Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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offensive line The Middle Man Although much attention has been given to finding capable replacements for 2012 All-Americans Manti Te'o and Tyler Eifert at Mike linebacker and tight end, respectively, the center position became perhaps the most important one of all to fill this spring. Three-year starter Braxston Cave has graduated, as did his top backup, Golic, who started at right guard. The player who was groomed to possibly step in for them in 2013, junior Matt Hegarty, suffered a mini-stroke last Nov. 8 that temporarily put his football career in limbo. He had heart surgery in December, yet still participated and held his own in 15 spring practices. Nevertheless, the health issue put Hegarty a little behind, which led the Notre Dame staff to turn to maybe the most versatile lineman on the team the past few years, junior Nick Martin, younger brother of AllAmerican candidate Zack. A "third man" of sorts at both guard and tackle during his career with the Irish, the younger Martin was the starter throughout the spring at center. He overcame a pre-spring illness that dropped his weight to 284 and projects to play this year in the 295-pound range. Left tackle Zack Martin, who was named Notre Dame's top offensive lineman each of the past three seasons, opted to return for his fifth season of eligibility instead of heading to the NFL. photo by bill panzica 0 By The Numbers Missed starts by the 2012 Notre Dame offensive line that featured tackles Zack Martin and Christian Lombard, guards Chris Watt and Mike Golic Jr., and center Braxston Cave. Since 2009, the Irish starting five have had only three players sidelined for a combined total of eight missed games. Straight years a Notre Dame offensive lineman has not been selected in the NFL Draft, the first time that has occurred since college football went away from one-platoon football in 1964. The lone Irish offensive linemen selected in the last five drafts were Eric Olsen and Sam Young, both in the sixth round back in April 2010. Years since two brothers started along the Notre Dame offensive line. That could change this year with fifth-year senior left tackle Zack Martin and junior center Nick Martin. The last such starting pair came in 1978 with senior center Dave Huffman and sophomore right guard Tim Huffman. 3 35 "What we've seen is a steady growth," head coach Brian Kelly said near the end of spring. "… For a young guy that hasn't played, he's shown to be a very mature kid. He's got some work to do obviously, but relative to the consistency of snapping and protections, he's been a very solid guy for us for the first time in." Even older brother Zack gave a seal of approval at the end of spring. "We're hoping to run a little to the right this year. I really would be disappointed if it was as unbalanced as it was a year ago. We're going to be more physical on that side of the ball — on the right side — and we're going to have more opportunities to run right." Offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks coach Chuck Martin "He hadn't played there before, so I was wondering. … I don't want to say I was surprised because I knew he was a good football player and he'd be successful, but I guess I was a little surprised at how quickly he's taken to the center position," Zack Martin admitted. "The center is a little different because there are different steps and techniques." Nick Martin has prided himself on being a student of the game, so he's taken to making the line calls for the unit because he's played almost all the other positions and has a grasp of the big picture. "I had never really snapped the ball before," he said. "We struggled with that at the beginning. … It's starting to get there and falling in place. I think it's probably my natural position — being in the middle, making the calls." By going against All-America candidate Louis Nix III daily at practice, Martin receives the ultimate test, and the efforts by Martin and Hegarty this spring encouraged Hiestand enough to where he believes he can have a strong tandem at center again, although not seasoned the way Cave and Golic were last season. "Nick's a very even-keeled person," Hiestand said. "He doesn't get rattled, and when things are a little bit off he doesn't panic. He's got a good, steady demeanor, and that's important for a center because he's got to start each play. If he's panicking, or a little bit out of sorts and the snap is bad, then we've got a problem. His calmness and his ability to focus under duress and do the job have been very impressive." After coaching the Chicago Bears' five-time All-Pro center Olin Kreutz, who was listed at 292 pounds, Hiestand said Martin not matching Cave's girth should not be an issue. "You can play center and not be massive," Hiestand said. "That's not as important as your quickness off the ball, your ability to deliver the ball, and your understanding of leverage and using that to your advantage. "Nick's maybe not as heavy, but he's taller and longer, and he's actually got a bigger body. He doesn't have the strength Braxston had, but he's got a little more range, and he's got longer arms, so that helps him too." The Fifth Man With the three returning starters to complement Nick Martin at center, finding a right guard is the next step. Notre Dame's Sacks allowed Pass SacksAttempts Year Attempts Allowed Per Sack 2003411 24 18.1 2004362 25 15.5 2005454 21 22.6 2006471 31 16.2 2007 389 58 7.7 Pass SacksAttempts Year Attempts Allowed Per Sack 2008447 22 21.3 2009447 25 18.9 2010481 20 25.1 2011473 17 28.8 2012388 18 21.6 Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview ✦ 69 68-72.OLs.indd 69 6/25/13 1:02 PM