Quick-hitters: Marcus Freeman on scrimmage, progress from offense and freshmen skill players

Notre Dame’s 12th spring practice was the closest to a game setting yet. The Irish practiced in the stadium and held a 90-play “jersey scrimmage” that awarded the winner the blue practice uniforms for the rest of camp.

It was 30 plays of first-team offense against the first-team defense and another 30 pitting the second-team units against each other. The third-team saw action as well.

The offense won the scrimmage and retained possession of the blue uniforms.

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“At the end of the day, it’s because of turnovers,” Freeman said. “I told the guys if defensively, we don’t get takeaways, you won’t win the jersey scrimmage. Offensively, if you don’t turn the ball over, you will win the jersey scrimmage. There was only one turnover.”

Freeman followed it with his third press conference of preseason practice. Here are some topics he addressed.

On Notre Dame junior safety Xavier Watts working with the receivers

“He was in Blue 26, but also in White 4 today. He did both sides of the ball today and did a really good job. To go help us on offense – we’re obviously down some numbers – and then next series go in on defense. He was really, really progressing as a safety.

“We leveled with him that we need a couple bodies on offense. We need some guys to help us out when we’re down at wideout. ‘Coach, if this is what’s best for the team, I’m going to do it.’ So he’s been going offense and defense.”

On progress he has seen from the Notre Dame offense in camp

“It’s the ability to run the football. That’s something I’ve been really, really pushing on our offense and our entire team. We have to be able to run the football and stop the run.

“Running the football to me really creates so much space in the pass game. When the defense feels like they have to do everything in their power to stop the run – being on the defensive side, I understand that if you don’t feel like you can stop the run at will, you try to do different things defensively – and all of a sudden that opens up the pass game.”

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On what he has seen since naming Tyler Buchner the starting quarterback

“There’s that consistency among who’s the voice in the huddle and who’s the voice on the field with the ones. I think that’s important, that cohesiveness and consistency in terms of who’s making the calls, who’s making the checks. We thought it was really important to do it and I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen.”

On freshman receiver Tobias Merriweather

“He made some big catches [in the scrimmage]. You have to remember he just got here in June. He goes out there, he looks physically like he’s been in college for a year or two. He plays the game at a high level. You have to remember he’s only been here for two months. He has been doing a really, really good job. He’s continuing to learn the playbook and understand the exact details of the wide receiver situation.

“I’ve been pleased with the plays he has made and the way he has been able to fight. Usually freshmen hit this wall, like, ‘Oh man, this is different than high school.’ I’ve been pleased to see Tobias continue to push through that wall.”

On senior safety Brandon Joseph

“He’s natural leader. He’s confident, which is an extremely important part of playing the game. If you’re not confident – I don’t know any defensive back, corner or safety, that hasn’t been confident in what he does. You have to be confident. B-Jo is very confident. He has made plays. You have to be a playmaker back there. He has done that. He’s very vocal in making checks, making sure everyone is on the same page.”

On freshman tight ends Holden Staes and Eli Raridon

“They both have done a really good job of learning the playbook and being able to go out and perform at the level [tight ends coach Gerard] Parker and [offensive coordinator Tommy] Rees have demanded. Those guys, I think both will play for us this year. Both are viable weapons in the run and pass game. I don’t know much we’ll see them early, but those will be guys I believe we’ll count on this season.”