Notre Dame and Beaux Collins Enhancing Consistency, Execution
Notre Dame is halfway through the 2024 campaign, and all the program’s goals are still on the table despite the offense's ups and downs through the first six games.
It would have been easy to point fingers at each other following the loss to Northern Illinois, but the Irish didn’t and went to work. In fact, Notre Dame’s offense appears to be turning a corner for good, as the last two games have looked and felt different for this group.
Marcus Freeman knows his team has the potential to make some noise, but the key will be turning this group from a good team to a great team.
Beaux Collins is familiar with what it takes to be great. He experienced it in high school at St. John Bosco before attending Clemson for three seasons. It’s a simple mindset, and it starts with executing, which is something the Irish offense has done much better in the last two games.
“I’d say just consistency,” stated Collins. “Being able to make the routine plays all the time and the spectacular ones most of the time. Eliminating mistakes, being disciplined as a team, and I think we’ll be good from there.”
The Irish will travel to Atlanta this weekend and will have the opportunity to make a statement against Georgia Tech.
How does Notre Dame make a statement? Well, it may start with the receiver room building off last weekend’s performance that saw Kris Mitchell and Jayden Thomas get in the end zone, while quarterback Riley Leonard tossed for a season-high 229 yards.
“It’s awesome just for the morale of the group seeing JT and Kreezy get their first touchdowns,” Collins explained. “It lights me up, it lights Coach Brown up — it just shows what we’re capable of. There’s still a lot left out there, so we just gotta come back, correct stuff, but plays like that are just uplifting to myself, the older guys, and the younger guys. Seeing all the work we put in since we got here and how it’s finally coming full circle.”
Freeman challenged the offense to look different coming out of the bye week. The Irish did. And it might start with Mike Denbrock as added a bit more play action the offensive attack against Stanford. In fact, it was a lot more.
Entering the game, Notre Dame had called just 16 play action passes for 98 yards over the first five games of the year. On Saturday, Riley Leonard went 7-of-10 for 105 yards and three touchdowns on play action or RPO plays.
“It opens up everything because now you got safeties that were in run-heavy support — whether that’s in quarters or just a single-high safety lurking,” Collins explained. “They have to honor the guys on the outside now. It just really balances the offense. You can’t ask for much more.”
One of those play action plays went to Collins for the longest play of the game. Leonard hit Collins for a 53-yard strike out of a two-back set, which was a concept Stanford was familiar with as Jordan Faison scored from 45 yards out in 2023.
“The exact same play,” Collins said. “We had practiced it a whole lot during the week and once we called it, I was ready for that one.”
As the importance of each game ramps up, Notre Dame will have to raise its level of preparation. Collins is familiar with Georgia Tech from his time at Clemson. In two games against the Yellow Jackets, Collins has recorded eight catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
“I see an aggressive group,” Collins said of Georgia Tech. “They’re going to play to the whistle, every single play. They have some athletes on their defense as well. Front-seven is probably their most talented part of the defense.
“Secondary is good as well, but there are some areas where we can attack for sure, so going into this week, just polishing the things that we messed up on last week and I think we’ll be just fine.”
Collins has also played at Mercedes Benz Stadium against Georgia Tech in the past, so Saturday won’t be too new for him.
“I love Mercedes-Benz,” said Collins. “I played there my sophomore year, actually, versus Georgia Tech as well. Beautiful stadium. I haven’t checked the weather yet, but I hope the weather down there is good, but it’s exciting to go down there and play a 5-2 Georgia Tech team. I’m excited.”
Want the latest scoop on the Fighting Irish? Sign up for our newsletter and become an ISD Premium Subscriber: Sign Up for ISD
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Essentials 2.0 Fleece Quarter-Zip Jacket
