Everything Navy coach Brian Newberry said about Notre Dame football

No. 24 Navy is 6-0 for the first time since 1979. The scary part for future opponents, such as No. 12 Notre Dame (6-1) at MetLife Stadium this Saturday?

The Midshipmen can be even better.

“I don’t think we’ve peaked yet,” Navy head coach Brian Newberry said in his Monday press conference. “I don’t think we’ve really come close to our ceiling.”

The same can probably be said of Notre Dame, a team riding a five-game winning streak into the matchup in New Jersey this weekend. Here’s everything Newberry said about the Fighting Irish.

On what stands out about Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame teams

“I think he does an outstanding job. I think they got a tremendous staff. I think they’re very-well coached. They play very hard. Very sound fundamentally and technically. And they’re Notre Dame. They’re super talented. They look like an NFL team. They’re big, they’re long and they’re athletic. This team is no different than those that we’ve played against in the past in regards to those things.

“A ton of respect for their program, their players and their coaches. It’s going to be a tremendous challenge for us.”

On Notre Dame coming back from a tough loss to NIU and a rash of injuries

“Yeah, I think it speaks to the character of their football team and Marcus Freeman‘s leadership. The way they bounced back after the upset earlier in the year says a lot about who they are. They’re a good football team. They’re very well-coached, and we’re going to get their very best on Saturday. We know that.”

On what he learned last year in losing 42-3 to Notre Dame

“Last year’s game really has nothing to do with this year other than going back and looking at certain ways they defend us and certain things they do on both sides of the ball and special teams. You kind of learn from those and maybe you take something away. But different football team that we’re playing. We’re a different team as well. So I don’t put a whole lot of stock in last year’s game.”

On preparing for a dual-threat quarterback like Riley Leonard

“It’s tough. Makes it difficult when a quarterback can throw it as well as he does and has the ability to run the football. We’ve seen a lot of dual-threat quarterbacks. He’s a really good one, now. He’s big and long and athletic. You got to account for him on third down when you drop into coverage because he’ll put his foot in the ground, take off and go get a first down. There’s some quarterback run stuff as well on the early downs. You create an extra gap on defense when you run the football with him. He’s a threat and it’s going to be a great challenge to prepare for him.”

On what it means to play Notre Dame

“It’s a great opportunity for our team and our program. These are the kind of games you want to play in. Great thing about coming to school like Navy is you get to play Notre Dame every year. A big game on a national stage like that, that’s what you want. You want to play the best teams in the country and have an opportunity to do that, and our kids are excited about it. What a great challenge it is but what a great opportunity it is as well. We’re all fired up to play this game.”

On the way the Navy offensive line matches up against Notre Dame’s defensive line

“They’ve improved. There are things we’re doing offensively to help those guys a little bit. Keeping people off balance. Mixing in more running and throwing the football. The difference in the game last year was they dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football. That’s the challenge any time you’re playing a team like Notre Dame, but I think we’re a little better equipped this year than we were last year. I think we’ll improve.”

On Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard

“Really polished. Dangerous. A play can break down and he can make it right with his feet, Really good athlete, especially for his size. 6-4, 220. Can run. A little bit loose of how well he runs. But throws the ball really well too. He’s got a great grasp of what they’re doing offensively and what they’re doing suits him really, really well. Been really impressed out of what I’ve seen from him so far.”

On Notre Dame’s offensive weapons

“They always seem to have a pro-caliber tight end. Same running back that ran through us a little bit last year if I’m not mistaken. They’re talented across the board. You don’t really find any weaknesses when you’re looking at their team and their roster.”

On the improvements Notre Dame has had in the last few weeks

“I think it’s similar to us. It’s a sign of a team that’s bought in. Sign a of a really good coaching staff, you see improvement week to week. They’ve had a lot of injuries. They’ve lost some players. Some of the guys who replace those guys, you see their growth. Getting better every week as well. They’re a better football team now than they were two or three games ago. There’s no doubt about that.”

On preparing for Leonard as a runner

“You have to get an extra hat in the box. You do that, obviously that leave some people in one-on-one situations and that’s always a challenge when a team has a quarterback that can run the football. We’re going to have to work this week and put together a great plan to be balanced and be able to cover receivers and also have enough guys to be able to defend the quarterback run game.”

On the belief Navy has it can compete with and beat Notre Dame, something it has done four times since 2007

“I don’t think I’d refer to the past at all. This is something that’s totally different. It doesn’t take a miracle. It doesn’t take something superhuman. But our guys know they’re going to have to play extremely, extremely well in all three phases for all four quarters just to have a chance. They know that. But at the same time, these guys believe they can go win this game. And we’re going to play this game to win it. Not for a pat on the back, not for a moral victory. But we’re going to play to win it.”