Quick hitters: What Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said about Antonio Carter's targeting call
Fighting Irish football coach Marcus Freeman addressed the media in his weekly Monday news conference. He put the finishing touches on No. 13 Notre Dame’s (2-0) 56-3 victory over Tennesse State while previewing this Saturday’s matchup against NC State (1-0).
Freeman told reporters four key things: Antonio Carter’s targeting call, defensive tackle depth, Steve Angeli’s performance against Tennesse State and redshirting players. Here’s the breakdown.
On Notre Dame safety Antonio Carter being called for targeting:
“It was (targeting). He hit with the crown of his head. He’s got to keep his head up and not launch. So, I often tell our coaches the same thing I tell our players. We can complain about it and disagree, but we have to, within the rules of the game, make sure we’re not getting thrown out of the game. You coach him by saying don’t launch. Keep your head up.
“The one on Devyn Ford, the explanation I got was it was with the forehead and not the crown of the head. Those types of plays, I’m sure, are really hard to call as a referee. But we have to coach; where’s the strike zone? Don’t launch, and make sure you’re not hitting with the crown of your head.
On the Notre Dame defensive tackle group stepping up with Gabe Rubio’s absence:
“I think they did a great job. Howard Cross and Rylie Mills both played really well, winning performances. And then Jason Onye probably played his best overall game since he started playing for us. Donny (Donovan) Hinish played well.
“I think we’re going to need those guys with the absence of Gabe for probably another week or two. You’re going to need those guys to continue to perform at a high level. I thought our defensive tackles have done a great job.”
On Notre Dame sophomore QB Steve Angeli’s performance against NC State:
“For me, for Steve Angeli to go out and perform the way he did, I was extremely pleased. To go back, and I know we kind of talked about it after the game, but it was hard to have a feel for it after the game.
“But to go back and watch it and see some of the execution he made, in terms of the checks, there was a third down corner pressure — he checked it to the wide-out Jayden Thomas. It was awesome to see him do that. And really, some of the balls he threw and a couple of hits he took. …
“You don’t know when you’re going to need Steve Angeli, but you’re going to need him.”
On deciding whether to redshirt Notre Dame players during the transfer portal age:
“I think, we don’t make decisions based off, is this guy going to go into the portal if we don’t play him? But we do make decisions based off if he’s young or not, if he can help us, play him. Get him in the game. Those are weekly conversations we have.
“We talk weekly about, ‘Hey, this freshman is at two games, he’s three games. Okay, before we get to four, is this a guy that we want to save if we can? Or can he help us and we’re going to play him?’
“It’s a little bit credit to the high school programs. Kids are coming in more and more college-ready and developed. And if they can help us win, we got to get them in the game.”
