Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame Wasted No Time Preparing For Penn State
College coaches generally allow their programs about 24 hours to celebrate a big victory - or flush a disappointing defeat - before moving on to the next one.
Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame couldn’t afford that much time following their win over Georgia in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Thursday night.
Not with kickoff against Penn State in the Capital One Orange Bowl for the right to play in the National Championship less than a week away.
“By the time we got to the plane, the coaching staff had to turn our attention to Penn State,” Freeman said on Saturday. “As special as that victory was, we all must put all our effort and attention to preparing for Penn State and making sure we’re ready for this opportunity in front of us.”
Freeman noted that a lack of preparation would ensure the victory in New Orleans would be the Irish’s last of the season.
“Nobody in our program wants that, but the reality is it doesn’t matter what you’ve won,” he continued. “It’s going to be about what you’re willing to do. So, we have to understand that and put in the work necessary to achieve the result that we want.”
By Saturday, Freeman seemed to have a full grasp on the challenges that Penn State presents.
"I’ve got a lot of respect for Coach (James) Franklin and the job he’s done at Penn State and at Vandy before that,” Freeman said. “It’s a very talented, disciplined, tough football team.”
Freeman noted the Nittany Lions’ imaginative offense, led by quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen as well as tight end Tyler Warren.
“Very creative offense that utilizes a bunch of different personnels, a bunch of different formations,” Freeman said. “It’s going to force you to be extremely disciplined in terms of your eyes and your adjustments in terms of defensive football.”
Warren leads Penn State with 98 catches for 1,158 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s also run the ball 24 times for 197 yards and four more scores. He’s even thrown several passes this season.
“I think their tight end, 44 Warren, is one of the best players in college football, period, regardless of position,” Freeman said. “Very impressed by the film I’ve seen of him.”
Singleton and Allen present a lethal running back duo similar to the Irish’s with Jeremiyah Love and JD Price. The two Nittany Lions backs have combined for 2,041 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, almost evenly split. Singleton has caught 39 passes for 342 yards and five more scores while Allen has 17 receptions for 147 yards and two touchdowns.
“Both of their running backs are extremely good players and both of them are home run threats,” Freeman said. “They’re power runners, they’ve got speed, good balance, they’re tough. I think they’re extremely talented players.”
A highly-touted recruit, Allar has had a bit of an up-and-down career thus far in Happy Valley, but he has all of the physical tools you’d want in a quarterback and his trajectory seems to be pointing up. He’s completed 250 of 371 passes this season for 3,192 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven picks. He’s got six more rushing touchdowns, although he isn’t nearly the dual-threat of a Riley Leonard.
“The quarterback is playing as well as he has all season,” Freeman said. “He’s playing confident, he’s throwing the ball well and making really good decisions, staying in the pocket, and delivering good balls. So, their offense is going to present a great challenge for us.”
Freeman expects the Nittany Lions defense to present challenges as well.
“They create a lot of havoc, and it doesn’t have to be with pressure,” he said. “Their front four create havoc. They do a good job stopping the run and getting after the quarterback in the pass game.”
While Warren stands out among standouts on offense, defensive end Abdul Carter does the same on defense.
“Just like I said about the tight end, #11, the d-end Carter, he’s as good as anybody in college football at his position,” Freeman said. “He’s a talented pass rusher.”
Carter has 11 sacks on the season.
“They’ve got some guys,” Freeman said.
“I think they’re fourth in the FBS in terms of interceptions (18). They’ve got guys and it’s a good team. We’re going to have a challenge to prepare the right way and get ready for this opportunity that lies ahead.”
Fortunately for the Irish, they wasted no time getting prepared.
