“What we’ve tried to do, more than anything else, is develop our players’ skill level,” Kelly said of the nine spring practices that have already been held. “We’ll stay on that charge. Five, for us, is still a lot of work to get players to that next level and that is their efficiency as whatever their skill is, d-linemen, o-linemen, quarterback. This is still going to be about day-after-day working the skill and a little bit more unit consistency.”
Kelly said it's time to start evaluating players who may not necessarily end up being starters, but will be counted on for valuable minutes in the fall. When the Irish went to their red zone defense during Wednesday’s practice, the head coach sat safeties Harrison Smith and Zeke Motta in order to get Jamoris Slaughter, Danny McCarthy and Austin Collinsworth more work.
“We’ve got a good feeling for our top performers,” said Kelly. “Now it’s building that depth within the ranks that’s so important in the fall that you don’t get this chance to do it.
“Building depth at all of the positions is absolutely crucial to us. Last year at this time, we didn’t have a quarterback and our d-line was coming together. This is just part of the process. We’re getting closer to developing some key players and depth at that d-line position.”
Kelly believes that depth on the defensive front will pay dividends down the road and late in games.
“It’s going to allow us to keep our guys fresh through four quarters,” he said. “There’s an energy when you know you’ve got five or six guys who can give you quality work. There’s something about the energy that group keeps because there’s great camaraderie.”
The head coach mentioned Kendall Moore at the Mike linebacker position as another younger guy who will be in a key backup role in the fall. Moore is getting plenty of reps this spring with starting linebacker Manti Te’o limited after having arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason. Te’o increased his workload on Wednesday.
“Manti took some 7-on-7 reps today,” said Kelly. “We want to develop him too over the next five days where if we wanted to play him, we certainly could in the spring game. I don’t think we will, but we want to develop that too.
“I’m not ready to make that decision right now, but my thought is that he would not (play in the spring game.)”
Backup running back Jonas Gray is a player the staff has looked to for improved consistency and Kelly said it’s getting better.
“He did a nice job running today,” Kelly said of Gray. “You just have to remind him every time. It’s not muscle memory yet for him. You still have to remind him, but it’s getting closer. Today he hit a run and I thought he danced a little bit too much and it’s just reminding him, ‘Hey listen, hit that thing hard. Lower your pads.’ He’s gotten better at it each and every day. It’s not there yet, but it’s getting close.”
The end isn’t there for Notre Dame’s spring practice yet either, but it too is getting close.
