Everything Notre Dame DC Al Golden said before the Sun Bowl

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden spoke to reporters Tuesday in El Paso, Texas, three days before the Sun Bowl is set to kick off at 2 p.m. ET on Friday. He discussed the nickel situation, the current college football environment, incoming freshman quarterback CJ Carr and more.

Here’s what Golden had to say in advance of Notre Dame’s final matchup of the season against Oregon State.

Opening statement

“Thank you, Mr. [Sun Bowl executive director Bernie] Olivas and the Sun Bowl for this opportunity. We’re grateful to be here. We’re grateful for the opportunity to play another top-20 program. Those matchups are few and far between in bowl season, and we have one of them.

“Obviously, Oregon State has our full attention. We’ve been very impressed with them. From an offensive standpoint, they’ve had some opt-outs, we’ve had some opt-outs, but I don’t think that’s going to change who they are at the core, which is a very, very balanced offensive unit, run-pass and also from a personnel standpoint. They really challenge you with personnel groupings and formations. So from that standpoint, we’re excited about the opportunity and have been working hard to defend them.”

On enphasizing the strengths of graduate student linebacker Jack Kiser and dealing with the absence of Thomas Harper at nickel:

“Nickel, there’s been a couple of different ways that we can go. C-Lew [senior cornerback Clarence Lewis] can go in there. Christian can take some reps in there, [freshman cornerback] Christian Gray. And [freshman CB] Micah [Bell] has been repping there, too. So there’s three candidates there. 

“Kais, you can argue, the last half of the season has been one of the more productive players and has really improved. So we’re excited, obviously an early Christmas gift for us when he announced to come back along with [senior defensive tackle] Rylie [Mills] and [graduate DT] Howard [Cross III]. But we’re excited about Jack. He’ll still play outside in the 4-3 package. In the 4-2 package, he’ll be inside.”

On Gray earning a chance to start:

“Well, I think Christian has made a steady climb all year. He loves football. He’s constantly in one-on-one meetings with [cornerbacks] coach [Mike] Mick[ens], trying to improve, trying to get better, trying to glean as much as he can in the film room. So he’s ready for this opportunity. He’s had some opportunities already this year, so we have a lot of confidence in Christian.”

On if he thinks sophomore edge rusher Joshua Burnham can compete at the strong-side defensive end position at Notre Dame next season: 

“I do. Really either side, but I do think his frame will allow him to hold considerably more weight and still be a really, really fluid athlete. He is a fluid athlete. He can run. He’s longer than a lot of people think when you stand next to him, so I do think he’s going to be a 255-pound player this coming season, and I think that’s really going to afford him the opportunity to go to hold up inside but yet be fast enough and fluid enough to rush the passer on the outside.” 

On adjusting to the current environment of college football:

“Well, I think [interim offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach] Gino [Guidugli] alluded to it earlier. There’s a confluence of so many things coming together in December that make it challenging. And I think what makes it easier for all of us as coaches is [head] coach [Marcus] Freeman. Just the steady approach to it, the leadership, just steadfast in his values and beliefs in what we want to achieve as a program. And that makes it easier to come to work. You’re disappointed sometimes by the challenges that are college football right now, but then you’re rewarded when you come down here and you see our players interact with the Sun Bowl people and the people of El Paso. It makes it really rewarding, and for that we’re grateful.” 

On preparing for Oregon State’s offense when its quarterback barely played this season: 

“I think it is challenging, because you don’t know how they’re going to evolve on game day. So we have to be, like Gino was saying, try to keep it simple but be broad and be adaptable on game day. I think at least in this situation, we have eight games where he started a year ago to go back and say, ‘Okay, what did he really do well? What might they do?’ And they might not do any of that, but at least you have an idea of you know how they saw him in the offense a year ago and what they may do with him on Friday.” 

On how he approaches the opt-outs:

“Yeah, I think each case is on an individual basis, right? So I think the biggest thing is, I could speak from a defensive standpoint, we kept a really good core together. With the exception of three or maybe four, the unit that we’ll put on the field on Friday will be the unit that will play for us next year. So that in of itself is a challenge to the guys, right? Because there are no excuses. It’s their unit now, and they got to step up and defend a really good Oregon State offense. 

“That’s number one. Number two, it gives young people the opportunity to step up, to say, ‘You know what? I haven’t played as much, but I’ve been working all year,’ and those bowl practices give them an opportunity for exposure, among their peers, to show that they can play at the standard and contribute. So I think there’s a lot of positives that can come from it as well.”

On how big it is to get Mills, Cross, Kiser and possibly senior safety Xavier Watts back next season: 

“Again, I think it’s a blessing to be able to coach young people like that, that have such a big-picture vision. Howard, he’s gonna get a master’s in the spring. And I think he’s got a big picture of what he wants to achieve the next five years of his life, starting with getting the Masters in the spring and then obviously, being one of our leaders on defense, and then ultimately being one of the best defensive tackles in the country. He’s got a big picture. He’s not in a rush to do that. He wants to be the best he can be. 

“I think Rylie and Jack, they all share the same thing. They want to be great. They want to be leaders and they want to be a part of really, really something special next year. And obviously when you have kids like that in your locker room, it makes it fun to come to work every day.”

On the look incoming freshman quarterback CJ Carr is giving the Notre Dame defense as the scout-team quarterback in bowl practice:

“If you want to bring Gino back up to talk a little bit about CJ… [joking]. All I can say is just, unselfish. Right off the bat, just unselfish. What do you need, Coach? How can I help the defense with the looks? There’s one thing that jumps out right away, it’s just as arm talent. I haven’t spent as much time with Gino or the offensive coaches with him, but he does have arm talent and velocity, and clearly that’s been a positive in this bowl season.”

On celebrating Christmas in El Paso with his family and Notre Dame colleagues: 

“It’s been great. There’s been multiple events that my children and my wife have attended, as well as myself, which has been awesome. The hospitality has been great. You know, again, I grew up watching this game, so many times. We were talking about it on the bus. I was thinking about the Thurman Thomas game [in the 1987 Sun Bowl], and people are like, ‘What? You remember that?’ I think about some of those games over the years, and so obviously, it’s great to be here. It’s always been well-run, and it’s just great to be a part of it.”