Brent Venables and several players chatted with the media today over at the football offices. A few notables:
-- Well you can bet Will Fuller has Mackensie Alexander's attention (as if he already didn't already). Before the season Alexander created a bit of a sensation when he said he was the best cornerback in the country by a long shot. Now is his time to prove it, against a receiver that Venables said "is probably the best receiver in America."
"He gets my vote for guys I've watched on tape by a landslide," Venables said.
That includes former Florida State receiver Rashad Greene, whom Alexander blanketed last season with the exception of one costly slip-up.
"Very dynamic, big and really fast," Venables said. "He can go up and high-point the ball."
Venables said he told Alexander: "You're about to find out what the heck you're all about."
-- Venables added that Notre Dame's big, physical offensive line is the best one he can remember facing.
"If that battle is lost, we're probably not going to win the game," he said.
Here are a few notables from players, as relayed by TI correspondent Tim Hadsell:
-- Christian Wilkins on his first college road game:
"It was a different venue and hostile crowd but it was still the same game. It didn't feel any different to me but it is good to have this experience for sure." Also, in the moment he did not realize how well the unit was doing as a whole against the run until after the game.
Wilkins was asked if he would see any action on the offensive side of the ball and he joked saying that situation was talked about during the recruiting process but ever since he got here that it has gone out the window. "Even if I am in the backfield just blocking or something that would be a lot of fun."
When asked about the challenge of containing a big bruising back like C.J Prosise behind a big offensive line, Christian responded " do your job and stay disciplined, just get low and have good form tackles. We're going to practice and prepare hard so I feel we will be in a good position to face them."
If the football thing doesn't work out, Wilkins might have a career as a journalist. He sure seems eager to ask questions of his teammates during media sessions, as he did today when Carlos Watkins was at the microphone. Wilkins said he'll stick with football for now.
-- Oh, and about that aspiring journalist:
Wilkins' question to Watkins:
"How do you feel about Notre Dame's offensive line and how do you feel guys like yourself Scott (Pagano) and Christian Wilkins will do against them?
Watkins: "I think the way we practice and our preparation, I think we'll be ready to play. You know Christian, Scott we continue to work and everything will pay off in the game."
More from Watkins: The last drive of the game was a little bit of Deja-Vu from last year. "That was a testament to our manhood, a lot of guys were winded out there. Just give it all you got, that is what we work for in the off-season."
When asked through three games this season has this defense exceeded your expectations: "A lot of people expected us to have a major drop-off and that's what we wanted to prove to everybody, our goal is to be the number one defense again but we still have a lot more games to play."
"We knew we have the talent; even better talent than what we had last year. I say we lost some leadership but we're working on that right now." Guys that are stepping into leadership roles on this defense are Jayron Kearse, Kevin Dodd, Ben Boulware, B.J. Goodson and Carlos himself. " a lot of guys are maturing and starting to understand what it takes to win"
-- Wayne Gallman, on the new facemask he needs after bending one at Louisville: Said it's the third time this year his facemask has gotten bent from running so violently. Terry Allen has been his mentor since last year, real personal relationship with him. Wayne started watching film of Terry Allen and has taken notes.
After being asked if he felt he left anything out there after the Louisville game Wayne responded: "There is always more to do and accomplish and there is always stuff you're able to get better on so yeah. I could have gone north maybe on one of the plays I bounced out but it was a win and I did whatever it took."
When asked about the challenges taller backs such as himself face he responded with the task of keeping a lower center of gravity. When you hit the hole with a high center of gravity he says that results in arm tackles. This has been a point of emphasis for him.
It was brought to his attention that 80 yards of his rushing total of 139 yards came after contact. Wayne couldn't hold a smile back when asked about his opinion of this. Very apparent he takes a lot of pride in those yards after contact.
-- Hunter Renfrow went before the media for the first time today.
On how much fun it was to get his first touchdown as a Clemson receiver on prime time. "It was a lot of fun, guys were trying to get me pumped up on the sideline that it was a touchdown but it wouldn't have felt nearly as good if we didn't win. That's the biggest thing, just winning the game."
Did you expect to get the ball on the play call? "Not necessarily but Deshaun spreads the ball out so well and yeah the middle of the field just broke wide open."
Renfrow admits that he looks like a regular student and that no one asks who he is on campus besides his friends jokingly asking in public.
Renfrow was a decorated high school baseball prospect, so naturally the question comes about whether he'd want to play for Monte Lee.
"I love playing sports. I guess I love just everything you can compete in but I don't know. We talked in the summer but we'll see how the season goes. He's a great coach but we'll see."
