Notre Dame started its fifth practice of the spring inside for the first eight periods of the day before moving outside to finish practice.
Brian Kelly had a physical practice on Friday and dialed up the physicality again during Saturday’s session. We will take a quick look at the offensive side of the ball as Jamie will take a look at the defense.
The first-team offense for the opening tempo drill was:
QB: Brandon Wimbush
RB: Josh Adams
WR: Equanimeous St. Brown
WR: Chase Claypool
WR: Chris Finke
TE: Alizè Jones and Durham Smythe
OL: Mike McGlinchey
OL: Quenton Nelson
OL: Sam Mustipher
OL: Alex Bars
OL: Tommy Kraemer
Second TeamQB: Montgomery VanGorder
RB: Dexter Williams
WR: Miles Boykin
WR: Austin Webster
WR: CJ Sanders
TE: Nic Weishar
OL: Robert Hainsey
OL: Aaron Banks
OL: Tristen Hoge
OL: Trevor Ruhland
OL: Liam Eichenberg
3rd TeamQB: Ian Book
RB: Tony Jones Jr.
WR: Deon McIntosh
WR: Javon McKinley
WR: Kevin Stepherson
TE: Tyler Luatua
OL: Sam Bush
OL: Hunter Bivin
OL: Parker Boudreaux
OL: Tyler Plantz
OL: Jimmy Byrne
The teams then broke into position drills, and Deon McIntosh moved back to running back for injured early enrollee CJ Holmes. Holmes separated his shoulder during Friday’s practice and could be out the remainder of the spring.
Here is what the offense was working on:
QB: Handoffs and footwork.
RB: Ball security, catching balls in the flat, and taking various handoffs from the QB.
WR: Blocking
TE: Sled work and then quick pass game.
OL: Spent a lot of time working on the run game.
The Irish then headed outside and got right into 1-on-1 reps between the receivers and defensive backs. We missed the first portion getting out there but here is the chart on the reps I did see.
WimbushClaypool beat Studstill – Complete
Watkins tipped a deep ball to St. Brown – Incomplete
Boykin beat Vaughn – Complete
Pride with a nice pass deflection over the middle against Finke – Incomplete
Tyler Luatua trucked Jalen Elliott and both players fell – Incomplete
VanGorderFertitta beat Weishar – Incomplete
Webster beat Coleman – Complete
Claypool dropped a low throw with Tranquill on coverage – Incomplete
Watkins beat Stepherson – Incomplete
Studstill beat Webster – Incomplete
BookComplete Webster
Wright beat Robertson over the middle – Complete
Redzone 1-on-1
Wimbush
Fade to St. Brown with Vaughn on coverage – Incomplete
Tranquill beat Claypool – Incomplete
Watkins beat Boykin –Incomplete
Pride tipped a ball to Fine – Incomplete – “Hell yeah, Troy!” yelled Todd Lyght
Wright almost made a one-hand snag in the corner over Tranquill – Incomplete
St. Brown caught a fade over Watkins – Complete
Claypool beat his guy inside for a TD – Complete
VanGorder Love broke up a pass to Finke – Incomplete
Alizè Jones beat White – Complete
McKinley beat Fertitta – Complete
Love beat Sanders - Incomplete
Boykin beat Vaughn – Complete
BookPass to Sanders – Incomplete
Weishar TD- Complete
DJ Morgan broke up a pass to Webster – Incomplete
Robertson beat Luatua – Incomplete
The offensive and defensive lines headed up the field to meet with skill players for a little 11-on-11. The defense was wrapping the ball carrier and not taking him to the ground during the period, but the guys in the trenches were getting after it.
First-Team vs. First-Team Dexter Williams inside run
Wimbush keeper off read option for a couple of yards
Josh Adams inside run with a big hole
Wimbush just barely overshot St. Brown on a deep ball
Wimbush complete to Finke on a quick out
Wimbush perimeter run
Wimbush checked down to Finke
Josh Adams inside run
Second-Team vs. Second-TeamLate throw from Book to Boykin fell incomplete
Tony Jones Jr. inside run
Low snap. Fumble
Another low snap. Book complete to Claypool on a slant. Big throw from Book
Jones inside run
Book hit Sanders on a quick out
Jones inside run
Book hit Boykin for a beautiful TD on a corner route
The team then broke back into positional work. The QBs were throwing routes to the receivers and backs. The offensive line broke up into two groups with Harry Hiestand staying with the interior players, and All-Pro guard Zack Martin worked with the tackles.
