Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com AUGUST 2018 23 BY LOU SOMOGYI S econd-year offensive coordina- tor Chip Long chose his words discreetly and with tongue bit- ten down when asked about junior wide receiver Chase Claypool in the closing week of spring drills. "We're still counting on him to grow," Long said of the immensely gifted 6-4, 229-pound native of Ab- botsford, British Columbia. "He's a great talent, but like a few other guys he's got to come on and decide what's important for him. … "When he decides he wants to be great, he's going to be great." Claypool joins seniors Alizé Mack at tight end and Dexter Williams at running back as the enigmatic Notre Dame trio on offense. All three pos- sess game-breaking skills, but have either not sustained a consistent atti- tude toward competition (Claypool), achieved day-to-day durability and all-around knowledge of the game (Williams), or been immersed in off- the field issues that affected focus on the field (Mack). In other words, the threesome is not fully displaying the internal "traits" that are harped on by head coach Brian Kelly and his staff to aug- ment their vast physical potential. This year's Blue-Gold Game April 21 was another example for Claypool, whose 34 receptions are the most among returning Irish players. He be- gan the contest with the second group of receivers, and responded with game highs in catches (six), receiving yards (151) and touchdowns (85-yard recep- tion from Ian Book and later a five- yarder from Brandon Wimbush). "I was starting with the twos, and I just want to show everyone that that's not my position," Claypool said afterwards. Kelly and company would prefer not to have to resort to lighting such fires under Claypool, and the Notre Dame head coach believes the message gradually is beginning to be received. "He wasn't one of our cool, calm and collected guys last year, but he's really worked hard on that. The way he's practiced has allowed him to be much more focused," Kelly said of Claypool after the spring game. "If he continues to trend this way, we've got another big, rangy, physical wide receiver that we can put on the field." The main "flash" from Claypool came in last year 's 48-37 win over Wake Forest, which improved Notre Dame to 8-1. In the first eight games, Claypool had 174 receiving yards total (about 22 yards per game). Against the Demon Deacons alone, he had 180 (on nine catches) and could have had much more had he not dropped a long pass that would have resulted in a score. Those 180 receiving yards repre- sented 44.7 percent of his season total (402) while playing in all 12 regular- season contests prior to shoulder sur- gery in December to repair an injury incurred during practice. Claypool is beginning to grasp the "optimal zone" that Long and receiv- ers coach Del Alexander want him to find. "We talk about where the intensity level is at," Claypool explained. "It's either too low, like you're just not moving around, or too high — you're too hyped up. He wants me right in the middle, so I'm making plays, going on to the next play and when my series is done I'm off — and I can celebrate then." To do that, the coaches are attempt- ing to get Claypool to see how he can go beyond the limitations he some- times subconsciously places on himself. "There's always a mental barrier like, 'I just took five reps in a row, and I need a sub,'" Claypool said. "But then they're saying, 'Get back, get another play in!' "You're thinking in the game I'll get a sub, but in practice they want you to keep going to work on that conditioning." The proper mental conditioning is equally important. "The more excited you are, the more energy you burn," Claypool said. "In our tempo offense you have to con- serve that and get the next play in." Claypool said that playing against lessor football talent in Canada is not an alibi on why at times he might have lost concentration at the col- legiate level. "We play the same rules in my province," he said. "The rules weren't a learning curve — the speed was." As a freshman in 2016, Claypool led the Irish in special teams tack- les with 11, and made eight of the squad's 19 tackles on punt coverage. His physicality can be a weapon not only with the pass, but also in the running game. "He's a powerful guy, he's good on the perimeter in blocking and he's a strong runner," Long said. "He's done well at times high-pointing the ball. It's just being more consistent with his craft." Listening to the teachings from the staff instead of the intense tone of it is another element Claypool also is taking to heart. "They have to be hard because they want the best for me … I never take anything personally," Claypool said. With senior Miles Boykin — the most consistent performer among the Irish receiving corps throughout the spring — in the boundary (W) re- ceiver spot and explosive sophomore Michael Young on the wide side (X), Claypool might be lining up most in the slot, although he has the physi- cality to play in the boundary and the speed to line up wide. Wherever he is stationed, he needs to bring the same production and fire he did in the spring. "I think I can do that every time," Claypool said. "I told Book and Wim- bush, 'The only way they'll stop me — with all confidence, I don't want to be cocky — is if they PI [pass in- terference] me. I think my potential is limitless. I like to think of it that way, that I'll never peak." It's a Chase he will attempt to keep pursuing. ✦ LIMITLESS POTENTIAL Top returning pass catcher Chase Claypool is working to become a special player