Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 22, 2022 59 IRISH IN THE PROS BY TODD D. BURLAGE F ormer Notre Dame and current Los Angeles Chargers safety Alohi Gil- man made a strong case Oct. 9 that his first start with the NFL franchise shouldn't be his last. A 2020 sixth-round draft pick, Gil- man intercepted a pass from the Cleve- land Browns' quarterback Jacoby Bris- sett in the end zone with 2:49 remaining in the game and the Chargers leading 30-28. At the very least, the interception on a third-and-7 from the Chargers' 9-yard line kept the Browns from try- ing a go-ahead chip-shot field goal. At most, it kept Cleveland out of the end zone, and it sealed the 2-point win for the Chargers. Gillman's interception came along with 7 tackles and a career-high 67 de- fensive snaps, which helped to earn him a game ball in the postgame from Char- gers head coach Brandon Staley. "It was one of those late downs, sprint-out runs [the quarterback] got out of the pocket. I kind of baited him into throwing it," Gilman explained of his second career interception. "[Bris- sett] took a couple of steps forward, and me and him are looking eye to eye. I fell back in the window and he threw the ball [right to me]." Before his first start and breakout performance against the Browns, Gil- man had logged 50 snaps through the first four Chargers games. So does a game ball come with a sec- ond start? "I think that it's going to be week to week," Staley said. "We're going to let [Gilman and four-game starter Nasir Adderley] continue to compete and try to put our best combination out there." In his third season with the Chargers, Gilman has shown steady improvement with the franchise. After a nondescript, 7-tackle rookie season in 2020, Gilman earned more playing time in 2021 and responded with 37 tackles and an important game-sav- ing interception against Chiefs quarter- back Patrick Mahomes last September. Through five games this season, Gil- man had 10 tackles. BACK IN BUSINESS After suffering a serious ankle in- jury in 2020, former Notre Dame All- American and current Baltimore Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley returned to the field Oct. 9, in a time-share role against the Bengals. This was Stanley's first game of this season and only his second since suf- fering the ankle injury that required two major surgeries. Stanley explained after the 19-17 Ra- vens win at home that he was happy to be back on the field and in a contribut- ing role, even if his snaps were limited for his own protection. "I thought I played pretty good for the snaps that I had," said Stanley, who received a standing ovation in pregame introductions at M&T Bank Stadium. "I just went in with zero doubts in my ability, and I think that was the big dif- ference from last year, to be going in fully confident." Stanley, a first-round draft pick (sixth overall) in 2016, played in only one game in 2021 before returning to the injured list and undergoing more surgery. "Everything feels good, a little sore- ness but nothing major," Stanley said. "I think it's only going to get better from here." ✦ Gilman's interception in the end zone against the Cleveland Browns with 2:49 remaining helped secure a 30-28 victory for his Chargers Oct. 9. PHOTO BY MIKE NOWAK/COURTESY LOS ANGELES CHARGERS Alohi Gilman Makes Good On His First Career Start ACCOMMODATIONS Call 877-630-8768 to advertise in Blue & Gold Illustrated! MEMORABILIA M A R K E T P L A C E NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL GAMES on VHS or DVD for sale, from 1928 to present. Contact Peter Rahas at 7700 Golden Filly St., Las Vegas, NV 89131 or call 1-702-395-2974 The "Rockne" B&B Newly renovated rental home available for all events in the Notre Dame/South Bend area. Often called "The Rockne House," it is located on Rockne Drive, just 1.1 miles from ND stadium. The home features a Notre Dame museum-like atmosphere, from vintage Rockne to present day items. Three bedrooms, sleeps 10-12 with two full baths. CONTACT AUGIE'S LOCKER ROOM 574-277-NDND (6363) kyleaugustine1@icloud.com IRISH IN THE NFL: WEEK 5 HIGHLIGHTS • Julian Love (Played at Notre Dame from 2016-18), S, New York Giants: Started and made 7 tackles with a forced fumble in the Giants' 27-22 win over the Packers … Has re- corded 36 tackles with 1 sack and 1 forced fumble in five games for 4-1 New York. • Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Gi- ants: Notched 3 tackles and 1 pass broken up in the Giants' 27-22 win over the Packers … Has played in two games with 5 tackles and 1 pass broken up for 4-1 New York. • Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Ange- les Rams: Started and made 6 catches for 41 yards in the Rams' 22-10 loss to the Cowboys … Has 18 catches for 181 yards in five starts for 2-3 Los Angeles. • Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins: Started and made 1 catch for 1 yard and added a 1-yard touchdown run in the Dol- phins' 40-17 loss to the Jets … Has started all five games for 3-2 Miami and made 6 catches for 50 yards, to go with his 1-yard rushing TD.