Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/869474
8 SEPT. 11, 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Ryan Ayers is one of the best three-pointer shooters in Notre Dame history, posting a 42.4 percent clip from behind the arc during his four- year career (2005-09). He returned to South Bend in the summer of 2016 to join head coach Mike Brey's staff after spending the previous two seasons as an assis- tant at Bucknell. He enters his second year help- ing teach the team's perimeter talent. BGI: What was the biggest thing you learned in year one? Ayers: "The biggest thing I learned is how to be a better coach — and be a better coach to help this team. Working for my third boss in three years, I was able to learn what Coach Brey values [while] working under him. "I was fortunate enough to play for him, so I knew what he expected from his players. But I learned what he expects from his coaches and what he values, especially in-game management. … One of my jobs was to know the timeout situa- tion, fouls, different tactical things like that which we all have responsibility on." BGI: Were there any challenges or obstacles you had to overcome in the first year? Ayers: "One thing you want to do with players is earn their trust. I played here, so I think they kind of knew a little bit about me, especially Steve Vasturia being from the same area, and I knew him beforehand. "But just gaining their trust as a coach and how to com- municate with them I feel was a very easy transition for myself and Coach [Ryan] Humphrey because of the type of kids we have." BGI: How has your experi- ence as a Notre Dame stu- dent-athlete helped with the transition to coaching and recruiting? Ayers: "It's definitely helped me relate to the players. I can talk to them about what Coach Brey expects, but I can also talk about what the university expects and talk about the different experiences we've shared. "It's easy to talk to our guys because I lived it. Things change with time, but Notre Dame still has its core values. No one loves this place as much as I do. I think I'm able to sell that story and where those four years can take them under Coach Brey and the university." BGI: What's it like being on the bench now as a coach compared to a player? Ayers: "I definitely wish I could go out there and put up a few shots, but it's the second best to doing that. There's no greater feeling than to wear that jersey here and represent my teammates and university. "This is the closest thing and it's almost like the feeling of hitting your shot in the Joyce Center when you're helping someone hit their shot. … It's awesome to sit on the bench and help our guys achieve the goals they set out to do." BGI: What's the difference in working with Coach Brey now compared to playing for him? Ayers: "It's slightly different, but in a good way. Now we're working together on how to make our team better, recruit a certain kid, what he expects and sees out there. He gives a lot of freedom to his players and it's earning his trust. "I've learned how to try to run a program through him. He does such a great job creating culture and teaching." — Corey Bodden Five Questions With … NOTRE DAME MEN'S BASKETBALL ASSISTANT RYAN AYERS If Georgia Runs, It's Going To Be A Long Night By Lou Somogyi No opponent on the 2017 Notre Dame schedule possesses a one-two punch at running back like Georgia. In fact, Athlon ranked Alabama as the lone team with a better running backs corps than the Bulldogs. Nick Chubb's 3,424 career rushing yards — at a ridiculous 6.4 yards per carry — rank second in school history to the iconic Herschel Walker, while Sony Michel's 2,411 yards are 10th. They combined for nearly 2,000 yards on the ground last year, with Chubb amassing 142 rushing yards and Michel 126 all-purpose yards in the 31-23 Liberty Bowl win versus TCU. Guess what is the perceived Achilles heel for Notre Dame? The Fighting Irish surrendered 182.4 rushing yards per game in 2016 to finish 72nd nationally. It marked the first time ever the program allowed at least 170 rushing yards per contest three years in a row — and that was with Isaac Rochell and Jarron Jones, both now in the NFL. The good news is Georgia's offensive line also is in flux. It must replace three linemen that combined for 87 career starts and it does not have anyone who started at the same position in 2016. Nothing makes a football team look more helpless than an inability to stop the run. Defensive line coach Mike Elston's crew will be put to the test and has an opportunity to demonstrate this year will be different from the past three. Ballyhooed O-Line Must Assert Itself By Bryan Driskell It would be unwise to make the argument that either of Notre Dame's lines can play poorly against Georgia and it result in a victory for the home team. But when looking at which line must play better in order for the Irish to come out on top, it is undoubtedly the offensive unit. For all the questions facing the defensive line, there are even more facing a Georgia offense that begins the season with zero linemen start- ing at a position they've ever started a college game before. Georgia will have a true freshman at right tackle, a converted defensive tackle at center and a 6-2 senior at left tackle. With that reality, stopping the Georgia run game will be more about the tackling ability of the linebackers and safeties than it will be the play of the line. Notre Dame will have an incredibly hard time winning if its offensive line doesn't live up to expectations. Lindy's ranked the Georgia defensive line as the nation's No. 6 unit and its linebackers No. 9, and Athlon listed the Irish offensive line as the No. 10 group. Georgia has the size, talent and depth to make Notre Dame one dimen- sional, and that would be bad news for the Irish offense. It is imperative line coach Harry Hiestand's crew — led by fifth-year senior left tackle Mike Mc- Glinchey and senior left guard Quenton Nelson — win the matchup against the Georgia front. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHICH NOTRE DAME LINE, OFFENSE OR DEFENSE, MUST HAVE THE BETTER GAME AGAINST GEORGIA? MIKE ELSTON HARRY HIESTAND Ayers returned to his alma mater last summer after spending two seasons as an assistant at Bucknell. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS