SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Midway through Notre Dame’s first practice of August on Thursday morning, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock told his unit to get back into the huddle. The pre-snap motions weren’t quite right, even with starter CJ Carr running the show. Denbrock didn’t let it slide.When the offense took another crack at it, running 11-on-0, it misfired yet again.Back to the huddle.The second-team offense didn’t fare any better when it took the field a couple of minutes later, making similar mistakes with similar frequency.For a team hoping to end a 38-year national championship drought, the opening day of preseason practice offered a reminder that Jan. 25 in Las Vegas is six months away chronologically but is much further off spiritually. These were the first steps in a marathon. The finish line remains well over the horizon.And that’s fine. Head coach Marcus Freeman enters his fifth fall camp with a team built for the long run. He also returns all three of his coordinators and his starting quarterback. The defense is as deep as any the program has had in years. So even though Notre Dame didn’t look like a finished product out of the gate, you didn’t have to squint during the 90-minute open practice to imagine it becoming one.Below, a running diary of the sights and sounds of Notre Dame getting back to work.9:55 a.m. — Following Notre Dame’s dynamic warmup, the players break off into position groups. Charlie Partridge leads what might be the best defensive line in the country to the south end zone. Defensive end Boubacar Traore may be the best-looking player on the team in a uniform. Bryce Young and Tionne Gray appear slimmer than they were spring ball, with the Oregon transfer Gray down 10 pounds. Most years, freshmen like Rodney Dunham, Ebenezer Ewetade and Elijah Golden would be role players. On this group, maybe not. And that’s a significant compliment to the upgraded talent.10:02 a.m. — Center Ashton Craig hardly looks limited by last season’s ACL tear. Later in practice, he subs out for Joe Otting on the first-team O-line, but Craig appears close to being ready for action. Freeman said players on “modified” camps are expected to be ready for the opener against Wisconsin. Craig looks like he will be.10:04 a.m. — Same story with Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, who reps with the linebackers. For a player who tore his ACL last November, the junior looks just fine.10:06 a.m. — First look at freshman tight end Ian Premer. He’s far away from the varsity — when the team breaks into 11-on-11 work, Premer stays with the freshmen on an opposite field — but physically, the 6-foot-6, 245-pound athlete looks like a classic Notre Dame tight end. It’s difficult to imagine Premer not helping this season.10:09 a.m. — The receivers run through individual drills. Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse lead the group. Ohio State transfer Quincy Porter is toward the back of the pack, a clue that he isn’t quite right after winter patella surgery. Notre Dame needs Porter to make good at some point, as the receiver room doesn’t have another 6-foot-4, 215-pounder.10:18 a.m. — Didn’t see the quarterback who threw it, but Aneyas Williams basically makes a one-handed touchdown catch 40 yards down the field. Yes, it’s against air. No, I don’t think the rest of the running backs make that grab.10:24 a.m. — The starting offensive line takes the field with (left to right) Will Black, Anthonie Knapp, Joe Otting, Sullivan Absher and Guerby Lambert.