Autry Denson Notebook: 3/27
Notre Dame running backs coach Autry Denson spoke following Tuesday’s practice.
On culture in the room:
“The good thing about what we’ve done is we’ve trained a culture. Our culture doesn’t change even though our players do. The expectations are still where they are, and the guys know where they need to be. The goal is always to exceed expectations. Nothing has changed from a culture or expectation standpoint.”
On potentially adjusting expectations with young core:
“You need them all every year. You need every last one of them. You will have an ankle here or a groin tweak there. The preparation is the same. We have to get them all ready to go.
“There’s no way to prepare to be No. 2. Every one of those guys is preparing to be the starter so when his opportunity comes, he’s ready to take advantage of it.”
On Jahmir Smith:
“He’s young. He’s physical and a big kid. He retains information at a fast rate, so that’s encouraging. Right now, every one of those guys, we’re relying on to play. He’s doing a great job of playing football and trusting the process right now.”
On pass protection:
“In high school, these guys are the best guys on the team. They aren’t trained to block a bunch because they usually have the ball in their hands. It’s also our playbook is a lot bigger.
“Understanding when to fit into the protections and the protections called takes repetitions.”
On Jafar Armstrong playing running back and receiver:
“Jafar is a big, physical and strong young man. If I can plug right here, I hope I can get him in my room full-time. I’d love to have Jafar in the room, you heard it here first.
“On offense, there are some new faces. We’re doing a good job of how to figure out how those pieces work together and see how the guys respond.”
On quarterback Avery Davis getting reps at running back:
“We’re using the spring to put guys in position to use their God-given ability. He can run and throw. We know he knows the position from a quarterback standpoint and he can catch pretty well. We’re just trying to see like what this offense looks like in regard to the different talent sets we have available to us.”
On the mentality of Dexter Williams and Tony Jones Jr.:
“They’re a year older, and they went through some adversity. They know how to respond to adversity now. They are more mature. You can see it in the way they attack the weight room, and we’ve talked about a lot of purposeful preparation.
“Preparing to play late into the season. These aren’t just spring reps. They have the experience now, so they are preparing with intentionality.”
On injuries slowing down Dexter Williams:
“If you look at Dexter, speed is his game. He had a high ankle sprain, so that’s the most limiting ankle sprain you can have. From a speed standpoint, it was something that took away from his natural game.”
On mature decisions from Williams and Jones:
“Having awareness of what’s going on in practice. Knowing when to spell each other. Knowing when Tony is going to take four reps and planning to take three reps without me having to tell them.
“Watching them correct Jahmir Smith before I can get to them because they see the game from the same perspective I am. You see the mental maturity. They’re just playing and not thinking anymore.”
On Dexter Williams taking on a more significant role:
“He needs to come to work every day and take it one day at a time. We can’t get to Saturday before Friday.”
On having a complete back:
“I would say they both are complete backs. That’s what we train every day. I’m never trying to allow my guys to rest on one thing or another. I think they are all doing a great job. You’ll see pick up a blitz, and you’ll see them miss a blitz.
“They’re doing a great job of trusting in the process and coming to work every day. Right now, it’s about getting better each day and taking advantage of each opportunity, resting and coming back ready to go for the next practice, so we don’t have wasted reps.”
On running backs not losing a fumble in 2017:
“We talk about from a perspective of we don’t do it. It’s not allowed. We do a lot of ball security drills, but I’ve been blessed that guy have bought into the process. I challenge them the way I was challenged when I was here. Fumbling is a lack of courage. None of my guys want to be seen as a guy without courage.”
On recruiting Georgia:
“It’s been fun. I’m from Florida, so there is a lot of crossover with people relocating. When you’re born and raised in Florida, it’s the belief that football was created here and anywhere else doesn’t play on our level. It’s been humbling to see how good the talent is in Georgia and have to admit to it.
“Recruiting is recruiting. It’s relationships. As long as people know you care and you’re sincere, I give them truth and allow them to choose.”
On the success of Josh Adams and offensive line helping recruiting:
“Recruiting is recruiting. I really haven’t even thought about it. It’s about going out and looking at a young man for what he brings to table and trying to make sure what we have and what we offer fits him. I spend very little time thinking about what we did last year.”