Aug. 8, 2008

Wide Receiver Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Rob Ianello
On overall growth of the team this year…
“I think we grew during spring practice and improved in some areas. Hopefully we can get off to a fast start here with our senior group and continue to improve as we go through each camp. I was encouraged during spring practice, I’m encouraged by their summer work and their gains strength-wise and overall conditioning.”

On the overall speed and talent of the receiving core…
“Well hopefully it has improved. I would say we certainly have experience at the position, which would hopefully translate into us being smarter football players. If you’re a smart football player then you are able to play fast. Athletically, I was really happy with that in spring, and hopefully adding the three new players to our group here when we start practice today will continue to improve our athleticism and push us towards being a really good receiving core.”

On the incoming freshman’s role in the receiving unit…
“I would say there is now not pressure for a young freshman to have to be like the recent freshman of the past. There is not the pressure for a freshman to have to jump into the mix, but if a freshman does jump into the mix and has a major role with us then that is great. There’s going to be opportunities for guys to do that but there isn’t the pressure for guys to have to do that.”

On what the experience of Jimmy Clausen does for the receivers…
“I think it’s a positive that some confidence developed in him, and he knows his role with the team. Now you just continue to develop a relationship between the quarterback and the receivers. We know who the starter is going to be and that’s a positive for us. As far as expanding, we have our offense, we have the offense that Coach Weis has run for years and that’s going to be our package and we’ll expand it as much as we can, but there are some core things that we need to be good at, such as route running.”

Quarterbacks Coach Ron Powlus
Obviously you guys don’t get to work with the players in the off-season, but talk about the importance just of Jimmy [Clausen] being physically bigger…
“Well the off-season was huge for him, as it was for our whole team, but it really took the physical part of the game off the table for him. He’s up to speed, he looks good, he has worked out well and being so physically fit puts him in a position to focus more mentally on what he is doing than having to work out the physical side of things.”

Having been where he [Jimmy Clausen] was at one point, what’s the next step he has to take in the process?
“Well you go from focusing on what you do and where everybody is going around you to being able to figure out how to take advantage play-by-play, seeing what the defense is doing and interpreting what they are trying to get done. You start planning to make every play win instead of just trying to get out there and remember what you are doing and where your receivers are going to be. But that’s how it goes, first you figure out what you are doing before figuring out the defense; that’s where we are trying to go.”

Does he [Jimmy Clausen] know where he’s going now?
“He does; he’s a hard working kid with a great work ethic and he’s proven it off the field as well. With the playbook, he works hard and really does a good job as well. He wants his teammates to do well, he supports them and that’s how you become a leader. And the kind of summer he had with the guys, I know he was there every day, he was there extra with them, that’s where leadership develops.”

How about him [Jimmy Clausen] as a leader? I mean the quarterback has to lead whether it’s a freshman or a senior…
“Jimmy has good leadership qualities, he really does. You know, a lot of it comes through in work ethic; he’s working hard and out in front leading the guys. Maybe without saying a whole lot but at the same time he’s got some fire to him. He’s a competitive kid who wants to be around something special, and all that gives him good leadership qualities.”

What needs to happen for you guys to put more points on the board this year?
“There are a lot of things that are going to happen throughout the year that are going to give a us chance to score points. From the experience the guys have, to their knowledge, study and practice habits and studying of opponents; all the pieces of the puzzle need to come together to score points. And we’re going to get started today.”

With Charlie [Weis] taking less of a play calling role, at least on game-days, how does that effect you and the other offensive coaches?
“There is still going to be a lot of involvement from Coach Weis and that’s the way we want it to be, and that’s the way he wants it to be. It’s working out really well and he’s certainly going to be around the quarterbacks on the practice fields and in meetings as well as spending a lot of time with the whole offensive staff.”

As a coach I imagine you like coming into the season with the starting quarterback already established…
“Well what you want to have is a guy who is going to compete each and every day no matter what he’s doing, every rep matters. And that doesn’t matter whether you are trying to move up the depth chart or if you are already on top of the depth chart. That’s why I feel really good about our quarterbacks, they are competitive guys who want to do well and win every play.”

There is so much talk about freshman [quarterback] Dayne Crist from California, you talked about Clausen’s size and how much more physically fit he is this year than he was a year ago, and you look at Crist and he’s 235 pounds and more of a Brady Quinn type of physical quarterback if you will, how excited are you to be able to work with someone like him starting today?
“Well I’m excited to work with all of the guys. We’re excited to have Dane, he did very well in high school and we want to continue it. He’s the kind of kid you look forward to having in your program for the future.”

Tight Ends Coach Bernie Parmalee
Do you guys know right now really what you are going to do at the tight end position?
“You know, we are just going to go out there and run our offense and once we see what guys can do and what they are capable of, we’ll adjust with our personnel. Hopefully we have guys on the team that can make plays at that position because the offense suits the tight ends making plays down the field. We feel real good about the guys we have and that they do have the capability to produce.”

