What Brady Quinn expects from Notre Dame in Marcus Freeman’s first season

Brady Quinn’s role in Marcus Freeman’s introduction as Notre Dame head coach required him to stay on script and not to opine.

The former Irish quarterback emceed the Dec. 6 festivities in the Irish Athletic Center in front of a few hundred attendees and thousands more watching via live stream. He announced speakers, facilitated the media session and wrapped the ceremony, a past fan favorite presenting a hopeful future one.

Not included, though, was Quinn’s own view of the hire and what he thinks Freeman can achieve. That was not the time and place to share it. It’s clear now he’s expecting no drop-off in on-field performance from the last five years of the Brian Kelly era.

PROMOTION: Sign up for just $1 for your first year at Blue & Gold

“I think it’s the standard that has been set when he got there,” Quinn said recently on CBS Sports HQ. “Double-digit wins, try to go to the College Football Playoff. They’ve been in the hunt for that the last five years. That’s what the expectation is.”

For the ex-quarterback and first-round pick, Notre Dame reaching that height in 2022 comes down to what unfolds at his old position. Sophomore Tyler Buchner and junior Drew Pyne are competing for the job, with the former the favorite.

Saturday, Freeman didn’t indicate if either had an edge through eight spring practices, saying he has yet to scour practice film and thoroughly evaluate them with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. He left open the possibility that April 9’s lengthy closed scrimmage could be a pivotal day in the race.

Quinn is eager to see the outcome, whenever it may arrive, but naming a starter alone won’t answer his biggest question for Notre Dame’s 2022 outlook. Rather, he’s curious to see how that starter fares, especially if it’s Buchner. The 10-game Year 1 sample revealed upside and necessary progress.

“It’s a young group with some big shoes to fill,” Quinn said. “I thought Jack Coan came in as a grad transfer and played really well for the Irish in big spots. Buchner, who was the change-up quarterback, really more of an athletic style, more of a runner, is going to get his shot. There’s good and bad to that. He brings much more of a dual-threat ability to the offense and a legitimate run threat. You could see that last year when he rushed for 300 yards.

“But he’s only thrown the ball 35 times. In those 35 pass attempts, he has three touchdowns. That’s pretty good. But probably the worst part is, he has three interceptions. Clearly, some of the youth showed.

“That’s going to be one of the things they’ll try to protect and build upon. He has a great offensive line, a talented running back room, playmakers, the best tight end in the country. They have all that working for them. Really, it comes down to Buchner at quarterback and what that looks like.”

More Notre Dame football:

• How can Deion Colzie become a go-to wide receiver for Notre Dame football?

• Jayden Thomas ‘biting at the bit’ to crack Notre Dame WR rotation after a year behind the scenes

Another sturdy defense would help, though. Freeman ceded defensive coordinator duties to former Miami and Temple head coach Al Golden, who spent the last two years as the Cincinnati Bengals’ linebackers coach.

Golden inherits a unit that lost an All-American and potential top-10 draft pick. At the same time, Quinn likes the pieces at Golden’s disposal, starting with another former All-American that came via the transfer portal and an intriguing edge player who hopes to turn himself into a clear first-round pick.

“You have some pieces who are missing, in particular their unbelievable safety in Kyle Hamilton,” Quinn said. “A guy to keep an eye on? Brandon Joseph. He’s a Northwestern transfer who has come in looking to replace [him]. Then Isaiah Foskey up front at D-end. He led the team in sacks a year ago and came back because he could improve his draft stock to be one of those guys we start talking about who’s drafted top-10 in the 2023 draft.”