Notre Dame check-in: Irish have the QB, but wide receiver is a concern

An anonymous coach likes Sam Hartman but wonders if Notre Dame’s scheme and receivers will enable him to flourish.

Sam Hartman makes Notre Dame a better football team. The Fighting Irish are undoubtedly better off due to having Hartman under center for the coming season. Yet, as our friends at Fighting Irish Wire note, an anonymous assistant coach who spoke to Athlon Sports isn’t fully sold on the larger support structure surrounding Hartman. In terms of both personnel and scheme, there are reasons to think Hartman might not max out the way he did at Wake Forest.

Here’s what the anonymous opposing assistant coach said:

“(Sam) Hartman is a great QB, and he’s capable of the job, but he’ll be under an extreme amount of pressure to produce and carry those guys right away.  ND won’t run those Wake (Forest) RPOs, though, and they don’t have proven targets for him, either.  You’re asking a lot of this kid.”

Not having Michael Mayer at tight end hurts. Then add the fact that Gerad Parker is offensive coordinator. The less-than-splashy hire by Marcus Freeman — made after Tommy Rees left for Alabama — faces lots of doubts before a prove-it season in South Bend.

Sam Hartman might not have what he needs to be great at Notre Dame.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 tag=696092235]