Tight ends not only have to know all the running plays in order to block but then they also have run their pass routes and know their receiving responsibilities…
“That’s true, I always call it the hybrid position. I tell my tight ends either way, if you are 40 pounds heavier you’re a tackle, if you’re 40 pounds lighter you’re a tall receiver. It is one of the positions that has to know it all and is an integral part. A lot of times you’re the point of attack and if the point of attack is not in control, you’re in trouble. It’s a very challenging position but we have some guys that can do the job.”

Obviously with John Carlson graduating, a fifth-year senior, the tight end position should be wide open and I imagine you’re looking forward to some great competition…
“The competition is going to be great, those guys know what they are in for and they will go out there and work hard. They know that every play is being evaluated; we just want the best out there to help us win ballgames. We have seven guys who will be working hard and they determine the depth chart because it’s all about performance. It is a good group of guys looking forward to the challenge.”

John Latina Assistant Head Coach (Offense) / Offensive Line Coach
On this year’s returnees…
“I do like the fact that they (the team) have been in the system now for a few years. I like that a lot of them have game experience. I think there’s a lot of positives in being in our system and growing within that system.”

On playing different positions…
“I’ve always kind of believed there’s pros and cons to both playing in one spot and then moving to another. The pros to playing in one spot is you can learn that spot. I always get concerned about guys just learning their deal and not getting the big picture. That’s the con; you don’t get the big picture a lot of times. And that’s the pro to moving around, you get the big picture.”

On building strength in the offseason…
“We, as a staff, felt like we needed to get bigger. We needed to get stronger. Not necessarily heavier because a lot of times that naturally comes with getting bigger, and we felt like we had to improve those areas. I think our strength staff and Coach Mendoza, who I think is really an outstanding strength coach, has done a great job with those guys. They look bigger and better than I’ve ever seen them, so that’s a real positive.”

On offensive tackle Sam Young stepping up as a leader…
“Of course, I don’t see him much in the summer. In the spring, we have a short window we get to coach in, 14 or 15 practices. The kid’s played a couple years. I think the kid’s got a lot of confidence right now. I think he feels good about himself. I think he wanted that responsibility. To me, that’s great. If I could have ten like that, the more the merrier. Every kid is different. Some want that …
some wait and see if they’re capable of doing that. I’m glad to see him do that. I think he’s done a nice job.”

On offensive guard Chris Stewart…
“I like his improvement. I thought at times last year he played pretty good for his first time really playing and a couple of times he struggled like first-time players would struggle. I think the value of the experience he had, the value of his weight being in better condition and he’s strong and a really smart guy, I would think he’s going to have a really fine year for himself.”

Corwin Brown
Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs Coach
On players that could make an impact this season…
“All of them that go out on that field. Literally, all of them. That’s what we want from all of our guys.”

On defensive backs Gary Gray and Raeshon McNeil and their ability to step in…
“They’ve got something about them. They’ve got something to them that defensive backs need. The way we play, we play a lot of man, we pressure. We ask our corners to do things a lot of schools don’t. That’s how we play and that’s what we’re about. We don’t back down. When somebody gets hurt or when somebody needs a break, we just put the next guy out there and we expect the same thing from those guys that the other guys did.”

On moving on from last season…
“That’s what we do anyway. You never get stuck in the past or you never get stuck worrying about yesterday. It’s always tomorrow, the next play, the next down, the next series, the next quarter, the next half, the next game. That’s what we do. It’s not like it’s something new for us.”

Mike Haywood Offensive Coordinator / Running Backs Coach
On the competition for the running back positions…
“Whatever happens over the next three or four weeks will determine how much playing time each individual will get. We feel like we have some individuals who can step up and competed and play. Every player is getting better. The two or three weeks for us are the only things that matter. I have a short-term memory, so I don’t remember much from last season. All I’m worried about are the next few weeks.”

On what he’s looking for from the starting running back…
“It’s a total game. One, you have to learn how to share. What I mean my learning how to share is that you have to be a good pass protector. Once you’re a good pass protector, now you have to be a good route runner. Once you can get open, now you have to catch the football. From a running standpoint, you have to understand fronts and coverages, understand your reads and keys. And the more experience you have the better the opportunity you have to succeed.”

On the key elements that could distinguish one running back from another…
“Anytime you have a physical player, you have more opportunities to get him on the field.”

On the demeanor of the running back corps…
“There are a lot of different personalities in the room. One of the best things about it is that they all leave their ego at the door before they walk in so you can coach them all hard. They all understand what you’re trying to get from them and they want to make you happy and they want to please you so they work very hard. The running back crew is a good group of men.”

