Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1482992
28 NOV. 5, 2022 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED HEAD COACH MARCUS FREEMAN … On Notre Dame's three-tight-end sets: "It's more so it's just everybody's identity on board with that identity to win. If that gives us our best chance to move the ball, running the ball, and at times being able to throw it out of 13 personnel, that's what this team is on board with. "Whatever it takes to win. And that's why you love coaching these guys. They're unselfish and willing to do whatever it takes." On getting fired up at of- ficiating: "I thought it was the wrong call in the moment. I thought we didn't sub and they subbed and I didn't think they should be holding the ball. But they explained to me that we had a guy come on the field a couple yards and go back. And when we do that and they sub at the same time, they've got to hold the ball. "It's more of a reaction to what I see and not intentional. Just a reaction. I didn't think they should have held the ball, but after they explained it to me, totally understood." On a third blocked punt in two games: "It's very similar to how you try to run the ball when they know you're going to try to run the ball. You can't do the same exact thing, but you have to spend time trying to attack the deficiencies of the opponent. And then also make sure you're not putting yourself at the risk of getting faked. "That's the big challenge. We got to make sure, at some point, somebody's going to try to fake on us and we've got to make sure we're ready for it. I think our guys are. We're prepared." On Brandon Joseph's pick-six: "To start the game, it was huge. To start the game on defense and the very first play to get a pick-six, trust me, that's how you want to start if you can. And so, it was good." On adjusting to Syracuse's backup quarterback: "We were really trying to pressure the backup quarterback. He started throwing the ball pretty well. And so we said, 'OK, let's hold off on the pressure and make sure we're covering, we're playing a little bit more coverage.' "That adjustment was big in the second half to be able to get out of some of those pressures and play more coverage." On wide receiver Deion Colzie playing a role: "I'm proud of him because it's a reflection of practice. Everything I keep saying is you build confidence in practice, and he had a great week of practice. "And for him to go out and have a couple of catches and make some plays and get a little bit more playing time, it re- inforces the things I say in that, hey, practice is so important, right? And what we do in prac- tice will get you those opportu- nities in a game." SENIOR SAFETY BRANDON JOSEPH … On adjusting to Syracuse's quarterback change: "At the end of the day, we were just fol- lowing [defensive coordinator Al] Golden's plans. We knew what they were preparing for. They were both pretty similar quarterbacks in terms of they both had the ability to run and throw. "We just looked to our coaches and trusted the game plan." On his pick-six: "I was just doing my job. I dropped down in the zone, and the quarterback threw it right to me. I took it. That's pretty much that. I didn't even have one in high school. It's the first of my career. " T h a t's why yo u saw m e pointing and going straight over to my mom. We have been talk- ing about this since Day 1. For it to be my first pick-six and to go celebrate with [my mom and dad] was huge." RUNNING BACK AUDRIC ESTIME … On Logan Diggs' perfor- mance: "Logan is my brother. He's literally my brother from another mother. He's my roommate. We can't be any closer. We're always trying to figure out ways we can push each other every day. "We just have that bond that's unbreakable. No matter who is having a bad day or bad game or bad week, we're there. We just always feed off each other." On Notre Dame's heavy personnel: "Coach Freeman al- ways emphasizes we are an offensive and defensive line team. Our offensive line played its tail off. "… They were just all blocking all game and doing great. That did show our identity today." FROM THE LOCKER ROOM Head coach Marcus Freeman and the Irish are now 3-1 in four games — three against ranked foes — away from the friendly confines of Notre Dame Stadium. PHOTO BY JOSHUA BESSEX