal leaders of the defense when we're on the field. They have to make the checks, calls and all that.
"It kind of starts with the older guys - Brandon, Houston (Griffith) and DJ (Brown). They've taken it on themselves to overcommunicate and really lead that way. You're starting to see Ramon (Henderson) and guys like that follow suit. We're going to keep pushing them to be more vocal, but it's gotten better."
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