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

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Aug. 20, 2021

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Eric Hansen

1:33

Ryan, we have only seen kind of skeleton drills on punt returns and nothing on kickoff returns. Those are happening when we're not at practice. However, the media gets to sit down with special teams coordinator Brian Polian on Tuesday evening, so I can give you something more comprehensive then (not that this answer was comprehensive at all). One thing that really has jumped out at me on special teams is punter Jay Bramblett's hang time.

Ryan from Cass City Michigan

1:29

Eric, how has special teams looked, especially the return game?

Eric Hansen

1:29

Hi Alex. Good to chat with you as well. Well, I already revealed my football crushes to be Kevin Austin Jr. and Jordan Botelho, so I'll pick less obvious players. On defense, I'm ready to push my chips to the middle of the table on linebacker Marist Liufau and defensive lineman Rylie Mills. On offense, I like Blake Fisher. ... Doerer made all five field goals he tried in Tuesday's practice. Mechanically, he looks sound. But doing it in front of a full stadium is different, so we'll know better soon. The good news is there are now two Plan Bs if there does need to be a change, but I am anticipating Jonathan Doerer having a good season.

Alex, Jackson, MO

1:18

Hello, Eric. Always a pleasure to talk to you. My question is who is your pick to click this season? One on offense, and one on defense? And one more question if I may? What is your thoughts on Doer regaining his form this year? I think with a new o line and new QB, Doer regaining his confidence could be the difference in at least one game if not two. Sincerely appreciate your time.

Eric Hansen

1:18

Well, thank you. I hope that doesn't change if I get this answer wrong. ... I don't think Florida State lacks motivation or talent. What the Seminoles have lacked in recent years is meaningful player development and a functional culture. There are offseason rumblings that those two areas have started to improve. I am confident Notre Dame will win its opener, in part because the Irish front seven will take over the game.

Ken- Pensacola

1:14

Eric - You be the BEST. /Not that I'm superstitious, but I am very afraid of the Ghost of Bobby Bowden. Call me crazy, but FSU players and fans now have that extra motivating factor called Bobby Bowden. What say you, do you think we can leave Tallahassee with a victory?

Eric Hansen

1:13

The percentage of 12 personnel is hard to peg, because I haven't studied all the strengths and weaknesses of all the opponents yet (but will soon), and that will factor in. My sense is that you're correct in that there will be a general reduction, but not a drastic one.

1:09

Hi Tom, we are able to do all our interviews in person (so far) and that has been awesome. So has getting to watch practice. ... In the two Thursday practices the media have been allowed to view in their entirety, we got to see a lot of red zone work. Two players who might surprise you that were particularly effective were tight end Kevin Bauman and wide receiver Lorenzo Styles Jr. Michael Mayer will be a factor his year in the red zone and everywhere else. Kevin Austin is strong there too. Those are the people that stood out to me in those drills. (more)

Tom '69 Kennesaw, GA

1:07

Hi Eric, hope you are back in the swing of covering the season!! Last year seems we really missed Claypool and Kmet in the Red Zone. Who do you think will be our Red Zone "go to" players this year? Also, last year we played a lot of 12 offense with 1 RB and 2 TE, seems like maybe 40%. What do you think the percentage of 12 formation will be this year?? 25-30% maybe?? Thanks and have a great weekend. That beverage you referred to last week may happen at the end of the year as many media are predicting ND to be in the Peach Bowl!!! Go Irish!!!

Eric Hansen

1:07

We do know, for instance, that they still won't do the Player Walk, for instance.

1:06

Chris, I think that's still being formulated, because how the virus affects things is fluid -- and sometimes dramatically so. Things are so different than in mid June and yet they could shift the other way in the next few weeks. I hope to talk to AD Jack Swarbrick about that soon. But having fans in the stands, how ever it looks and plays, has to be a big plus, especially for those games against Cincy, USC and North Carolina.

Chris, Jeffersonville, IN

1:02

Eric, thanks again for keeping us updated…I’m wondering by the time the Toledo game rolls around it will be 646 days since there were “outside” fans allowed in the stadium. What will be different and possibly the “new” norm on campus and in the stands? After last year do you see this as a help or hindrance?

Eric Hansen

1:01

I said North Carolina on our most recent podcast, because that's the team I had ranked the highest among ND opponents on my AP ballot (9). But I had Cincinnati 10th, USC 11th and Wisconsin 13th, so the margin of difficulty is pretty thin among those four.

Steve Findlay Ohio

12:56

Eric, Which three games to you think will be the most challenging? Wisconsin, NC and cincy or do you see the SC game as the potential toughest?

Eric Hansen

12:55

Hi Marie. I think people will be surprised by two things re the offense: how good the wide receivers are (if they can stay health) and how creative Rees will get with play design and personnel groups. On defense, I think the surprise will come from how a completely different scheme fits a team that played so well in the old one AND how good some of the 2s are on defense and how much they'll contribute. And yes, Tom and I are both confirming. You both will have to suggest the place. ... re sacks, the nature of the scheme -- pre-snap movement, pressure coming from different spots, blitzing — and having a deep pool of players who can execute it, will lead to sacks ... from Foskey and many others.

