JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Aug. 21, 2024

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Aug. 21, 2024

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Chris in Albuquerque

1:48

Hey Eric, Hope all is well! I see a lot of media folks logging their season predictions for the Irish, some have us a low as 6 wins (saw that this morning) and some have us at 11. What is your season prediction?

Eric Hansen

1:48

Hi Ryan, the last practice we were in was six days ago and may not get another look in practice until next spring. ... Having said that, Mitchell Evans looks like he's back. He was getting to be more and more active in terms of no restrictions and there were no signs of rust from the long rehab. Beaux Collins looks athletic. Big 6-3 kid with a vertical leap of more than 40 inches. I'm curious to see that in a game. Mitchell is fast. No question. And he's getting more physical and craftier in his route running. There's still another level for him. Let's see if he can climb up to it.

Ryan Mars PA

1:45

Good Afternoon Eric how has Mitchell Evans and Kris Mitchell and Bo Collins looked in Practice GO IRISH ☘️☘️🏈🏈

Eric Hansen

1:45

Slainte to you too, Paddy. I could grade them in a couple of ways ... top of the depth chart or depth. I'll do both and just put them in order. 1 CB, 2 S, 3 DL, 4 QB, 5 LB, 6 RB, 7 TE, 8 ST, 9 WR, 10 OL. Not a lot of difference between 2 and 8 and 9 would be an above-average grade with the potential for better. This is a playoff team in 1-8. And depth at all those positions, though CB could get thin with more than one injury, linebacker too and offensive tackle can't afford another one. .... 2) I do think ND has better depth ... better to play with the lead though to keep Aggies defense guessing ... 3) Two things I do best on the grill ... boneless ribeye steaks and beer brats.

Paddy in Chicago

1:36

Eric thanks for the chats! Using an "average / above average / strong / elite" scale, where would you grade Notre Dame's different position groupings (O: QB, RB, TE, WR, OL; D: DL, LB, CB, S; & STs). 2d question, how strong is the depth in each of those groupings in your opinion relatively speaking; and does ND have a 2d half advantage over A&M in this regard? 3d, in your opinion how dependable will ND's TE and RB blocking be in overcoming inexperience on the DL? 4, what is your specialty when you fire up the grill at home? Slainte Eric.............. --Paddy

Eric Hansen

1:35

Jim!!!!!!!!! You do have me pegged from both a punctuation standpoint and in regard to betting habits. A cup of coffee is my limit. If I had to make a prediction this far out, and that's what you're asking me to do, I'm going to go with Knapp at LT and Rocco Spindler or Coogan at LG. Split the difference. I don't think Tosh Baker needed a fire lit. He already had gotten beaten out by Aamil Wagner at RT. That should have started the fire. And the Irish had already moved Sullivan Absher to guard in July to challenge the two seniors. So, not a ploy -- a real challenge. And thank you... !!!

Jim Oregonia, OH

1:32

Howdy Eric!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know you love the exclamation points. I haven't chimed in a quite a while, but do follow the chats religiously. So is this whole Knapp and Pendleton left side thing a charade to "light a fire" in Baker and Coogin/Spindler's girdle pads or is this really legit?!?! It spooks me a bit that Knapp is undersized at tackle (unbelievable that we are calling 300 lb players undersized). If you were a betting man, and I know you are not, what is your best estimate that we see Knapp and Pendelton as the starters vs TA&M. Thanks for all you do keeping us all in the loop with all things IRISH! Go Irish, beat Aggies!

Eric Hansen

1:31

Hi Jeff. It doesn't work that way. Now we're coming into a different era with scholarship limits soon, but for now ... the NCAA has a hierarchy when it comes to two-sport athletes and football is at the top of that. So if he's a football/baseball or football/lacrosse or football/water polo football has to be the countable scholarship once he plays a single down in a single game. Matt Jeffery's scholarship works the same way. Players who are injured but who are not medically retired do count against the 85. As far as injuries, I think each fan base thinks their team has the most and that it must be the strength coach's fault. I have not done the exhaustive research to give you a ranking, but anectdotally, I don't think ND has an unusually high number.

Jeff from Canton, MI

1:22

Eric! Does ND pull Faison’s football scholarship since he has one with Lacrosse? I’m assuming the 5 or so long term injuries we have are not in consideration for a medical hardship waiver so all of them still count against the 85 limit. Speaking of injuries, does A&M have any injuries besides the one running back? Seems like the Irish have more injuries compared to other schools.

Eric Hansen

1:22

Hi Rui. What Notre Dame CAN'T/WON'T do is guarantee him a starting job or early playing time. And that can't move the Notre Dame campus to the Deep South. As far as investing time and resources, ND has done that. What they're asking is for Knight to keep his commitment into September, watch ND's offense in action and then make his decision. I don't see a misstep here by the coaching staff.

Rui from Westchester, NY

1:18

What things are the irish coaching staff doing that are " above and beyond " to make sure that Deuce doesnt leave? I know that they will not be able to match up NIL funds compared to Auburn but is there a sense of "urgency" behind the scenes to make sure that he doesnt leave?

