Two straight days of practice, and two great videos coming from our friends at UND.com and Fighting Irish Digital Media.
With another fast-paced day of practice, it’s easy to see that even in just helmets, it’s a very competitive landscape out there at the Culver Academies practice fields. The depth chart looks two and three deep at some key positions that give Brian Kelly some competition that he’s never had in his four seasons in South Bend.
As usual, here’s some over-analysis based on the practice snippets we’ve seen.
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[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBUQkvpI008&w=560&h=315%5D
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0:15 — You know how you know football is here? Another Jack Nolan weather report. It must’ve been a nice change of pace to get some overcast skies after the scorcher Notre Dame opened up with.
0:40 — White top on BK is much better than that mustard-looking, all-gold getup he had on for practice one. It’s not Under Armour’s fault, I don’t think a brand out there can make that color look good.
(Respect the fist bump with Cody Riggs (2). I’m high on what the Florida transfer can bring to the Irish secondary.)
0:50 — A quick look at Joe Schmidt (38) and Austin Collinsworth (28) doing drill work. Both should be big contributors this year.
0:55 — If anybody wants to bring me over to the Culver Academy challenge course, I’m totally in. Here’s their description for the High Ropes Course:
The flagship of our high courses is definitely the Double Decker High Course. With 16 elements and 2 zip wires, participants have the freedom to choose a path based upon their personal levels of comfort. The size and structure of the course allows for participants to confront their fears together, in an unforgettable group experience, Elements are attached to Utility Poles, cables, lumber and ropes between 15 and 40 feet off the ground.
Culver also has a 50 ft. Climbing Tower with zip wire, a Pamper Pole, Flying Squirrel and Crate Climb as options for your group’s teambuilding retreat.
I expect some fun snippets if FIDM is rolling out another preseason Strong & True video.
1:30 — BK takes some time to coach up Malik Zaire (8) during stretch.
1:42 — And that’s Everett Golson (5) breaking down the team to open practice. Love that Zaire walks in right behind him.
2:04 — Our first look at Brian Kelly, wide receivers coach. He works to disrupt Torii Hunter (16) and Justin Brent (11).
2:20 — He’s been forgotten in the chaos that was triggered by Blake Barnett’s recruitment, but DeShone Kizer (14) looks the part of a young stud quarterback.
2:22 — Golson delivers a quick out to DaVaris Daniels (10)… without the laces. (Before we panic, on quick throws that’s bound to happen.)
2:24 — You can see more from Brian VanGorder here, but he certainly looks like a guy that coaches with a laser-like focus.
2:50 — A replay from practice one (caught you guys!), here’s Corey Robinson (88) making a big catch even with a DB draped all over him. Edited — As this apparently ISN’T a replay, just another good catch.
2:55 — Riggs doesn’t get Daniels much room as he catches a well-contested pass.
3:03 — Another day, another running back working from the slot as a receiver. We’ll see if it means anything come August 30, but it’s certainly
3:06 — Oh boy. Justin Brent (11) got fellow freshman Nick Watkins (19) all turned around off the jam, getting behind him from the start and beating Watkins over the top.
3:15 — A nice play by Drue Tranquill (23), getting a bump on Durham Smythe (80) as he runs his route. Yesterday, we saw Tranquill conceded inside position and lose a rep. He did a nice job here not to repeat that mistake.
3:20 — That’s Sheldon Day (91) absolutely blowing up a running play.
3:28 — Questioning Malik Zaire’s arm strength? That’s a pretty impressive rocket he unleashed down the sideline on the move.
3:33 — Rolling left, Golson feathers in a perfect throw to Amir Carlisle (3) who makes a diving catch in front of Eilar Hardy (4).
3:36 — Here Golson mixes in his fastball to Smythe, while Zaire throws a high ball to Robinson than KeiVarae Russell (6) breaks up.
3:56 — Good to see the Irish offense attack the perimeter, as Chris Brown makes a catch on the boundary. Blink and you might miss Elijah Shumate (22) working what looks like a first-team rep.
4:00 — Zaire over-shoots walk-on receiver Eric Lee (37) and Eilar Hardy gets an interception.
4:05 — Golson hit Robinson on a nice inside route, but you see the difficulty Matt Hegarty (77) is having with Sheldon Day on the interior. Hegarty was the one that lost the rep earlier to Day as well, though that’s hardly an indictment.
4:25 — Heckuva throw by Zaire, hitting C.J. Prosise on the deep crossing route.
4:30 — Hey Greg Bryant — make cuts like that and it’ll be a pretty exciting season.
