Quick hitters: What Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said about OC Gerad Parker's in-game adjustments

On Saturday, the Notre Dame football program defeated North Carolina State, 45-24, at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. And the No. 10 ranked Fighting Irish improved to 3-0 with the win. Here are four key things Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman told reporters afterward, from offensive coordinator Gerad Parker’s play-calling to linebacker Jaylen Sneed stepping up for an injured JD Bertrand. 

On Parker’s finding solutions with his play-calling:

“I thought he did a great job. Our offensive staff communicated big time during the break. And then later in the game, we were trying to run the ball a little bit and run the ball out. 

“The ability to be able to look and say, ‘Okay, hey, let’s we’re going to make it here and take a shot.’ He did a great job of changing up the calls and really executing at a high level.”

On how QB Sam Hartman handled the adversity against NC State:

“I’ve said this before, but he’s just so steady. And I know he gets excited when he makes a good play or scores. But he’s never too high or too low? And it’s the same thing you see at practice. Not every practice is perfect for him. But the ability for him to just continuously be steady. 

“Be positive … it’s gonna get a bit stressful. We’re gonna get it fixed. Go out there and do your job. Early in the game, he got hit a couple of times and put one ball on the ground that we recovered. He’s a competitor. He wants to get it fixed. And he did. So, there was no panic. He’s a leader and experience.”

On LB Jaylen Sneed stepping up during JD Bertrand’s absence:

“Yeah, I got to watch the film a little bit. But he didn’t do a bad job, or I would’ve noticed that. Sneed’s a good player. That room is similar — I know, the running backs have one guy on the field at a time — but that room is similar, where there are three, four, five guys that should help us. 

“We have to continuously get them on the field between JD, Marist (Liufau), (Jack) Kiser and Sneed. Those four guys, we have to keep them on the field and find different ways to get them game reps.”

On LB Marist Liufau’s coming into his own:

“When I came here in ’21 year, he was an aggressive, physical football player. At times, it could have been out of control, right? And I think last year, he was continuously learning the defense, right? And when you’re thinking, right, you don’t play as fast. 

“So what you’re seeing this year is a guy that truly understands the defense and understands that detail. Carity equals velocity. And he has clarity off his assignment.”