JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Aug. 2, 2023

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Aug. 2, 2023

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Manny in San Pedro

1:45

Congrats on getting back on the radio!!!!! love it!!!, are you just 5-6 wed and thurs even during the season?

Eric Hansen

1:41

Hi Marie. I think ND has made investments in some non-coaching positions that are really valuable in terms of evaluation, recruiting and infrastructure. Butler Bention -- assistant athletic director/football player personnel is a good example. His job touches recruiting and the transfer portal, among other things. So, I'm not sure ND is at a deficit with analysts ... at one point, yeah, they were and yes, I agree on the Rees situation in 2022. But analysts and grad assistants are kind of at a crossroads. The NCAA is close to expanding those roles and/or deregulating how many on-field assistants there can be all together. Once that happens, the numbers game will become an important conversation. More does not always mean more. As far as 11, 12 or 22 personnel, I'll say it depends on the opponent, down and distance and field position, but I'll say 11.

Marie from Atlanta

1:34

hi Eric, I hope you’re having a great week and really enjoying the first few practices. Thanks for hosting the chat. With Jim Leonhard signing on is an analyst for Illinois last week it got me thinking. Do you think Notre Dame needs to use more analysts? I really feel like Tommy Rees could have benefited from an analyst last year. It seems like bigger programs have a lot more analysts on their staff than Notre Dame does, is this an Area where Notre Dame is falling short? Switching gears, What do you think we will see the most of the season, 11, 12, or 22 personnel? As always thanks for hosting the chat, and for all your great insights.

Eric Hansen

1:34

Frank, we don't have official word and won't until Marcus Freeman next speaks to the media on Tuesday night after practice.

Frank from Royse City, Texas

1:32

I hear Kevin Bauman is not practicing, any updates on him?

Eric Hansen

1:31

Tom, I suppose that could happen, but I think if it were a real possibility, Matt Balis would have asked for a leave of absence instead of resigning. I know Marcus Freeman and the players would love to have him back, although they have responded well to interim director of sports performance Fred Hale. 2) The Mitch-a-palooza package, with current TE/former HS QB Mitchell Evans under center on short yardage, I believe, will happen less often in 2023, because Sam Hartman is more of a goal-line/short-yardage weapon than Drew Pyne was and the element of surprise is gone, but I don't necessarily think it completely disappears. 3) I think a jumbo package would more like use Tosh Baker of Michael Carmody than Kristofic, if they consider doing it at all.

Tom Kennesaw, GA

1:25

Hi Eric, I'll try to keep this short and direct, but I need your insight and expert opinion on a couple of questions: 1) Presuming Balis' reason for leaving was truly personal and also presuming ND won't do anything about a replacement until after the season, if the problems are solved could he return??? 2) More or less TE under center in 2023? 3) If Kristolic and Spindler are so close for the starting RG any chance of a jumbo package including both of them on short yardage?? Thanks. Go Irish!!!

Eric Hansen

1:24

Jim, IF I ever get tired of hearing it and am anything less than humble and grateful, please throw a rotten tomato at me. Thank you. Tyler James will be making his first trip abroad for the game. I think Billy Schrauth and Rocco Spindler will be the eventual starters. O-line coach Joe Rudolph maintains the competition is real at both positions. Pat Coogan is trying to overtake Schrauth. Rocco has pulled even with Andrew Kristofic. Rudolph gives big points to physicality. Kristofic is more assignment-correct. I watched Rocco destroy a fake defender on one drill, but it was the wrong guy. That's the dilemma. My wager is on the notion that he'll figure it out in time to edge out Kristofic for the job. Coogan deserves credit for pushing Schrauth, who's almost comically strong. I just mentioned Aamil Wagner -- that would be the sleeper.

Jim, Oregonia OH

1:15

Eric! Not sure if you ever get tired of hearing it, but you are awesome when it comes to everything Irish football! Really enjoy your insight and holding these chats for us all to opine. Couple of things...will you be going to Ireland for the kickoff game? Who do you think will ultimately win the guard positions? Do you feel like Schrauth has one position locked down and the other is up for grabs? Is there a "sleeper" that could surprise us all? I think this has the potential to be a stellar o-line, but that is one position group that needs to get set fairly soon because cohesion in that unit is critical. Thanks again for your insight.

Eric Hansen

1:14

I watched Aamil Wagner extensively in Tuesday's practice during the media window of the first five periods. I really like what I see, and that is a player who'd start for most FBS teams who didn't have two Outland Trophy candidates at tackle. He's progressing so well, O-line coach Joe Rudolph took a look at him at guard to see if he wanted to introduce him into the competition at those spots. There are players I get excited about before they've turned the corner, and he's one of them. Athletic, smart and increasingly powerfully built.

