Aug. 18, 2001
The season started just a couple days ago and already the competition is heating up. With the graduation of several key starters, Notre Dame head coach Bob Davie and his staff have their work cut out.
Davie believes there is plenty of healthy competition going on at the tailback position, as well as the fullback position.
“If you look at offensive tackle, there are three offensive tackles so there is competition there,” Davie said. “Certainly at guard there is competition as well.”
Just three days into the season and there is competition at a majority of the slots. Davie contends that he does not abide by any specific timetables in terms of firming up a tentative depth chart.
“I do not even really think about it,” Davie said. “I know that everyone of those players are going to get to play so to me it is almost a non-issue.”
RECEIVING CORP
Another position hit hard by the loss of starters is the receiving corp. The Irish lost Joey Getherall, one of the team’s top receivers from the 2000 season.
“With the wide receivers, we have three there that are ahead of the group,” Davie said. “Arnaz [Battle] would be the third in that group right now.”
The coaching staff does not have a specific number of players set to rotate through that group of receivers but they feel that more is better.
“Ronnie Rodamer, Lorenzo Crawford and Omar Jenkins need to step up to become a little more of a playmaker style of guy,” Davie said. “That is something which we have talked about. There is a bit of a gap between the first three and the rest.”
INJURY UPDATE
Davie confirmed that the coaches are still limiting free safety Glenn Earl’s action. He is nursing an injured quadriceps.
Offensive tackle Kurt Vollers exited Friday’s morning practice early. The senior injured his ankle. Vollers’ status is listed as day-to-day.
Free safety Dwayne Francis did not participate this morning either due to a sprained ankle.