The screen went from a split screen with the two coaches to game film from the Irish’s game with Florida State.
“The most common alignment for Notre Dame’s defense is a 4-2-5 with corners in off coverage,” Coach Hope said as he used the software marker to circle the two outside defensive backs.
They were lined up six yards off the ball. This coverage was designed to prevent receivers from getting past defensive backs. It forced the offense to throw short. For this to work, the defenders had to be great physical tacklers.
The game switched to Syracuse, who had an extra receiver for a total of four. They had them lined up wide out but stacked (one on the line and the other right behind).
“As you can see, Notre Dame switched to a 4-1-6 to deal with Syracuse’s stacked outside receivers. Bringing in that additional defensive back gives them three to cover two on each side.”
The game changed to Michigan, who ran a run-heavy offense between the tackles that included two tight ends.
“Notre Dame is in their base 4-2-5, but one of the safeties has moved up to support the run,” Coach Hope said to show their flexibility.
“Against USC, you’ll see Notre Dame’s base defense,”
Coach Mason said. “Their defense is designed to only give the minimum yardage on each play. They dare you to dink-and-dunk, sustain drives, and avoid a mistake throughout ten or more plays. That’s something hardly any college team can do. It’ll force you to be disciplined in your play-calling because the Irish are a hard team to take shots against.”
“That’s what I’ve seen as well,” Coach Thomas said. “I think we need to find ways to get larger chunks of yardage, or they’ll keep everything in front of them and close quickly. They might be the best tackling team in space I’ve seen.”
“I agree. Give Coach Mason and me time, and we’ll find ways to beat them,” Coach Hope promised.
“Good work so far,” Coach Merritt said. “We value your input.”
From there, it turned into serious football talk, which David loved. He and Matt only added the odd comment as they listened to the five coaches give the equivalent of a master class in football.
When Coaches Mason and Hope signed off, Coach Merritt wanted to talk to his two quarterbacks.
“I gave David permission to focus on Notre Dame. He’ll also continue to work with the other quarterbacks to help prepare for the current game. Since David is redshirting, he can only play in one more game for the rest of the season. The plan is to save him for Notre Dame, so I’m letting him prepare for them,” Coach Merritt said.
“Will he start?” Matt asked.
“We’ll make that decision the Sunday before the game. If he does start, it’s no reflection on you, Matt. It’s just that the two of you have shown you deserve playing time. And I want to reward David for going along with saving his eligibility for the next four years,” Coach Merritt said.
Matt and David knew that was ‘coach speak’ for David would be starting. David was a bit surprised when Matt took the news so well.
“Can I sit in on the Notre Dame calls?” Matt asked.
“I would encourage it if you have the time,” David said, offering an olive branch.
He knew Coach Merritt would have agreed anyway. His saying it was okay showed Matt this wasn’t something selfish on his part. For now, the two of them had to learn to coexist. Next year, one of them would have to go, though.
Teams didn’t function well when the two top quarterbacks could make a case for starting. David planned to be the starter next year.
◊◊◊
David enjoyed his critical thinking class because it made him an active learner rather than a passive recipient of information. It wasn’t about memorizing stuff and regurgitating back for a test; he had to engage in reflective and independent thinking. In essence, critical thinking required him to use his ability to reason or think for himself.
It gave him a systematic approach for him to determine when someone was bullshitting him. Such as a TV talking head making their usual claims about everyday-life stuff.
For example, when they stopped at a coffee shop on campus, Cassidy told him she didn’t have any money to buy a coffee that morning.
“How did you buy yourself coffee yesterday when I wasn’t here? Did you have to beg a stranger?” David asked.
“Why are you being difficult? Just buy my coffee.”
“Why didn’t you just ask instead of making up the story that you didn’t have any money?” David asked as he handed the barista the money.
“I shouldn’t have to ask because you’re the man. You should just pay for stuff,” Cassidy said over her shoulder as she added sugar to ruin a perfectly fine cup of coffee.
“You are single-handedly pushing women’s rights into the stone age. You want to be strong and independent, but I have to pay for your coffee.”
“Someone isn’t getting any,” Cassidy fired back.
“What does my sex life have to do with you making me pay for your coffee?” David complained.
“Adrienne said …”
“What?!” David said to interrupt. “When did you talk to her?”
“I met her at the coffee shop where she was filming. I introduced her to Crystal, Emily, and Wren. We each get to go to lunch with her, and she’s already gone with Emily and Wren. Crystal is today, and I’m Thursday.”
“You introduced … uh …” David stammered.
“The women you are sleeping with, or should I say hooking up with?” Cassidy asked.
His mind wouldn’t engage, so he just blinked at his ex-friend.
“I thought she might want to score us some model clothes,” Cassidy said.
David ordered coffees for himself and Tracy, who he was meeting in ten minutes to do their vodcast. He also got Tracy an apple strudel so she wouldn’t get cranky because she was hungry. When he paid, it made him realize how well Doreen took care of him.
“You can’t abuse my friends like that,” David said.
“Please. Adrienne was bored to tears with you being too busy to hang out with her. Besides, she’s doing you a solid.
She’ll let you know which one of the trio is a keeper so you can dump the rest.”
“Did it ever occur to you that I might like all three?”
“This isn’t high school where you have a harem at your beck and call.”
His little ninja was treading on thin ice today. She must be feeling better after the accident, so he took her smartass comments in stride.
“But it is college, and there’s no reason to settle down with just one,” David said.
“What was it you said about women and me? You just proved every girl’s thought about men with that one.”
He would never admit it, but she was right. It sounded like he wanted his cake and to eat it, too. Maybe he should order that slice of carrot cake they had in the display case.
Wait! Back on topic. Even though that cake looked lonely all by itself.
“I’ll have the carrot cake, too.”
“Dang it, and I planned to have that for lunch,” the barista said, flirting with him.
“Focus,” Cassidy ordered him.
It was good that she did because he was about to ask the barista for her number, and he also had to get to the studio.
“Where did you even get the idea that Adrienne needed to know anything about my love life?” David asked.
He saw Cassidy was shocked that he figured out it wasn’t her idea.