Notre Dame WR Tobias Merriweather Embracing Learning Curve
Notre Dame freshman receiver Tobias Merriweather had played in a college football game, but it took six games for a ball thrown his way.
It missed. It was a deep ball, but Drew Pyne missed him on a third quarter shot to the end zone. Two plays later, Audric Estime scored from 10 yards out and most forgot about the shot to Merriweather.
Little did folks know that in 6 minutes and 22 seconds (game time), Merriweather would get another opportunity.
Pyne would connect with the Washington native for a 41-yard scoring strike to open the fourth quarter.
"It's just like a surreal moment," recalled Merriweather. "My whole life, I've been watching guys on Saturday on TV, just scoring touchdowns and I want to be that."
For most people, it can't get sweeter than your first catch being a touchdown in a rivalry game - but it can for Merriweather. The 6-foot-4 receiver knew the ball was going to him before the play started.
"I knew it was going to happen because the play, we ran it all week, if you get this look, you're going to score," explained Merriweather. "But you can't like fathom in your brain scoring in front of 80,000. I watched it back and I'm like, is that even me? It's just like a surreal moment. It'll take me a while to digest. But hopefully, there's more to come soon."
Sure, the touchdown and even his first catch probably came a little deeper into the season than most thought, including Merriweather, but the freshman also understood he needed to grow as a player to earn his opportunity.
That's not to say Merriweather didn't believe he couldn't help the offense, but he also saw the big picture at the same time.
"I think it's just part of the journey," stated Merriweather. "Every guy has taken their turn, sitting down, waiting and getting better in practice every day. That's what it is about. It's not that Tommy (Rees) didn't want to play me. He's told me he wants to play me, but I have to be ready because imagine I go in that moment and I'm not ready for it. Then I don't run the right route, I get the play wrong, drop a ball, then the whole media is like, everything's a different story.
"Waiting for that moment, I think was just part of my process and we're working every day to get more reps in the game. That's what it's about. We got six games left."
Merriweather's timeline was expedited since the day he arrived on campus in June. It's not a secret the Irish receiver unit is down in numbers and Merriweather has made sure to get in extra meetings to master the offense, but also to simply learn the game to get himself on the field.
"Me, TR and Coach (Chansi) Stuckey talk every day," Merriweather said. "I'm in their office watching film, we're figuring out, they're telling me what I need to get on the field, they're telling me, teaching me about more coverages and stuff, and teaching me about how to affect defenders, how to run routes, everything. So it's been a process. They've been clear on what they needed from me. And obviously, I did what I needed to do to get on the field."
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and Rees have mentioned Merriweather has had packages over the last few weeks, but at times, the offense has been able to get to them as the game has dictated different directions.
The packages are to help simplify the learning curve, while also making sure there are opportunities to get playing time for an inexperienced player who can help the offense.
"As a young player, part of the tag deal is, OK, let's try to narrow your focus to allow you to go play fast and free,” said Rees. “The more reps and experience you get, the more you can say, 'All right, boom, I know this call. We call this all the time. I got it.' That's just part of the learning curve for young kids to come in.
"It's no different than Holden (Staes) and Eli (Raridon) as they've gotten more reps. OK, well, these are the core calls that we can have you in there for. Making a play helps with confidence. You taste that a little bit. We hope that allows Tobias to continue to move in the right direction."
And yes, the adjustment to college football happens to every player. It's not high football where the best athlete can win on natural ability. Technique becomes crucial, while route depth and understanding defenses are also critical to success for a receiver.
It takes time and for Merriweather, he noticed the difference right away.
"It's a collegiate offense, like in high school, we were pretty simple," Merriweather explained. "We just want to chuck the ball on the field. We're run and shoot. So it's a lot different from here.
"There's 1000 plays and we're putting new ones in every week. So just learning the offense, learning everything, learning what we're trying to do against defenses, learning coverages, where the soft spots are - all that stuff, just been a process, but I love learning."
Merriweather is also learning on the fly. The smallest details matter and he experienced that in the Cal game on one of his first plays as he didn't go in motion and it led to a broken play.
"I won't blame, but that was just a miscommunication," Merriweather recalled. "When I was coming in, I was coming in for Zo (Lorenzo Styles) and he was tired. So I got the play from the sideline, but I was rushing on and then it just ended up looking really bad.
"I didn't know the motion. I just heard the play, not the motion. Rees saw that and that was the last play of the game. That's how it works. Just roll with the punches."
And yes, it was Merriweather's last snap that day and he understood why.
"When I got in that first game, the game was just fast like, that was the first time being out there, it was loud, crowds wearing all green," Merriweather explained. "I'm like thinking too (much).
"That's my biggest problem. I think a lot of times, I try to think too much because I understand so much needs to go through my head fast. So I just think too much and then I get my own head. Then I do sometimes mess up plays and stuff like that. Since then, it's just slow down, like between that Cal game, week three and week, six now, the game has gotten tremendously slower for me."
Another part of Merriweather's growth has come physically. When he arrived at Notre Dame, Merriweather was checking in around 185 pounds and four months later, he's up to 200.
"Since I got here in summer, it's been just eat food, lift weights and getting bigger," said Merriweather. "I've gained like 15 pounds and I feel really good.
"(Matt) Balis and Alexa (Appleman), like our nutrition staff and our strength staff, they've just done a great job, talking to me, making sure I come and eat every day, making sure I'm staying on top of my weight, my water intake and all that stuff."
Pyne has also played a significant factor in his growth over the last few months. The two were roommates during camp and Pyne didn't take it easy on the rookie.
"That was really helpful," stated Merriweather. "I think was intentional by Coach Rees to put me with the quarterback. Every day he's quizzing me on plays.
"We're going over the script. He's like, so what do you got here? What do you got here? And I think that helped me a lot. Just be more comfortable. Like, especially just in terms of like just growth every day."
Both players have carried that over into the season as Pyne makes sure to push Merriweather in practice as they continue to build chemistry on the field.
"We have a good connection," Merriweather said. "I think you saw on the post last game. A little bit of missed timing on the up route, but we have a good connection.
"Every day in practice, he's chucking it to me. He's trying to get me the ball, trying to get me involved."
Merriweather has a lot on his plate as he didn't enroll early, but it's clear he's embracing the learning curve and he doesn't regret his decision to arrive in June.
"Those moments that I had in my spring in high school were just moments you can't get back in life," said Merriweather. "You never know what's going to happen. So I think that just enjoying my life, enjoying my time at home with all my friends and my family, was just worth it. I wouldn't trade anything."
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