On Wednesday, transfer midyear enrollees and new defensive line coach Charlie Partridge met with the media to discuss their arrival at Notre Dame and the upcoming spring practices.
Irish Illustrated attended the press conference and compiled highlights from the event. The video can be viewed above or on the Irish Illustrated YouTube Channel.
Partridge, who spent time with the Indianapolis Colts after stints at Pittsburgh and Florida Atlantic, first discussed his overall evaluation of the defensive line, noting that the players were eager to learn and competing for playing time. While he will continue to evaluate them throughout the offseason, he appreciates their attitude and believes the group will be good to work with.
When at Pittsburgh, Partridge had helped recruit fellow newcomer defensive tackle Francis Brewu. Partridge said he was excited to work with him because even though he had been one of his main touchstones at Pitt, he had never coached him because he took the new job with the Colts.
Partridge was also asked how he can help new players get up to speed without overwhelming them, and explained that teaching the material requires investing more time and focusing on the package. This extra time usually took the form of a one-on-one meeting, whereas the older team members could discuss higher-level details with Partridge.
Finally, Partidge called working with defensive coordinator Chris Ash special. The two were college teammates, and Partridge believed they could disagree respectfully and still reach a compromise, and that together they could improve Notre Dame's defense.