Live updates: Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman pre-USC press conference
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is set to address reporters via Zoom at noon ET on Thursday, in advance of Saturday night’s game against USC. We do not expect to hear any will he/won’t he play updates, but we could get some more clarity on freshman wide receiver Jaden Greathouse‘s status.
Greathouse played last week, but he was limited because he did not practice to a “full extent,” Freeman said in his weekly press conference Monday.
Here are Blue & Gold’s live updates from Freeman’s press conference as Notre Dame prepares for the Trojans. The game is at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in South Bend.
**Keep refreshing this page for real-time, written updates from Freeman’s Zoom press conference.**
What Freeman is saying
• On the concerns with stopping USC’s running game, Freeman said it will be a challenge. “We gotta be able to stop the run, and we gotta do it in different ways.” He feels like Notre Dame has a great plan.
• Freeman said even though the stats might not say it, USC has a good, aggressive defense. “Those guys up front, they put a lot of pressure on the quarterback in the pass game.”
• Asked about the players balancing midterms with football, Freeman said every week is challenging here. “We won’t look to make any excuses. We embrace the academic rigors at Notre Dame.” Emphasized preparation throughout the semester.
• Sam Hartman continues to be the same person and the same leader, even during a 1-2 stretch.
• On short-yardage execution, Freeman said the looks Louisville gave when Gi’Bran Payne and Audric Estimé stuffed were not looks the Irish hadn’t seen. The issues were identifying the right players to block and playing with fundamentals.
• On defending Caleb Williams: “Trust your pass lanes, trust your rush lanes. … We have to be controlled, but aggressive.” Like Al Golden this week, Freeman stressed that the play is never over with Caleb Williams. Also said that “We can’t play prevent defense.”
• Freeman said Jeremiyah Love is continuously getting better, which is why he’s getting the ball more in recent weeks. The Irish knew as the season went on, they couldn’t keep running five players. Expect similar splits going into this game. Love is the clear No. 2 running back.
• Freeman smiled when notified that USC has been spraying players with a garden hose to practice catching punts in the rain. Notre Dame has been using the proverbial “wet-ball treatment.”
• Freeman did not commit to rotating or not rotating guards again this week. Substitutions could depend on performance.
• Estimé is feeling good, despite looking a bit shaken up late against Louisville. Freeman expects a big game from him Saturday.
• That will do it for the press conference. No updates given on Greathouse or fellow hamstring-hampered wideout Jayden Thomas, both of whom should play Saturday. Look out for BlueandGold.com’s pregame updates to see how the two of them look entering the USC game.
