Notre Dame Focused on Winning the Moment with Ohio State Lurking & JD Bertrand Out
Notre Dame’s roster is filled with veterans who have been there and done that.
It’s also a team that had 10 players earn double-digit votes to be captain.
Central Michigan will enter Notre Dame Stadium with a record of 1-1, which doesn’t scream scary, but the leadership of the Fighting Irish will be tested this week and on Saturday as a colossal battle with Ohio State is staring them in the face next weekend.
Irish head coach Marcus Freeman has also been there and done that as a player, so it’s not a surprise his plan of focusing on the moment started during the offseason.
The emphasis has been staying in the moment and winning the moment dating back to winter workouts.
“It's been that way all year because every Saturday we have one goal and that’s try to continue to play at our full potential,” said Freeman. “In order to do that, you have to win these moments in the day. I remind them if their mind ever starts to drift or if somebody tries to talk about the future, it's just a great reminder for us to refocus and get back in the moment.
“We've had two really good practices Tuesday and Wednesday and, we need a third today.”
Freeman’s example to the public has focused on challenging his team to beat the opponent in practice each day during the week. The second-year head coach has made it clear Notre Dame needs to beat its opponent on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to win on Saturday.
Now, Freeman knows his players minds will focus on Ohio State this week, but he’s challenged them to dial it back and refocus on the current goal of the day.
“I told the guys after practice on Tuesday, it's human nature to drift,” stated Freeman. “Your mind drifts, right? You naturally drift away from what's important and that's right now. It usually tends to drift to things that don't deserve your attention and that shouldn't deserve your attention.
“It could be social media. It can be wins, it could be losses, it can be past, it can be the future, but If we can stay in the present and we can catch ourselves drifting away from the present, we will have more intentionality in our practices, on our meetings, on whatever we're doing at the moment.”
Freeman also recognizes it starts from the top down, so he’s made a conscious effort to be an example for his players each day in The Gug.
“I tell the players the same thing,” explained Freeman. “To be an elite coach your mind has to be focused on the certain things in that moment that it needs to be focused on and the same thing for the players, right? What do you need to be focused on in this play of practice? Where should your mind be at this point of the meeting?
“If we can stay in the present and when these moments, then we'll get to Saturday when Saturday comes because we'll understand Saturday is about winning the interval. Every single rep we win the interval and that's staying in the moment.”
NO JD BERTRAND
Notre Dame’s on-field leadership will take a significant blow as middle linebacker JD Bertrand will not play on Saturday as he goes through concussion protocol.
Yes, Notre Dame has plenty of talent as Jack Kiser is expected to slide over into Bertrand’s spot and Freeman plans on having freshman Drayk Bowen make his defensive debut on Saturday.
Yet, the Irish defense needs much more from Kiser, Bowen, Jaylen Sneed and Jaiden Ausberry this week outside of raising their level of play.
“Yes you lose a lot of production,” Freeman said of Bertrand. “He's a really good football player but you lose a captain, you lose the leadership, the verbal communication of a competent guy that's played a lot of snaps and that's where I've challenged that room.
“Jack Kiser has played a lot of ball, but you gotta be so vocal to get guys lined up. A lot of people call the linebackers a quarterback of the defense. What I challenged those guys to do is not only step up with their play but the vocal leadership that we need, the communication to get guys lined up and to problem solve. Linebackers are problem solvers and they have to be an extension of the coordinator to fix the problems on the field.”
Problem-solving and communication are why Kiser makes the most sense to start as he knows the adjustments, checks and how to get the defensive line lined up. It will also be an opportunity for the younger linebackers to prove they can handle more.
“You'll see Jack Kiser,” stated Freeman. “Yes, he'll play probably more. Marist Liufau, he has to be more verbal in his communication. Jaylen Sneed will play more. Drayk Bowen will play and Jayden Alsbury be the next guy to go in too.
“So as a collective group, they have to make up for the production you lose in JD Bertrand, but each individual has been challenged to be more vocal in their communication amongst the defense.”
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