Marcus Freeman Addresses Notre Dame’s Bye Week Benefits, Preaching Clarity

Notre Dame kicked off fall camp on July 26, and it’s been go, go, go ever since.

First, there were 20 practices over 25 days. 

Then the Irish flew across the Atlantic for a matchup in Dublin against Navy and to face the Midshipmen burtal-on-the-body triple-option offense.

The trip began a streak of eight straight contests, including the last four against ranked opponents at night, with classes and midterm exams mixed in. 

On Thursday, the Fighting Irish players finally checked out mentally and physically with their first break of more than 48 hours in 85 days. 

“We had a much-needed by week for our players mentally and physically,” coach Marcus Freeman said. “They needed it.”

The coaches hit the recruiting trail, self-scouted and began to prepare for an Oct. 28 home matchup with Pitt. 

Still, even Freeman made time to attend his son’s flag football game and flip through a loaded slate of college football games on Saturday. 

“I don’t want to watch a team we’re going to play because then you feel like you’re working,” Freeman said. “I was able to watch a little bit of the USC-Utah game. I watched a quarter of that. A little bit of the Florida State-Duke game. I was just turning back and forth a little bit, and then I went to bed. I need to catch up on some sleep. 

“I do enjoy the chance to sit down with my kids and watch football like a normal father and be able to look at other coaches and teams without stress. The greatest thing about it is you can root for somebody, and whether they win or lose, it’s okay.”

The Irish still used the first half of the bye week to improve.

Monday was a light day for those who played significant snaps in the 48-20 victory over No. 10 USC, but the twos, threes and scout team players were full go.

“That time is so crucial when you talk about the development of the bottom half of your roster and the future of your roster,” Freeman said. “To be able to see those guys, and we got to watch it as a coach. The coaches watched it, and let's evaluate it and call things that they know how to do. 

“Let's give them a chance to show us what they can do. They're not really able to show us what they can do if they're confused. So I don't care if we have two defenses called and three offensive plays called. I wanted to see what those young guys could do and was pleased.”

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the ones got in the mix with good-on-good periods as well before departing for the rest of fall break. 

Those who left campus returned on Sunday by 7 p.m.

“We had to get after it and really make sure that we were improving at all areas of the game of football but also at the areas that we've been deficient,” Freeman said. “I was really pleased with those three days of practices, and then I think it'd be ready to roll after a three-day break that they got.”

Preaching Clarity on Both Sides of the Ball

Georgia didn’t win back-to-back national championships by out-scheming its opponents week after week. The Bulldogs dominated college football by recruiting the best players and teaching them to play fast and free.

“How do we find different ways — through formations, shifts, personnel — to continuously do those things we do well?” Freeman said. “I don't want to continue to find ways to trick the opponent, right? I want to out-execute them.”

The Irish may lack Georgia’s never-ending supply of blue-chip prospects, but Notre Dame is arguably just as talented, if not more, than any opponent its faced in 2023. 

For instance, the Irish didn’t hold Marvin Harrison, Jr., perhaps the best collegiate receiver in more than a decade, to three catches for 32 yards by inventing a new type of coverage or an elaborate blitz scheme. 

Notre Dame nearly took him out of the game by preparing cornerbacks Ben Morrison and Cam Hart to be physical and stick on the wideout’s hip.

The same goes for the much-heralded defensive performance against USC quarterback Caleb Williams and the nation’s top-scoring offense. 

According to Williams in his postgame press conference, the Irish forced five turnovers and limited the Trojans to 20 points without doing anything new or exotic.

“The biggest thing for the USC game was they played fast because they were clear on what exactly the expectation was,” Freeman said. “They were relentless. You gotta give credit to Al Golden and our defensive staff for getting more guys prepared.”

Notre Dame owns the nation’s third-best pass defense, even after facing some of the best quarterbacks and receivers in the country. 

“You have to get your guys to understand exactly what you want, so they can play fast and execute,” Freeman said. “That's a great example for what our defense has been able to do.”

Now, the goal is for the offense to play with the same clarity. Over the last four weeks, the Irish averaged 5.3 yards per play — a mark that would tie them for 94th nationally this season.

The offensive line and running back Audric Estime returned to form against a poor Trojan defense. Estime finished with 22 carries for 94 yards and two touchdowns, and Sam Hartman was never sacked.

Still, there’s significant room for improvement across the board on offense, especially with top-25 defense left on the schedule in Pitt (25th) and Clemson (7th).

Can Gerad Parker and the rest of the offensive staff get the players on the same page over the final four games of the season?

“At the end of the day, you can put so much emphasis into a game plan,” Freeman said, “but if the kids don't execute what you want them to do, then it's the game plan's fault. No, it's the ability to get your kids to understand what you want and let them play fast. 

“That is the most the most important thing as a coaching staff we have to do, and that's the biggest misconception about coaching football is that it's scheme. No, it's clarity.”

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