Eric Hansen

“I think I was telling Beaux [Collins] and Deion [Colzie] that he’s going to be the truth. He’s raw right now. He hasn’t gotten with [defensive backs coach Mike] Mickens for three years, like BMo has. But once he has, I can see him being one of the best cornerbacks taken off the board.”

1:18

“This might be a stretch,” Morrison said after Thursday’s Irish practice, staged indoors because of a morning rainstorm. “But Leonard Moore will be better than I will be. Really. Here.”

That’s freshman Leonard Moore, a 6-1, 187-pound, June arrival from Round Rock, Texas.

And what made Morrison’s assessment all the more convincing about his protégé and summer roommate is that Irish senior wide receiver Jayden Thomas — who regularly works against Leonard in practice — said essentially the same thing.

“When you get a cornerback who has that length and the skill in the boundary, it’s unstoppable,” Thomas offered. “BMo is more physical, I would say, even though he doesn’t look physical. Leonard has the length, which is more than BMo. If he gets the feet right, it’s going to be scary.

1:15

Hi Ed. Thank you. Let's start with Karson Hobbs. He came in as a boundary guy and quickly got an audition at nickel, which is where he remains -- behind Jordan Clark and likely others. But they coaching staff likes where he's headed. Then there's Leonard Moore, who was projected as a field corner and is now working at boundary. I had this in a story the other day on Benjamin Morrison but will share here as well: (more)

Ed Sayville NY

1:07

Top of the morning to you Eric. What have you been hearing with respect to Leonard Moore and Karson Hobbs, and their respective potential readiness if needed in the secondary at corner or nickel? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Eric Hansen

1:06

The 2007 line that allowed an NCAA record for sacks actually had two starters returning and those two ended up playing in the NFL -- John Sullivan and Sam Young. But Charlie Weis did not give the 2s or 3s may reps in 2005 and 2006, and when the roster turned over, it was a disaster and a 3-9 bottom line. I also think the O-line's inexperience is magnified by the fact the other position groups were either very good to begin with or evolved quickly and decisively this offseason. But there is talent on the offensive line, and there's a quarterback with a skill set that can somewhat mitigate the growing pains. So I'm eager to see how that plays out.

1:01

Hi Bill. And thanks for the new adjective. I like it. Now keep in mind, part of the reason ND is in this spot is because from the time the NFL opened its doors to underclassmen in 1989 until the 2023 draft, no TRUE JUNIOR offensive lineman from ND had ever come out early. Senior with fifth-year options, yes, but no true juniors. Suddenly in 2024, they had two. OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD ... without putting the chat on pause, I can't remember a year when ND would have started the season with a collective 6 starts on the offensive line, which will be the case of Anthonie Knapp and Sam Pendleton end up starting. (more)

Bill from St Joe, MI

12:55

Eric The Great!!! In your 2 plus decades covering ND football can you recall a year where the O Line is in such a state of apparent flux this close to a season opener?

Eric Hansen

12:55

Hi Steve ... 1) I will be dabbling in women's basketball early in the season, then full throttle once football is over. So I'll have lots of help early on. 2) I did a full story on that very topic last month ... so if you want more depth, here you go:

The art, science and dark side of voting in the AP college football poll

I am casting my ballot for the best 25 teams, not trying to seed the playoff based on its criteria. I'm pretty confident the Big 12 champ and the ACC champ won't end up as top 4 teams, and yet they will be seeded as such. If I did a playoff projection, I'd do that just for fun, not to include that in my poll.

Steve from Brooklyn MI

12:42

Thanks for great insights into Notre Dame as well as college football in general. Two questions :: 1) are you covering the ND women's basketball again this year? and 2) what do you consider when casting your ballot for the weekly poll? As for example, the top four teams end up being the conference champions and get the bye as far as the playoffs are concerned. Do you try to project the top twelve for the playoffs or just the 25 best teams?

Eric Hansen

12:42

As far as revenue numbers, it's not just about the most recently reported numbers, it's about where this is headed over the next 5-6 years and projecting out. Having talked to Irish AD Pete Bevacqua about this, he is confident that ND's latest media rights deal combined with its NBC revenue puts it right in the ballpark with the SEC and Big Ten schools and well ahead of the Big 12 and ACC.

12:40

Rick, when you talk recruiting and quarterback decommitments, there is generally a gap between perceptual impact and reality impact. Sometimes they sync up, but often not. I think the worry from the fan base is if they lose Deuce Knight, it will lead to other decommitments. He was such an avid and active recruiter himself for the Irish, what would him bailing say about the program? There's also a worry that he'd end up starring somewhere else and maybe pop up with that team in a playoff scenario. Now here's the reality. Knight might not be able to beat CJ Carr out when they're both on the roster ... ever. And maybe not Noah Grubbs either. And maybe he could, but I'd roll the dice that one of those two is going to be the kind of QB that can get ND into the CFPlayoff and maybe win game(s) there. But the preference in both scenarios is to fight for him and keep him. (more)

Rick from Altadena CA

12:30

Hey Eric getting the couch, tv, and snack tray ready for the upcoming season. I have two questions. Am I naive to think that people are over reacting to the deuce Knight possible decommit? I mean you have 4 qb on the roster set for the next four years plus with the transfer Portal ND seems to be in a good spot right? Also all summer You see headlines asking if ND is about to join a conference. Why would they? Rumored 50m from NBC and 17m from the ACC. That more than the 51 M SEC share. Thoughts?

