Al Golden Notebook | October 25th
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden spoke on Tuesday evening as the Irish prepare for Syracuse.
On the identity of the ACC:
"A lot of great academic schools, a lot of rich tradition. Obviously, schools that pride themselves on their tradition, and the tradition of the conference. So that leads into Syracuse, right? You go up there playing (in) the dome. It's a unique atmosphere and it's a unique environment. Obviously, they've got them going right now, so it's going to be a great challenge for us."
On what he can tell the team about playing at Syracuse:
"It can get hot, so you have to hydrate. You can't let cramps or anything like that become a factor. But I've seen teams go in there and have that struggle. Communication can be a challenge. So, you have to really just plan for it every day. You just minimize the impact that it has on your squad. Those would be the two things and, obviously, we're ready for a fight."
On being simple in the red zone and his philosophy in that area of the field:
"I think the biggest thing is we're getting a lot of wins and then we're not winning the fourth down, the money down. And really, going back to BYU, put them in a situation on fourth down and then (we) lost it there and then, obviously, in the pass game, too.
"So, I've got to do a better job making a better call in that situation—either force field goals or, in the case of the UNLV game, just flat-out stops.
"Obviously, one was a scramble that we had like five shots at and then the other one, we had a chance for another stop on the 1-yard line. So, yeah, I think we're always trying to — simpler means just minimize errors. And so whatever we have to do to do that and get a positive play, that'll help us in the long run."
On what he's seen on film in the red zone from Notre Dame when watching film:
"I mean, we need couple of stops. We need a couple of stops and we haven't really gotten a turnover down there. So, we need a couple of turnovers. (With) two stops and two turnovers, it's a different animal. So, again, it's not like we're giving up 35 points a game. We're doing a good job of keeping guys out of there.
"We must do a better job when we're in there, no doubt. That starts with me. So, I've got to put the guys in a better play call, give them something that they can execute better than they have been. And then we have to take the ball away. We haven't done that yet in a low red for sure."
On what issues Syracuse QB Garrett Shrader presents:
"They're using him in a way that is really impactful for the young man. He's making a difference. He's got a big strong arm. He's not afraid to sit in the pocket, but he can create on the move anytime he wants, so he can get out of the pocket. He's really good as a runner and he's a big man.
"So, just imagine like, you name it, Mitch Evans or whoever, just imagine a tight end-sized guy running the ball. I mean, that's what you're dealing with. So, I give him a lot of credit. He really, really plays hard and he doesn't shy away from contact. So, he's done a great job to this point."
On Shrader potentially being a quicker Drake Maye:
"I don't know. He's certainly bigger and a little bit different style of runner —physical, downhill runner. He'll spin on contact. He's got a very good stiff arm, and (they) use him a little bit different. There's some lead blockers sometimes on him, which causes some issues, but I think what they're doing with him is fantastic for them, and he's proven worthy of it for sure."
On linebacker depth and if anyone is pushing for time with Bo Bauer out:
"Yeah, we just keep pushing Jaylen Sneed. I think that's the guy that needs to come on here down the stretch. He was really close last Saturday. We had a rash of injuries there. Jack (Kiser) goes down. PK (Prince Kollie) is on the ground, and I turned to Coach (James) Laurinaitis and said, 'Make sure you get Jaylen ready to go.' So, we were really close last week. Jaylen's got to keep pushing and learning, but he would be the next guy up."
On if Isaiah Foskey has turned Saturday's game into momentum this week in practice:
"No doubt. I think so. I think Isaiah's been our defensive player of the game for two games, and he really could have been for a third game. He's put a nice little string together here, and we're going to need him this week. The edge is tested consistently (by Syracuse), whether it's the pass game, the perimeter screens, the read series or the option series or the counter series. Whether the quarterback's to you or away from you, based on the action of the O-line. It's going to be a great challenge for all the guys that play the edge, and we need Isaiah to really step up."
On where Foskey has improved this year:
"Better at the point of attack, for sure. I feel like he's got positive footwork at the point of attack. He's not displacing laterally. He's gaining ground, what we call getting your second foot in the ground, which is not easy when you're trying to change habits or break habits or create better habits. And, as you get older, sometimes you have to really retool it. He's done a great job of really trying to do that. So, I think that's one area that he's made a lot of strides."
On Foskey retraining:
"No doubt, and he also played in a three-point stance a lot the other day. I don't know if you guys noticed that, but he ended up playing in three-point a lot. And I'm glad because it really reinforces him coming out of his hips, getting his second foot in the ground and being positive."
On teaching and coaching JD Bertrand's strike zone:
"Whatever you've got to do to stay in the strike zone, just stay out of the gray area. It's not going to go your way. I was scared to death the other day. Jack (Kiser) was next to us. PK (Prince Kollie) was hurt. And so, when that happened, it was interesting, for sure."
On what changes Bertrand can make:
"Look, I always tell the guys, my son plays football, too. I want him to hit in the strike zone, use their shoulder, have their eyes up, have their cleats in the ground. And that's what we're teaching him. Sometimes it's a physical game. So, sometimes that happens, but some of those plays are bang-bang. Both guys are going for the ball. So, if you have your cleats in the ground, you have your eyes up and you're trying to hit in the strike zone, then positive things will happen."
On if safety Brandon Joseph will be back this week:
"I think so. Again, that was pretty scary there in the second half — B-Joe, X, Bracy and Jack all on the sidelines, so we were kind of running out of guys. Guys are getting nicked up a little bit, so (I) expect all those guys to be ready to go. I don't see anything that would hold any of them back."
On Joseph needing to make more plays:
"I don't know. I think maybe they were playing a little bit more zone where they were, a little bit more coverage. We're a little bit more man-oriented. So, that part might be a little bit different, but he's made an impact for us and, hopefully, he'll be healthy this week. And we're going to need it. They've got vertical threats. They've got a great tailback, and a quarterback who's playing really, really well."
On Syracuse RB Sean Tucker:
"We were talking about it today. He reminds me of Gio Bernard, who we had in Cincinnati — good long speed, shifty in the middle, the ability to bounce it and get to the edge, but can lower his pads at any point. There's a lot of times where he's on the sideline and you think he's going to duck out of bounds — and he doesn't.
"And I think he might be the best that we've seen. I mean, he is that good because he's complete. On third down, he's a matchup problem out of the backfield, whether it's the angle route or the wheels, they can displace him. You can run screens with him, so he is a really, really talented back."
On freshmen Josh Burnham, Aiden Gobaira, Tyson Ford and Donovan Hinish:
"Yeah, Burnham is playing a lot of special teams for us, so he's been on the bus all year, and I've really liked the way he's developing. He's a very long kid. He's going to be big. He's going to be a 260-pounder. Gobaira is doing good. Scout work right now. But same thing, the weight room has really helped him.
"Tyson is long for an inside guy. And he's going to be a really big strong, physical kid. He's doing what he needs to do right now. He needs to go battle against that O-line every day on the scout team. And Hinish is doing the same thing. Hinish is more of the nose, the shade player, but all those guys are benefiting from the reps (on) the scout team. And Burnham has been good enough to play on special teams."
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