JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Aug. 20, 2021

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Aug. 20, 2021

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Eric Hansen

3:08

OK, that's going to do it for today. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll be back to do it all again with a special Thursday edition (noon EDT).

3:07

The alliance goes way beyond scheduling. And no, I don't think Notre Dame will be negatively affected by it.

Mike, Nanuet, NY

3:06

Eric, There has been much talk recently about a BIG-ACC-PAC scheduling alliance. Do you see ND being a part of this (short of being a full fledged member in the ACC)? I think ND playing 5-6 ACC games plus 2 BIG and 2 PAC (including USC every year) would add value to all 3 conferences while still enabling ND to stay independent.

Eric Hansen

3:06

Yes and yes.

Patrick, Fort Wayne, IN

3:06

Eric, do you see the offense throwing more downfield this year? Can all three QBs make those 15+ yard throws accurately to move the sticks in a significant way?

Eric Hansen

3:05

It works.

MTSWEENS

3:05

Marcus Freeman's "freewheeling, attacking style"! The last coordinators whose scheme was described like that was Tanuda (sp?) and VanGorder! How is Freeman's scheme different than those two?

Eric Hansen

3:05

Jeff. No such thing of peaking early. We all deserve to be fired up about a more normal college football season. ... As far as punt returns, we talked to Brian Polian about that a bit in the spring and get another run at him Tuesday night. I do think there are some PR candidates with explosive moves .. Kevin Austin, Kyren Williams, Lorenzo Styles to name a few. But I think ball security will remain king in terms of scheming up for punt returns. We have not seen actual coverage units yet, but I've got some ideas. I'll see how they match up with Polian's thoughts early next week.

Jeff from Phoenix

3:00

Good morning Eric. Really looking forward to the FSU season opener, and am in danger of peaking too early! My question is about special teams, specifically kickoffs and punt returns. Are we going to see the same risk-averse fair catches this year or can they use the offensive talent referred to by BK and Rees to flip the field? Do you see 1-2 players with the explosiveness? Finally, is there a Chase Claypool-esque player on kick/punt return defense that could neutralize our opponents or create a turnover? Cheers!

Eric Hansen

2:56

Zane, thank you. I wrote about that in my latest piece for the Tribune/NDInsider.com. So for more depth, I'd check that out. In short, this year's team addresses last year's team's shortcomings. But this year's team has a ways to go in some areas to match the 2020 squad's strengths.

Zane from Georgetown TX

2:48

30 years I've followed SBT coverage, and you're the best. A heartfelt thanks for your work, Eric. Also a shout-out to my WilcoTX brother, Denny, from LH. My question - you've heard "coachspeak" at this time every year. They're always positive about everything, with room to improve, etc. Is there anything you're hearing this year that a) varies from years past, or b) gives you some clues about the this year's team? Thanks again!

Eric Hansen

2:48

You are too much of a slave to recruiting rankings. And I can imagine how that can be confusing. Think of recruiting rankings as more art than science. And they mean much less when there's not a good player development model in a program. See Florida State and USC. But Michael Carmody was a Rivals 250 player. Former Notre Dame tackles and first-round draft choices Zack Martin and Mike McGlinchey were not top 250 players coming out of high school. ESPN's Todd McShay recently named RB Kyren Williams as the No. 32 overall prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft and center Jarrett Patterson No. 34. Both were three-star prospects. So it's OK to embrace and enjoy Michael Carmody's climb up the depth chart.

Lawrence from San Diego

2:41

Michael Carmody being the next man in is a surprise to me. In my head I feel like that lowers the ceiling from having baker/spindler as specialized reserves at tackle/guard. Am I just too much of a slave to recruiting profiles or is this a step back. Seems like that 6th lineman is always needed…

Eric Hansen

2:40

Thanks, Dave. I do think the cornerback group is the weakest on defense. Having said that, they're MUCH better than they were in the spring and also better than I thought they'd be at this point. So the safeties and front seven won't have to offset their weaknesses. Instead, they enhance the cornerbacks' strengths.

Dave from Houston

2:36

Good chat as always. Do you think cornerback is the weakest group overall and can the safeties and front seven offset this weakness?

Eric Hansen

2:36

Jim, I'll have to check with Jack Swarbrick, but I would think ND will follow the ACC protocols. As far as potential forfeits, I think that's becoming universal across college football and not unique to any one conference.

Jim, Oakwood, OH

2:35

Hi Eric, Most conferences have a protocol for a game that has one team with too many COVID infected players. Since ND (with its 90+ vaccination rate) has one foot in the door with the ACC this year (rather than full membership), will ND follow the ACC protocol for games with ACC opponents, the Big 10 protocol for the Wisconsin game, the AAC protocol for its game with Cincinnati .... There seems to be more conference talk about a "forfeit" rather than rescheduling if an opponent cannot field a team - has ND settled on a protocol and the nuances? Be well and take good care of yourself. Jim

Eric Hansen

2:34

Tom, thank you. Substantial contributors? Fisher, Styles, Colzie on offense; not sure on defense .. maybe Justin Walters. Just because they may not be substantial contributors this year doesn't mean they won't be next year. There are a lot of players I like in the freshman class, including QB Tyler Buchner.