On the importance of having a good preseason…
“(This preseason) every play is important because every player is in a competitive situation which provides you with an opportunity to show what you can do. They know that they’re going to be graded on every play, and every night we write-up and critique every player. Either you did your job or you didn’t. If the play wasn’t successful, why wasn’t it successful? If the play was successful, why was it successful? We hand that (write-up) to Coach Weis. He understands where we’re coming from. We’re all on the same page, and we relay that to the young man so there is never any grey area.”

On what he’s looking for in the receiving corps…
“You’re always looking for speed. An opportunity to put more speed on the field provides an opportunity to make big plays. We’re definitely looking for more speed. Some guys this morning showed us some endurance and speed at the conditioning workout.”

On how handling play-calling responsibilities has changed his perspectives…
“No, it really doesn’t (change my approach to coaching). Years ago, there was a gentleman by the name of Walter Cowan that said ‘Always prepare for what you want’. And I’ve always prepared for the position that I’m in today. With great leadership and guidance in Coach Weis, it helps out there. Rarely is there a time when he is not available to answer a question I have to ask.”

On how he will approach prepping for play-calling duties…
“One day, one play. Every time.”

Jon Tenuta
Assistant Head Coach (Defense) / Linebackers Coach
On more schools implementing the spread offense…
“Outside of the vertical stretch, the horizontal stretch, whatever you want to call it — the soccer aspect or basketball on grass. People wanted to run and shoot, but they didn’t have the run part of it – mostly draws and so on. But now it’s more of an open type of look. Some people are baffled with the pistol formation with the quarterback in between, so it gives you more of the option look. Then they’ll go to the drop back. It’s all that your players can handle, offensively, as you coach it. And obviously it’s our job, defensively, to stop the run first.”

On coaching from the press box on game days…
“Corwin (Brown) is the coordinator. However he calls it is how we’re going to do it. You set yourself up throughout the week how we’re going to handle things like down-and-distance and certain situations. In certain situations, if he asked for my advice I’m going to give it to him. It’s important as a group – myself, Corwin, Jappy (Oliver) – all of us, we’re in it together. I’ve done it (coached from the press box) before so it’s not a big deal for me. I just feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach at Notre Dame.

On how the staff will process information on game day…
“I think a lot of it will be between series. If there are certain things Coach Weis saw, he’s going to say something and you’ll note that. Then if they come out in this formation with this personnel group, this is what you’re doing and this is how they’re attacking you. It’s all guys working together as a fit so you don’t give up the big plays.”

On how he is perceived by his players and the media…
“I don’t feel like I have to talk about myself because I’m a teacher and a coach. My job is to make the players as good as they can be, and that’s what I do.”

On the current players and the execution of their defensive philosophy…
“What we have is what we have to build on. The guys that are there right now, coming out of spring, is your starting point. Then, based on the group we have, you fit them in and then you go get ready to attack.”

On tweaking the Notre Dame defense week-to-week…
“The work is never done. That’s always an on-going process. Every practice, every game. It has been like that my whole career. You have got to be able to matchup and fit what you want to do versus your opponent.”

Special Teams Coordinator Brian Polian
On players in the pros…
People may not think about it, but we followed the kids that have left our program and gone on and had the opportunity to play. We follow those guys closely. I am so excited about what J.J. Jansen is doing up in Green Bay. J.J. Jansen is listed as the number-one long snapper right now in Green Bay. What Corey Mays is doing in Cincinnati and (Chinedum) Ndukwe is doing in Cincinnati. We follow all our kids that have gone on and are excited about each and every one of them.

On one player being a game breaker…
Obviously, we return Golden Tate and Armando Allen who are both talented kids and I’m excited to see what a year’s worth of physical development and being in an offseason program and having the experience of playing as true freshmen is going to mean to those guys. So I’m excited to see what is going to happen with those guys.

On coach Weis being involved with special teams…
That’s a little bit of media stuff. To think that Coach Weis would not be involved would be silly. Coach Weis knows what is going on in every phase of the football game. To think that I was running amok for two years by myself is not an accurate thought. I think this offseason has been wonderful to sit and talk with him in private and really go through our personnel with a fine-tooth comb and decide where we felt kids had their best chances to succeed and talk about the x’s and o’s, he’s been a great resource.

Defensive Line Coach Jappy Oliver
The effect of Darrin Walls’ absence…
We’re all about doing the best job we can with who we have. You can’t control who’s not here. It just creates an opportunity for somebody else. I’m hoping this year that obviously I can play more people. The talent level is deeply distributed so I’m hoping to play a lot more people than I played before.

On being without Trevor Laws…
Trevor (Laws) was obviously my anchor. Even as a freshman, he was a different kid. He’s always been comical. He keeps things light. He’s a great guy to have on your team and in the meeting room.