Marty Biagi Notebook | Georgia
Notre Dame special teams coordinator Marty Biagi spoke following Friday's practice as the Irish prepare for Georgia.
On guys sticking with it and having success:
”I think you hit it right on the head in terms of they weren’t thinking about the result all the time as much as they could see whatever issues that needed to be corrected, or missed opportunities that if we did what we were supposed to, we’re able to help this team when called upon.”
On his conversation with Mitch Jeter before his 49-yard field goal:
”I think more than anything, before the kick, I looked at him when I knew it could be an option, and he gave me the head-nod that he felt good. He had had a really, really good warmup and so I think more than anything for him, after he hit the kick and hit it the way he did, (to say), ‘OK, I’m past this. This nagging injury, and I can move on and do what I need to do.’
“I think he was really full of joy about it and we all were, and we’re going to need him.”
On what he saw from Jeter in pregame:
”He was all the way back, he was hitting in the 50s and so we felt like, again with the way the ball was flying, it was going to have to be an opportunity where we knew he could show up and perform if called upon. He really had an intense focus that he wasn’t going to let any element, weather, wind, cold, whatever, affect his performance and you could see that he was really dialed in in warmup.”
On the mantra for special teams:
”We kept that mindset of Chaos Kills. I think it’s great from what Mase (Brian Mason) had built in Year 1 and talking to Coach Freeman, sometimes people want to come in and bring change and other times it’s (saying) ‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.’
“I had actually called Mase and said it would be an honor if we could keep this going, so we had a great convo and he said, ‘Absolutely. It’s not up to me; it’s the players.’
“The two phrases we use a lot is just ‘Turn it up. It’s go-time.’ Be ready to perform. And then ‘Tap the hat.’ We want to see the emotion show up after the play with a lot of excitement. It’s really our belief, it’s my belief, that execution fuels emotion. So we’re not into being fake-hype guys. But when guys execute on those plays, we want everybody going and tapping the hat or celebrating as a group. So it’s never about an individual but as a whole group.”
On keeping his nerves when fakes are called:
”I take a lot of pride in studying different head coaches’ press conferences and demeanors, so in that regard I really feel like tyring to be even-keeled, not too high and not too low because I’ve been on both sides of it. I’ve been where the play works, and I’ve been on the side where the play doesn’t work. I really just try to let our players see that, you know, when it doesn’t work let’s figure out why. But when it does work, I try and let loose. They try to always get me to be even more fiery and excited and passionate. There’s a couple of pictures I have where I think I’ve shown the guys that I’m jumping higher than Bryce (Young) when we’re celebrating as he’s coming off. I might have to keep those.”
On Marcus Freeman’s aggressive nature with fakes:
”I just think it’s a collaborative effort in all honesty. I think it’s a collaborative group effort and something where Coach Free echoes repeatedly that he wants us to be attacking and don’t want to save anything or hold back, so if it’s the right opportunity that can help us achieve team glory in the game, that’s what we’re going to do. He’s always going to make sure he feels like it’s a play that is sound but we’re realists too that they have football players, too. We try to check all the boxes.”
On what hasn’t worked this year:
”We got a reverse called back for a block in the back or tripping against Miami. We’re always ready and trying to impact the game when called upon.”
On the USC fake punt deep in their own territory:
”I think it’s something that once he has confidence and belief in the guys, you know, and he’s seen the play worked and repped over and over again, this isn’t just an off-the-hoof thought. There’s risk and reward but we also believe in our players, and so when it works, it’s credit to them. When it doesn’t, it’s my job to figure out the why.”
On Jeter’s confidence after Indiana:
”I think it was definitely a tone-setter; it wasn’t something that was late in the game or that we were just trying it. It was a needed, in-the-Playoffs type of kick. I think a lot of the team felt like, ‘OK, we’ve seen him do this. We’re ready. We want him to connect.’ When he did, I think it sparked the whole sideline. I go back to even the play that was called back. It was probably the best penalty ever called back. You look at the next play, we have to punt. I think Drayk (Bowen) forces a muff, the crowd is fired up and three plays later, Adon (Shuler) is picking it off and two plays after that, Riley (Leonard) is in the end zone. That’s true complementary football. Our guys are excited and especially when they know a play could be coming, it’s always fun to see on the sideline.”
On getting Indiana to burn a timeout because of a fake:
”Yeah, you’re thinking through all the different situations and scenarios, but it’s something that again we feel like and the players feel like we’ve accomplished whatever we needed to at that time.”
On if they wanted to force a timeout vs. Indiana:
“There’s always merit to understanding the situation, so for sure.”
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