JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat April 6, 2022

Notre Dame Football Live Chat April 6, 2022

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Doug from Raleigh

1:12

Thanks for your time with us in NDNation as always, Eric. NDMMB just played a great game with Howard University on nat’l tv on MLK Day. Lots of historic significance and a decent non-conference mid-season game. Within a 30-game schedule, it amounted to a tough scrimmage between ACC games. With this TennSt scheduling: No other HBCU in D1, no other D1 school period could play on 09/02/23? And to the date scheduling? A quick turnaround from a Dublin trip as school is starting up, and then have a week off before Central Michigan….followed by Ohio State? Coach Freeman oughta have “fun” gaining a rhythm at the beginning of Year 2 with this boring lineup between Navy and Ohio State. This TennSt game dilutes our brand. Fifteen months from now Eric: where would you vote the unproven Irish in the top 40 with a 3-0 record after that start going into the Buckeye game? We ain’t the SEC beating up local D2s early in the season, simply ‘cause the local 5 or 6A HS played the night before.

David from chicago

1:12

Why does ND feel that in order to keep up with the top tier teams they need to stoop to their level by scheduling an FCS school?

Kevin Fort Wayne

1:12

Im not understanding the uproar over us playing a FCS school one time to assist a friend of Marcus gain exposure for his program. A one time game does not lessen the history ND has built in playing tough schedules throughout its history, and willingness to travel far and near to play anyone, anywhere. Additionally, I think there is benefits in recruiting and demonstrating ND’s willingness to reach out to traditional and proud black university’s to assist in getting them national exposure they deserve.Your thoughts?

Eric Hansen

1:12

OK, I'm going to group a few questions together on one topic and address them all at once. Here goes.

1:10

Hi Jimmy, Notre Dame was recruiting him earlier before he committed to Indiana. Gi'Bran Payne then asked out of his National Letter of Intent after there were some coaching changes, including RBs coach Deland McCullough leaving IU for Notre Dame. So I'll let you do the math in his probability of ending up at ND. He did visit Kentucky recently also. Five is the number ND was hoping to have at running back. They couldn't close on a second back in December or February. C'Bo Flemister wasn't able to get himself right to rejoin the roster and is gone for good. This will not affect ND's desire to sign two backs in the 2023 class (they already have one). No I don't think the current running backs will resent the late addition. They had been expecting one for months. Now it might be finally happening.

Jimmy Z Granger Indiana

1:05

Hi Eric, thank you for taking the time to help us college football junkies keep up with all the latest news coming from campus on the offseason. Wow could this really be happening? If we can get a guy like GiBraun Payne this late in the game, our coaches must be really be living a positive wave heading in our direction. My questions are, do you think we get him right away while he is still on campus? Also, do the other running backs welcome him with open, loving arms or do they see this as just another player to take carries off the stat sheet? If all our boys are here to win a Natty, hopefully they have what it takes to bring as much talent on board even if it is another RB. It just seems to good to be true, that someone so talented might be falling in our lap right before our very eyes. Thanks

Eric Hansen

1:04

This just happened and I'm fully engaged with you guys, so let me give you a rough thumbnail. 6-2, 293 originally from the Detroit area. ... Committed to transfer to Minnesota back in mid January and ND changed his mind. Visited recently. Will replace Aidan Keanaaina on the roster, out with a torn ACL. First-team All-Ivy ... 40 tackles, 5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 3 QB hurries in 2021.

Mike - Chicago

12:59

Thoughts on Dline grad transfer from Harvard that just committed

Eric Hansen

12:54

Hi Jim. Besides Michael Mayer, the only healthy scholarship tight ends this spring are Mitchell Evans and Kevin Bauman. They've both been solid, but the door is open for recovering Cane Berrong and the two June-arriving freshmen -- Eli Raridon and Holden Staes. Had Raridon not tore up his knee playing basketball, I'd predict him to be the No. 2 tight end before the end of the 2022 season, It still might happen. I was really high on Evans at the end of 2021. I'm eager to see more from him. We've got new tight ends coach Gerad Parker next week, so that will give me a better feel for his thought process.

Jim Tal, Valley Center, CA.

12:50

Eric, thanks so much for all the great insights and information that you provide. It is very much appreciated. As of right now, who do foresee getting meaningful playing time at tight end alongside Michael Mayer? I believe that whoever fills that role could have a surprisingly impactful role on the overall success of the offense.

Eric Hansen

12:50

Would love to have that chance. Notre Dame sports info is giving us every full-time assistant this spring, which is great. I'd love to talk to Chris Watt and James Laurinaitis as well at some point, not to be greedy. Maybe in May or June. Both would be interesting.

Dan (Plymouth, MI)

12:48

When might we be blessed with an interview of Chris Watt?

Dan

12:48

Hi Eric! Love your work and love these chats.

