Quick-hitters: Al Golden on Syracuse, Isaiah Foskey, Jaylen Sneed

Defensive coordinator Al Golden is one of a few Notre Dame coaches who have been in a game at what is now the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse. Back in 2005, Golden held the same job at Virginia when the Cavaliers played Syracuse at the former Carrier Dome. He first experienced it in 1997 as Boston College’s linebackers coach. Years later, he still remembers why it’s a unique environment.

“It can get hot, so you have to hydrate,” Golden said. “You can’t let cramps or anything like that become a factor. I’ve seen teams go in there and have that struggle. Communication can be a challenge, so you plan for it every day and minimize the impact is has on your squad.”

Nobody on his Irish defense has played the JMA Wireless Dome before. Notre Dame goes there for the first time since 2003 Saturday when it plays No. 16 Syracuse (noon ET, ABC). Golden held his usual weekly press conference Tuesday and discussed the upcoming game, among other things. Here are some highlights.

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On forcing more stops in the red zone

“We’re getting a lot of wins, and then we’re not winning the fourth down and the money down. Really going back to BYU, we put them in a situation on fourth down [on the goal line] and lost it there. And then in the past game [vs. UNLV] too.

“I have to do a better job making a better call in that situation to either force field goals or in the case of the UNLV game, just flat-out stops. One [fourth down] was a scramble we had like five shots at, the other one, we had a chance for another stop on the 1-yard line. Simpler means minimize errors. Whatever we have to do to do that and get a positive play.”

On Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader

“He’s making a difference. He has a big, strong arm. He’s not afraid to sit in the pocket. But he can create on the move any time he wants. He can get out of the pocket, he’s really good as a runner and he’s a big man. Just imagine a tight end-sized guy running the ball. That’s what you’re dealing with. Give him a lot of credit. He really, really plays hard and doesn’t shy away from contact.”

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On Syracuse running back Sean Tucker

“He reminds me of Gio Bernard, who we had in Cincinnati [with the Bengals]. Good long speed. Shifty in the middle, the ability to bounce it and get the edge, but can lower his pads at any point. There are a lot of times where he’s on the sideline and you think he’s going to duck out of bounds and he doesn’t. He might be the best we’ve seen. He’s that good because he’s complete.

“On third down, he’s a matchup problem out of the backfield, whether it’s the angle route or the wheel. They can displace him. They can run screens with him.”

On Notre Dame freshman linebacker Jaylen Sneed

“We keep pushing Jaylen Sneed. That’s the guy who needs to come on here down the stretch. He was really close last Saturday. We had a rash of injuries [at linebacker], Jack [Kiser] goes down, [Prince Kollie] is on the ground. I turned to [graduate assistant James] Laurinaitis and said, ‘Make sure you get Jaylen ready to go.’ We were really close last week. Jaylen has to keep pushing and learning. But he would be the next guy up.”

On his emphasis to linebacker JD Bertrand to avoid targeting penalties

“Whatever you have to do to stay in the strike zone, stay out of the gray area. It’s not going to go your way.

“I tell the guys my son plays football too. I want them to hit in the strike zone, use their shoulder, have their eyes up, have their cleats in the ground. That’s what we’re teaching them. Sometimes it’s a physical game. Sometimes that happens. But some of those plays are bang-bang and both guys are going for the ball. If you have your cleats in the ground, eyes up and are trying to hit in the strike zone, positive things will happen.”

On how defensive end Isaiah Foskey has improved in areas besides pass rush

“He’s better at the point of attack, for sure. I feel like he has positive footwork at the point of attack. He’s not displacing laterally. He’s gaining ground, what we call getting your second foot in the ground. It’s not easy when you’re trying to change habits, break habits or create better habits. As you get older, sometimes you have to retool it. He has done a great job trying to do that.

“He played in a three-point stance the other day…It really reinforces him coming out of his hips, getting his second foot in the ground and being positive.”