What Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden said before Clemson game

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden spoke to reporters Tuesday evening about several topics, ranging from Dabo Swinney‘s Clemson teams to getting younger players in-game reps against Pittsburgh.

Here’s what Golden had to say.

On facing Dabo Swinney’s Clemson teams

“I think, obviously, there’s a big span in there, just playing them last year, just perimeter speed, length on the perimeter, big-time tight ends, a quarterback that can move and multiple running backs. They make you defend the whole width of the field. They can take the top off of it with speed, and they can get the ball underneath and make you miss. So, it’s a challenging group.”  

On Notre Dame playing complementary football

“Again, I think it’s a credit to [Irish head coach Marcus Freeman] and the coordinators. We’re all on the same page. We’re all just trying to get better and trying to win and do whatever we’ve got to do. It’s been good lately, but for me, you’ve got to keep going. Don’t tinker with it. Don’t talk about it too much. Just keep doing it. But it’s great when all three [phases] come together like that, for sure.”

On Christian Gray playing aggressively in his first game of full-time action at Notre Dame

“It was a challenge, because they were a ‘shot’ team going in, meaning there’s a lot of vertical routes from Pitt. So, you lose both your corners, I’m like ‘Oh, boy, this could be … there’s a lot of shots here.’ So, great job.”  

On Jaden Mickey stepping up

“Again, tremendous. A tremendous young man. Team guy. Unselfish. When he wasn’t playing as much as he played Saturday, he was always supporting the guys that played. He was always on the track or the quest to improve. And sometimes that’s just the way it shakes out. You know, how you start is not how you finish. And there’s a lot of bumps in between. And I think for him, just to keep grinding and getting better and then to come through when his opportunity presented [itself], I thought, was awesome. In terms of the young man, just an incredible, incredible person, and we’re blessed to have him here. And he makes us all better. Every one of us.”

On getting younger Notre Dame players in-game reps

“Yeah, because it’s different. I had the good fortune to coach in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago, and there are very few things that move coaches, players, like the beginning of a Notre Dame football game. There are very few things emotionally that rise to that level. And it’s different. You can say whatever you want, but it’s different when you’re the guy. You’re out there now. And, I think, exposing a lot of guys to that the other day was important. We haven’t had many of those. So, obviously, we’ve had a tough schedule, but we haven’t had many of those.  

“So, to be able to do that and really assess where everybody’s at — and for them to assess. You know, if I’m in row three, I want to sit in row one. I want to sit where JD [Bertrand] is. I want to sit where Cam [Hart] is. Well, there’s a journey between Row 3 and Row 1. There’s a journey, and it’s not always fun. And then sometimes there’s kind of a looking glass, if you will. You say, ‘I want to be there,’ and all sudden, it’s ‘OK, let’s go. You’re up.’ And sometimes it goes as expected. And other times it’s like, ‘Oh, I missed that. I missed that. I missed that.’ And now there’s a chance to assess, take a deep breath and then get back on the journey in the direction you want to go. So, that’s why I think it’s important for them to be out there in that setting. I saw it in the spring with some of the freshmen that were mid-year guys. All of a sudden, they go out there, and there’s 50,000 people or 40,000 people, and it’s a little different.”