Aug. 14, 2005
The University of Notre Dame football team worked through their seventh practice of the preseason on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. The Irish dedicated a large portion of their workout on Sunday to special teams development (the bonnets shown in many of these pictures were used to distinguish the opposing teams during the special teams drill).
After practice, assisant head coaches John Latina (offense) and Bill Lewis (defense) spoke with the media. Some selected quotes from the coaches’ comments:
Assistant Head Coach (Offense) and Offensive Line Coach John Latina
On the progression of the offensive line in camp…
“Right now at this stage of camp I like the way we are progressing. We have an emphasis on being physical and I think our kids our taking that mentality into practice. I think being physical is very important to our football team. I think that is what the guys are trying to do at every practice, they need to get better at it, but we are improving in that area.”
On what was the most important thing former Irish offensive line coach Joe Moore taught him when they coached together in the 1980s… “How important fundamentals are. You can scheme all you want and it is important to scheme, especially in football today, but it still comes down to how well you can execute your offense. Fundamentals, blocking and tackling is what it comes down to.”
On his emphasis on athleticism during training…
“I think a lot of kids try to get big and strong, and that is important, but when you go against the caliber of teams and type of athletes we will play – they are some fast defensive ends and linebackers out there – that big, strong offensive linemen need to become more athletic as well. I think you have to do something every day to improve their athleticism and quickness.”
Assistant Head Coach (Defense) and Defensive Backs Coach Bill Lewis
On the importance of a depth chart at this time of camp…
“We haven’t reached that point yet. There will come a time, but we have not exactly pinpointed when that time will be. You have to finish the training camp part of your preparation and begin preparing for your next opponent. As a coaching staff, what we do is take the time before we make that move to develop our football team.
“There will come a time when a depth chart means something. There will be a first team and a second team. Right now, we are trying to decide who is going to fit into those spots and we are going to continue to do that for the next several days.”
On his approach to developing a secondary and the effect of youth or experience in that approach…
“Anytime you have a new group, which is the case here because I didn’t know them and they didn’t know me. I never really researched the whole operation because I didn’t care what the previous system was. What was important for us was to come in and teach our system. The approach was not whether we were young at corner or young at safety, the approach was to teach our system to all of these players who are involved in it the first time. The biggest job for me and any coach here is to be a teacher. That is my role. I’ve got a phrase that I’ve used, you can ask the defensive backs – `If you haven’t learned it, I haven’t taught it.’ That is the approach that I use day to day.”
Notre Dame will have its second two-a-day of the preseason schedule on Monday, Aug. 15, with the first practice set for 9:00 a.m.
All photos by Alan Wasielewski.