Everything Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden said before Irish vs. Virginia

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden spoke to the media Tuesday ahead of the Fighting Irish’s game against Virginia. Here is everything he said.

On Jack Kiser setting the record for games played at Notre Dame on Saturday

“No. 1, to do it at the level he’s doing it at the position he’s doing it. There’s nowhere to hide in the middle there. So he’s done a great job of answering that bell. I think the biggest thing is what motivates you? That’s, to me, the biggest thing. His internal motivation is so strong that after 63 games he’s still getting better. I think he’s playing his best football right now.

“He’s playing so fast. He’s playing with confidence. You guys can’t see half of it – the problems that he solves between plays, during plays. Max [Bullough] has done a good job taking care of him. Not getting him into 70 reps a game and all that. He’s out there when it counts. He’s a leader of the defense. Certainly, a leader on the team. He’s healthy right now. So, I’m excited about where Jack is and how he’s playing.”

On evaluating all 11 guys on the field

“That’s hard. That’s hard. That’s hard. Sometimes it’s kind of like a magic trick. I’m saying just look over here but forget about that over there. It’s one of those things. It’s good. We’re getting to a place where there’s a lot of guys in harmony. The understand the ecosystem that is defense. They’re interconnected in everything that they do on all three levels. We’re strong up the middle right now. Whether it’s Rylie, Jack, Drayk, X, Adon, those guys are all smart. They’re problem solvers. They’re thinkers. I think that’s important. I think that’s why they’re able to play together at a really high level.”

On how often all 11 Notre Dame defensive players perform admirably on a single play

“Oh, I don’t know. I thought it was more like you’re a professor and it was a rhetorical question. I was gonna keep moving along. You see how I got by. No, I mean, it is rare. I don’t really keep score like that, but I do think it’s a good idea. There are certain plays like I think it was our last defensive play against Louisville. That comes to mind. Just the coordination and everybody that did what they needed to do on that play. That’s a good one. I think on Donnie Hinish’s sack the other day, a lot of guys — we had three for three on the back end with a post player, two drop outs and Donnie got the sack. There’s another indication that was 11-for-11. You’re making me think about it. I appreciate it.”

On what allows for all of Notre Dame’s defensive players to be in sync

“We just try to be really progressive. We’re not always right in terms of what we need for the entire season, but it’s Denny’s to us. You get that laminated Denny’s menu. You can’t eat it all, you just pick what you want to pick from that. We quality control it in the winter. We install it in the spring. We install it again in the summer. We have a virtual component to that. Then we do it again in training camp. That’s three times and then now here it is.

“OK, opening game, what do need? What do we need in the red zone? What do we need for two-point plays? What do we need for goal line? What do we need for early downs? What do we need for third down? We’re picking from that. Once in a while we need something outside that parameter or outside that realm. But for the most part, if we stay inside and we can paint inside those lines, then we know that there’s going to be a lot recall with the guys.”

On the ways Notre Dame exhibits defensive maturity

“Just small. We got finite focus right now. We’re small. We’re not worried about anything external. We’re internally driven. We’re internally focused. We understand the threat that Virginia is, and the only thing that we can do to get ready for that, to prepare for that, is to control what we can control out here today. If we can just stay in that mindset, just keep it small. Don’t worry about the external. Don’t worry about anything whether it’s the opponent or anything that’s outside. Just worry about ourselves and respect everybody and just prepare day in and day out.”

On what to expect from Donovan Hinish with Howard Cross III out

“He’s always had my confidence. We say it all the time. Keep recruiting guys that love the game as much as you. All you have to do is turn on the tape and you’ll understand his passion for the game. What you can’t see is his preparation, his tenacity. He’s dogged every day in terms of here’s what I gotta do, and I’m gonna do it. He’s a blessing to have on this team. He fits right in for what we’re trying to develop on defense. I’m excited that he’s gonna have an opportunity that he’s gonna have this weekend. Obviously, he showed us last week he’s ready for it.”

On Armel Mukam and Sean Sevillano Jr.

“Time to go. Ready. Go time. When you work for NASA, they give you the launch date. It’s blast off. Launch date is Saturday. We’re going.”

On the growth of Mukam and Sevillano

“A lot. Al [Washington] has done a great job with them. We’ve been bringing them along being with us, practicing with us, getting reps and then getting some reps at the end of games and things of that nature. We’re excited. Now it’s time to go. It’s time to transition and give us meaningful reps.”

On preparing players for a 12-team playoff format and how that is different from the previous format

“You got it. I’ll give you an example. A guy gets nicked up. Let’s say Brauntae Johnson. Guy gets nicked up. We never once said to him — even though it was going to be a six-week injury or eight-week injury or whatever it was. We never said this season’s over. We never said that. We said your job as a student-athlete here is to get yourself healthy and then return to action. That’s what he’s doing right now.

“We played a lot of the freshman, for instance. I think of like Teddy Rezac. Teddy gave us three or four games already of helping us out on kickoff, helping us out on whatever special teams, taking hits away from somebody else. I’m sure there’s other guys Coach Freeman can answer on offense and things of that nature. All of that is important if you need health and longevity in your season. A lot of those guys are doing it. We need Brauntae to do it now. I think Bodie helped us on a couple last week. That’s what we need. We need guys to step up and help us in that realm.”

On Kiser not playing as much as some want him to and if he thinks about that

“Not really. We talk about it as a staff. Then you just have to trust how the game unfolds. Then what that position coach sees or knows. I’m calling the game. I don’t know that Rylie just chased a screen over here, just chased a ball carrier over here, ran a quarterback on a boot. So, I’m not sitting there going, ‘Hey, why is Rylie not in there?’ Al knows that. Al knows why Rylie’s not in there. We just need whoever’s in the game to be able to perform at a high level.”

On Notre Dame sophomore safety Adon Shuler

“Maturity. Growth. Open-minded in learning. Being upstairs a lot. Hanging around. Watching film. Visiting(Mike Mickens). All of a sudden I see in the last month his walk-through, his practice skills are going to a different level; his habits. Especially in the walk-through. I see walk-throughs now with him being demonstrative, him being audible, him communicating at a really, really high level. That’s what’s making him play faster.”