Marcus Freeman evaluates Drew Pyne's progress since becoming starter

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is leading the Fighting Irish on a three-game win streak that began when quarterback Drew Pyne took over the starting job almost a month ago. As the team preps to face Stanford on Saturday, Freeman described the growth and progress he has seen from the third-year player.

“He’s starting to make some plays where he’s improvising a little bit,” Freeman said on Monday. “That comes with confidence. When you start making the right decisions, you take care of the football, you’re starting to see him make plays.

“What you’re also seeing is some receivers and a tight end that make him look really good. I’ve always said it, quarterbacks will get praise and take the blame for certain areas that they don’t necessarily have to.”

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Versus BYU last weekend, Drew Pyne did throw one interception but his final stat line was impressive and enough to pull out the 28-20 win. He completed on 20 of 28 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. It was also the first game that he hasn’t taken a sack in this season.

As Freeman alluded to in his comments about Pyne, the quarterback does have a major asset in the tight end room in Michael Mayer. Through Week 6, Mayer has 351 receiving yards on 33 catches and five scores. He’s not only one of the best tight ends in the country but one of the best receivers overall as well.

Freeman denies making wrong choice at QB to start season

When reporters asked Marcus Freeman this week if he believed he made the wrong choice in starting Tyler Buchner to start the year, the first-year head coach stuck to his guns.

“No, I don’t question that decision at all,” Freeman said. “That was earned. That was earned through practice and we made a decision. Sometimes, the results can put a mask over your eyes and cloud the process of getting to that decision. I know we didn’t win that game and three quarters that Tyler played but Tyler Buchner earned the right to be the starter through preparation.

“Now, Drew Pyne has done a superb job and he has done an excellent job leading this team. He has earned the right to now be our starting quarterback. And done a great job with this opportunity. But no, I don’t question our decision in terms of making Tyler the starter to start the year.”