Every target of Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison’s dominant practice
If Wednesday’s practice is any indication, Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison won’t suffer a sophomore slump after his six-interception freshman season.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
The second-year man out of Phoenix Brophy College Preparatory dominated practice, showing all the skills that made him a freshman All-American and then some. It got to a point where he was all anyone in the media-viewing section was talking about, and one onlooker made a memorable remark.
“Notre Dame’s quarterbacks are learning what everyone else should already know,” the media member said. “Don’t throw at Benjamin Morrison.”
Blue & Gold watched all of Morrison’s reps Wednesday morning and charted the plays in one-on-one, seven-on-seven and full-team drills in which he was targeted. Bear in mind Wednesday was a red zone day for the Irish, so every rep took place in that setting.
Tracking Morrison’s day
Play 1: This was the only time Morrison lost a rep. He lined up against Jayden Thomas, who ran a back-shoulder fade route. Morrison stayed close to him, but at the last second, Thomas opened himself up to the outside and created just enough separation for a perfect Kenny Minchey throw.
Play 2: Morrison broke up a pass to Thomas on a goal-line post route. He stayed with the junior receiver the whole way and got a hand on it, playing the route with physicality but not doing anything that would warrant a flag. Thomas bumped into the bottom goal posts after the ball was knocked away, but he was fine.
That PBU, and the touchdown, were one-on-one reps.
Play 3: Thomas ran a slant with Morrison in tight coverage, but he crossed the corner’s face and had enough inside position to make the play. The ball went through Thomas’ hands. It was tough to see if Morrison got a hand on the ball or not.
Play 4: Deion Colzie ran a drag route and Morrison didn’t give him much of a shot. He was all over Colzie at the catch point. There might have been a bit of a grab on Colzie’s waist as the ball got there, but the offense didn’t complain.
Play 5: Tobias Merriweather made a catch for about five yards in Morrison’s zone, where his recruiting classmate tackled him right away.
Play 6: Morrison lined up in the slot, which he will do when Notre Dame is in both man defense and its base personnel package, against freshman Rico Flores Jr. Flores tried to run another one of those posts to the back of the end zone, but Morrison essentially ran the route for him.
Sam Hartman threw the ball anyway, and Morrison was in perfect position to intercept the pass.
Play 7: Morrison went toe-to-toe with Merriweather on a fade to the back-left corner of the end zone, with Hartman throwing it. Hartman threw a great ball above Morrison’s head where only Merriweather, who has nearly four inches on his defender, could get it.
Merriweather looked like he caught the ball and went down with it, to a spot that the media section couldn’t see. Notre Dame’s defensive subs could see it, though, and they immediately started signaling “incomplete.” Somehow, Morrison had wrestled the ball away from Merriweather on the way down and saved a touchdown.
“That competition of two elite competitors that are ultimately super-talented is gonna make this team better,” Irish coach Marcus Freeman said. “I want it to be back-and-forth. Benjamin Morrison got Tobias Merriweather on a one-on-one ball. I hope and I’m sure Tobias will get him back.”
Play 8: My notes say Morrison broke up a pass against Thomas. I don’t remember the details, but I believe myself from this morning that it happened.
Total: Morrison was targeted eight times, allowed two receptions and one touchdown, broke up four pass breakups, intercepted one and made one tackle.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman on his star corner
Most freshmen who enter a program like Notre Dame do so with the goal of seeing the field as a true freshman. The ambitious ones might even hope to start.
Morrison blew those goals out of the water. Rather than spending too much time congratulating him, though, Freeman has talked to the second-year corner since the end of his first season about continuing to get better.
“‘What’s the next challenge for you?’ Freeman said he asked Morrison. “One of the things I talk to the group about is, ‘challenge everything.’ You guys have heard me say that plenty of times. What does that really mean to you, Benjamin Morrison?”
Regardless of what that next challenge is, Morrison is off to a great start.
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