Quick-hitters: QB coach Gino Guidugli on Tyler Buchner, Steve Angeli, competition
Notre Dame quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli spoke with reporters Friday, his only media availability of spring practice. Here are some highlights.
On freshman quarterback Kenny Minchey
“Kenny doesn’t variate too much. He doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low. He understands it’s just about getting in there, getting reps, getting comfortable, catching up to the speed of the game.
“That’s what you want. I don’t think you want to get too high. When things go bad, you want to snap back and have a short memory. I think that’s Kenny as a person. I don’t think he’s very excitable. I don’t think he gets down about too much. He’s just kind of smooth sailing.”
On Sam Hartman and Tyler Buchner’s relationship
“Looking at it, it’s like these guys grew up together. That’s how I perceive it. Even though they’re competing, there’s a great relationship there. They look to help each other, cheer each other on. Tyler is helping Sam just with the foundation of the offense. He has a great understanding of it, having played in the offense. There’s an exchange of information there that’s really good and really beneficial for our football team.”
On Marcus Freeman wanting competition among the Notre Dame quarterbacks
“It makes everyone better. You have to go out there every day and be really consistent as a quarterback. If you know the guy behind you is going to press you to be your best, when you come out to practice, you’re going to operate with a little more sense of urgency knowing this guy I’m competing with is going to come here and be really consistent.
“My decision-making has to be just as good as his. My ball placement has to be just as good as his. I have to be able to operate inside the offense as good as he’s doing. You get through spring, get through summer, get through fall and there’s constant competition, when we take the field in Ireland in the first game, we’re going to put the best product we can on the field.”
On new walk-on quarterback Dylan Devezin
“When Ron Powlus III stepped away from the program, we were short an arm. We’re doing quite a bit more throwing than we have in the past. We were looking for a guy to fill in. It was going to be me or my GA in some of the drills if we didn’t. Dylan had tried to get on the team, and there wasn’t a spot.
“A spot opened up, and (assistant athletic director, strategic initiatives) Dave Peloquin was like, ‘There’s a kid from Louisiana who wanted to walk on as a quarterback. We had enough arms.’ There wasn’t really a need.
“He has came in and has already found a role on the team as our potential holder. For him, that’s his way on the bus. To help us out at practice, learn the offense and potentially make his mark as the holder I think is pretty cool after a week of practice.”
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On what he has seen from Buchner
“He has been great. There has obviously been a lot of growth from last year to this year. When you go out and start some games, and the way they finished the season last year, went into that game, had some adversity, responded to that adversity and came back and won the game. You go into the offseason, and I think he’s a lot more confident. He’s playing fast, playing decisive. His athleticism shows up. I think he’s doing a nice job.”
On sophomore Steve Angeli
“Steve Angeli has had a phenomenal spring camp up to this point. His decision-making has been great. His ball placement has been great. We have to find a way to get him more reps and continue to develop Steve. I think Steve has a shot to be a really great quarterback as well. I’m not in here just hyping everybody up, but I think all three of those guys are having a great camp. I enjoy Steve and think he’s getting better every day.”
