Notre Dame allowed some players and coaches to speak to the media after Saturday’s practice in South Bend. Here everything is receiver trainer Chansi Stuckey had to say.
On the receiver group
“It’s a hardworking group, a young group overall. We have some seniors and some young people, so I’m trying to blend that into one. The beauty of this is that the guys are hungry to learn, hungry for detail and hungry to be awesome. That’s all you could wish for. They want to learn and don’t feel like they know everything. With this group, the boys want to learn the ball and know the details of the position. That was the best part.”
On WR Lorenzo Styles
“Definitely getting his hands on the ball. When he gets his hands on the ball he can do a lot of great, great things. He reminds me of my time when I first went to receiver. Super athlete, but me did not get it.” the details of it. With him I see a younger version of myself. I’m trying to get him on the path I brought with me, just working on the details and finding a way to get better every day. Soon, we’ll hopefully have a fairly polished and finished product. Getting him the ball into space is the biggest thing.”
On the growth of WR Braden Lenzy
“Coach Rees said last year he wasn’t who he is now. He makes more games. He’s louder and works a lot harder than previously said. That’s all I know about him. He’s a hard worker. He’s loud. He enjoys doing plays and growing as a person. I can see him brimming with confidence now. It used to be like, ‘I don’t know.’ And yet he still has so much room to grow.”
For the overall impression of Notre Dame
“It’s incredible. I wish I’d been here sooner. It’s phenomenal. People really make a space and the people here really care about you. Inside the football family and outside it’s incredible. The coach has a great environment with People created like minded people who want to see Notre Dame do well No one is bigger than the program and it’s all about Notre Dame I think that’s matriculated throughout the staff.
About replacing WR Joe Wilkins Jr.
“It’s about nobody being bigger than the group. we are all together Everyone does plays, so no one is bigger than the group. Joe is a great guy. We love him and he is a good addition to our team. but it’s the next man up mentality while he’s doing his thing.”
On what the recipient group did to get him excited
“There is a lot of untapped potential. That’s one of the big things that excites me. So many different skills with many guys. No person is the same. It’s like I want to recruit a basketball team – people with different skills and qualities. That’s pretty much what I have now. I have big boys, medium boys and small and fast boys. When I see it, it’s just a lot of untapped potential that I need to bring out as a coach.”
How often he relies on his NFL experience
“The whole time. It’s hard when you’re just up against your team because you can get into the mindset that I’m just trying to beat this guy. I think, hey dude, there are people in this world and in this country who work. You have to have that attitude that it’s not just you versus the person across from you. it’s the world You have to have that mentality to outperform everyone. When you get to the next level, you already have that mindset, so you’ll be competing with the highest and the best of the best.”
About the attention to detail
“It’s an integral part of who I am. It’s not just football, it’s life. If we miss the details, things miss us. Having that experience in the NFL and what separates people is details “Everyone is fast, big and understands football in a place like Notre Dame. The really good teams, the details separate everything. We can’t just do something without understanding why we’re doing it, what the purpose behind it is and like me can do better. When you focus on the details, everything else falls into place. I’m just trying to teach these guys on and off the field, details really matter. That’s how you become great at your craft.
About the influence of WR Avery Davis
“Guide. The way he carries himself. Honestly, the way he’s approaching his rehab, he’s months ahead of where he should be at this point. It kind of reminds me of that Amari Rodgers going through the same thing – same mindset and they actually know each other pretty well. Working that mindset and attacking everything they do on purpose. If something happens, I can speak to him in the meetings and he can speak up. He’ll be big for us once he comes back from a leadership and playmaking perspective.”
About replacing Kevin Austin Jr.
“Right now I’m just trying to find people who can do something and get a feel for what they’re good at. Kevin’s had a great career here. I had to talk to him a bit and see his Pro Day. Explosive, is fast and does some great things with the ball. It’s my job to see what our guys can do and put them in the best position as a group so that we can play as a group overall, not just as individuals.
On Notre-Dame defenders
“It’s good work. This is a high-level place. Coach (Mike) Mickens is doing a phenomenal job. They recruited well for this position. I’m telling the guys, this is what it’s going to look like on Saturdays. They play Ohio State, Clemson and USC. These guys are going to be just as good, fast and big, if they can keep up out here they should have confidence going on Saturdays.
In preparation for the season opener against Ohio State
“Competing. Competing. The bottom line is competing. Everything we do here is about competition. We had something today where we competed to see who could drink the Gatorade the fastest. And it was intense. That are the details. I want.” keep up with everything I do. That’s me as a coach. I’m not just competing with myself. I’m putting a goal on my back, but I’m competing against everyone in the country right now. Who is the best receiver coach? – I pick up that mentality in the briefing room and try to pass that on to my guys. I’m trying to get this on the field. I want to be the best and I want these guys to be the best. If I’m at my best then that gives them the opportunity to be successful.”
To adapt to the new staff
“I think that’s rare in my short time – just the continuity with the staff. You’d think we were dating and knew each other. The way the continuity came about was really cool. I mean from offense to Defensive. Coach Washington, Coach Golden, Coach Parker and Coach D (McCullough) it seems like we already knew each other This is Coach Rees and Coach Freeman who did a great job putting this team together It was phenomenal . I don’t want to just say it because it’s going to be kind of a stomp and work together and it’s going to be intense. We’re brothers and we stand by each other.”
About the balance between teaching principles and tailoring to a range of skills
“The base foundation is the things that suit everyone. Stance and start. Top of the route. Catching the football. That’s the base of every receiver and they have to do it well. Coaching a guy like Deion (Colzie), he is a ump ball guy who has a big body I put more emphasis on him trying to do that very well with the basis of what we are trying to do Deion will not run option routes like Zo (styles) does zo run the option routes the patience and distance you need from the guy running the base or the corner will be different as i teach deion how to position his body around the ball over his shoulder to catch I talk more about keeping the ball on an inside line on his nose and not letting the ball cross over his shoulders where he gets blinded I try to find the guys in my little notebook that do what they do well and show them these things to them Giving confidence to know that they can do this and that they can do it well.”