Everything Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said before Irish vs. Navy

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock spoke to local reporters Tuesday afternoon, ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Navy.

Here’s what Denbrock had to say.

On if there’s value for Notre Dame in looking over Navy’s offensive film

“Yeah, I’m always curious in looking for anything that could make us better. So, yeah, I’ve peeked at their offensive tape. They’re really kind of difficult in a lot of ways, because they’re kind of swinging between what they traditionally have done and now being more in the shotgun, and doing more out of the gun. So, not only does the defense have to get ready for a team that probably runs the veer as well as anybody in the country, they’ve also got to get ready for what they face a lot of weeks — week to week [from other teams]. And that makes it real hard.”

On if Billy Schrauth’s potential return could disrupt offensive line chemistry

“It’s always a little bit of a concern, obviously, when you start juggling bodies around. But I mean, I think we do a really good job of making sure that there’s a rotation going on, on the practice field with those guys anyway. And Billy was in there last week rotating a little bit. He just wasn’t quite ready to kind of play. And he’s getting a lot closer to that. Whether that happens this week or not, we’ll see. He looked pretty good today, as well as the other kids did, so we’ll see what happens with that.”

On his biggest takeaway from Riley Leonard as a passer against Georgia Tech, and if he’s getting better as a runner as well

“I think he is. I think he’s still got to kind of stay in phase with some of the things we’re doing in the run game. He gets a little ahead of himself sometimes and just kind of bolts through without using all the tools that are coming to help him. But I think he’s done a good job with that for the most part. His evolution, as a passer, has been a lot of confidence-driven things that I think he understands what we’re asking him to do, more. I think we’ve tailored what we do to fit him a little bit better. And I think both of those things have added to a little bit more consistency.”

On if Leonard is different in needing to understand the “why” behind some plays

“No. So, everybody’s got their own little, ‘OK, we’re going to attack Cover 4 this way. We’re going to attack Cover 3 this way. We’re going to attack man this way, right?’ And teaching him which concepts we have that fit those certain coverage structures is a process. And where the ball goes versus each one of those coverages. And if you’re playing against the defense that plays three or four of those different coverages in a game, he’s got to know — based on the concept that we’re running — it may be a universal concept that’s good against all those different coverages, but where’s the ball go versus cover-4? Where’s the ball go versus cover-1? Where’s the ball go versus cover-3? And that takes reps and takes time and takes kind of just being able to actually see it live and make those decisions.” 

On if Notre Dame can open up its offense more now that Leonard is in a groove

“Yeah, I think so. Us talking about what he likes and doesn’t like has been the process since he first walked on campus. That wasn’t anything new after the NIU game. It was more him kind of just having enough repetitions through practice and fall camp and everything under his belt, and getting more comfortable with what we do and me getting more comfortable with what he does well that’s led to where we’re headed.” 

On going against Drayk Bowen and Adon Shuler in practice

“Yeah. I mean, just their aggressive nature. Their ability to tip the scales in Notre Dame’s favor even a little bit more with the way they play and the aggressiveness that they do their job with. It’s pretty cool.” 

On if they remind him of anyone

“That’s tough. I’m old for those questions. There’s too many names running through my head.” 

On how Notre Dame freshman wide receivers Cam Williams and Logan Saldate are developing

“I love what I see from Logan. Obviously, he’s getting a nice little baptism by fire going against a pretty good secondary every day right now, down on the look [scout] team. But he’s got some explosiveness to him. I like what I’ve seen from him. I think he’s going to be a really good player for us. Cam continues to kind of learn the game and the details of the game. He is incredibly blessed with what the good Lord blessed him with, as far as size and being able to run. But understanding coverages and where he fits in the concept and how to route-adjust and different things like that, that process is ongoing. He’s gotten better at that, so I like where he’s headed, but there’s still some work to be done there.” 

On why some wide receivers are ready to go as freshman and others are not 

“I think the 7-on-7 world has helped in some ways and hurt in others. I think it’s helped identify really quality guys who can run and go get it. I don’t know that it’s actually taught them a lot about coverage structure, because it’s so unique to 7 on 7. They go to these big tournaments and everybody’s trying to win the tournament, and they’re playing this style and that style. And some of that is real football and some of it’s not real football.

“So, I think there’s some good things about it, some bad things about it. And I think for him [Williams] in particular, he just needs more experience. And some guys are a little bit more ready-made, based on maybe what they did in high school and then the training that they’ve gotten in the offseason. And some guys just need a little more maturity time. And he’s one of those guys.” 

On what it’s been like for Notre Dame freshman quarterback CJ Carr to not throw for a few weeks

“He’s been playing defensive back for us on the scout team, doing a really nice job. He’s poaching crossing routes and all kinds of stuff. [Laughing] So, he understands coverages. He knows concepts. He sees the deep post. He’s like, ‘I’m probably supposed to take that, but I’m going to rob the over or whatever.’*

No, listen, he’s a football guy. So, he’s never not going to be involved how ever he can be involved. And, I think there’s good news where that’s concerned as far as him getting back in the mix here soon.” 

* Denbrock was joking about this. CJ Carr is not actually playing scout-team defensive back.

On why Navy’s defense is better than it showed when it gave up 44 points to Memphis

“They’ve got something they’ve had over the years. Obviously, I’ve got some familiarity with the Memphis-Navy-University of Cincinnati, kind of, right? I mean, they’ve always had — like every time they line up against each other, it’s like 54-51 or somebody kicks a field goal [at the end]. It’s hard to explain. It’s just one of those rivalries, I guess, that it kind of goes out of character a little bit.

“I think defensively, they’re as good as I’ve seen them play to this point in season as far as their aggressiveness. I think they’re great at getting after the football. They’ve thrived off of turnovers, which we’re going to have to do a really, really good job of protecting the football. And they’ve made plays when they needed to. And so, I know it’s a major challenge for our defense. We’ve got our hands full ourselves on the offensive side of the ball. We’re going to have to do a good job.” 

On Notre Dame’s challenge in the red zone against Navy’s defense

“Finishing. Finishing with 7 [points]. And continuing where we’ve done a nice job, I think, from an execution standpoint and really attacking and getting 7 points. And we’ve got to make sure we do that again on Saturday.” 

More on Navy’s defense

“They play like their hair’s on fire, like you would suspect. They’ve done a great job of creating chaos and causing turnovers. It’s really kind of helped them in every game that they’ve played so far, kind of separate. I don’t know that they’ve put it out of reach necessarily, but made it a lot more difficult on their opponent to stay in the game, because of interceptions and caused fumbles and strip sacks and all kinds of different things that they’ve been able to create. So, they’re creating a lot more havoc, I think, than they have over the past couple years. We’re going to have to really do a nice job.” 

On a player or two who comes to mind from Navy’s defense 

“No. 18, their safety [Rayuan Lane III], who I think we actually recruited here a little bit. He is a kid that really is involved in the run game and defending the pass. I love their nose guard, 56 Robinson, is that him? [Actually, 96 Landon Robinson] Really good with his hands, really good leverage. I don’t know if he did or not, because I didn’t read his bio deep into his high school background. He looks like a wrestler, who plays the nose and gets off blocks and uses his hands really well. He’s tough.”