Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/187176
After starting all 13 games as the right tackle in 2012, senior Christian Lombard transitioned to right guard this season. Photo by Bill Panzica "It had to go away," he said. "It wasn't really a choice. The butterflies had to go." In 2011, Lombard served as a utility man of sorts as the team's sixth offensive lineman and first off the bench. Kelly inserted him into the starting lineup a year ago as the right tackle, with Mike Golic Jr. returning at right guard. During this past fall camp, Lombard moved over to his left one position and became the starting right guard, a switch that allowed the 6-5, 318-pound Stanley to take the field. "We're only a few games in, but it's going to be different having different guys in there," Watt said. "Ronnie has stepped up and has done a great job for us so far. He's really only a freshman, and Lombard being at a new position, he's done a great job with the adjustment." When asked about improving upon last year's disparity between the two sides, Lombard said the focus was on improving as a unit rather than the right side catching up to the left side. "We wanted to get better on the right side of the line and come in every day and make sure we're communicating and trying to get better, [but it was] not really a point of emphasis," he said. Kelly said he has mostly been pleased with Lombard's transition. "We've been really — we gave up a sack late [against Oklahoma] that we should have picked up," Kelly said. "But [Lombard's] understanding of picking up inside stunts, I think he's really grown a lot this year, Christian, at the guard position. "We like the progress that Christian has made at the guard position." After enduring three consecutive performances with fewer than 100 rushing yards, Notre Dame burst out with a season-high 220 yards on the ground, led by junior George Atkinson III's 148. If a performance like that is to become a norm as it was during 2012 (the Irish rushed for 200-plus yards seven times a year ago), it will require a staunch performance week in and week out, not just from the left side or the right side, but rather from one cohesive unit. "I think we are a great offensive line," Stanley said. "We fight every game, and we're a very smart offensive line and we still have a lot to learn, and we're on our way to being a great offensive line and one of the best in the country." ✦