Live updates: Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman Oct. 23 press conference
Notre Dame is back from the bye week, so head coach Marcus Freeman is back at the press conference podium. He recaps the off week and takes a look ahead to the Pitt game at noon ET Monday.
Watch the press conference live by pressing the play button in the YouTube link below. Read real-time written updates from Blue & Gold below the video player.
WATCH: Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman Oct. 23 press conference
What Freeman is saying
**Keep refreshing this page for real-time written updates of what Freeman is saying.**
• Players of the game vs. USC: Audric Estime, Xavier Watts and Jadarian Price.
• Freeman says the bye week was much needed mentally and physically.
• Freeman sticks with the execution as the main reason the Notre Dame offense was worse in its last four games than it was in the first four.
• Freeman says the Notre Dame defense has been so good this season for a couple reasons; one, defensive coordinator Al Golden. Two, especially against USC, the guys played fast on that side of the ball because they were well-guided and knew exactly what thy needed to do and when they needed to be in certain spots.
• Freeman: “We’re fresh. We’re ready to roll.”
• Freeman says Jadarian Price, who returned a kickoff for a touchdown vs. USC, will continue to play a bigger role for Notre Dame both on special teams and on offense.
• Freeman says the bye week came at a great time for wide receivers Jayden Thomas and Jaden Greathouse, who were battling hamstring injuries in the last couple week. “Both of those guys will be as close to full go as you’ll see all year.”
• Freeman says wide receiver Deion Colzie will ramp things up soon and might be able to contribute for the Notre Dame offense down the stretch following a knee scope a few weeks ago.
• Freeman says Pat Narduzzi teams are tough and physical. He says this Pitt team has good corners and is comfortable loading the box. Freeman says Notre Dame has to use some play action and take some shots down the field.
• Freeman says he had a chance to watch some games on Saturday without being in coach mode. He says he watched the last couple series of the Ohio State game this past Saturday after his wife ran a half marathon.
• Freeman is asked why Notre Dame has not incorporated many play action passes into the offense. “Now teams are saying, ‘I dare you to throw the ball.” Freeman says it’s time for the Irish to take some shots.
• Freeman says Notre Dame will stick with the same combination of five offensive linemen who have played together pretty much all year outside of some shuffling against Louisville.
• Freeman can’t really name one glaring issue why Notre Dame only ranks 75th nationally in third down defense. He says it’s a combination of things that need to be better.
• Freeman says he doesn’t wait for the bye week to have “honest conversations” about why guys aren’t getting on the field. He says he has those talks every week because they are necessary for the player to understand exactly where he is in his respective pecking order.
• Freeman says freshman Boubacar Traore could have a chance to get more playing time in the final four games of the regular season.