-- Well you can bet Will Fuller has Mackensie Alexander's attention (as if he already didn't already). Before the season Alexander created a bit of a sensation when he said he was the best cornerback in the country by a long shot. Now is his time to prove it, against a receiver that Venables said "is probably the best receiver in America."
"He gets my vote for guys I've watched on tape by a landslide," Venables said.
That includes former Florida State receiver Rashad Greene, whom Alexander blanketed last season with the exception of one costly slip-up.
"Very dynamic, big and really fast," Venables said. "He can go up and high-point the ball."
Venables said he told Alexander: "You're about to find out what the heck you're all about."
-- Venables added that Notre Dame's big, physical offensive line is the best one he can remember facing.
"If that battle is lost, we're probably not going to win the game," he said.
Here are a few notables from players, as relayed by TI correspondent Tim Hadsell:
-- Christian Wilkins on his first college road game:
"It was a different venue and hostile crowd but it was still the same game. It didn't feel any different to me but it is good to have this experience for sure." Also, in the moment he did not realize how well the unit was doing as a whole against the run until after the game.
Wilkins was asked if he would see any action on the offensive side of the ball and he joked saying that situation was talked about during the recruiting process but ever since he got here that it has gone out the window. "Even if I am in the backfield just blocking or something that would be a lot of fun."
When asked about the challenge of containing a big bruising back like C.J Prosise behind a big offensive line, Christian responded " do your job and stay disciplined, just get low and have good form tackles. We're going to practice and prepare hard so I feel we will be in a good position to face them."
If the football thing doesn't work out, Wilkins might have a career as a journalist. He sure seems eager to ask questions of his teammates during media sessions, as he did today when Carlos Watkins was at the microphone. Wilkins said he'll stick with football for now.
-- Oh, and about that aspiring journalist:
Wilkins' question to Watkins:
"How do you feel about Notre Dame's offensive line and how do you feel guys like yourself Scott (Pagano) and Christian Wilkins will do against them?
Watkins: "I think the way we practice and our preparation, I think we'll be ready to play. You know Christian, Scott we continue to work and everything will pay off in the game."
More from Watkins: The last drive of the game was a little bit of Deja-Vu from last year. "That was a testament to our manhood, a lot of guys were winded out there. Just give it all you got, that is what we work for in the off-season."
When asked through three games this season has this defense exceeded your expectations: "A lot of people expected us to have a major drop-off and that's what we wanted to prove to everybody, our goal is to be the number one defense again but we still have a lot more games to play."
"We knew we have the talent; even better talent than what we had last year. I say we lost some leadership but we're working on that right now." Guys that are stepping into leadership roles on this defense are Jayron Kearse, Kevin Dodd, Ben Boulware, B.J. Goodson and Carlos himself. " a lot of guys are maturing and starting to understand what it takes to win"
-- Wayne Gallman, on the new facemask he needs after bending one at Louisville: Said it's the third time this year his facemask has gotten bent from running so violently. Terry Allen has been his mentor since last year, real personal relationship with him. Wayne started watching film of Terry Allen and has taken notes.
After being asked if he felt he left anything out there after the Louisville game Wayne responded: "There is always more to do and accomplish and there is always stuff you're able to get better on so yeah. I could have gone north maybe on one of the plays I bounced out but it was a win and I did whatever it took."
When asked about the challenges taller backs such as himself face he responded with the task of keeping a lower center of gravity. When you hit the hole with a high center of gravity he says that results in arm tackles. This has been a point of emphasis for him.
It was brought to his attention that 80 yards of his rushing total of 139 yards came after contact. Wayne couldn't hold a smile back when asked about his opinion of this. Very apparent he takes a lot of pride in those yards after contact.
-- Hunter Renfrow went before the media for the first time today.
On how much fun it was to get his first touchdown as a Clemson receiver on prime time. "It was a lot of fun, guys were trying to get me pumped up on the sideline that it was a touchdown but it wouldn't have felt nearly as good if we didn't win. That's the biggest thing, just winning the game."
Did you expect to get the ball on the play call? "Not necessarily but Deshaun spreads the ball out so well and yeah the middle of the field just broke wide open."
Renfrow admits that he looks like a regular student and that no one asks who he is on campus besides his friends jokingly asking in public.
Renfrow was a decorated high school baseball prospect, so naturally the question comes about whether he'd want to play for Monte Lee.
"I love playing sports. I guess I love just everything you can compete in but I don't know. We talked in the summer but we'll see how the season goes. He's a great coach but we'll see."
