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SOUTH BEND — Even in the post-Deland McCullough era, the running backs of Notre Dame football still need third-down certification to earn their way onto the field for those money downs.
Ja’Juan Seider, who spent the past seven years coaching Penn State’s running backs, made that clear in his introductory news conference at Notre Dame last week. Flawless blitz pickup remains vital.
“To me, that’s where the trust come in, knowing you can protect that quarterback,” Seider said. “Every guy in that room wants to play on Sunday. Well, if you can’t protect Pat Mahomes, you’re not going to be on the field.”
Rising sophomore Aneyas Williams carved out a significant role last fall in the third-down offense, culminating in a highlight catch downfield against Seider’s Penn State in the Orange Bowl.
Opponents, however, won’t hesitate to bring the house in any passing situation if the backs are leaky and the quarterback is vulnerable.
“We’re always going to start with the foundation of protection,” Seider said. “If I’m teaching you how to run, we recruited the wrong guys. I’m an ex-quarterback, so I can explain what it’s like to play next to that guy, the quarterback. It makes them understand the little things that you do and why you have to do it.”
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Seider, who starred at Florida A&M a quarter century ago after transferring from West Virginia, honed his understanding of the finer points of blocking early in his coaching career.
“When I was a young coach, the best thing I did was spend time with the O-line,” he said. “I wanted to know why a big guy can kick back and move as fast as he can. He’s playing on his instep. A lot of times you go watch backs block, they plant their feet and their weight is on…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/jajuan-seider-promises-notre-dame-134335042.html
Author : South Bend Tribune
Publish date : 2025-03-05 13:43:00
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