Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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SEASON KICKOFF: OFFENSIVE LINE line we'll see week in and week out here," he said. "There may be a position here or there — a center, a tackle or a guard — that might be something more than we're going to see at practice, but not as a full unit. "My guys pick on me. They think I'm in love with "On a consistent level I think we'll see the best offensive Zack Martin because I compliment him so much on how well he does. Zack Martin is as good of a guy as we'll go against all season. All those guys work really hard. I think Watt is very tough. He's aggressive, does a great job and doesn't make repetitive mistakes." ✦ News & Notes Dame offensive line coach/running game coordinator Harry Hiestand, who has worked at other top programs along with whipping professionals into shape in the National Football League. What makes the situation exponentially easier for the fiery 29-year vet- • A bunch of college kids should be no match for the first-year Notre eran is the willingness even his experienced pupils have to learn. "We've talked about how hard they've worked, and you could see it [the first day of camp]," Hiestand said on Aug. 16. "I saw them and was like, 'Whoa.' You could see the difference. They had an excellent summer lift- ing weights, but also stayed in condition so they could add some weight and still have the ability to move and not just be stuck in the ground. "We have excellent leadership. We have older guys that have played, that play with enthusiasm and play hard. That's the way Coach [Brian] Kelly teaches the players here." And the players seem to be responding well to Hiestand. "He's changed up the running game a little bit and our technique," fifth-year senior center Braxston Cave said. "He's an offensive line guy. That's all he cares about. The attitude that he's brought, I think, is really going to have a great impact on this line. He's very intense. He doesn't like wasted reps. His big thing is just giving everything you've got each play and each rep you get, because you don't get it back. "I'd say we got after it a little bit more than in the past. This team is capable of taking on that kind of task." • In Charlie Weis' five years at the helm, the Fighting Irish averaged 117.20 rushing yards per game. In Kelly's first two sea- sons, the team is averaging 132.77 yards. In Weis' final three years (2007-09), Notre Dame watched its quarterbacks hit the deck an astounding 113 times (37.7 sacks allowed per season). Under Kelly and former offensive line coach Ed Warinner, who left during the offseason for a similar position at Ohio State, the Irish have sur- rendered 18 sacks per season. • Reserve linemen Tate Nichols (junior Junior tackle Tate Nichols is the biggest offensive lineman on the roster at 6-8, 320 pounds. He has suffered a string of injuries at Notre Dame, but is expected to see his first action on the field as a reserve in 2012. 48 PRESEASON 2012 ers to get a taste of live action throughout the year, the unit should be able to transition better into 2013. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND right tackle), Nick Martin (sophomore right guard) and Conor Hanratty (sophomore right guard) have yet to see the field for the Irish on Saturdays, but are expected to be broken in this season. The Irish will likely lose three projected starters at the end of 2012. Fifth-year seniors Cave (cen- ter) and Mike Golic Jr. (right guard) are out of eligibility. Senior left tackle Zack Martin still has a year left, but it wouldn't be a major surprise if he left for the NFL after getting his degree in the spring. If the Irish can find ways for the inexperienced play- — Wes Morgan BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED