Brian Polian Special Teams Notes

Notre Dame special teams coordinator Brian Polian is back at Notre Dame and eight months into the job he has a good grasp on the recruiting scene, but also his special teams units.

On Recruiting

“It’s been hectic. I am not used to recruiting 2019s. The process has sped up in the time I have been away from Power Five recruiting. It’s sped up through the recruiting, the high schools, the camps, and all the evaluations. It’s also sped up with the NCAA moving a signing day into December.

“We’re recruiting the heck out of 2018s, but we’re also identifying ‘19s. Come September 1st, we can text and email. The speed in which the process moves is taking a little getting used to.”  

“Competitive, which I enjoy. Great personality and there is no BS. He is a lot like Kevin Sumlin in my time with him. Coach is a great communicator, and he tells you exactly what he wants and his vision to let you do your job. When something is done well, he will tell you. If he see’s something he doesn’t like, he will come tell you.

“It’s easy to work that way when the lines communication are open, and he gives you the freedom to do your job. When he can help, he steps in and helps.”

On Message to Special Teams unit

“We need to be sound. We can’t make the type of mistakes in close games that can cost us games. We can’t make the catastrophic mistake. We have to win the battle of field position, and that’s been my deal.”

“He’s very young, but he’s very twitchy. That will be a decision over the next week. If he goes, then he has to be out there a bunch. You can’t play a freshman for just punt return because that doesn’t make sense. If he’s not quite ready, then we keep him in the minor leagues and get him ready.

“There are guys like (Greer) Martini, (Drue) Tranquill, and (Durham) Smythe that you will see on units. There are difference makers, core guys that are going to be on three or four units, and then there are role players, who have to be on one or two units for a specific role.”

“I found a group of about four or five. Dexter (Williams), (Austin) Webster, (Chase) Claypool, Shaun Crawford, (Julian) Love. Love has been really good and a nice surprise for me. He’s exceeded my expectations for what we’re going to get out of him. He’s going to show up on a bunch of stuff too.”

“I think Justin has had a nice camp so far. There are always technical things we can tweak a little bit. We backed him up as far as 52 yards, and he’s made it. He seems to have a little bit of pop. I’m tying to be very careful with him. There is constant communication on how he is feeling.”

On Tyler Newsome

“Trying to get Tyler to understand a 44-yard fair catch is a big win. The 55-yard line drives have to go away. If he is going to mishit a ball and it’s a 37-yard fair catch, don’t boo. I will be high fiving him. I’d rather have a 37-yard fair catch than a 55-yard line drive down the middle of the field. That’s a hard ball to cover.

“He has worked really hard this camp. There are a few technical things we are trying to shore up. The last three or four days he has been consistent. I feel good about where his progress is headed.”

On Jon Doerer and kickoff duties

“He is the leader in the clubhouse, but we’re not quite there yet. I want to put him in the stadium with some people around. He’s done a nice job on the practice field. It went from me on the side to everyone watching him. I want to see what it looks like Notre Dame Stadium with some people around. You can never replicate 80,000, but we have to try and keep putting him pressure situations.”