Notre Dame Football: Fall Camp Update-August 12, 2013

Aug 9, 2013; South Bend, IN, USA; The Notre Dame Fighting Irish walk into practice at the LaBar Practice Complex. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame returned to the practice field on Monday for practice eight of fall camp. The Irish were again in full pads. Here are some observations from the practice update offered by UND.com:

1:01-For the second time this fall, Left Tackle Zach Martin has stalemated Defensive End Stephon Tuitt. Either Martin is that good or Tuitt is too slow and out of shape.

1:25-Kona Schwenke makes an excellent swim move over Christian Lombard who was looking at Guard alongside Ronnie Stanley who was at the Right Tackle position.

1:31-Max Redfield (#10) gets torched by Sophomore Wide Receiver Chris Brown. Redfield could be getting a look at a Nickelback position. The Irish will look to get him on the field any way that they can.

1:41-Sophomore Cornerback KeiVarae Russell shuts down Freshman Wide Receiver James Onuwalu. However, if that had been a game, Russell may have been penalized for pass interference.

1:51-Center Nick Martin holds his own against “Irish Chocolate” Louis Nix who is a load for anyone in college football.

Following the practice, Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly met with the media. Here are the more interest news and notes from the press conference:

• As reported earlier in the day, Notre Dame Safety Nicky Baratti has re-injured his shoulder and will require season ending surgery. Although this is a big loss for the Fighting Irish, Notre Dame has several options at Safety that include Elijah Shumate, Matthias Farley, Austin Collinsworth, Eliar Hardy, John Turner and Max Redfield. If the season began today, Shumate and Farley would most likely take the field as Notre Dame’s two-deep defenders.
• Brian Kelly called T.J. Jones the “playmaker” of Notre Dame’s Offense. His career 111 receptions and 1321 yards make him the top returner on Offense. How will he be when he is THE guy? Kelly suggested in today’s press conference that Jones is surrounded by a better cast of playmakers than his previous counterparts Michael Floyd and Tyler Eifert.
• Christian Lombard could end up playing Right Guard or Right Tackle depending on who lines up next to him. If Hanratty is one of the “best five” Offensive Linemen on the team, then Lombard will likely play Tackle. However, if Elmer or Stanley are deemed to be in that group, Lombard could be moved to the Guard position.
• Despite a solid push by Lo Wood, KeiVarae Russell will be Notre Dame’s starter at the Cornerback position along with Senior Bennett Jackson.
• Brian Kelly almost seemed giddy when discussing Sophomore Sheldon Day. Kelly called the Defensive Linemen as good as Nix and Tuitt. Notre Dame’s head man praised his motor and his first step. Day even lead the break at the beginning of today’s practice. If the Irish have a star in Day, they will be able to fill the shoes left by Kapron Lewis-Moore.