Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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field regularly, but couldn't fully wrestle the job away from his predecessor. "Sometimes it works against him a little bit," Domsitz said. "He has a tendency to get frustrated. When Coach Kelly asked me what two things he needed to work on last winter before Malik left here, I said, 'No. 1: He's got to develop some patience and the ability to keep from being frustrated. And No. 2: Pay attention to the little things.'" Kelly said Zaire lost that attention to detail at some point during the regular season last year when it became clear that he wasn't going to see the field as a freshman. The staff adjusted the way they coached him, and the rookie adopted an approach that he would simply try to learn as much as he could while preparing for the future. Along the way, Zaire built up a good chemistry with most of the Irish wide receivers, according to newly minted offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, who coached that group last season. "The receivers in particular feel very comfortable with Malik," Denbrock said. "Not only his work ethic and the way he goes about his business, which is a good thing for any football player to emulate, but they respect his ability to throw the football down the field." Zaire showed the same ability to extend plays with his feet in practice that made Golson effective in his one season as a starter in 2012. Domsitz noted that he also has the ability to keep his eyes down the field while scrambling to look for open receivers. Kelly said Zaire is most intriguing because of his ability to elevate his performance in competitive circumstances. "When we get into game situations, he makes plays," Kelly said. "You can count on him, you can put everything on him and he's all about football." That innate confidence pays off when Zaire finds himself in pres- sure situations. Domsitz said Zaire has always been a better game player than practice player. "You've got to have that mindset that you're the best man for the job," he said. "If not, I don't see how you can go out there and compete and try to be successful. That's the ap- proach Malik has to take." Zaire will get the added benefit of a somewhat level playing field to start practice with a newcomer at quar- terbacks coach. The Irish hired Matt LaFleur to round out their staff. LaFleur said he knew very little about any of his new charges heading into their first practices together in March. It remains to be seen whether Kelly's com- ments were just a way to motivate Golson in the offseason or if he truly intends to ap- proach the quarterback position with an open mind at some point this spring. Either way, it's a safe bet that Zaire is approaching the spring prac- tices with the mindset that it's his job to take. — Dan Murphy Malik Zaire, who redshirted last fall, entered spring practice with an eye on competing for the starting job at quarterback. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA