JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat April 13, 2023

Notre Dame Football Live Chat April 13, 2023

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Eric Hansen

2:58

OK, that's going to do it for this week. Thanks for all the great questions and punctuation marks (Manny). We'll be back to do it all over against next Thursday at noon ET.

2:55

Hi Jim and congrats on the power walk. I think Marist Liufau got the benefit of the doubt last year in coming back from a year-long injury. He never really cashed that in with either big-play moments or consistent production. I think doubts would be too strong, but I think it's fair to say that he's being challenged and he's going to have to perform at a high level to hold off that competition.

Jim Tal Valley Center, CA

2:52

Hi Eric, just got in from a power walk. Glad to see you are still plugging away. Simple question. Is the coaching staff beginning to have serious doubts about Marist? Seems as if his window of opportunity is rapidly closing. Thanks for all you do.

Eric Hansen

2:48

We've got a few minutes left if anyone wants to ask a question.

Canadian Irish, I got your messages and will email you tonight, barring a brain cramp. Thank you.

2:47

Thanks, Joe.

Guest

2:46

Joe from Baltimore, MD.

Eric Hansen

2:46

Joey, I'm assuming you've been avoiding the chat transcripts and our stories if you haven't seen much about the OG battles. So scroll up. ... Regarding Spindler's future at ND, the transfer portal reopens Saturday and stays open through April 30. That's not a lot of time of make a decision if the prospect of Andrew Kristofic being named starter coaxes Spindler to contemplate a move. It would not surprise me if the person who doesn't win the job strongly considers moving on, though not predicting it.

Joey G. Philadelphia, Pa

2:42

Hi Eric, Haven't been hearing too much chatter about OG position battle. Personally I see it as a 3 person battle between Carmody, Kristofric, and Schrauth. I see no chance for Rocco Spindler. His increased weight along with his poor footwork, and not always being assignment correct are the reasons Spindler won't see the field at ND. With more talent arriving in June I think the best option for Spindler would be to hit the portal. What do you think of Spindler's future at ND?

Eric Hansen

2:39

I think Logan Diggs ended last season as RB1, even though Audric Estimé had more yards and TDs. I think Audric is RB1 this year, so he will have he most yards during the regular season.

Dennis

2:38

Assuming good health all season, name the running back you believe will have the most yards during the regular season.

Eric Hansen

2:37

Duly noted.

Guest

2:37

Oh brother! Funny, yesthanks. . FYI ~ You probably know this but there were 272 ND Clubs a few years ago but it is down a little today. BD gives 3 annual awards out for best off campus city Club, small, medium, large ... Gettysburg wins small Club every year as I recall. Later dude. And I am NDC of Williamsport and I will drive the 125 miles to see MF.

Eric Hansen

2:37

Hi Robert. There's nothing wrong with Sam Hartman's arm that chemistry with the receivers can't solve. As I've said the pieces -- ascending QBs and a surging WR group are there. The chemistry and timing are likely to follow.

Robert Menomonee Falls, WI

2:35

Hello Eric! There has been much criticism of ND quarterbacks in that we have not been able to stretch the field with a deep ball threat. How have the red jerseyed Irish placement on deep passes in practice? Has anyone impressed you? Thanks!

Eric Hansen

2:35

And thanks for watching, by the way.

2:34

So, several years ago, Notre Dame had a decision to make at inside linebacker between Te'von Coney and Asmar Bilal. Bilal was the freakier, faster athlete. But Coney was soooo good at play diagnosis. And that allowed him to PLAY fast. Coney became quite prolific at tackling. The only thing that held him back was coverage skills. Bilal eventually got good enough to be adequate with play diagnosis, but it was later in his career and he still was not the linebacker that Coney was. Kollie and Sneed know that have to bring both to the table. Sneed probably embraced that more quickly than Kollie. He also brings a skill set no other rover has and has fewer bodies competing at that position.

2:30

Hi Ron. I'll take you at your word what I said on Football Never Sleeps. Here's my impression of Rocco. He didn't impress Harry Hiestand as much as he would have liked, because he wasn't assignment-correct often enough. So, his outstanding physical traits were mitigated. Joe Rudolph provided a clean slate. Where maybe Rocco gets tripped up is that he believes he's the best option without proving it. There have been times this spring he's kind of reinforced that, and then yesterday I thought he was better, but still not better than Andrew Kristofic. Sneed and Kollie are definitely in the mix for more playing time, but they've both had bouts with injuries this spring that have slowed their progress. But let me go in depth a little more on athleticism at linebacker. (more)

Ron dover de

2:24

Good afternoon Eric hope your Easter was good. I have two questions. One you spoke that Rocco Spindler looked like he was improving on football never sleeps last night. What is he doing better and what do you think has been holding him back as a starter. Second with the linebackers being more aggressive wouldn’t Snead and Kollie with their athletic ability be ideal to on the field a lot this year ? Thanks for your thoughts

Eric Hansen

2:24

Thanks, Mike! And I wasn't drinking either!

Mike McFadden, Williamsport, PA

2:23

Wow, good ques from Jeff. Good answers to all q's today ole buddy, thx Eric.

Eric Hansen

2:18

OK, we hit Rocco and Hartman, so let's talk about Thomas Harper. Harper had offseason shoulder surgery, so he's doing some non-contact things but not doing the 11-on-11 work that could really show off his skill set. We've had a chance to talk to him earlier. Intelligent, confident, impressive in that regard. But he's still kind of an unknown going into summer.