Jules, Joliet, Il

1:08

I have question on Aamil Wagner. When he committed to ND he weighed around 260 lbs. I remember some commentators questioned if he could add enough weight to be an effective OL and still maintain his athleticism. I see he is now listed at 288 lbs. Do you have any observations on Mr Wagner’s progress? As always, thank you for doing these chats.

Eric Hansen

1:07

Your memory is pretty good when it comes to Brown and Ismail. Brown carried the ball 59 times in 1986 and 34 in his Heisman Trophy-winning season in 1987. Not for a huge average per carry, though. Ismail had zero rushes as a freshman in 1988, but 64 in 1989 and 67 in 1990 and was more explosive in that role than Brown. Offenses and defenses have changed. I think you will see Chris Tyree get a handful of carries, but nowhere near those numbers ... and barring a run of injuries, they'd come on jet sweeps and gadget plays. The Irish just have too many good running backs, some with elite speed, to put Tyree in the backfield in a traditional running back role. If anything, I think you'll see running backs split out more often then you will see Tyree in the backfield.

1:02

Thanks for the kind words Larry, especially toward Charleston. He's a rising star in this business and we're thrilled to have him on our team. ... To your first question, it really is about the replacement. A good example of this was Urban Meyer hiring away Brian Kelly's O-line coach, Ed Warinner, after year two of his regime ahead of the 2012 season. So, Kelly goes out and hires ... Harry Hiestand, a substantial upgrade. For the three coaches you mentioned, if you remove the replacement from the formula (which doesn't make sense), Hiestand had the best track record with Matt Balis held in similar regard. Tommy Rees is viewed as a coach on the rise, but his potential still overshawdows his production in my opinion. Perhaps the shift comes this year, perhaps not. But I like what I have seen from Joe Rudolph so far. Parker is an unknown still and we don't know who will replace Balis. So my answer at this point is Balis is where ND will feel the loss the most. (more)

Guest

12:50

Larry from Topton, PA – With the start of camp, it has been great to be reading and listening to you and Tyler, but I do want to also mention that I have been really impressed with Charleston’s early contributions to your team. Question 1: Please rank these coaching losses in order of long term impact: Balis, Hiestand, Rees. 2: I recall that back in the day, Tim Brown and Rocket would occasionally line up in the backfield and get conventional running back carries, particularly in the 4th quarter when they could use their speed against tired defenses. I remember them getting 50 or so carries per year. Am I remembering that correctly? Has the game changed that much, or could Chris Tyree possibly follow along with that template, and take some carries out of the backfield?

Eric Hansen

12:50

For those who don't follow recruiting closely, Isiah Canion is a WR from Georgia, who commmitted to ND but decided to flip to Georgia Tech to be closer to home. Logan Saldate less than a month later flipped his commitment from Oregon State to ND (in late July). They're similarly ranked -- both three-star prospects and not currently among the top 100 receivers in the class. Both are likely going to rise in the rankings over time. Canion is 6-4, 190 and Saldate is 5-10 and about 180 now. Canion may have the higher ceiling here, but ND doesn't have many receivers who profile as slot receivers as well as Saldate does, and so I think this will actually turn out to be a win for ND, though again I think Canion's going to keep improving and be pretty good for Georgia Tech.

skip - Houston

12:43

Which team won the Isiah Cannon v. Logan Saldate "trade" - and why? Thanks.

Eric Hansen

12:42

Hey Jonathan, great question. It's not just about evaluation but trust. And also keep in mind, lots of players and the growth aren't static. Especially young, talented players keep learning and the game slows down for them and suddenly coaches can trust them to see high-leverage snaps in the game. Linebacker Jaylen Sneed is a good example of that happening last season. Jorden Botelho too as a rotational player at defensive end. Sometimes, though, you're right players get buried. The weekly grind becomes more about getting ready for an opponent than an open evaluation. Sometimes that has to wait until a bye week. Some young players who might help later than sooner on this year's roster are defensive linemen Boubacar Traore and Brenan Vernon and wide receiver Braylon James, for instance.

Jonathan, Addison, TX

12:36

Hi, Eric. I played 8-man football at a tiny Kansas high school. Don’t think that perspective lends credibility to this question. But there, it seemed pretty obvious to me which of my teammates were better and worse. Didn’t really take a whole practice, let alone training camp. At ND, however, it sometimes seems they’re half way through the season before realizing the better player has been buried on the bench. Is this common in college football? Is player evaluation harder than it seems even after spring ball and training camp?

