Well, it’s finally that time of year. (Again.) Let’s get to over-analyzing UND.com practice videos!
With the Irish taking the practice field bright and early Monday morning, our friends at UND.com released their first practice video of the new year. Let’s spend an unhealthy amount of time talking about what we see here:
Enjoy.
0:06 -- Wha??? That’s not Jack Nolan. You’re right, it’s Megan Bastedo, our newest reporter for Fighting Irish Digital Media! With fancy diplomas from Notre Dame and Syracuse, I think it’s safe to say that she’s got us covered, delivering us the sights and sounds of spring practice.
A little disappointed that we didn’t get an indoor weather report (you know Jack would’ve worked one in), but all in all a great start by Megan.
In case you couldn’t tell, this is all in good fun. You could? Okay. Just making sure.
0:26 -- Brian VanGorder and Brian Kelly talk presumably about practice plans. Gotta love the color copier being utilized. And the green and gold. Well played.
0:32 -- New paint job for the Loftus turf? It looks good.
0:35 -- Quarterback Everett Golson stretches his hip flexor.
0:39 -- Our first look at Jarrett Grace and his surgically repaired broken leg. He’s without a helmet, but good to see him getting loose with the team.
0:44 -- Recognize the guy with secondary coach Kerry Cooks? It’s new graduate assistant Kyle McCarthy. The former Irish captain has hung up the NFL pads and begun his college coaching career. Standing behind them is David Grimes, another former Domer as well.
0:50 -- Kelly talks things through with new offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock. Walking behind them is new quarterback coach Matt LaFleur.
0:56 -- Addressing the team, Kelly talks about precision and speed during his introductory remarks. Interestingly enough, he also talks about some new coaching points, likely infused by VanGorder and LaFleur, who bring some great experience to the program.
“Attention to detail. Let’s start fast and get this thing rolling,” Kelly said.
Also worth noting: That’s former walk-on linebacker Joe Schmidt (38) breaking down the team. Look fast enough and you’ll see Schmidt anchoring the No. 1 defense at inside linebacker as well.
1:37 -- Golson works the zone read with Tarean Folston (25). That’s exactly one more time than we saw that play last season.
1:43 -- Golson hits Chris Brown (2) on the inside screen before the offense gets down the field. If you are being overly obsessive, we get a hint at what the first-team offensive line looks like.
Mike McGlinchey (68) is lined up at right tackle. Christian Lombard (74) is at right guard. We see Ronnie Stanley (78) kickout out on the blindside at left tackle and then Steve Elmer working back towards the middle of the field (79), while Matt Hegarty (77) runs down the field.
Is that the No. 1 offensive line right now? Probably.
1:46 -- The fiery intensity of BVG is palpable.
1:53 -- Working pass rush drills are Ishaq Williams (11), Jarron Jones (94), Sheldon Day (91) and Romeo Okwara (45). That very well could be the Irish’s four-man front, with Day shifted inside to defensive tackle.
1:56 -- Don’t faint. That’s Greg Bryant (1) and Folston (25) working at the same time. That doesn’t mean they’re playing together, but just doing a drill.
1:58 -- Max Redfield (10) certainly looks the part.
2:00 -- Don’t just focus on Golson making the throw. Be happy that Malik Zaire (8) is taking the rep right next to him, throwing against air.
2:05 -- Harry Hiestand is ordering around his troops.
2:10 -- Folston breaks a run against air defense.
2:13 -- Really nice work by KeiVarae Russell (6), breaking up a pass to Chris Brown.
2:16 -- Gotta keep your feet, Justin Brent (11).
2:20 -- That’s more Chris Brown than we saw all of last year. He makes the catch in front of Cole Luke (3).
2:23 -- Greg Bryant has some nice hands. Let’s see if the Irish can throw the ball to the running back this year.
2:26 -- A nice bullet from Golson to Ben Koyack (18).
2:29 -- Ditto on the throw from Zaire to Brown, who catches the ball in front of Matthias Farley (41) and Schmidt (38).
2:30 -- That’s a very nice job by Zaire making that throw on the run.
2:38 -- And Jaylon Smith (9) catches an overthrown ball and takes it back for a touchdown.