Notebook: Win or Lose, Marcus Freeman’s Post-Game Routine Remains the Same
Thousands of Notre Dame fans jumped from the stands onto the turf to celebrate their team’s 35-14 win over No. 4 Clemson on Saturday.
Several field rushers injured themselves in the process, including a first-year Saint Mary’s College student who broke her tibia. Was she disappointed? Sure. But she also told The Observer that it was “worth it” to experience the win.
After the game, fans continued the celebration late into the night at South Bend watering holes like the Linebacker Lounge and Corby’s.
For Freeman, it was business as usual. Sure, he rejoiced with his team and hung out with his family, but shortly after he retreated to his office.
“I told my wife, 'get out, take the kids home and put them to bed. I've got film to watch,’ Freeman said. “But that's my routine. That's what I love to do. I can't go home and relax without watching the film. That's my way to decompress.”
To some, it might seem important to savor the moment.
But as Notre Dame’s head coach, Freeman believes he can’t demand his players prepare just as hard each and every week without demonstrating that trait himself.
“It's one thing to say turn the page just move on to Navy, but it's another thing to do it with your actions,” Freeman said. “Are you coaching with the same intensity that you have after a loss? Everything you do, they're going to look. They're going to compare, ‘is he the same coach after a win that he is after a loss?’”
Still, he preferred rewatching the Clemson game compared to the film from a month ago.
“It was a little bit more enjoyable this Saturday night than it was after the Stanford game,” Freeman said.
Irish Defense Stout on Perimeter
Notre Dame knew Clemson would attempt to attack them via the perimeter via screens and outside runs.
Apparently, it was all part of their plan. The staff intentionally gave nickel cornerbacks TaRiq Bracy and Jaden Mickey a combined 65 snaps while linebacker Jack Kiser played just seven.
“Anytime you play 11-personnel teams and you're in nickel defensively, you're going to get challenged on the perimeter when you don't have that big Sam linebacker out there,” Freeman said.
Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei threw 12 passes behind the line of scrimmage on Saturday and averaged just 3.7 yards per attempt, in large part because Notre Dame defeated blocks and made open field tackles, missing just five all game.
The Irish also benefited from the referees flagged Clemson wide receive Beaux Collins for holding early in the game, which forced the Tigers to avoid illegal blocks.
Freeman says great tacklers are confident and aggressive. Now, possessing those traits doesn’t guarantee a tackle but it provides an opportunity to make a play.
At one point, freshman Benjamin Morrison attempted to tackle 250-pound Clemson tight end Davis Allen near the sideline but bounced off. But he still slowed Allen enough for JD Bertrand to arrive, finish the play and prevent the first down.
“If you want to stop the perimeter running game, you got to be able to close space and not wait, wait, wait,” Freeman said. “You see a lot of missed tackles or tackles that end up giving the offense a lot of yards just because the defensive guy does not close the space to the ball carrier. It takes confidence to do that.”
Maybe There's Nothing Wrong with a Game Manager
The play of Fighting Irish signal-caller Drew Pyne left much to be desired on Saturday. He connected on 9 of his 17 passes for 85 yards and a garbage-time touchdown. It was his fourth game in a row completing fewer than 55 percent of his passes.
At the same time, there’s more to a quarterback’s performance than touchdown passes and shots downfield.
On Saturday, Pyne shined as a leader and the offense responded with zero penalties or turnovers and went three-and-out just once.
“I don't care if we end up punting,” Freeman said, “but to control the play and game clock and extend drives, that was huge. I think he had about 100 yards in terms of running and throwing the ball. He was really efficient. He did a really good job in what he was asked to do.”
The main aspect of Pyne’s game that Freeman criticized was the frequency with which Pyne’s throws get batted at the line of scrimmage. Three of his six first-half incompletions were batted down on Saturday.
As the season continues, he must learn how to adjust.
“You're not 6-4 but [you’ve] got other gifts,” Freeman said. “He's got to be able to step in those open windows and deliver the ball, but he is continuing to run the offense the way we need it."
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