Notre Dame practiced Monday under an overcast sky, but at least they stayed dry, unlike last week when the Irish practice during a downpour Wednesday.
The Irish continue to work out plenty of guys at punt return at the start of practice.
The mix of returners included Armando Allen, Theo Riddick, Darrin Walls, E.J. Banks, Jamoris Slaughter, John Goodman, Dan Franco, Tai-ler Jones, Dan McCarthy and Harrison Smith.
The offense had all three groups complete running the five-play drill Monday. That's the first time I saw it completed in the four practices that the media was allowed to view since practice started March 26.
Here's how the offense looked and other notes from Monday's view portion:
Offense
Aside from all three units completing the five-play drill, there were a few other different things Monday.
Jones, an early-enrollee, worked out with the first group and Riddick was with the second group. Also, Armando Allen and Robert Hughes shared reps at running back with the first unit.
Another big change was the return of Lane Clelland to the offensive line. Clelland had been shifted to the defensive line, but it appears he is back on offense as he was back in his No. 73 jersey after wearing No. 96 as a defensive lineman. Clelland worked with the third group.
The first team consisted of quarterback Dayne Crist, receivers Duval Kamara, Michael Floyd and Jones, Allen and Hughes handled the running back duties, tight end Kyle Rudolph and offensive linemen, from left, Zach Martin, Chris Stewart, Braxton Cave, Chris Watt and Trevor Robinson
The second team was quarterback Nate Montana, receivers Riddick, Shaquelle Evans and Goodman, tight end Mike Ragone, running back Jonas Gray and offensive linemen, from left, Matt Romine, Andrew Nuss, Dan Wenger, Chris Watt and Alex Bullard
The third team was quarterback Tommy Rees, receivers Barry Gallup Jr., Deion Walker and Roby Toma, tight end Tyler Eifert and running back Cierre Wood and offensive linemen, from left, Martin, Stewart, Mike Golic Jr., Dever and Clelland.
Quarterbacks
After the offense ran through its five plays, it was all about the quarterbacks.
And for coach Brian Kelly it was about working with Dayne Crist.
The quarterbacks were spread out into three stations and the tight ends, receivers and running backs rotate through as the QBs made sharp quick throws.
Crist was by himself with Kelly behind him working on getting the quarterback to release the ball quicker.
Crist threw a couple of passes behind the receiver, but as the drill wound down, he was pretty consistently hitting guys in stride on the short routes.
Brian Castello and Montana were at another spot and Matthew Mulvey and Rees were at the other.
Running backs
Receivers Derry Herlihy and Patrick Coughlin worked with the running backs at the start of individual drills as the backs worked on getting their shoulder into a defender and pushing him back.
The running order was Allen, Hughes, Herlihy, Coughlin, Cierre Wood and Gray.
Wood barely made contact his first time through, but on his second try he locked in pretty good with his shoulder and pushed the defender back.
Allen and Hughes both got their shoulders into their defenders well, and Hughes showed the best power of the group of running through someone.
Defensive backs
The cornerbacks appeared to be having a good day as the viewing portion started to wind down.
Walls, Gary Gray and Robert Blanton were all complimented on the way the three started a coverage drill.
The order of the drill was: Walls, Gray, Blanton, E.J. Banks, Lo Wood and Spencer Boyd.
