Notre Dame Practice Report: Oct. 20 (Pt. 2)

Offensive Observations

The running backs focused on pass protection during the individual period. The offense showed more single back formations in the last contest than two-back sets, so the backs have to be prepared to protect the pocket.

Theo Riddick attacked the rusher aggressively, but he gave up too much of the outside and created a lane to the quarterback.

Steve Paskorz made a great stick on his rep and stunned the rusher.

“Where has that been,” running back coach Tony Alford shouted. “That’s how you do it!”

Armando Allen used good hands and feet on his rep. He may not have the most size in the backfield, but he’s been solid in pass pro.

Jonas Gray got nice and low when it was his turn, but he gave up the edge like Riddick.

Robert Hughes’ size allows him to make great contact and he plays disciplined. He needed to hunker down more on his rep, though, to get better leverage.

OL vs DL (1-on-1 Drill):

• DT Ethan Johnson was able to easily get the edge around OG Andrew Nuss with a club and quick swim. “I just wasted 20 minutes of my life,” offensive line coach Frank Verducci said in reference to the individual period following Nuss’ rep.

• DE John Ryan started to get control of OT Sam Young’s outside shoulder, but Young was able to regain his ground and keep Ryan outside of the pocket

• DE Kerry Neal engaged OT Matt Romine on a bull rush and grabbed cloth to gain control. Next he pulled Romine towards him and ripped outside to stay on course to the quarterback.

• Johnson exposed his chest early on a rep against C/OG Dan Wenger and the OL took advantage of it by pressing him out.

• Ryan struck Young right down the center to get him moving back, but he needed to get off of the block at the end.

• Neal was able to beat OT Paul Duncan off the line while the OL was still getting into his set. He then slapped the outside arm and clubbed back inside after getting too deep in the pocket.

• Wenger was able to keep DT Sean Cwynar in front of him and kept his hands active on an attempted spin move by the DL.

WR vs DB (1-on-1 Drill):

• CB Gary Gray lined up tight in press coverage on WR Golden Tate. Tate was able to step cleanly outside of him and worked back in on a deep slant for the grab.

• S Sergio Brown stayed tight to WR Duval Kamara from the slot position and played good defense on a corner route.

• CB/S Jamoris Slaughter stayed step for step with WR Deion Walker on a fly route.

• CB Raeshon McNeil mirrored WR John Goodman on a deep slant. The coverage was so precise that the quarterback didn’t even throw the ball. “Let’s go, Rae,” McNeil’s teammates shouted from the sideline following a quality rep.

• CB Robert Blanton must’ve broken up a pass in the end zone due to the celebration that followed. After his rep came a leap in the air and he shouted the same line that was used last Tuesday after Gray’s tight coverage on a slant – “And it’s that (expletive) easy!”

The defense showed up this week during the drill much better than the previous week.

Game Prediction

This is a Notre Dame team that has fought to the very end in each of the last five contests. They’ve been longing for a game where they’re not in the same predicament of needing to make a final play to win the game, and I think this is the week they do so.

The Eagles always come into Notre Dame stadium ready to go, but the Irish offense will stay hot and score more points than they have all season. All streaks must come to an end and breaking this one will help Notre Dame’s confidence as they’re now in the second half of the season.

Notre Dame – 38

Boston College – 20

(Last game’s pick: ND 30 – USC 28 [Season picks: 4-2])