Martin was working with the tackles on footwork and different punches. After early enrollee Robert Hainsey had gone, Martin took the time to show Hainsey what he did wrong and demonstrated what he should do.
A good rep from Tommy Kraemer got a “There it is! There it is!” out of Martin. After another rep, Martin stopped the drill to explain what Kraemer did wrong, then made Kraemer do the rep again.
The defensive backs then came back to the offensive field to do 7-on-7.
WimbushBarely overshot Finke on a deep ball – Incomplete
Check down to Adams – Complete
Quick pass to St. Brown – Complete
Lobbed a beautiful pass over the linebacker to Claypool for a significant gain – Complete
Hit Williams in the flats on a check down - Complete
Hit Boykins on an out – Complete
Wimbush Red zone 7-on-7Check down to Adams – Complete
Fade to St. Brown – Incomplete
Fade to St. Brown - Incomplete
Big-time throw to opposite corner to Boykin for TD – Complete
Over the middle to Smythe – Incomplete
Looking for Sanders in the back of the end zone – Incomplete
Hit Smythe on an out – Complete
Found Finke on a check down – Complete
Hit Adams for a TD – Complete
High throw to Boykin – Incomplete
Ball tipped on a slant – Bilal INT
Hit Alizè Jones for a TD across the middle - Complete
Book 7-on-7 Hit Jones Jr., who made an incredible one-hand snag – Complete
Short pass to Stepherson – Complete
Check down to Jones Jr.- Complete
Check down to Wright – Complete
Book Red zone 7-on-7Found Weishar in the corner for a TD – Complete
Gorgeous back shoulder throw to Alizè Jones for a TD – Complete
Alize’ Jones drop – Incomplete
Fade to Boykin for a TD - Complete
VanGorder 7-on-7 Red ZoneCorner ball to McKinley – Complete
Stepherson across the middle – Incomplete
Pass to Webster – Incomplete – PI called
Jones check down for a TD- Complete
Notre Dame then finished the day with some 11-on-11 scrimmaging. Everything was live, and they started off with some red zone work.
Red zone 11-on-11 - Wimbush Adams inside run
Adams inside run
Incomplete crossing route to Claypool, who wasn’t even looking for the ball.
Read option. Tranquill in the backfield for a big hit on Williams.
Dexter Williams off tackle run.
Red zone 11-on-11 - BookTouchdown to Luatua in the corner
Book keeper
Jones Jr. run off tackle
Jones Jr. run up the gut for a physical TD
The Irish then started working on actual drives. The ball started at the 30-yard line, and the first series went very quickly.
WimbushSt. Brown drop down the deep middle
Adams 60-yard run up the middle then down the sideline
Wimbush touchdown pass to Claypool then next play.
3-plays, 70 yards..not bad.
Book QB run
Williams six-yard run
Williams five-yard run
Weishar check down
Incomplete
Jones Jr. catch down the sideline. Catch and run for about 45 yards.
Wimbush Second DriveSt. Brown drop
Incomplete
Incomplete
VanGorder Hit Weishar on a crossing route
Stepherson drop
Incomplete pass
4 yard Jones run
4 yard Jones run
Book Second Drive 2 yard Book run for first down.
Jones Jr. 40+ yard run caught by Pride.
Book to Alize Jones for about a 15-yard TD.
Wimbush Third Drive Adams strong run for 8.
Jones Jr. 18 yard run.
Wimbush to Alize Jones for 3 yards.
Wimbush to Boykin for about 30 yards on a fantastic back shoulder throw.
Wimbush read option for about 6 yards.
Tony Jones for 1 yard.
Incomplete pass for Wimbush (couldn’t see who it was intended for.
Wimbush to Tony Jones for TD pass.
Notes- Aaron Banks looks really good and moves very well for his size.
- Nick Martin, Zack Martin, and Jarron Jones were all in attendance.
- 2018 OL John Dirksen was chatting with Cole Mabry the whole practice.
- 2018 OL Nicholas Petit-Frere was hanging with 2017 OL signees Josh Lugg and Dillan Gibbons.
- Autry Denson was talking to the mother of Petit-Frere before practice.
- CJ Holmes was in a sling.
- Notre Dame worked on special teams for two to three periods. Punt protection was the focus.