Eric Hansen

12:35

OK Kevin, you better step up your exclamation point game. Manny's got you beat by 4 !!!!
So, MANNY!!%^*#@!! Hopefully, Notre Dame is focused on the four opponents that came before Ohio State, but you and I can safely look ahead without consequence. Manny, the checklist is pretty long, but it must start with winning the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball -- something the Irish couldn't get done in Columbus, and it finally caught up to them in the fourth quarter. It will also be a big test for first-year offensive coordinator Gerad Parker and the kind of game he'll call against a very good OSU defense. When the game gets a little closer, we can do a deeper dive. Great to have you and your punctation back in the chat.

Manny in San Pedro

12:28

Eric!!!!!!!! It's August! Whoop Whoop!!!!!! So excited for the upcoming season. IF Notre Dame is going to beat OSU, what areas have to make the biggest strides in camp?

Eric Hansen

12:28

Kevin!!!!! I do not believe superconferences are a threat to Notre Dame's independence UNLESS the ACC blows up and no one will take the Irish basketball teams and Olympic sports teams without football being a full-time member OR ND can't negotiate a media rights deal that will keep them competitively financially with the SEC and Big Ten schools. I don't see scheduling as a problem.

Kevin-Sleepy Eye,MN

12:26

Eric!!!! I feel we're on the verge of super conferences....I don't like it so I HOPE the Pac-12 gets a deal and doesn't fall apart. If it does happen; Are super conferences a threat to our ability as an independent to create our own schedule? Will we always get the quality opponents we need to earn a bid to play-offs if we win? Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

12:26

Luke Talich is a 6-4, 198-pound safety from Cody, Wyo. He could turn out to be more than just a curiosity. Talich, a three-star prospect, per Rivals, turned down scholarship offers from Oregon State, Washington State, Wyoming and Utah to walk on at his dream school. He ran a 10.8-second 100-meter dash and led Cody to two Wyoming state titles as a quarterback/safety. Both his parents played college sports, and his brother is a linebacker at Wyoming. He has a chance to contribute somewhere, maybe special teams if not safety right away.

12:19

As people shout at my grandsons when they don't swing at lousy pitches in baseball ... "good eye". Jordan Faison (5-10, 182) was a QB/DB/KR at Pine Crest High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a two-star recruit per Rivals. He initially committed to ND for lacrosse, but then got a football scholarship offer to play at Iowa. ND then offered him a chance to walk on and play both sports for the Irish. He chose that option and has looked like he belongs in wide receiver drills. He's also in the large pool of kickoff return candidates. He is a nice depth piece. (more)

McDrew

12:07

Name: McDrew (actual name Drew) from Alexandria, VA.
I am intrigued by a couple walk-ons. Many of us were excited when Luke Talich committed as a PWO. He has nice size and speed. How has he looked? I was also impressed watching Jordan Faison’s videos. So quick and shifty. I was psyched when I saw he was listed with the group of possible punt returners. How is he doing?

Eric Hansen

12:06

By the way, today is practice No. 7 of preseason training camp. ... Let the chatting commence!

Here are the rules.

12:05

As for today's chat ... PLEASE remember to include your name and hometown with your question. Telepathy won't work. That's not part of my skill set.

► Finally, our new sponsor for the chat is J&R Solutions. They provide high-speed internet where other places say they can’t in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan — and quite possibly your home.

► If you missed our Inside ND Sports Podcast, our special guest Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Clint Cosgove helped us recap the recent flurry of recruiting activity on the Notre Dame front, including its Grill & Chill event this past Sunday. Cosgrove discussed how impressive it would be for Notre Dame to land 2025 offensive tackle Owen Strebig and his potential as a prospect, ND's newest commitment from 2025 running back Justin Thurman, the talent base in St. Louis, the rise of 2025 defensive end Christopher Burgess Jr., 2024 defensive tackle Justin Scott's Ohio State commitment, how elite 2025 wide receiver Talyn Taylor is and what 2025 quarterback Deuce Knight would mean for the Irish.You can listen on your preferred podcast platform including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Podbean and Pocket Casts.

12:04

► Join us Thursday night at 8 ET for this week’s live episode of our weekly Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps. You can chat right along with us as we take your questions live. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube. The show is brought to you by Legacy Heating and Air.

► Some quick programming notes. I’ve returned to WSBT radio as a co-host with Darin Pritchett on Weekday SportsBeat (960 AM, live streaming at wsbtradio.com) on Wednesdays and Thursdays during training camp and the 2023 Notre Dame Football season. I'll also be co-hosting the pregame shows with Darin. The weekday shows run from 5-6 p.m. ET. You can download episodes as podcasts.

12:03

Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, Quasi-Early Training Camp Edition.

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