Quick Hitters: Notre Dame DC Al Golden updates injured DL Gabriel Rubio's status
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden spoke to reporters this week about several topics, including junior defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio. Rubio is making progress as he works his way back from a knee injury suffered Week 1 against Navy in Dublin, Ireland.
Here are the highlights of Golden’s Week 4 press conference in advance of Saturday night’s game vs. Ohio State.
On how Gabriel Rubio looks in practice:
“We’re trying to manage his workload. So this was really his first day back. He looked fine, but not the workload of some of the other guys. We’ve got to bring him along. He is a competitor. He’s tough and, hopefully, he doesn’t have any setbacks here this week. But really good start today.”
On graduate LB JD Bertrand and S DJ Brown returning from injury:
“[It’s] very calming. Obviously, it’s going to be a juiced-up atmosphere. It’s really important that we just stay in the moment and keep it small, keep our communication small, do a great job of articulating it to each other, be demonstrative if we’re changing a call, and that’s where those guys come in. They are really, really intelligent, can think on their feet, can solve problems. So, it’s a blessing that they’re back.”
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On this Ohio State game being different because it’s not the first game of the season:
“I think we have a good idea of who needs to do what, what roles need to be executed and what we’re playing versus 11 personnel, what we’re going to play versus 12. We have a new look in a lot of different areas. We’re not built the same as we were. Game 1? I don’t even think we were the same game 8, game 9 as we were in game 1 a year ago. So, the things that we needed we evolved to during the year, and many of them have been built upon in the offseason. So, I think we’re in a better position in terms of who we are and what we need to do.”
On Notre Dame DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste’s week so far:
“First of all, he’s been a blessing for us. Everything that we’ve asked him to do, he’s done. And we’ve asked him to do a lot of tough things. In addition to playing some 9-technique, we’ve asked him to go and play some 6-technique, and he’s done that. We’ve asked him to change some techniques in terms of taking on blocks, and he’s done that. He’s pursuing to the ball really well. Everything we’ve asked him to do, he’s done, and I think we’re benefiting from it and I think his individual performance is benefiting from it. He’s getting five tackles a week or whatever. He’s impacting the game. He’s hustling to the ball, and I couldn’t be more happy for him. But he’s just doing his thing. He’s not worried about anything right now. He’s just trying to get better today.”
On the togetherness of this year’s Notre Dame team:
“Yeah, I think it’s a reflection of the head coach. I just think the kids stay together. There have been challenges in every game. Every game. It’s never perfect, man. It’s hard. College football is hard. And that’s the one thing the NFL teaches you, man. Every game goes down to the last four minutes, so you don’t get stressed out. This is just a great opponent, and it will be a great setting, and we just work the problem and just have faith in our staff and our kids in the end.”
