Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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offensive line positions as the unit's "sixth man." He appeared at left guard against Purdue and Michigan in place of fifth-year senior Chris Watt, right tackle against Michigan State in place of sophomore Ronnie Stanley, and versus Arizona State he was rotated in at right guard for senior Christian Lombard to go against Will Sutton, one of the nation's premier defensive linemen. "He's one of the most talented freshmen I've ever seen — at any position," said fifth-year senior left tackle and two-time captain Zack Martin, who noted he never even took a single rep with the second unit, never mind the first, as a 2009 freshman. "He goes after people, he's very coachable, and he does what the coaches tell him to do. He's smart and a real big guy." The 6-5½, 317-pound Elmer said he benefited from suiting up for the Irish in spring practice. "It was huge," he said. "It's a big advantage coming into the spring. You learn a lot, and it's really helpful. But I think as much as people say about it, in my experience I think it's even understated, especially with academics. With football, it's definitely helpful. With academics … just getting in here, getting your study habits down and just learning how to do it." After contributing as a reserve this season, he and starting right tackle Ronnie Stanley could start the next three years at the two tackle positions. On the other side of the ball, defensive end Isaac Rochell served as a "Next Man In" while trying to replace sophomore Sheldon Day when the latter suffered an injury that kept him out for almost a month. Rochell said the nerves from the beginning of the season have calmed down while he learns behind one of the nation's top defensive ends, junior Stephon Tuitt. "You're behind a guy that's really super good," he said. "You're just seeing them work and seeing how they handle different situations." Catching On Quickly The trio of Corey Robinson, James Onwualu and Will Fuller has all been mixed in the Irish receiving rotation during the first half. Robinson, who joined rommate Steve Elmer on the Dean's List last spring, was even the team's leading receiver against Michigan State (three catches for 54 yards), and his frame helped draw a crucial pass interference flag in the tight 17-13 victory. Robinson and Onwualu both said they tried to memorize routes when handed the Irish playbook as early enrollees last winter. They quickly found, however, that learning the concepts and purpose of plays is more critical to making the field — and succeeding there — than simply having the routes down. "In January, I was trying to memorize routes, but then they'd put you in a different position and you're like, 'I don't understand this,'" Robinson said. "You mess it up and you get yelled at. Now it's trying to totally change my mindset from memorizing, 'the X does this, the W does this,' to more of the field concepts, the boundary concepts. "Now you can play the whole of-