Notre Dame coaches reflect on jersey scrimmage two weeks out from season opener

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Third year Head Coach Marcus Freeman calls Saturday's jersey scrimmage "the best" he's been a part of.

In the final press conference with Freeman and his staff before game week, Freeman spent time praising the production at practice.

"It was a really, really the best jersey scrimmage I've been a part of to see two groups really competing throughout the entirety of the scrimmage," Freeman said.

The offense won the scrimmage 42-40, but that wasn't enough for new Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock, but for good reason.

"I'm really hard to please," Denbrock said. "I mean, if you were asking me if we would have played the way we're capable of playing, I would have hoped that there have been a little bit bigger margin there," Denbrock added.

Scrimmage production aside, the matchup versus Texas A&M at Kyle Stadium is two weeks from today and there's been no official announcement of the starting quarterback, but the majority assumes it will be Duke transfer QB Riley Leonard.

"He's been with the ones (first team) the whole time, and you know, that was the goal," Freeman said.

"The best thing is, he's taking care of the football like he's been in red. We know he can do some things with his legs, but we've kind of forced him say, hey, we know you can run the ball. Let's continue to watch you progress in the passing game, making checks, being able to put the offense in great situations. That's what you're most pleased about," Freeman added.

While Leonard continues to grow, OC Mike Denbrock believes his offense can stand to do the same.

"I'm not going to sit here and say that we're any sort of a finished product in any way, shape or form. But what I'm most proud of with this group is their expectation, I think, for themselves, has begun to grow almost they require it from one another, and when we actually make that leap where that's our mentality offensively, we've got, we've got some pieces," Denbrock said.

Part of the training for the offense is one of the best defenses in the country, ran by Al Golden in his third season with the Irish. Golden says Denbrock's offense has put him to the test through fall camp.

"All of a sudden, there's different combinations that can go in the game. I love our running back core, different combinations of wide receivers in the game. So, you know that, you know the, you know, the totality of that, if you will, provides great challenges," Golden said.

"You know, it's not like just take away Mitch, or just take away Beaux or, you know, hey, we got to focus on Jeremiah. You know, it's not that, because then Riley can get you with his feet. So, it's great. I love the system," Golden added.