Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Under the Dome Max Redfield Waits For Opportunity Next to consensus five-star outside linebacker Jaylon Smith, freshman safety Max Redfield might have been Notre Dame's most heralded member in its 23-man class last February. That's why his absence on defense has led to questions from Irish followers about his development. According to head coach Brian Kelly, there is no cause for alarm. "He's done very well," Kelly said. "Let's just take [freshman running back] Tarean Folston and Max Redfield, two very gifted young men. Tarean has had to wait for his chance, and he's getting more of it as the season progresses. Max has 10 times as much on his plate at that position than Tarean Folston … in terms of coverage checks and formation adjustments and communication. "He's going to be a dynamite Redfield has not seen the field as much as many expected when he player for us. But there's so much signed with the Irish 10 months knowledge in our system and the ago, but head coach Brian Kelly way we play, because we are a twosaid he will be a "dynamite" deep team." Redfield has primarily contributed player for Notre Dame. photo by bill panzica on the kickoff coverage and kickoff return units, and had made 10 tackles in the 10 games he has played heading into the regular-season finale at Stanford. At safety, he has apprenticed behind four players, senior Austin Collinsworth and junior Matthias Farley on one side, and junior Eilar Hardy and sophomore Elijah Shumate on the other. "Playing deep safety for us is the most difficult thing that a freshman can do, maybe outside of quarterback," safeties coach Bob Elliott said in August. "When I worked for Hayden Fry he would say, 'We're baking a big pie in training camp, but we're only going to serve one slice per game.' It's hard for young guys to bake the big pie and remember all of it. It's a lot easier in game day when we slice a portion of that pie out and use only that." Redfield admitted to feeling frustration for not adapting quicker when the media last spoke to him in October, but Kelly said the progress is gradually evolving. "If we were a close-the-middle-of-the -field, cover-one team, he would probably have been standing back there in week one," Kelly said. "But that's not our system. We are a two-deep team, and there's a lot going on. "He's learned a lot, he's grown a lot, and he's at a position now where he's starting to feel pretty comfortable." ATTENTION IRISH FANS Packages are available for all Notre Dame home games during the 2014 season 2014 Opponents Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Oct. 4 Rice Michigan Stanford Future Dates announced soon Packages Include: * Game Ticket * Hotel Please visit Diamondtravel.com 602-870-9197 26 years in business ILLUSTRATED 2013 Holiday Gift Guide For Dozens Of Great Gift Ideas, Visit BlueGoldOnline.com