Tom from Grand Rapids

2:29

Eric- thank you for everything you do. With that being said, which Freshman do you see being substantial contributors or pick one from each side that they won’t be able to keep off the field. Also did the addition of Cain Madden significantly help ease the loss of 4 starters on o-line, and can that group be a strength again this year?

Eric Hansen

2:28

Patterson, Madden, Botelho.

Bill from the Block

2:27

Give us 3 potential all American candidates not named Hamilton, Mayer or Kyren. Pls and thx.

Eric Hansen

2:27

As I mentioned early, the optics of the offensive line have a lot to do with the advanced state of Notre Dame's defensive line. I think Madden is a very good addition. As he and Jarrett Patterson continue to work together and as he and Josh Lugg do the same, you'll start to see why Madden was an All-American at Marshall. Those writing off the offensive line at this juncture? That's like tasting a cake that's been in the oven for 10 minutes and complaining it's not fluffy enough.

shawf

St Augustine, Fl.

2:19

I'm reading a lot of negatives about the offensive line and especially Madden (slow feet/getting beat). Do you witness the same? Do we have to hope other defenses are not as strong as ours so they do not pressure our QBs.?..St Augustine, Fl.

Eric Hansen

2:19

Notre Dame being 128th out of 130 in terms of returning experience among FBS teams gives them a wide range of outcomes than usual. But I expect the floor for this team to be New Year's Six.

cederickwalker

2:18

ced walker saginaw mich do u see notre dame in a new years six bowl if they dont make the playoff early projection fiesta or chic-fi-la vs lsu go irish

Eric Hansen

2:17

He's coming back from a shoulder injury and is in a very strong rotation with Kurt Hinish and a much-improved Howard Cross. I expect a strong season from him. This is what I'm talking about when I go on about the D-line's quality depth and their willingness to use it.

Frank Serra

2:16

How is Jacob Lacy doing in camp, I don’t hear his name mentioned at all!

Eric Hansen

2:15

OK Dawg, in the spring, it looked like an 8-4 or 9-3 team but it was a team that didn't have any unfixable problems. At the beginning of camp, I was thinking 10-2. The way the receivers and corners have come on -- two big spring question marks, I wouldn't rule out 11-1. I'll make a final prediction before the first game, but I'm fluctuating between 10-2 and 11-1.

2:13

You rock, too! Tyler James and I were talking about this on our last podcast. I'm not sure there's a big difference in arm strength between, say, Jack Coan and Ian Book, but Jack seems much more comfortable looking for those routes and letting it fly in the practices we've seen. Tyler Buchner has the strongest arm among the QBs on the roster, but Coan, to me, has a strong enough arm and enough confidence in it to get the job done with the receivers he has.

2:08

Let me answer Kate's question first.

Dawg from Ottawa

2:07

whats your guess on ND record this year

Kate, '03 Chicago

2:05

Hi Eric! I'm an ND grad and from South Bend originally. I know my dad always loved your articles, but I didn't come across these great chats until last season. Thank you for such thoughtful and fair commentary always - it is rare. That said, if you haven't answered this already...I feel like I've heard some doubters who anticipate Coan struggling with the deep ball (not due to receivers, but arm ability). Can you shed some light on what you feel the truth of the situation is? You rock!

Eric Hansen

2:05

Thank you, Bill. The is more risk and reward with this scheme. Cincinnati last season did it with minimal risk, however. The Bearcats were No. 4 nationally in fewest yards allowed per play (4.47). The Irish, by comparison, were 55th (5.56). However, in 2019, ND was eighth. So my answer is in theory I agree. In practice, I think I agree less.

Bill from St Joe, MI

1:56

You are the best!!! I believe the having Clark Lea immediately preceding Marcus Freeman is a very good thing as it gives those players learning from Clark a very good structure from which to move forward in what has been described as Marcus’s more freewheeling, attacking style. Having said that I’m predicting a few more big plays on the defense to go along with more sacks and tackles for loss. Do you agree?

Eric Hansen

1:53

After watching first-year coordinator Marcus Freeman's scheme in action and seeing how much depth rolls through the front seven, I don't think any single player is going to get to double digits in sacks. I think you're going to see quite a few players with three or four. Foskey is coming off a pec injury, so I'm not sure I'm seeing him at his max. But based on the eye test, I think Jordan Botelho is going to lead the team in sacks.

Joey G Philadelphia,Pa

1:37

Hi Eric, I hope all is well with you! It’s been great hearing all of the positive things coming from camp. Isaiah Foskey has been getting all the hype about possible double digit sacks this year. I have a hunch it’s gonna be someone else! Who in your opinion other than Foskey could possibly lead the team in sacks this year?

Eric Hansen

1:37

I don't think that's the case at all. A work in progress? Yes. Lack of talent and depth? No sir. I think Cain Madden is better than Tommy Kraemer, who played right guard last season. Zeke Correll and Rocco Spindler are ascending players at left guard. John Dirksen backs up Madden. Quinn Carroll, a former top 100 recruit, is third team. Once this O-Line gets cohesion as a unit, each of them is going to look better individually.

Jerry Bradley

Eric, is Notre Dame weak at both guard positions this year? What is our depth at this position?

1:33

This is Jerry from Dallas.

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