Notre Dame Offensive Line Coach Joe Rudolph Talks Spring Ball, Irish Line

Notre Dame offensive line coach talks about his group as the Irish battle through spring

Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph spoke with the media after the most recent Fighting Irish practice. Here is the transcript of that conversation.

Q: Can you discuss the interior returnees? Last year it was the opposite with your tackles completely set.

"I think as a group, you come into the spring — and you're right, it's a it's kind of a little bit of a flip from last year. I felt like a growth of a Billy Schrauth in spring ball, if things would would go fast — you saw a lot of ability, a lot of talent — but as things started to go fast, and movement calls, you saw the detail would get lost. Sometimes it just takes time and it takes growth, but to watch him go through that growth and step in when needed and play as well as he did, it was huge. It was great for us. 

"Then same thing with Ashton Craig. (There were) moments where man he was really flashing, but then he’s not quite ready. When he had to step in, just being able to step in and give us what we needed (at Clemson) was huge.

"Pat (Coogan) was that steady guy, I think the only guy that started every game last year. He battles, man, and he's tough, and we talked about, for him, his biggest improvement more than anything needed to be making gains in the weight room, and then transferring that strength to the field. I think he's really done that. He’s really proud of the growth he's taken in there. They've done a great job with them helping him to make those strides, and then you see it. Now he’s starting to trust it. It’s early in spring, but that's the early things I see. 

Q: Aamil Wagner is obviously an athlete. Do you need more size at his position? 

"Everyone's different. Everyone has a different playing weight where they're at their best. I think we both like him to be a little bit more solid, but he’s getting there. He’s made the most strides (this off-season). Since he's got here, he’s made dramatic strides, but he's close and he's still kind of closing the gap on it. But I like the way he plays. He’s shown he doesn't need to be a 350-pound guy to play really, really well. He's got great power, great strength, great length, and I don't think he would be a guy that ever plays it that way.  

"But, you know, while he's here like he's getting really close to that weight where we need him to be at and be able to be consistent stay healthy out there."  

Q: What did you see from Charles Jagusah in the Sun Bowl that you liked and things he needed to work on as a first-timer? 

"I tell you what, the first thing I liked was the first (Sun Bowl) practice we had when we knew we weren't going to have Joe (Alt) and Blake (Fisher). He came out and he practiced, to me, there’s something about that, no matter how old you are, or what you're doing, that says ‘Look, man, this is the direction I'm going.’

"I was I was like, ‘Okay. he came out those first two days and practiced exceptionally well,' which probably led to what Coach (Marcus) Freeman said (in December) about him being one of the guys, because he did, he came off and worked that way.  

"Then in the game, sometimes you get into a game and your growth experience, guys will practice better than they play. Most guys, you should practice better. You know what I mean? Because it's more controlled. But I thought he really did carry over a lot of his practice traits to the game. I think when you see him not confident is when you see him not play strong, because he’s got the ability to be very powerful. But if he's playing, and kind of feeling his way, he’s going to give up more ground. I thought one time in a protection he gave up too much ground because he was playing cautious. Just trust yourself to go out there and play the way you can on each snap."

Q: (Jagusah) seems very conscientious for a young player.

"It's a tremendously good group of guys, and they all are very different. Charles, that'd be a great word, ‘conscientious’, like he's very conscientious about the communication, details, footwork, schoolwork, like whatever he's doing, he’s got a really good feeling for the mental aspect of how it all fits and how it applies. But you know, some guys when they get like that, things go slow for them. He's able to understand it to that level and still kind of play fast. Great kid. I love the room." 

Q: What is the point of emphasis for Tosh Baker and for him to win the job? What are some of the things that he has to do?  

"Pretty similar to what we what we described with with Charles. Tosh has all the tools and all the ability to kind of be that ‘best him’ in the moment. When there are moments when he feels a little bit cautious is when he'll show up the same way. To give up a little to much ground and not play as powerful as he can. So it's been ‘I got that best guy across from me, it’s loud as heck. Am I going to be that best me right then, or am I going to let anything set in to not allow me to kind of execute that way?  

