Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Navy Game Notes By Dan Murphy and Wes Morgan Tyler Eifert Is Everywhere Head coach Brian Kelly promised that he would put his All-American tight end Tyler Eifert anywhere on the field heading into the 2012 season. If there were any doubts to just how sincere that statement was, they’re gone now. The stat sheet shows a relatively quiet game for Eifert — four catches for 22 yards and one touchdown. That doesn’t tell most of the story for Notre Dame’s most versatile offensive weapon. To tab Eifert with any position is a bit of a misnomer, at least for the season-opening rout of Navy. He lined up as a fullback almost as often as he did at tight end. He also spent a healthy portion of his day away from the line of scrimmage as both a slot receiver and a split end. “We have a lot of different packages with our tight ends and that’s good. I’m just happy we got three of us out there,” Eifert said. “With the way the game is changing and evolving that’s the thing to do now. If you have guys that can play like we do in the tight end room that’s a very viable option.” Sophomores Ben Koyack and Troy Niklas complemented Eifert at the tight end position. They helped add considerably to Notre Dame’s new one-size-fits-all offensive package that makes it nearly impossible for opposing defenses to consistently get the proper personnel on the field. A season ago, Kelly and the Irish used wide receiver Michael Floyd in any position they could. The goal there was to find ways to get the ball in his hands. That’s not necessarily the case with Eifert’s wide variety of jobs. For example, Eifert regularly motioned from wide receiver to fullback in short-yardage situations for the Irish. That move gave the Navy defense one too many cornerbacks and one too few linebackers on the field to match up with Notre Dame’s formation. The Irish took advantage of that numbers game on goal-line touchdown runs by both senior Theo Riddick and sophomore George Atkinson III. In both cases, Eifert sealed an oncoming defender to give the ball carrier a clean look at the end zone. “When you're utilizing him as a wide receiver as well as somebody who could block coming out of the backfield, you have a unique player,” Kelly said after the game. “We think we have a very special player that we want to utilize his talents. That’s why he does that many things and does them so well.” Of course, that receiver to fullback decoy doesn’t work if Eifert isn’t also a threat in the passing game. He proved nothing changed there by manhandling his defender on two consecutive plays during the first half, the second of which was his lone touchdown catch. On that play, Eifert made Navy cornerback Parrish Gaines looks much smaller than the 6‑2, 196 pounds he’s listed as on the team’s roster. “We practiced it a lot, running those fades in the end zone, so I’d better be good at it now,” Eifert said. No Sharp Corners Yet Junior Bennett Jackson and freshman KeiVarae Russell did little to quell concerns about the Irish cornerback situation in their first career starts. Navy finished the 2011 season as the second-worst passing offense in the country. Junior quarterback Trey Miller is well ahead of changing that after throwing for 192 yards against the Irish and completing 14 of his first 16 pass attempts. Miller, making only his second career start, found well-cushioned wide receivers consistently in the team’s surprise spread formation and while also throwing out of the traditional flexbone option alignment. Jackson and Russell each lost receivers behind them at different points during the game. What makes the situation more worrisome is the Midshipmen were also playing without their two starting wide receivers. Senior Brandon Turner violated team rules and didn’t make the trip, while junior Matt Aiken missed the game with a knee injury. Still, head coach Brian Kelly said the glass was half full in the secondary after getting two young players a full game of experience. “I thought they did some great things,” he said. “I’m really excited about their ability to go out there and compete. The learning experience that they got today was so big for us as we move on now to our next challenge.” On the bright side for Notre Dame’s defense, the new contributors at safety — sophomore Matthias Farley and fifth-year senior Dan McCarthy — appeared to hold their own against the pass and the run. Farley made his first career start in the hybrid outside linebacker role that safety Jamoris Slaughter played against Navy and other option teams in the past. “I am really pleased with Matthias’s ability to play disciplined football at a very crucial position for us on the defense,” Kelly said. “He did a nice job. He learned a lot today.” Warm Welcome Prior to leaving South Bend last week, head coach Brian Kelly told reporters he would feel more comfortable staying on campus for the team’s first game rather than traveling to Dublin. With a 50-10 win and a successful few days on the Emerald Isle in his pocket, Kelly changed his tune in the post-game press conference. The coach said he and his players were overwhelmed with the hospitality and friendly people. “We’ve got it knocked out now,” Kelly said when asked by a local reporter if the logistical challenges of the trip were worth the payoff. “We’ll be back anytime you ask us.” The unique plexiglass bowl of Aviva Stadium provided some unique views, vibes and experiences. The most notable of which was probably the fan who parked himself in the end zone for several minutes during a Notre Dame drive before any security officials thought to usher him elsewhere. The majority of the crowd was rooting for the “hometown” Irish despite the fact they were in their away whites. Notre Dame’s players said they enjoyed not only the game-day atmosphere, but also the environment during their stay. “I love Ireland,” sophomore defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt said. “I wish I could come over here just on a vacation. It’s a wonderful experience. I’m truly blessed to be here. It’s breathtaking.” Miscellaneous Notes • There were 21 Notre Dame players that saw game action for the first time in their careers, including 14 that took the field at some point in the first quarter. Sophomore wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, who did not play in 2011, hauled in his first reception and finished with two catches for 49 yards. Although he played in 12 games at outside linebacker last fall, sophomore tight end Troy Niklas also recorded his first catch — a 29-yarder in the third quarter that set up a three-yard rushing touchdown by sophomore George Atkinson III that gave Notre Dame a 33-10 lead. Freshman wideout Justin Ferguson also registered his first catch in the fourth quarter, and senior slot receiver Robby Toma added his first rushing touchdown. Freshman cornerback KeiVarae Russell was the first freshman in Notre Dame history to start at that position in a season opener. • Notre Dame rushed for 293 yards, its highest total since 2003 at Stanford when the Irish totaled 320 yards on the ground. The program has won the last nine games when it put up at least 200 yards. The last time the Irish were on the losing end despite hitting that mark was in 2007 against the Midshipmen. • Sophomore defensive end Stephon Tuitt’s 77-yard fumble recovery that was returned for a touchdown in the second quarter was the third longest in school history and the longest since safety Steve Lawrence had a 79-yarder in 1985. Frank Shaughnessy holds the program record with a 107-yard return against Kansas in 1904. Neither was 303 pounds like Tuitt. In the last 17 meetings between Notre Dame and Navy, there have been eight total defensive touchdowns scored by the two teams. Tuitt’s was the first since Toryan Smith blocked a punt for the Irish and took it to the house in 2008. • Sophomore quarterback Everett Golson became the 21st signal-caller to start for Notre Dame since 1985. During that span, Notre Dame has gone 15‑6 in games directed by a first-time starter under center. • Each of the last six games a Brian Kelly coached squad has played with a first-time starter at quarterback it has won. With Golson’s performance against Navy, Kelly is 3-0 with newbies at QB at Notre Dame (Dayne Crist in 2011 and Tommy Rees in 2010).