Photo by Rick Kimball/ISD
Notre Dame Football
Denson Approves of Irish Getting Physical
March 24, 2017
4,119
Notre Dame assistant coach Autry Denson wanted his running backs to get hit, and that is exactly what his guys are getting this spring. Notre Dame has ramped up the intensity of practice, and Denson is the first to approve.
“We can never be hit enough,” stated Denson after practice on Thursday. “You want to be tough, get pushed, and punched. I hate when we don’t hit. I hate when we don’t thud. My guys need it. They need to know what it’s like to squeeze the ball. I am always hitting them myself. I want to make sure they are hit.”
Denson went through very physical practices during his time at Notre Dame, but he knows things are different now. However, the ability to be hit helps toughen his backs up.
“That was a different offense,” laughed Denson when asked about if he got hit under Lou Holtz. “Everything was between the hashes. We got hit every day all the time. It absolutely helps you. It’s a numbing factor. I understand safety, but football is a physical game.”
Early enrollee CJ Holmes is getting his first taste of college football this spring, and he is running with the opportunity. The 6-foot, 206-pounder has impressed his position coach with his ability to pick things up off the field
“We knew athletically what he could do,” explained Denson. “They can all play football; it was mentally how he could grasp the offense. The thing about him is that he doesn’t have a reference point coming in as a freshman. The slate is clean, so everything for him is new.
“He has done a good job picking things up mentally, so he can get into the rotation and go out and compete.”
Holmes is used to being away from home, as he lived at Cheshire Academy during high school and the time away from home might have given him a leg up on adjusting to college.
“He’s doing well,” Denson said. “He’s a little different from the standpoint, just like Tony Jones, CJ was at a prep school. He lived in the area, but he still spent a lot of time away from home. It wasn’t a culture shock to be away from home.”
The adjustment period, but also the ability to do multiple things on the field is something Denson looks for and has taken pride in finding those guys.
“I have been getting my guys in, and they will do the things we need them to do,” said Denson. Naturally, you coach to your personality. I think the player I was; it comes out in recruiting. I am really not looking for guys to do one thing. I am looking for guys that already have shown they can do it or I see where they have the ability for me to coach them up to contribute.
“I don’t want guys that are a one-trick pony. Those aren’t my guys. I want them to contribute in other facets of the game.”
New offensive coordinator Chip Long sees a talented group of running backs, and it will be up to him to find ways to get them the ball. Denson has noticed Long’s focus has been on tempo but also playing physical.
“He added the tempo, and you can see we are going a little more tempo,” stated Denson. “He has an emphasis on trying to get after guys in the run or pass. It’s a physical element and tempo. Those are the two things we are really focusing on.”
The running backs are pushing each other to be better in the new offense and Denson makes sure they know nothing is given, but it’s earned. Denson has made it clear there is not a starter, and it makes each back perform at a high level on a daily basis.
“They are all pushing each other, Denson explained. “They are pushing Josh (Adams) too. No one is set. That’s the beauty of our room. You have to come to work every day. I make that very clear, and that’s the expectation. We don’t have a starter. We are going to compete.”
Many feel Adams will end up being the starter as he has proven he can produce and he has experience. Denson admitted the junior running back is in a different situation as he has experience and he has to lead the running back room.
“Josh is going into his third year, and that’s what you expect from a guy that’s been around and been in big-time situations,” said Denson. “You expect him to lead. At the same time, because the culture in the room, he can’t be complacent.”
“We can never be hit enough,” stated Denson after practice on Thursday. “You want to be tough, get pushed, and punched. I hate when we don’t hit. I hate when we don’t thud. My guys need it. They need to know what it’s like to squeeze the ball. I am always hitting them myself. I want to make sure they are hit.”
Denson went through very physical practices during his time at Notre Dame, but he knows things are different now. However, the ability to be hit helps toughen his backs up.
“That was a different offense,” laughed Denson when asked about if he got hit under Lou Holtz. “Everything was between the hashes. We got hit every day all the time. It absolutely helps you. It’s a numbing factor. I understand safety, but football is a physical game.”
Early enrollee CJ Holmes is getting his first taste of college football this spring, and he is running with the opportunity. The 6-foot, 206-pounder has impressed his position coach with his ability to pick things up off the field
“We knew athletically what he could do,” explained Denson. “They can all play football; it was mentally how he could grasp the offense. The thing about him is that he doesn’t have a reference point coming in as a freshman. The slate is clean, so everything for him is new.
“He has done a good job picking things up mentally, so he can get into the rotation and go out and compete.”
Holmes is used to being away from home, as he lived at Cheshire Academy during high school and the time away from home might have given him a leg up on adjusting to college.
“He’s doing well,” Denson said. “He’s a little different from the standpoint, just like Tony Jones, CJ was at a prep school. He lived in the area, but he still spent a lot of time away from home. It wasn’t a culture shock to be away from home.”
The adjustment period, but also the ability to do multiple things on the field is something Denson looks for and has taken pride in finding those guys.
“I have been getting my guys in, and they will do the things we need them to do,” said Denson. Naturally, you coach to your personality. I think the player I was; it comes out in recruiting. I am really not looking for guys to do one thing. I am looking for guys that already have shown they can do it or I see where they have the ability for me to coach them up to contribute.
“I don’t want guys that are a one-trick pony. Those aren’t my guys. I want them to contribute in other facets of the game.”
New offensive coordinator Chip Long sees a talented group of running backs, and it will be up to him to find ways to get them the ball. Denson has noticed Long’s focus has been on tempo but also playing physical.
“He added the tempo, and you can see we are going a little more tempo,” stated Denson. “He has an emphasis on trying to get after guys in the run or pass. It’s a physical element and tempo. Those are the two things we are really focusing on.”
The running backs are pushing each other to be better in the new offense and Denson makes sure they know nothing is given, but it’s earned. Denson has made it clear there is not a starter, and it makes each back perform at a high level on a daily basis.
“They are all pushing each other, Denson explained. “They are pushing Josh (Adams) too. No one is set. That’s the beauty of our room. You have to come to work every day. I make that very clear, and that’s the expectation. We don’t have a starter. We are going to compete.”
Many feel Adams will end up being the starter as he has proven he can produce and he has experience. Denson admitted the junior running back is in a different situation as he has experience and he has to lead the running back room.
“Josh is going into his third year, and that’s what you expect from a guy that’s been around and been in big-time situations,” said Denson. “You expect him to lead. At the same time, because the culture in the room, he can’t be complacent.”
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