Quick-Hitters: Brian Polian On Kick Coverage, Returning Experience
Notre Dame special teams coordinator Brian Polian looks around his units and sees a lot of the same numbers and faces.
Jonathan Doerer is in his third season as the primary kicker. Same for Jay Bramblett at punter. No. 1 long snapper Michael Vinson is in his second season in that job. His four primary coverage teams and field-goal unit return most of their 2020 mainstays.
“It has made my stress level — it’s always high — but it has not been as high because I put the first punt team out there in training camp and look at everybody in the front and they all started last year," Polian said Tuesday at his only media session of fall camp.
Polian dove deeper into each unit in his 30-plus minute availability. Here are some other topics he addressed.
On Returning Special Teams Experience
“I'm very lucky this year. We've got so many core guys back with guys like Bo Bauer, Shayne Simon, Marist Liufau, Jack Kiser, JD Bertrand, Isaiah Pryor. I don't know of any time in my 24-year career have I ever had such a large core group that's returning. I'm really excited about that. It's been a lot of fun to coach through training camp.
“It has made it that I'm not sure we're going to have to play a lot of freshmen early by necessity. Obviously through the course of the season, things can change."
On The Increased Willingness To Play Special Teams
“Coach [Brian] Kelly and I were talking in training camp about how the atmosphere around the kicking game has changed in the years since I’ve returned. When I got back here, we were begging guys. We were telling them, ‘You’re hurting your value in the NFL.’ We were playing with walk-ons because they were all-in.
“Now you have this core group of talented players who all buy in. It has come a long, long way in four years."
On Freshmen Playing Special Teams
“There are some guys, but the beauty of this year is I don’t feel the urgency to get any freshmen ready. Now, at some point, we’re going to need someone because we’re going to get knicked up.
“Justin Walters has done a really nice job. I really like Philip Riley. He’s a competitive dude. I like Lorenzo Styles. Xavier Watts isn’t a freshman, but a younger player. There are guys we’re going to get ready.”
On Safety Kyle Hamilton’s Special Teams Role
“Kyle Hamilton is in that Chase Claypool mode where Coach Kelly and I had a discussion about it and included Kyle in the discussion. There are units that can win or lose games, and he’s going to be involved in those units.
“We’re certainly not going to roll him out there when we don’t need him, but you will see him in some spots covering kicks.”
On Creating Desire To Play Special Teams
“We put up quotes from talent evaluators about the value that Claypool added [covering kicks]. I firmly believe our job first and foremost is to help our team win. My second job is to help them and show them how to increase their value if they want to play beyond Notre Dame. That message is getting across. Guys recognize it.
I’m fortunate to have enough friends in the NFL that I can reach out to — [Chargers general manager] Tom Telesco, who’s a high school and college classmate, and say, ‘Can you just give me two sentences about what you guys evaluate?’ I can share that with our team.”
On Freshman Kicker Joshua Bryan
“He’s everything we thought he was going to be. He has had an exceptional camp. I’m very pleased about Josh and excited about his future.”
On The Differences Between Jonathan Doerer And Joshua Bryan
“Jon gets more distance. Josh goes up faster. As long as it’s functional, I treat these guys like golfers. Everybody has a unique swing. … As long as the fundamental things are right, they’re going to have personality to what they do.
"Josh is a little different. I’ve had to call some people about his style that’s not quite what I’m used to coaching. I took the first week and didn’t say much to him. I just wanted to watch him on person and on film.
"I talked to [former Notre Dame kicker] John Carney — we’re friends and he has been very helpful — and said, ‘Give me some advice here.’ I’ve leaned on a couple people who I know who are used to working with guys who have Josh’s style.
“He’s what you call a wedge kicker. Jon’s foot is going to be pointed down and out. The other guys is going to be open a little bit more and catch it on the instep whereas Jon catches it on the laces. Really, if you’re teaching a youngster now, you teach Jon’s style. Josh is an old soul. That style isn’t taught by a lot of people, but he’s good at it and we’re not going to change it.”
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