By TOM COYNE Associated Press Sports MSNBC
Aug 21, 2006
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SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -Notre Dame wide receiver Rhema McKnight is eager to see how productive he can be in Charlie Weis' offense.
So is the second-year coach of the Fighting Irish. With a healthy McKnight running patterns, the Irish offense could be that much better this season.
The senior, who went into last season as Notre Dame's top receiver - ahead of second-team All-America Jeff Samardzija and third-round NFL draft pick Maurice Stovall - is back from a right knee injury that forced him to miss the final 10 games.
"He is in a lot better shape now than in game two last year because he's on a mission,'' Weis said. "He's had a long time to get ready for this.''
McKnight watched Weis turn the Notre Dame offense, which struggled for three years under coach Tyrone Willingham, into one of the most potent in the nation. The coach transformed Samardzija into a well-known name, Brady Quinn into a Heisman Trophy contender, and the Irish into the nation's second-ranked team heading into this season.
Notre Dame had the best passing season in school history, averaging 330 yards a game. McKnight was happy for his teammates, but concedes he had a hard time watching them. He had hoped to make it back before the season ended, but had several setbacks.
"It was very heartbreaking at times,'' he said. "I had to accept the fact that I was injured and couldn't come back and play. I just had to rehab and just try to keep pushing and keep trying to make myself better.''
Weis believes the time on the sideline helped McKnight.
"Because you get to watch all those things that happen. He got to watch the offense put in and watch how those plays you put in are now called in games and watch the production that comes from it,'' Weis said.
McKnight saw Samardzija and Stovall develop into the best receiving tandem in Notre Dame history. Samardzija's 77 catches tied the school record for a season, while Stovall's 69 receptions placed him third.
McKnight is ninth on Notre Dame's career list with 103 career catches - two more than Samardzija - totaling 1,370 yards and including seven touchdowns. He could prove to be even more potent than Stovall since he possesses a different trait that Weis describes as "quicks.''
"Rhema has quickness. He has exceptional quickness. Now it's a whole different element you're dealing with because Rhema can get open on quicks,'' Weis said.
McKnight is tough, isn't afraid to go over the middle, and has a great relationship with Quinn.
"We've always been on the same page,'' Quinn said.
Still, McKnight was able to cement that relationship this summer by getting extra work with the quarterback while Samardzija was pitching in the Chicago Cubs farm system.
"So when they were having their captains practices, that was his go-to guy,'' Weis said.
McKnight, who earned a degree in psychology in 3 1/2 years, said he isn't focusing on numbers heading into his final season.
"I just want to be a major contributor to the team. Whether it calls for blocking, whether it calls for catching the ball, anything,'' he said.
McKnight is being largely overlooked on and off the field.
Last week, three television cameras and more than a dozen reporters crowded around Samardzija to ask him baseball questions and if there is a danger for hand injuries as he holds on field goals. All the while, McKnight quietly conducted interviews with just two journalists.
Weis hopes opposing teams focus just as much attention on Samardzija.
"I hope they double-team Jeff on every play,'' he said, "because Rhema will have a field day.''
Aug 21, 2006
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SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -Notre Dame wide receiver Rhema McKnight is eager to see how productive he can be in Charlie Weis' offense.
So is the second-year coach of the Fighting Irish. With a healthy McKnight running patterns, the Irish offense could be that much better this season.
The senior, who went into last season as Notre Dame's top receiver - ahead of second-team All-America Jeff Samardzija and third-round NFL draft pick Maurice Stovall - is back from a right knee injury that forced him to miss the final 10 games.
"He is in a lot better shape now than in game two last year because he's on a mission,'' Weis said. "He's had a long time to get ready for this.''
McKnight watched Weis turn the Notre Dame offense, which struggled for three years under coach Tyrone Willingham, into one of the most potent in the nation. The coach transformed Samardzija into a well-known name, Brady Quinn into a Heisman Trophy contender, and the Irish into the nation's second-ranked team heading into this season.
Notre Dame had the best passing season in school history, averaging 330 yards a game. McKnight was happy for his teammates, but concedes he had a hard time watching them. He had hoped to make it back before the season ended, but had several setbacks.
"It was very heartbreaking at times,'' he said. "I had to accept the fact that I was injured and couldn't come back and play. I just had to rehab and just try to keep pushing and keep trying to make myself better.''
Weis believes the time on the sideline helped McKnight.
"Because you get to watch all those things that happen. He got to watch the offense put in and watch how those plays you put in are now called in games and watch the production that comes from it,'' Weis said.
McKnight saw Samardzija and Stovall develop into the best receiving tandem in Notre Dame history. Samardzija's 77 catches tied the school record for a season, while Stovall's 69 receptions placed him third.
McKnight is ninth on Notre Dame's career list with 103 career catches - two more than Samardzija - totaling 1,370 yards and including seven touchdowns. He could prove to be even more potent than Stovall since he possesses a different trait that Weis describes as "quicks.''
"Rhema has quickness. He has exceptional quickness. Now it's a whole different element you're dealing with because Rhema can get open on quicks,'' Weis said.
McKnight is tough, isn't afraid to go over the middle, and has a great relationship with Quinn.
"We've always been on the same page,'' Quinn said.
Still, McKnight was able to cement that relationship this summer by getting extra work with the quarterback while Samardzija was pitching in the Chicago Cubs farm system.
"So when they were having their captains practices, that was his go-to guy,'' Weis said.
McKnight, who earned a degree in psychology in 3 1/2 years, said he isn't focusing on numbers heading into his final season.
"I just want to be a major contributor to the team. Whether it calls for blocking, whether it calls for catching the ball, anything,'' he said.
McKnight is being largely overlooked on and off the field.
Last week, three television cameras and more than a dozen reporters crowded around Samardzija to ask him baseball questions and if there is a danger for hand injuries as he holds on field goals. All the while, McKnight quietly conducted interviews with just two journalists.
Weis hopes opposing teams focus just as much attention on Samardzija.
"I hope they double-team Jeff on every play,'' he said, "because Rhema will have a field day.''