Eric Hansen

12:48

Hi David. He's made quite an impression as a defensive coordinator -- on players, recruits and fellow coaches. That wasn't going to be easy as popular as Marcus was as the DC. As a linebackers coach, he's working in tandem with grad assistant James Laurinaitis, and that's been very effective. Recruits have taken to him very well. He was a very good recruiter when he was in the college ranks before. His little touches he brings from the NFL, without overwhelming with them, have been very effective. As far as the sounding board for Marcus, that's yet to come. After spring and into the summer. He had a lot on his plate in terms of putting together a playbook and installing the defense after the Super Bowl/and being hired. So more on that last part as we get into fall camp.

David from Brookline

12:43

Eric, what impressions do you have of Coach Golden so far as a DC, LB coach, recruiter, sounding board for Coach Freeman, ND fit?

Eric Hansen

12:43

Here's what Washington said about Cross on Tuesday:

"I was an undersized D-tackle. So I’m partial to him, but Howard Cross is a beast. He’s an explosive kid. He can generate. He’s productive, because he can create separation. So he may be 6-foot or whatever, but he’s one of the more explosive guys I’ve ever been around.

"He’s doing a really good job. He’s been very productive this spring."

12:42

As far as ND's interior D-linemen being too short -- Mills is 6-5, Rubio 6-5, Onye 6-5, Tyson Ford 6-4, Jayson Ademilola and Aidan Keanaaina both 6-3. The exceptions are Howard Cross and Jacob Lacey at 6-1. Washington said they're quickness and strength negates their lack of height (and weight). Remember, this isn't a base 3-4 where the nose needs to be Louis Nix-like. (more)

12:36

OK, Joey, let me answer your question first, then we'll discuss the premise that led into it. ... I have seen Rubio and Mills and also talked to D-Line coach Al Washington about them Tuesday. One caveat here. There's a website that transcribes the Zoom interviews and labels them as "Everything (insert name here) Had to say to the media." it's not even close. The interviews that are not on Zoom have more depth, more content and better flow. Mills is cross training at the defensive tackle and field end spots. Based on what I've seen and what I've heard, I expect him to become a much bigger factor this season. Very much an ascending player. Rubio drew high praise from Washington as well. I haven't seen him play as much, because he's futher down the depth chart.

Joey G. Philadelphia, Pa

12:27

Hi Eric, There’s been some talk lately about the interior size of ND’s defensive line. It seems in order for the defense line to elevate itself to championship caliber they need to recruit taller and heavier interior linemen. It looks like Freeman is gonna lean heavily on Mills and Rubio in the rotation this year. Have you been able to see how Mills & Rubio are doing this spring?

Eric Hansen

12:26

Hi Mike. We do get to watch all four scholarship QBs -- Tyler Buchner, Drew Pyne, Ron Powlus III and Steve Angeli. But remember, there are a lot of other things competing for our attention during those media windows. They also don't get many opportunities in competitive situations. Powlus was injured all of last season, so this is the first time I've seen him throw. I'd only seen Angei throw previously in an All-Star game and a little high school tape. They both appear to be functional, but don't really face situations when we're in practice that tests them. If you just stumbled into practice off the street and didn't know ND's depth chart, you could tell pretty quickly who the top two are.

Mike from Ann Arbor

12:21

Good morning. I am wondering if you have been able to watch the 3rd or 4th string quarterbacks in practice, and have any insights about their strengths and abilities. It is hard to tell from the brief video clips available. Thanks.

Eric Hansen

12:20

Those shoe and apparel contracts are tricky. During the adidas era, the Notre Dame players had to undergo shoe inspections before football games. And if there was tape covering up the logo, it had to be removed. I'm not sure what ND will do with UA when it's time for renewal. I don't think they would put their athletes in jeopardy even if it meant modifying a contract. I don't think some of the promises that UA made at the time of the original deal -- like being on the leading edge of sports science -- have come to pass.

12:17

Hi Marie and thanks for your questions. I have only recently hears the rumors about UA shoes and have not seen a valid study. If you have access to it, please pass it along. But Notre Dame would definitely look into something like that. How they would handle it, I'm not sure. What I can share is back when I was covering the men's basketball team in the mid-90s fo a couple of seasons, Notre Dame had switched to Adidas, and the new model shoes they received were incredibly problematic. All kinds of leg and foot injuries. To Adidas' credit, they kept introducing new models until they got it right, well almost right. Pat Garrity, the team's star player, continued to have problems. Ultimately, they relented and let him wear his white Nikes with a black swoosh stripe. However, I started laughing when I saw the next game, the NIke logo was gone, courtesy of White-out. I asked Pat after the game what happened to his shoes? He said, "The shoe fairy happened." (more)

Marie from Atlanta

12:07

hi Eric, I hope you’re having a great week. Disappointing to hear about Wilkens‘s injury and another foot injury for Notre Dame. I know there have always been rumors that under armor shoes are not that great, and recently someone was saying that a foot expert had data showing that under armor shoes do have a higher incidence of injury. Do you think Notre Dame looks into that? and do you anticipate they will continue the relationship with under armor after 2024, Could you see a scenario where they cut out under armor for shoes and go to Nike or Adidas but keep under armor for every thing else? Really enjoying the weekly chats, thanks for all your insights.

Eric Hansen

Let's get things rolling.

As a reminder, please include your NAME and HOMETOWN aling with your question.

12:04

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