Marie from Atlanta

12:51

Hi Eric, What do you think will surprise people most about the offense and defense this year? Also, how do the Defensive Ends Look? If they are not progressing quite as fast as hoped is there a way Marcus Freeman's game plans can scheme up some sacks for them ? As follow up to last week, count me in for a beverage with you and Tom from Kennesaw the next time you are in Atlanta. Here'e hoping it is for the 2022 Peach Bowl Playoff game! Thanks for all your great work.

Eric Hansen

12:51

Hi Danny and thank you. Let me start with the link to the Jordan Botelho stuff from earlier that Tyler covered in a notebook, here. You'll have to scroll down. It's not the lead item. Wide receiver Kevin Austin is my offensive football crush. Jordan Botelho has become mine on defense. He can cover, he can rush the passer. He can blow up the run. He can line up in different spots in the formation. IF HE CAN play with as much discipline as he plays with wickedness, look out.

Denny from Beaverton

12:45

Hello Eric; This is a great time of year and thanks for your hard work. How is Jordan Botelho doing in practice. The few times I saw him in action he looked like he could be a real force. I know there was some controversy about him which I missed. Could you direct me to an article where you may have commented on that? I hope it is not a situation like that DE from a few years ago who had a great Freshman year with sacks and then transferred somewhere in Florida the next spring.

Eric Hansen

12:42

Kurt Hinish better than solid. Carmody, surging ... he's the first tackle option of the bench on either side. Kristofic is adapting to center well and has started to find a groove there. Lugg strained his neck in Thursday's practice, so we didn't see a lot of him, but right tackle is home for him and I expect a good year out of him.

Ryan mars pa

12:36

Good afternoon Eric how has Kurt hinish Michael carmody josh lugg and Andrew kristofic looked so far in open practice go

Eric Hansen

12:36

They'll be tested by some of the nation's best pass rushers early and often, including Florida State's Jermaine Johnson in week 1 and Purdue's George Karlaftis in week 3.

12:34

Jeremy, that's always kind of the perceptual tug of war when you're watching practice. If Kevin Austin dominates as a receiver, does that mean the secondary stinks? Same with the O-Line/D-Line. Here's my take: the Irish defensive line is elite. It's deep. It's relentless. It's the No. 1 position group on this team. And the linebackers have REALLY improved. The front seven is going to make the O-line better -- in time. The offensive line is not short on talent. It's short on chemistry and continuity. Putting Patterson back at center has accelerated their growth curve. Don't expect it to be a finished product in September. But I think it's reasonable to expect improvement, significant improvement, through the first month of so of the season. (more)

Jeremy from Goshen, IN

12:27

Should we be concerned about the reports in practice about how dominant the D-line is? Is the Offensive line not playing well or is the Defensive line THAT good?

Eric Hansen

12:27

Hi Chuck. Thank you. ... No fall from grace at all. The kid is a stud. But Notre Dame went out and lured an All-America guard from Marshall, Cain Madden, as a grad transfer in June. He'll be 25 before he plays in a postseason game for the Irish. Rocco Spindler turned 19 two months ago. He'll be a starter next year and will be a key reserve at the two guards spots in case of an injury. Keep in mind that in the 50th season of freshman eligibility in 2021, Notre Dame has had one freshman offensive lineman start a season opener (Sam Young, 2006). Tackle Blake Fisher will be No. 2 in a couple of weeks.

Chuck from LaPorte

12:20

Hi Eric, thanks so much for your time and great insight on all things Notre Dame. I wondering what happen to Rocco Spindler. In the spring there was much talk about the possibility of two freshman starters. Today I read several articles about the offensive line and his name wasn’t even mentioned. Where do you think he is on the depth chat and why has he fallen from grace?

Eric Hansen

12:20

Let me be clear, this offense has the pieces to be really good. It needs the cohesion and consistency to make that happen.

12:19

I think there are a lot of elements of this offense that make the potential for this team to be high scoring realistic. Keep in mind the modern school record is 37.6 ppg in 1968 and they were at 33.4 last season. I think this offense will get more dynamic as the season goes along. That's because I think Jack Coan and the offensive line will be pretty good in November. How much those two facets improve week to week from now until November is a difficult variable to pinpoint. I do think there will be some early growing pains that the offense will eventually get beyond.

Denny from Liberty Hill, TX

12:11

hi Eric! Last year could have been more special if hyped receivers Braden Lenzy and Kevin Austin had been healthy and starters as expected. I think it was remarkable the year we had because the coaching brought out the best in the team despite these limitations. Now it seems all receivers returning are healthy and provide much more talent and versatility to that phase of the offense. I also remember Jack Coan playing at Wisconsin and thinking he was really sharp. Still better than Graham Mertz in my opinion. Tommy Rees has a full deck this year. Do you think we are setting up to have an explosive offense this year? Assuming the defense is pretty dang good is 40 points a game realistic?

Eric Hansen

12:10

Hi Brian. On offense, my pick would be Lorenzo Styles Jr. He's got speed. He's very good in the red zone and he may be returning punts. So he has a lot of opportunity. On defense, I'd go with safety Justin Walters. He's not in the two-deeps, but he's always around the ball, and I could see him getting a pick in garbage time.

Brian Southbend

12:05

Hey Eric, If you had to bet on which offensive freshman player will score a touchdown first this year and which defensive freshman player will record a takeaway (interception or forced fumble) who are you betting on?

Eric Hansen

Let's get rolling.

12:03

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