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Notre Dame Football LIve Chat

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Stan from Chester

12:33

Hello Master Sports Journalist Extraordinary, Love your work as you know. After watching several VERY short snippets of ND practices, it seems to me that Book is quicker and sharper in all phases of his game than Jurkovec and Clark. Is that just my perception or have you taken note of the same. Could it be just experience playing a role or is IB that much more dynamic in his delivery?

Eric Hansen

12:33

Thanks, Bill. I would really be surprised if Kmet didn't return sometime in September, so it wouldn't make sense to redshirt him. With you it depends on when he returns. If it's not until late October, then maybe you only play him in four games and get the redshirt year, but again I think he'll be back before that. Good question and worth keeping an eye on.

Guest

12:31

Bill Robi 1000 Oaks CA. If TE & WR are out 10 weeks in worst case scenario does it make sense to preserve another year of eligibility? Keep up the GR8 work must be hard to be humble when YOU know you are the best.!! Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

12:30

Josh, thanks. I like the sophomore linebacker a lot, in the present and in the future. He's built some momentum in his development after playing just four games as a senior in HS because of injuries and being sidelined his initial spring at ND as an early enrollee in 2018. I love what he brings in coverage and could see him becoming a very good all-around linebacker. I expect him to be in the main playing rotation this season and should especially get strong consideration to be on the field on third downs.

Josh from Sacramento

12:23

I asked the Jack Lamb Question

Josh

12:23

Eric - Thoughts on Jack Lamb, are we going to see a lot of him this year even if he doesn’t end up the starter?

Eric Hansen

12:23

I think the position group is good, not great, with the potential to grow significantly over the season. This is also a group that needs to stay healthy.

12:22

The quality of the defensive ends next to them on both sides is going to make them better. There's not a standout, like Jerry Tillery, but they go three deep at each position and the backups this year can make a difference over four quarters.

The offensive line/defensive line assessment is less straightforward when watching practice, in part because sometimes there's no element of surprise when it comes to play-calling on either side.

Mike, Cincinnati OH

12:19

Hey Eric, I have not heard much talk about the interior D line. Big shoes to fill there. What have you seen from that group that is promising and what have you seen that could be a challenge?

Eric Hansen

12:18

Consistency. He'll have stretches where he looks like a starter in practice and others where he kind of disappears. I like his confidence, his willing to work to get consistent. He's gotten a lot stronger, which should help him avoid getting jammed at the line of scrimmage. He's moving in the right direction, but he hasn't arrived.

Jeremy From South Bend

12:16

What do you believe is holding Braden Lenzy back from taking over while Michael Young is out with an injury?

Eric Hansen

12:16

Thanks Cliff. That's not the vibe I'm getting from Book at all, and, and he was particularly sharp in Wednesday's practice. Has he been perfect every practice the media has been invited into watch? Nope. The think I like about Book the most is how he's attacked the areas that were his shortcomings last season. Another thing I liked was his mustache, which he shaved off earlier this week.

Cliff from Battle Creek

12:14

Hi Eric, love what you do! The "live" chats are great! I've been seeing some narrative around nationally that Book hasn't taken much of a step forward. Does this match what you've been seeing and hearing?

Eric Hansen

12:14

I think he can fill a lot of roles. He can rotate in at either safety spot and give Alohi Gilman and Jalen Elliott a break. He can play with Gilman and Elliott in ND's dime (six-DB) package. He'll play on special teams. He's put himself in a great situation to help this team.

Jake, Hermosa Beach

12:12

How do you think ND will utilize Kyle Hamilton?

Eric Hansen

Getting some questions with no hometowns ... please include that for me.

12:11

On this year's team, sophomore WRs Braden Lenzy and Lawrence Keys III are young players with elite speed that are evolving into those kinds of weapons. Michael Young, when healthy, is starting to project as the kind of dangerous player. I think Jafar Armstrong, a former Kansas state sprint champ, will play faster this year, because he vision and how to use his blocks are so much better. And Cole Kmet, when healthy, offers a potential game-breaker at the tight end position. So there are some possibilities that exist in the areas that's giving you concerns.

12:07

I think there are different ways to be explosive, and yards after the catch and yards after contact is one of them. That was offensive coordinator Chip Long's biggest criticism of his own 2018 offense and a big emphasis this spring and in training camp.

He has been pleased with the progress in that area. As far as elite speed guys, the Irish need to continue to recruit and develop them in greater numbers, and RB recruit Chris Tyree is on that next wave.

Brian from South Bend

12:03

Hey Eric, Appreciate the great work you do covering the Irish. So my question involves the ND offense. There seems to be a fair amount of optimism surrounding that side of the ball this year. I believe most of that optimism stems from Ian Books passing efficiency, Chase Claypools potential for a breakout year and also because of a really good o-line. However, it doesn't appear that ND has a player on offense that would be comparable to recent Irish speedsters like Will Fuller, Josh Adams or even Dexter Williams in terms of pure explosiveness. Should Irish be concerned about a lack of explosiveness on offense against the better defensive teams they will see this year or will Ian books efficiency and a little dose of Chase Claypool make all the difference for them this year or is my perception of what they have on offense totally wrong?

Eric Hansen

Let's get started.

12:02

PLEASE include your name and hometown along with you question.

12:01

There are the rules. Also no 17-part questions and no manifestos.