As I review the roster for the fall, there seems to
be more than sufficient experience, at least statistically speaking. Chuck Martin’s offense returns 11 players
with at least one start under their belt.
Three of the 12 started all 13 games last season and all three were
offensive linemen - Martin, Watt and Lombard.
Leading the way with 39 consecutive starts at tackle
is fifth year Offensive Lineman, Zack Martin.
Martin could have left to play on Sundays after last season but chose to
return to anchor Notre Dame’s offensive line.
Zack has been and will continue to be on any and all lineman award watch
lists including the Lombardi and Outland Trophy lists. Adding in the fact that he is a two-time team
captain, his experience is priceless in the locker room, huddle, and on the
field. I love this guy’s attitude, "I wanted to play with my little
brother (Nick), I wanted to finish it out with (guard Chris) Watt, and
ultimately I want to play another year with coach (Harry) Hiestand." –
Zack Martin. With the loss of mobile
Golson, less active Rees should be well taken care of on the left side.
T.J. Jones (godson of Raghib “The Rocket” Ismail) has
appeared in 38 games, starting in 30 of them in three years, making him the
only other player besides Zack Martin to start in 30 or more games. Jones has shown growth and progress over his
three years (the biggest jump last season) but he has not become the number one
receiver the Irish are looking for. At
5’11”, 190 lbs., Jones may not be Michael Floyd (and I don’t think anyone
expected him to be), but he has shown some glimpses of greatness starting from
day one. He was the first freshman wide out in school history to catch TD
passes in each of his first two career games and became the second freshman wide
out in Notre Dame history to register a touchdown in the Irish season
opener. Kelly needs Jones to put his
experience to work this season and step up to become the “go to” guy in the
receiver corps for this offense to be successful.
Fifth year senior Chris Watt started in all 13 games
in each of the last two seasons for a total of 26 starts, while appearing in 39
games over three seasons after redshirting his freshman year. Watt is a kid that could have left after last
season and worked his way onto a NFL squad through free agency. Chris Watt has been a fixture at the guard
position alongside Zack Martin on the O-line and that chemistry should pay
dividends this fall.
The naming of Tommy Rees as the starting quarterback
for the Irish in 2013 in the wake of Golson’s absence has many people less than
thrilled. Most teams in this situation
would be happy to have their “backup” quarterback have as much game experience
has Rees has. Statistically speaking,
Rees is the most accurate passer in Notre Dame history and can recite the
playbook from memory cover to cover. In three seasons, Tommy Rees has appeared in
33 games with 18 starts. Say what you will, but having meaningful snaps under
his belt is not an issue at the starting quarterback position.
After redshirting his freshman year, offensive
lineman Christian Lombard appeared in all 13 games during his sophomore year as
a backup role at tackle and on special teams.
Watt went on to start all 13 games of his junior season. 26 games played with 13 starts at right
tackle is a solid resume and a welcomed asset for a lineman with two years of
eligibility left. Lombard is also the
last player with double digit starts on offense.
Troy Niklas had seven starts at tight end in 2012
and played in all 13 games. In terms of
game playing experience, Niklas has appeared in in 25 games. As a freshman, Troy played on the defensive
side of the ball including one start. His
receiving numbers are modest at best with five catches for 75 yards. Overall confidence (his nick name is Hercules
and he is known for flipping over blocking sleds in practice) and game readiness
is not an issue here, but Niklas is still learning the position of tight end at
the college level.
Senior wide receiver Daniel Smith may have started
in four of the 22 games he has appeared in during the three years he has been
at Notre Dame, but in most people’s eyes he has not played at a “starting”
level. His offensive totals are statistically
mediocre at best with an average of 6.7 (long of 11 yards) yards a catch on
seven catches for a total of 47 yards and no touchdowns.
Wide Receiver Chris Brown saw action in all 13 games
with four starts during his freshman year in 2013. Although he had only two receptions last year,
one was for 50 yards on a huge stage on the road in Norman against Oklahoma on
the go ahead drive.
Junior Running Back George Atkinson III has appeared
in 25 games (only missed the Oklahoma game in 2013) in his first two years with
three starts (all three starts in his sophomore year). GAIII was the third smaller appendage of the
last season’s three headed monster at running back. Atkinson works on his speed as a sprinter on
Notre Dame’s track team. Although his 51
carries for 361 yards last season may have been a bit disappointing, it did
give him an understanding of running back by committee at some level, which it
should defiantly be the case to some extent in 2013.
Sophomore DeVaris Daniels redshirted his freshman
year before seeing action in 11 (missed last two games of the regular season
with a broken collarbone) games, starting in three of them. Daniels positioned himself to step up and be
a leader in the receiving corps leading the team in yards per catch average
last season with 15.8 yards per catch (of receivers with at least eight
catches) for a total of 490 yards on 31 receptions. DaVaris finished strong as one of the few
highlights for the Irish in the BCS National Championship Game posting a career-high 115 receiving on six receptions, including a
31-yard reception.
Ben Koyack has two starts (one in 2011
and one in 2012) in 24 game appearances in his two years with Notre Dame. Koyack’s role has been primarily in multiple
tight end formations and as a reserve.
Ben has a total of four receptions for 44 yards in two seasons for the
Irish. Koyack is another player waiting
to live up to the expectations coaches had for him when he arrived in South
Bend.
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