Marcus Freeman satisfied with how Notre Dame offensive line held up vs. Navy

There was a lot to be happy about after Notre Dame‘s 42-3 win over Navy. However, the Fighting Irish’s front five left head coach Marcus Freeman smiling ear-to-ear.

“I guess we found out those two guards can play, right,” Freeman said during the postgame press conference. “We knew three of those guys had game experience but both Pat [Coogan] and Rocco [Spindler] both stepped up. They did a real good job.”

A real good job, indeed. Notre Dame’s offensive line gave up zero sacks in the team’s season opener. Further, the front five blasted away the Midshipmen’s defensive front, allowing Notre Dame to rush for 191 yards.

The showing becomes even more impressive when you realize neither Coogan nor Spinder had started in a game before Saturday. Coogan entered Saturday’s contest with essentially no experience, appearing in just one game last season.

Spinder wasn’t quite as green. The junior lineman made 12 appearances last season. However, many of his appearances were on special teams units. Freeman claims Navy wasn’t an easy first matchup for the Inexperienced offensive linemen.

“Again, Navy’s defense is almost as exotic as their offense,” Freeman said. “You don’t see some of the things they do, so for them to execute, run the ball, play physical, man, credit to obviously [offensive line] coach [Joe] Rudolph and just really credit to those guys, man, for what they were able to do in their first game.”

A wider outlook on Notre Dame’s O-line

Rudolph joined the Fighting Irish this offseason after previously serving at Wisconsin, Pittsburgh and, most recently, Virginia Tech. In Rudolph’s seven years at Wisconsin, the Badgers compiled 18,399 rushing yards, the seventh-most among Power 5 Conference teams during that time frame.

Although Rudolph wasn’t gifted with superstar guards, he couldn’t ask for better tackles. Notre Dame returned 2022 Associated Press All-American Joe Alt at left tackle. Meanwhile, OT Blake Fisher holds down the fort on the other side of the line.

Even Navy head coach Brian Newberry had to give props to Notre Dame’s O-line.

“The thing they were able to do that was a little disappointing to me was they were able to run the ball,” Newberry said after the contest. “They controlled the line of scrimmage. Their offensive line was really good today.”

The unit’s Saturday showing is a significant step in the right direction. Last season, Notre Dame gave up 21 sacks. While the figure isn’t disastrous, the Fighting Irish will need to improve it in order to reach their goals this season.

Notre Dame will hit the field again on Sept. 2 when it takes on Tennessee State.