Notre Dame OL Josh Lugg: 'There is a fierce urgency for right now'
Notre Dame offensive lineman Josh Lugg has seen it all over the course of his career. 2022 marks the sixth year for the 6-foot-6, 316-pounder in the Notre Dame program and Lugg will now be counted on to lead the Irish through a tough start.
At 0-2, Lugg’s first task is to keep spirits up while also making sure his room continues to be motivated to finish strong as the Irish have 10 more games to play.
“I think the mood of the team right now is they have the tenacity to get better,” Lugg stated. “Everyone really wants to get better, knock this rust off and really show that preparation will translate on the field. I don't think anyone has any doubt that how we prepare puts us in the right position. In my six years here, going into Saturdays, I don't think I have been this prepared in a long time.
“We know what we need to do, now it is about executing and it starts with me and it will trickle down to the rest of the team. The sixth-year and fifth-year seniors step up and say these last two games are on me, we are prepared, now let's execute the plan, our conditioning, our demeanor that we work every single day. That is where we will win.”
It starts in the film room for the offensive line as Lugg sees the inconsistency coming from Notre Dame beating Notre Dame. As the legend, Jamie Uyeyama says, ‘Film don’t lie’, and Notre Dame finding and correcting errors is crucial to getting better execution on Saturday.
“I think it's execution in the details when you watch it,” explained Lugg. “Those are the ones that are tough to watch because it's like, man what could I have done in my preparation differently, my demeanor before the snap, helping out with communication to my left and right.
“There is something we could have done that we were prepared for and we didn't do that job. That is what we are seeing on film. Now it's how can execute and do what Coach Rees prepared us to do and the coaches prepared us to do. They have put us in the position to succeed. Now, starting with me, everyone needs to execute the details.”
Lugg has been here before and has seen the offensive line fight to find consistency. It’s not always easy for five guys to see through one set of eyes, but Lugg is hopeful as the room has a great chemistry and cares about playing quality football.
“It is sticking together and I've talked about this and when you see one offensive lineman, you see all 15 of us,” stated Lugg. “We all stick together. We have 120 guys and 65-plus faculty staff and we all love each other.
“(Marcus) Freeman talks about unit strength being a principle of the Golden Standard. Brotherly love, you choose to love one another. Things will be said, I get it. But inside that locker room, we are all in this together since January 13 or whenever we started workouts. We have been building that bond and will be unbreakable when it comes to our love for one another and pushing one another to be at our best.”
Notre Dame’s practices have been intense dating back to the spring and the urgency to have good practices is at an all-time high.
Harry Hiestand has had two left guards in two weeks and while chemistry can’t be developed in a day, Lugg believes Notre Dame can correct it and it starts with stacking days on the practice field.
“The reality is that the season goes so fast and games come on Saturday so quickly that we can't say we have time and can figure it out,” Lugg explained. “There is a fierce urgency for right now to execute our fundamentals, know what we need to do and have the right technique that is taught by Coach Hiestand and then just give undeniable effort every single play.
“We need to challenge each other. Tuesday, we call it Bloody Tuesdays because everyone needs to come out and have a fierce practice. Today is when we need to start gelling, like right now we need to start figuring it out. It's the execution of the details that won't beat Notre Dame.”
And another silver lining is the offensive line isn’t blaming each other. It goes back to the brotherhood and it’s created a unit that simply wants to get it right.
“The best part is we have so many guys in the locker room that want to take accountability,” Lugg said. “When you have a brotherhood like that, things get done because you don't have people pointing fingers and thumbs at themselves and that is when you are going to see improvement.”
Under Armour Notre Dame Fighting Irish Freedom Quarter-Zip Pullover
