Pat Coogan Ready for Four Quarters of Notre Dame Football
Center Pat Coogan has almost seen it all during his career at Notre Dame. He’s faced All-Americans and played in big games, but Friday will be new as the Irish will host Indiana in the College Football Playoff.
The Hoosiers bring in the nation’s top-ranked run defense, as Indiana allows just 70.8 yards per game. In fact, Indiana is the only Divison I program that hasn’t allowed 1,000 yards rushing this year as the Hoosiers sit at 850 yards entering the trip to South Bend.
Coogan and the Notre Dame offensive line are well aware of the task at hand, which includes a ton of movement that few teams use.
“It’s definitely a great challenge for us,” explained Coogan. “They present a lot of challenges up front. A really talented group. A lot of shifts, a lot of movement, so that’s what we’ve really got to be ready for. Honestly, they put a lot of offensive lines in binds with confusion and movement and everything. So it’s been a great challenge for us and we’re really excited about the opportunity.”
What’s the key to Indiana’s success? For starters, the scheme challenges offensive lines to get downhill.
“They throw things at offensive lines that maybe they haven’t see before and it forces them to work sideways and work not together,” stated Coogan. “That’s where you see the gaps and the tackles for losses. It’s a really unique challenge for sure because not every defense does that obviously. It is unique in its own right.”
Notre Dame staying on schedule will be important on Friday as Indiana wants to create chaos up front. And Coogan knows chaos leads to tackles for loss and sacks, so the Irish offensive line needs to be sharp mentally, while also not getting frustrated with negative plays as they will happen.
“They want those negative yardage plays,” Coogan said. “That’s why they’re so good at stopping. But also for our mindset, it’s not to play fitball. We know we’re going to get movements and pressures and stunts and stuff like that.
“It’s the same mindset for offensive linemen. We’ve got to go out and play. We’ve got to be on the attack. We know we’re going to get stuffed. Bring it on. We’re going to be ready for it and that’s how we start through preparation beginning last week, but we’ve got to be on the attack as well.”
Protections and calls start with Coogan. It’s crucial he’s sharp in his pre-snap reads as the offensive line goes as his calls go.
“I take a lot of pride in that because you’ve got to get everyone on the same page and you’ve got to make sure everyone is playing five as one,” Coogan explained. “It starts right as you get to the line with communication. That’s the job as the center. It’s complicated at times, but it’s also a ton of fun because you’re that voice for everyone and you make sure that everyone is on the right page, and then when you execute and pop a big play, it’s fun all together.”
Coogan went viral earlier this month for his pregame speech to the offensive line before the Louisville game.
It’s a form of leadership to be the voice of Joe Rudolph’s group and Coogan has completely embraced the role.
“I take great pride in that, especially as a center,” stated Coogan. “You’re kind of that voice for everyone. But also being an older guy in the room and having as many starts under my belt, like that was my emphasis in the off-season to really take that jump as that leader and I think I’ve done that and I continue to do that. It’s really all of us in it together and as that breakdown guy per se, that’s kind of been a tradition we’ve done ever since I was a freshman.”
As for the strong language in his speeches, Coogan isn’t apologizing just because it was caught on video.
“My dad called me and he was like, ‘I hope grandma doesn’t have Twitter’ or something like that. Everyone loved it because that’s kind of been my passion since I was a kid. Wearing the heart on the sleeve.”
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