Ryan mars pa

2:16

Eric how has Rocco Looked and The transfers we got the defense lineman Harper and Hartman looked good so far during spring practice go Irish

Eric Hansen

2:16

Hey Doug. Charleston is en route to South Bend today as we speak, so I'll try to answer this one myself. Each position group kind of has its own ecosystem. Where D-Line is concerned, the Irish can't afford a lackluster class. Even though they're trending well on some of their top targets, I think it's smart to cast a wide net just in case on this group. And yes there are tiered targets with DT Justin Scott of Chicago at the very top.

Doug from Sunny Florida

2:12

Eric, this may be more of a Charleston question but is there anything to make regarding the large number of defensive line offers out compared to the number of commits? Seems like a large net is being cast but nobody seems ready to commit. Can it be that some targets are waiting to see who commits where before they commit? Is there a 'tier' system where ND is waiting for 'tier 1' targets to make a decision before accepting a player from a lower tier?

Eric Hansen

2:12

Hi Ken, I think Notre Dame is more interesting in closing In June when they have their official visits en masse rather than now, when they're trying to build relationships and form strong impressions, especially among the new coaches. I think they're well positioned.

Ken from Livonia

2:10

With all the staff changes, recruiting seems to have stalled in getting Top level guys in 2024/2025.... Is it just the time of year or are the current recruiters just lacking that closer mentality

Eric Hansen

2:10

Dean, very cool you're headed to Belfast. I've been to many countries in Western Europe, though many years ago when I had family alive there. Northern Ireland is not a place I've been. What I look for in spring to try to concoct that into an early win/loss prediction is floor/ceiling of each position group and then matching that against the tougher team on the schedule. This spring is harder than most. My sense is I'll come out of spring with a 10-2 vibe with the potential for the team in August to convince me to add either one win or one loss.

Sean, Schaumburg, Il

2:06

Eric, I'm having a tough time gauging my expectations for the upcoming season. Ohio State, USC and Clemson are the marquee games. But, some tricky ACC road games. What are you looking for in these spring practices to guide your prediction for the upcoming season? One thing I have noticed is that the O-line is slow to gel. Starting with Navy and Tenn St may lower those concerns. The Navy game raises concerns on the D line. Washington needs to up his coaching game. Wish I was gonna be attending Navy in Dublin. I'll have to settle for Belfast in May. It'll be good to get back to the homeland. Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

2:05

Jeff, thanks for your assurance of not dipping into the Irish Whiskey. This has come up with the Shamrock Series games in Las Vegas, Yankee Stadium, Dallas, etc. Notre Dame can provide game tickets for prospects, but they can't host official visits at those venues. And I'm guessing you couldn't disguise yourself as an 18-year-old prospect anyways?

Jeff from Phoenix

1:56

Good morning Eric. For this question, on my honor, I have not violated the ‘no drinking’ rule. Here goes. For the ND vs Navy game in Dublin, it appears the game is a home game for ND in all aspects except location. Could/will ND host recruits for paid/official recruiting visits to Dublin? Although nothing replaces the true ND home game experience and campus visit, Dublin could be an attractive option for recruits that have already been to South Bend multiple times. Cheers!

Eric Hansen

1:55

Ohio kid Mitchell Evans, with Eli Raridon as the one with the highest ceiling.

Ray

1:55

Who do you believe will actually be ND most reliable TE by the time ND plays Ohio St.

Eric Hansen

1:55

Romon, do you really think I'm qualified to give ANYONE fashion advice? That's WAAAAY out of my lane. Not sure that the white cleats will carry over into the season. Marcus has yet to ask my opinion on the footwear, but it he does, I'll pass along your suggestion.

Romon from Virgina

1:53

Hello Eric! How are you doing ?? Curious I wonder ask you question how was defense and Offense ?? Also why they wear white cleats shoe?? Please tell coach Freeman. Go back to traditions cleats shoe black , gold and navy ! Not white q

Eric Hansen

1:52

Hi Steven. He's very much more in sync with his big-picture vision of the program and the details he believes it takes to get there.

Steven, Austin Tx

1:51

Hi Eric!!, So going into year 2 of the Freeman era... Does Spring seem more organized and efficient?

Eric Hansen

1:51

Hi Mike. Hope your dinner with Marcus Freeman is a success. He'd definitely be worth hearing in person. ... Brian Kelly put together quite a run against unranked teams at the end of his run at ND though there were some CLOSE calls. It ended at 42 straight with Freeman's loss to Marshall in game 2 of last season. I'm not going to see that will NEVER happen again, but I think moving forward it will be much less likely. I also think MF will have a better record, when all is said and done, against top 10 teams at ND. And I do consider BK one of the better college coaches in the game, regardless of his dancing skills.

Guest

1:43

Hi Eric, Hope you can give a shout out here to the NDC of Gettysburg as they host coach Marcus Freeman on Tuesday May 2 with a great dinner as he speaks to the ND fans. $75. I would guest 250~300 attend based their small Club bringing in Fr. Jenkins for Fr. Corbin memorial where they donated $10K for scholarships and flew in Muffet and her husband only a few weeks after her NC. My question is after, two gimme game losses in 2022, as Coach Kelly also did, do you feel the new coaching staff and all the players are in position to never have this happen again as Kelly also never lost to an unranked team, ... meaning was this just a never~again fluke? Great discussion here.Thanks Eric.

Mike McFadden, Williamsport, PA

1:43

... Mike McFadden, Williamsport, PA ... sorry Eric ... Gimme game losses

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