Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/380743
blocker but not yet an established downfield threat, to former running back Carlisle, to speed threats Fuller and junior Chris Brown — had an opening to become Golson's favorite target. "We are all a bunch of guys with a lot to prove, a bunch of guys with talent," Carlisle said. "It's a fun op- portunity for all of us to go out there to make plays for the team." Of the plays made in the first two weeks, Fuller has made the most, in- cluding a 75-yard touchdown in the first quarter versus Rice, one of his 13 catches for 174 yards and two scores through two contests. Fuller credits the receivers around him for drawing coverage of their own, thus opening up the field for him. "Having a good balance at receiver is working out good for us because we don't have anyone that really stands out," Fuller said. "All of us can have a good day, any day." Fuller's zero-to-60 speed would not produce results if an opposing safety consistently covered him over the top, but instead Koyack or sophomore receiver Corey Robinson, standing a notch below 6-5, often draw the safety. Fuller's rapid acceleration also would not yield big plays if he could not get off the line of scrimmage cleanly. With such an inexperienced receiving corps, offensive coordinator and receivers coach Mike Denbrock has harped on clean releases for more than eight months now. Fuller cites his newfound ability to beat pressure coverage as his greatest improvement. Carlisle sees it as the pivotal lesson he had to perfect to make his transition from the back- field to the slot successful.