Notre Dame Football: Spring Game Notes And Recap

Getting through a scrimmage game without injury is all a coach can ask for.

But early, a gasp overtook the makeshift Irish venue at the practice field for the annual Blue-Gold game.

2nd year player Nyles Morgan was shaken on a tackle but later returned.

In all, the scrimmage netted what many believed:

-Both Malik Zaire and Everett Golson can start on any college team- including Ohio State

-The team overall is not short on depth

-CJ Prosise will be a force in 2015

Special Teams:

With incoming kicker Justin Yoon set to start as the Irish specialty player, Tyler Newsome was on center stage to take on the task of dual specialist. 

1st two punts netted negative results, with a short punt sailing into the end zone and the second carrying into the sidelines-

Newsome was perfect on all point afters-

Nailed a 30 yard field goal in the first half-

Quarterbacks:

Golson and Zaire again shared the plays while in live mode for the first half:

Combined for 13 of 24 and 190 yards-

Both had 30 yards on the ground-

Second half saw 2nd year player Deshone Kizer-

Split duties saw both starters struggle with high throws-

Each showed their running abilities when pressed and made it look rather easy in doing so-

Golson led the Blue squad to the first score with a keeper and executed his time a little bit more fluid-

Zaire showed arm strength and speed on the run and cemented the position with depth. The Irish have 2 quarterbacks and can win with either-

The highlight of the first half was a bomb from Zaire to Will Fuller for a touchdown. Fuller beat corner Nick Watkins but clearly was added by the strong arm of Malik.

Defensive Play:

Clearly seeing Jarrett Grace back on the field was the special moment of the day. And as he did before his injury, Grace didn't wait to make his former self known. Grace shed blocks, broke into the backfield on occasion and pressured the quarterbacks.

Overall, the front line was disruptive even in the tweeked spring format with live quarterbacks who weren't going to get punished either way-

Jay Hayes and Max Redfield elevated their position-

First year player Jerry Tillery again stamped his spot somewhere on the defensive line-

Fumble Rooskie's and Trickery

Future NFL offensive line player Ronnie Stanley took a backside pass from Golson to end the first half-

A fan submitted play resulted in an interception-