Quick-hitters: Notre Dame DC Al Golden on Ohio State, defending Michael Mayer, Marist Liufau

Notre Dame ended preseason camp Saturday, one week before it travels to Ohio State for the opener. The Irish’s final practice of camp took place in Notre Dame Stadium and was a mock game. A dress rehearsal for the real thing, basically. There were substitutions and specific game situations. The coaching staff wanted to replicate the real thing as much as possible.

“It feels different than a practice,” defensive coordinator Al Golden said. “Guys are in and out of the game and it makes you think a little differently.”

A mock game can only prepare Golden’s defense so much for Ohio State’s collection of elite offensive talent, though. Golden knows the tall task he has in his Notre Dame debut. He met with reporters after Saturday’s practice to discuss the matchup and his personnel. Here are some topics he addressed.

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On his first impressions of watching Ohio State

“Very talented. Great operation at the line of scrimmage with the quarterback and from a system standpoint. They try to get in the right play as much as possible. Big, physical group up front. Running back [TreVeyon Henderson] is as good as anyone. Wideouts [too]. It’s a great challenge for us.”

On Ohio State’s wide receivers

“It’s easy to say talent, because talent is first. But they’ve really worked at it. They go up and challenge the ball. They’re creative. They’re competitors. I don’t want to say it’s a lazy man’s way to say talented, but you’re leaving out a lot of things they are.”

On Notre Dame junior defensive end Rylie Mills

“I love Rylie. I can’t say enough good things about him. His versatility as a football player. He’s a technician. He made incredible strides in the weight room this summer. Incredible strides, awesome sacrifices to get to the point where he is now. I’m really excited about him and glad to have the opportunity to coach him. He’s a pleasure to coach. What a great young man and competitor, a technician, always wants to do it the right way.

“We know this, if he’s in there, wherever he is on the D-line, we know he’s going to try to do it exactly the way [defensive line coach Al Washington] designs it.”

On senior linebacker Marist Liufau

“He has been good. He was a little hobbled in the beginning, but I don’t think there’s any issues now. Long linebacker who can run and is not afraid to be physical. I’m excited about Marist. Hopefully he will have an opportunity to stay healthy this year and fulfill himself as a player.”

On defending Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer during camp

“Put a linebacker on him, it’s a plus for him. Put a safety on him, he better be really long. Put a nickel on him, you get bounced out of the bar. He’s a great kid. The thing everyone respects about Michel is he will do the dirty work. He’s not just looking for the ball. He will do whatever a coach asks him to do. [Offensive coordinator] Tommy [Rees] obviously in the past has done a great job of finding ways to get him the ball and using his versatility.

But you can’t do that if the young man won’t block. Then it’s a different deal. If he’s just a receiver, you can play nickel and things like that against him. If he’s in there blocking, you don’t want the nickel near him. Maybe you don’t want the safety on him. Then you need the rover on him in our base 4-3.”

On graduate student cornerback TaRiq Bracy

“He can play corner. He has played nickel and things of that nature in the past. He’s a versatile guy. He’s really smart. He’s so much fun to be around because he’s always trying to improve. He’s always smiling. He’s a competitor. A lot of respect for TaRiq and the job he has done. He’s been one of the most improved, I think.”

On Notre Dame’s four senior linebackers

“We’re just trying to make them all versatile and push them out of playing just one spot, trying to mix guys in at rover, mike, will. Whatever it takes for us to move them around and make them feel comfortable with whatever combination is in the game. If there’s an injury, we feel good about moving guys around.”

On the young linebackers

“[Freshman] Junior [Tuihalamaka] was healthy all camp and has really progressed nicely. He works really hard at it. I’m excited about where he is.

“[Sophomore Prince Kollie] was injured for a while, but the last few days, he looked like himself. He looked like how he ended the spring. He had an awesome summer. This is a big week for him being right on the cusp. He was right there going into camp and got banged up a little bit. But he’s healthy now. I told him yesterday I thought that was his best practice.”