SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Playing behind guys like Golden Tate and Michael Floyd last season, receivers with big personalities and even bigger play-making ability, Notre Dame's John Goodman had less star power than the actor who played the youngest son on "Home Improvement." Goodman, a real nice kid, was rather forgettable.

With Tate forgoing his senior season to play in the National Football League and a new coaching staff taking over, Goodman hoped to co-star alongside Floyd this fall. Early on, however, the junior wanted to slip backstage out of embarrassment.

Dropped passes and botched blocks won't fly for most coaches, especially Notre Dame's Brian Kelly, who isn't shy voicing his displeasure with such snafus from the sideline.

"I've always wanted to play, always wanted to start and play the whole game," Goodman, a 6-foot-3, 207-pounder said. "I didn't take advantage of all my opportunities at first. As I progressed and as the season went on, I came to realize that I have to take advantage of these opportunities. Just catching the ball and making blocks -- simple stuff like that."

Goodman said he has realized that in order to be an every-down receiver, he had to act like one in limited action. That, and producing on special teams, is a quick escape from Kelly's doghouse. Goodman has been steady on punt returns for the Irish (4-3), averaging seven yards on 11 career attempts.

"Well, he showed me enough to split reps [with T.J. Jones]," Kelly said. "He hasn't shown me enough to take that position away. Now he's going to have it this week by virtue of an injury. Now he's got an opportunity to solidify himself on the field with the consistent play."

A severe ankle sprain will sideline sophomore slot receiver Theo Riddick against Navy (4-2) Saturday in East Rutherford, N.J., and possibly longer. Floyd is dealing with a pulled hamstring and whether or not he'll play much Saturday will depend on how he feels at game time. Jones will take Riddick's spot and Goodman will slide over to Jones' "X" position for his third start of the year.

"My confidence has gone up a lot and that's been a huge deal," said Goodman, who has 10 receptions for 93 yards. "That Michigan State game, when I got thrown in there for punt returns, I believe I can punt return really well. Once Armando [Allen] went down, I thought, 'This is an opportunity I can seize.' And I did. That kind of instilled some confidence in the coaches for me. They threw me in the next couple practices that next week and things went well."

It was the same moment Kelly pinpointed.

"I'd say the thing that gave me an opportunity in my own mind to look at him was the Michigan State game where he fielded the punt, was not nervous or hesitant," he said. "I think there was some confidence gained there. Now it's just a matter of he's got to be a consistent performer out there."

Last week against Western Michigan, Kelly threw him in there to throw. What Kelly wasn't expecting (or Floyd, for that matter), was that Goodman would revert back to his old quarterback mentality.

"Yeah, it was the wrong read," Kelly said of a 32-yard touchdown pass Goodman tossed to Floyd in the second quarter to regain the lead for the Irish. "He was supposed to throw it to Tyler Eifert, who was wide open. You're never wrong if you're right, but great pass."

Goodman had his own take on the play.

"It was just a simple reverse to me and I looked down the field to either the tight end or [Floyd]," he said. "I came around the end and I saw Mike break wide open on that post. So I thought, 'Why not throw it to Mike Floyd across the middle?' And it worked out."

Notre Dame's actual quarterback, though he has no choice, said he has plenty of faith in Goodman and others to pick up the slack for all the wounded, including star tight end Kyle Rudolph, who had surgery to repair a torn hamstring tendon last week and will miss the rest of the season.

"We've developed such a chemistry with those guys throughout the summer," Dayne Crist said. "Really, this week was more about getting guys in together as a group and watching film together so we're on the same page. ... Again, you credit our lack of panic to the chemistry that we were able to put in place. That's really what helps so much. We've got guys that can come in and really fill the void on any given play."

Unlike last fall and the early going this year, Goodman now feels he's one of those guys.

"I'm ready for it," he said. "Definitely excited about it."