Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/998819
56 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW WIDE RECEIVERS N otre Dame's No. 101 ranking last year in passing efficiency was often attributed primarily to quarterback Brandon Wim- bush's inaccuracy (he ranked 86th individu- ally in pass efficiency). To current second-year Irish offensive coordinator Chip Long, that wasn't neces- sarily a fair assessment. It became even more conspicuous this spring. "Everybody in the skill positions is mak- ing contested catches," Long praised the final week of 2018 spring drills. "I think last year you can count on one hand how many one-on-one contested balls we [caught]. "This year, it's been good seeing guys lay out and making plays for quarterbacks." The precursor might have occurred during the fourth quarter of Notre Dame's 21-17 victory versus LSU in the Citrus Bowl, after trailing 14-6. It was the finest hour for Notre Dame's 2017 receiving corps, and overall passing game. With No. 2 quarterback Ian Book working minus the team's top four pass catchers in Equanimeous St. Brown (injured in second half), Chase Claypool (December shoulder surgery) Kevin Stepherson (suspended) and Alizé Mack (suspended), the reserve cavalry came to the rescue. On third-and-19, Miles Boykin made a sen- sational 29-yard catch in traffic on a wet field. Shortly thereafter on third-and-goal, Michael Young adjusted his route and snared a six- yard strike for his first career touchdown. Then in the waning minutes with the Irish trailing 17-14, former walk-on Chris Finke opened the next Irish series with a diving 18-yard grab. One play later, Boykin made a remarkable one-handed catch-and-run down the sidelines for the game-winning score with 1:28 left in the contest. St. Brown and Stepherson are both gone, and entering their senior seasons Boykin and Finke have only 18 and 16 career catches, respectively. Young's four receptions as a rookie last year totaled 18 yards. Claypool returns with the most career re- ceptions on the roster (34), but also has drawn the ire of the staff with his lack of focus. In the Blue-Gold Game, Claypool didn't even start with the top unit — and he responded with game highs in catches (six), receiving yards (151) and touchdown grabs (two). "I was starting with the twos, and I kind of just want to show everyone that that's not my position," Claypool said afterwards. Boykin was the consistent standout of the spring while building on his Citrus Bowl MVP honor. "Miles always has been a good player, he just wasn't strong," Long said. "He'd get thrown around all the time, and now he's gotten strength in the upper body, lower body, he can get off press [coverage]. "He's as good at playing the ball in the air as anybody we have right now, and really stepped up his game." Last year the aerial attack took a back seat to a power running game that finished seventh nationally in rushing offense with an average of 269.5 yards per game. While physicality will remain a major part of the identity, the passing game and receiving corps need to take larger steps forward. "Year one we had to get our install in, they had to learn the offense," Long said. "These guys have a good base of the offense. "Now it's time to get out there and play as much as they can without the coaches on the field helping them out." ✦ CAUGHT IN THE MOMENT The receiving corps is trying to build off its Citrus Bowl success QUOTABLE: OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR CHIP LONG ON NEEDING TO HARNESS THE SKILL SET OF IMMENSELY GIFTED 6-4½, 229-POUND CHASE CLAYPOOL WITH HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD COMPETITION: "We're still counting on him to grow. He's a great talent, but like a few other guys they've got to come on and find out what's important for him. … When he decides he wants to be great, he's going to be great." Junior Chase Claypool's 34 career receptions are the most among returning Irish players, but the staff wants to see better commitment and concentration from him. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA