Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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SEASON KICKOFF: WIDE RECEIVERS erage, a new look, or something they haven't seen before that they're going to have to learn to react to and still stay on the same page with the guy that's throwing the ball," Denbrock said. "More than anything they see the need in our offensive football team for some playmakers. "There's opportunities for any one of them to step into those roles and be the guy that we lean on when the bright lights are shining and it's time to make a play." tentially dynamic running back/slot contingent featuring seniors Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick, plus sophomore George Atkinson III, defenses have to concentrate on them, thereby leaving more openings for Denbrock's posi- tion group, particularly in the vertical game. Kelly explained that one way to improve the passing With an All-America tight end in Tyler Eifert and a po- A DIFFERENT OFFENSIVE DYNAMIC Fifth-year senior John Goodman is slotted as one of Notre Dame's starting wide receivers. Still, Goodman said a big part of his job this season is help- ing to prepare the next wave of talented players at his position. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL school year is going to be like, what to do, what not to do … Robby Toma has been a big help. Kudos to him. I'm so happy to be around him." Building a great program is not merely about your personal stats, but how you are able to elevate your team- mates, according to Goodman. "My role is to keep developing those guys because they're definitely not in full potential right now," said Goodman — who received his own August pep talk from former classmate and now NFL receiver Floyd about breaking out and fulfilling his potential. "They've got a long way to go. They haven't even seen this stadium full. It's teaching them day by day. As fresh- men and not knowing what's ahead really, it's something you have to instill within their mind … you don't want those guys to stray off by themselves and not really learn and know what to do. "Those younger guys have the ability to make plays, but they're shy. They don't want to go up to an older guy and say, 'How do you do this and this?' I know how that is because I was there. I didn't want to go up and bother Robby [Parris in 2008] and be, 'Hey, what do on this play and this play?' "I loved to room with Chris. Those guys would come game this year was "catch it three yards, make two people miss, and run past all of them … We've got to catch a couple of five-yard passes and turn them into 45, or we've got to run by a couple of guys, or we've got to do some things that get the ball in their hands quickly and we can get yards after." The people who might fall into that category first are the hybrid running back/slot players who can get the ball in space. "A very strong nucleus on our football team is those inside slot receivers," Denbrock said. "But I think what makes those guys more effective in the long run is the ability to get the ball down the field a little bit, too, get the defense back on their heels a little bit and guessing a little bit more than we've been doing the last couple of years." TO STEP INTO THOSE ROLES AND BE THE GUY THAT WE LEAN ON WHEN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ARE SHINING AND IT'S TIME TO MAKE A PLAY." WIDE RECEIVERS COACH MIKE DENBROCK "THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANY ONE OF THEM where sophomore Everett Golson, who appears to be gaining separation, and junior Andrew Hendrix provide more mobility than the suspended Tommy Rees to help stretch defenses and create more gaps. With the potential of more mobility at quarterback, A lot might have to do with the quarterback position, more opportunities to run option, more space for defenses to cover, it just might help get the Irish backs/slots the ball in space … which might in turn help open up the deep ball. "We got into a situation a little bit last year where into the room and open up their playbook and I'd be like, 'What do you need?' It's definitely rewarding. It's nice to teach them and see them practice every day with confidence rather than run around like chickens with their heads cut off." Neal undoubtedly will have a role in the slot. With Brown and Ferguson, it's not as clear yet out wide. Den- brock said it's a matter of internal urgency with a lot of freshmen. "When you talk about incorporating younger guys into what you're doing, there's always going to be a new cov- www.BLUEANDGOLD.com teams were crowding the line of scrimmage a lot on us," Denbrock said of the offense being somewhat handcuffed without a running threat at quarterback and a deep threat at receiver to complement Floyd. "We've worked very hard on getting ourselves in a position if teams decide to crowd the line, we can take ad- vantage of it. I think that will open up some avenues not only for those guys outside, but those inside slot guys that we think are so dynamic with the football in their hands." If the Irish offense is to become more productive with- out first-round pick Floyd, it will have to be a truly col- lective effort. ✦ PRESEASON 2012 51