Notre Dame Football Practice - August 16

Thoughts, analysis and observations from the final Notre Dame open football practice

Notre Dame held its final open practice of the season today. IB was there and here is what I saw.

Veteran center Zeke Correll didn’t participate today, but he was in pads with his ankled taped, which is a positive sign.

After stretch they worked on kick return. The primary kick returner with the first group was transfer Devyn Ford, and Gi’Bran Payne was behind him. The second time the first team went out there it was Jadarian Price that was out there with the first group. When the second unit went out it was Chris Tyree with Rico Flores Jr., and Jeremiyah Love took the second return with the second group.

An observation I’ve noticed about Tyree in fall camp, and it was obvious today. He’s a lot more smooth than he was before. I wouldn’t call him a guy that will shake a bunch of people, but he runs more smooth. His strides are longer, he’s not as choppy as he used to be. I think being a wide receiver has helped him open up his strides a bit and it makes his running style more fluid and smooth.

After kick return they went to a routes on air period.

On the first rep, Sam Hartman floated a go route to Tobias Merriweather that was accurate but Merriweather had to hold up a step. On that same rep, Steve Angeli threw the out cut to Chris Tyree, but the ball was way over Tyree’s head.

On the next rep, Hartman was sharp on his out cut to Jaden Greathouse, and Angeli underthrew the corner route to Rico Flores Jr but the ball was caught. The third rep was sharp from both quarterbacks.

Hartman threw a backside stop route to Jayden Thomas that was accurate and well-timed, Thomas caught it clean. The ball to Deion Colzie was well-timed, but Colzie was late getting around and the ball sailed through his hands. Has to be able to catch that. Braylon James ran a stop route on the third rep, but Kenny Minchey threw it too soon and too far behind him.

The went with a different route combination on the next set and Angeli threw a good in cut to Chris Tyree and Hartman was perfect on his out cut to Merriweather. Hartman was slightly behind Greathouse on an In cut the next rep, but it was caught easily. Angeli threw an out cut to Flores that sailed way over his head and it was incomplete. The final rep Minchey threw an out cut that was accurate and Hartman was accurate on an in cut to Jordan Faison.

Thomas ran a sharp post-corner and Hartman hit him on target on the sideline. Colzie ran a good post-corner as well and Hartman hit him. Angeli threw a post-corner to Matt Salerno and got it out with good timing and accuracy. Minchey ended it with a well-timed and accurate post-corner throw to Braylon James.

Hartman hit Tyree on a deep over that was perfect, and Angeli was slightly behind Merriweather but the ball was caught. Hartman sailed his post throw over Merriweather’s head but Angeli hit Greathouse on the over route.

They finished things up with a 1-on-1 period from about the 15-yard line going in. It was a great session.

The first 1-on-1 was Tobias Merriweather vs. Benjamin Morrison – Merriweather won off the line, used a stutter to get free and then beat Morrison inside for a touchdown. Great route and ball.

Next was Jaden Greathouse vs. Thomas Harper – Greathouse ran a really good route and the ball was well thrown, but Harper knocked it out late.

Next was Jayden Thomas vs. Cam Hart – Thomas won off the line and got open on a fade but Hartman over threw it by a step. Well done by Thomas.

Next was Rico Flores Jr. vs. Christian Gray – Gray won initially but Flores recovered and caught a low slant throw from Steve Angeli.

Next was Jordan Faison vs. Xavier Watts – It was a great route with good coverage from Watts, but the throw from Angeli was perfect and Faison out played him for the football.

Next was Matt Salerno vs. Jaden Mickey – Salerno beat him off the ball and then snapped it off inside to win on a quick post on a touchdown.

Next was Jaden Greathouse vs DJ Brown – Greathouse beat Brown by several steps but the ball from Angeli was way out in front.

Next was Deion Colzie vs. Clarence Lewis – Colzie won at the line, had a good corner fade and made a great catch for the touchdown. Lewis was holding him but Colzie still made the grab and stayed in bounds.

Round two for Tobias vs Morrison was a quick in cut but Morrison beat him inside and broke up the pass.

Faison destroyed Ramon Henderson on an in cut but Hartman missed him inside.

Braylon James vs. Hart – James had a nice release and ran an in cut, he beat Hart inside, shielded Hart and the ball hit him in the chest. James made the tough catch for a score for the touchdown.

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