Notre Dame offensive identity won't change after losing core players to NFL

SOUTH BEND – Notre Dame boasted one of the top rushing attacks last season thanks to a veteran offensive line that was recognized as the nation's best, a running back that was in the Heisman Trophy conversation and a first-year offensive coordinator. The unit racked up more than 269 yards per game, ranking it the seventh best in the country, and averaged 6.25 yards per carry, good for third best.

Heading into the 2018 season, however, the Fighting Irish lose the heart of its offense and strength of its team. The line’s left side of Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson are both likely first rounders in next month's NFL draft, and running back Josh Adams, who ran for 1,430 total yards (14th most in the nation) turned pro early.

Don't expect an identity overhaul with these departures though. Chip Long isn’t making changes this spring. Heading into his second year, he vows to keep building on the power-running game he started.

“That will always be the standard,” Long said. “You just have to find who wants to step out and be those Alpha leaders. Last year it was the O-line. Right now, every position has bought into playing physical, playing tough and competing every down. That’s what I’m most excited about right now, and the competitive level all 11 guys have out there.

“If you have that, you set yourself up to have a chance.”

When Brian Kelly hired Long last offseason, he gave the 34-year-old coordinator full play-calling responsibilities. It worked out well and the Irish went 10-3 after winning four games the previous season. In addition to so many core offensive players leaving for the NFL, Notre Dame also lost longtime offensive line coach Harry Hiestand to the Chicago Bears and promoted Jeff Quinn. Players say besides personality differences between Hiestand and Quinn, nothing has changed with techniques and calls remaining the same.

And that’s how Long wants to keep it as his guys become more comfortable in his system and the quarterbacks grow in the passing game.

“We’re a run, play-action team. That’s where it starts, and that’s where it will always start,” Long said. “Then being able to add the rest of the offense into it, and make it a tough group to compete with.”

More opportunities for Tony and Dexter

Continuing along the power running game theme, running backs Dexter Williams and Tony Jones Jr. are going to get more opportunities this season without Adams. The two combined for 592 yards on 83 carries last season, which together was only third-best on the team. Various injuries played a role — Williams, for example, worked through a high ankle sprain all season, which took away his speed.

Now they’re a year older and know how to handle adversity, so running backs coach Autry Denson is expecting them to pick up where Adams left off.

“They’re a year more mature and you can see it in their preparation, you can see it in the way they attack the weight room,” Denson said. “And we’ve talked about a lot of purposeful preparation. Preparing to play late into the season. These aren’t just spring reps. I think what you’re seeing with those guys, because they have experience now, they’re preparing with intention.”

It’s clear during practice that Jones and Williams have taken ownership of the position group. During a drill last Saturday, Jones showed freshman Jafar Armstrong, who is splitting time at running back and wide receiver, how to keep his pads low. At another station, Williams was being more vocal, outwardly showing his confidence.

“It’s playing off each other in the ebbs and flows of practice without me having to tell them,” Denson said of what impresses him most. “Watching them go up and correct (freshman) Jamir Smith before I can even get to him because they’re seeing the game from the same perspective as I am. You see the mental maturity playing out. They’re just playing, they’re not thinking anymore.”

Denson also isn’t looking to groom any one of his backs to replace Adams’ productivity. He wants each guy to be able to do everything from pass blocking to receiving.

“That’s what we train every day,” Denson said. “We’re never trying to allow guys to rest on one thing or the other.”

Blocking out the noise

Brian Kelly said last week he believes Brandon Wimbush has shown a spike in confidence since last year. It’s one of the things, Kelly said, that’s different about the quarterback’s performance since his most recent snap. Wimbush had an up-and-down 2017 rookie season, at times flourishing, at other times appearing flustered.

Wimbush has always seemed confident though, handling inaccuracies in the passing game with poise. One of quarterbacks’ coach Tom Rees’ roles here is to help Wimbush focus and cut out the negative noise that may impact his mental state. Rees, who played for Notre Dame from 2010-13, admitted he let it get to him when he was a freshman and sophomore, and strives to be a resource for young players to come to if or when they feel pressure mounting.

“There’s two aspects (of blocking out the noise),” Rees said. “One, the best thing to do is limit the exposure you have to it. You don’t need to be on your phone, you don’t need to be on Twitter, you don’t need to be reading articles. So that’s one thing that I harp on him.

“Second thing is, as you become an older quarterback, you start to learn that. The biggest thing with Brandon is keep your confidence level up. We talk about it every time. When you step on the field you should have the belief that you’re the best player on the field. And there are games where he takes over the game because of his ability. I just continue to harp on confidence. It’s a huge part in playing the position, especially at this university, especially when the stakes are high.”

Rees said he doesn’t think Wimbush had issues with those things last season, but still gives him that advice.

Wimbush was benched early in the second quarter of the Citrus Bowl and replaced by backup Ian Book, whose heroics led Notre Dame to a 21-17 win over LSU. Coming out of that game, confidence was in a weird place for both players: Wimbush didn’t know if he lost his job for good after starting every game that season (except for one due to injury), and Book didn’t know if leading the Irish to its elusive 10th win would put him ahead in 2018.

Rees talked to both quarterbacks immediately following that game.

“Nothing changes,” Rees said he told Wimbush. “We talked as soon as the game was over. When you step in the building, you expect to be the guy. Same thing with Ian, expect to be the guy. You come to work with that mentality and that attitude.”

Wimbush and Book are currently getting close to 50-50 reps in spring practices and both are working with the first and second teams. Kelly said last week that he hasn’t seen separation yet. It’s likely he won’t name a starting quarterback until right before the season begins in the fall.

Follow IndyStar Notre Dame Insider Laken Litman on Twitter and Instagram: @lakenlitman.