"So that'll be the finishing part. But I thought the bowl game was huge, because he did all that prep, all that ability to get there and go out and play together. I thought he did a lot of good things. "

Q: But there's no doubt in your mind that (Tosh) has the tools?

"I mean, Joe Alt was out there wearing size 16 shoes and catching passes midway through his senior year. So I don’t worry about what they’ve done in the past. I think the athleticism part is what stands out to me in that conversation, not the lack of anything else. But much like Pat, weight room is a huge area for him. He’s made a lot of gains over where we finished the season, to the work he put in there up until the bowl game, and then the work from then until now, I think that's going to really show up and I think it has been showing up, but I think has to continue. That doesn’t and that won't stop now.  

Q: How do you get (Tosh) to bridge that gap, confidence wise? 

"I think what’s great is you know you’re playing against really great players. I thought going into the game against Oregon State, going against really good players on that defense, a very successful defense, going out and playing well, I think that earned a lot confidence. I thought it was easily the best two games those two had played. Charles hadn't played much at all; Tosh’s time was limited, and in that game and he played better than the combination of all. So the reps that kind of go into it kind of help you with that, but I thought he went out and played. He’s got the mindset you want. I’m really excited where he is right now. I’m excited about how he prepped for the bowl to the way he attacked the weight room to where we are now. It’s been positive.  

Q: How confident are you in Ashton Craig to call everything out from center?  

"Ash is really smart, and he's done a great job of that. There were some moments where last year at spring and fall camp, where he would really flash ability, but kind of those things weren't there yet. You know what I mean? I just think he continued to work and study and follow and when he got his opportunity to get out there, I think he was ready for it, so that's good. Like that's that's the kind of growth you want to have."

Q: He’s a guy that was thrown in the deep end of the pool (at Clemson). Do you remember anything about the exchange you had with him when he had to go in? 

"I think we both felt the same thing. You know, when I looked at him, I go ‘You’re Ready’ and he goes ‘I know,’ and I said, ‘Okay let’s go.’

"It was I was like he knew he was ready. He knew he had some opportunities early where he hadn’t been that ‘best him’ and he was excited to go, put that put that on the film, and go play with his guys." 

Q: What does your spring look for in terms of evaluation? (In that two different players started at guard in-season than projected in-spring last year) 

"I think the great part is, like if we're doing our job, then these guys will continue to raise the bar of ‘Who has the best pass set? What’s our best drive block? What’s the best we can fit a deuce? How do we best protect when we're manned up'?"

“I think that's that's why you have the team, and that's why you battle position groups. When they're competing and helping each other to get better, that’s the value of having a great room. A great room helps each other get better. That’s what I appreciate about a group of guys. So that'll always be valued, how they perform, how they continue to grow.

"There is a way where certain guys can, there's a way in which guys can play where they make the guy better next to them. Sometimes it's communication, sometimes it's their physicality, sometimes it's the detail with which they play with. So that's always something like guys that really complement each other when they play together can be a factor. But no, we're going to compete and keep growing, and we’re going to have hat best group out there for sure."

Q: Do you think Billy Schrauth got better because of those events last spring (losing the job in August)?

"When Rocco (Spindler) and Pat started, they were better and that’s why they played. It doesn't mean that's the end of the world for anybody else. You just continue, it's part of your story. It's part of your journey and you gain strength from that. When Billy had a chance to go back in there and play, like he played exceptionally well. That's a great credit, and he was excited about being able to get out there.

"But Billy was the biggest fan of Rocco when Rocco was in and he talked to him when he came to the sideline. When Billy went in and played, the first guy that hit me up was Rocco. ‘Man, Billy played great!’  Those guys want to be a great O-Line at Notre Dame. So even though there's competition within the group, their overall vision has to be a special group here. That as a fan, as a coach, as anyone, you appreciate that."

Q: Has Rocco been able to compete fully so far?  

"It’s been amazing the way he’s worked to get. himself back at the beginning of this spring. We weren’t sure if he would have him at all or limited, and I would say he’s playing. I don’t know if it’s 90 percent but he’s doing most everything. We’re trying to be smart on a couple issues. But we’re trying to be smart (regarding) a couple couple issues, but I’m excited for him to be back. I'm really proud of him, that he fought himself to get here and be ready to go."

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