Eric Hansen

12:30

Peter, thank you. I'm not sure after starting most of last season until he got hurt I want to frame this as "what went wrong." Sometimes people are better, despite star ratings in recruiting. Where Rocco has been challenged for much of his career is recognizing fronts/stunts etc. and being consistently assignment-correct. He's a physical butt-kicker, and that's his calling card. But a mistake at 100 miles an hour is still a mistake that could get your quarterback sacked. I LOVE his work ethic and perseverance, so I'm not ready to write him off.

Peter Astoria NY

12:26

Eric, love the chat. In your opinion, remembering all of the hype around Rocco Spindler during his first Spring and Summer in campus, where do you think things went wrong? It's hard to imagine that he is the 3rd option right now at left guard for his Senior year.

Eric Hansen

12:26

Kevin!!!!!!! Let me start by saying I think Jadarian Price is a better version of what we saw of him last year. He's not longer on a "pitch count" coming back from a serious Achilles tendon injury. Why you don't hear about him as much is that Jeremiyah Love has taken a quantum leap forward. Still has the elite speed, but at 6-0, 210 -- up from 188-ish in the Sun Bowl, he has power, and tackle-breaking ability. He also worked at wide receiver in the spring and has added that to his skill set. Part of what will make Love even better is that you can put Price in the game to keep Love fresh. I think Love will have the most rushing TDs for ND this season, with Price and Riley Leonard also getting a fair amount.

Kevin-Sleepy Eye, Mn

12:23

Eric!!!!!!! Lets talk RB's. Lots of talk about Love but how has Price been? Have a good camp? Who will have more rushing TD's this season Love or JP? Go Irish!

Eric Hansen

12:21

Hi Patrick. He may not start, but the sophomore with 15 college snaps under his belt is deep in the conversation to be considered. I've liked Pendleton from the start. He was pretty physically developed for a young linemen, has a great work ethic, learns very quickly, brings toughness and physicality and is assignment-correct. I think you see some of those other elements in both Rocco Spindler and Pat Coogan, plus experience, but not in the consistent doses that Pendleton has done so. I'm still not sure he starts, but he's one of ND's best 7-8 linemen to be sure.

Patrick from Los Angeles

12:18

it is surprising to see Pendleton projected to start at left guard over two multi-game veterans. While I saw your prediction that Spindler will get the call, what has Pendleton shown to possibly start over Coogan and Spindler. Thank you.

Eric Hansen

12:17

Hi Kevin, and thank you! So when healthy, Tyler Buchner was competing with 11 scholarship wide receivers and notably walk-on Matt Jeffery, a future lacrosse star. However, he's been battling a leg injury, so he's been throwing to the receivers in WR drills in practice instead of catching passes. Having said that, he seems to be very happy to be back and contributing and the coaching staff sees him as a good locker room guy and an asset. I don't see a clear path to meaningful playing time, but he has to get fully healthy first.

Kevin from Calgary

12:12

Eric, always enjoy these chats, which provide such great insight into the Irish. Haven't heard much about Tyler Buchner since it was announced he'd be a walk-on wide receiver. Has he made any inroads in that regard? Has he perhaps been doing some time as scout team QB? Would be interesting to know how he's progressing. Thanks!!!

Eric Hansen

12:12

Hi Kim. You are on point about Joe Alt, though it was actually 2021 when he was a freshman. There's a thought that Guerby Lambert could turn into a similar player as a tackle on the O-line eventually, and perhaps that still happens at some point THIS season. But for now, it's Anthonie Knapp who's the freshman who's pushing to start in week 1 against a team with elite pass rushers. Here's where I feel good about this tenuous situation with so little experience on the offensive line. I think Mike Denbrock, both with his ability to scheme up an offense, his ability to maximize Riley Leonard's skill set and his OWN O-line coaching background may be able to nudge the Irish through the growing pains stage of their early season development more quickly and with fewer negative consequences.

KIMVOGEL52

12:07

FIFTH HORSEMAN WICHITA KS Eric, with TX A&M being so difficult to play in do you think that Leonard Riley is the most important player in the offense and concerning the offensive I have a different take on that I am concerned but last year a true freshman (Alt) rose to prominence do you think the same could happen this year? As always thank you so much for you wonderful chats!!!!!!!

Eric Hansen

Very, very full queue today, so off we go ...

12:07

Here are the rules.

PLEASE include your NAME and HOMETOWN along with your question(s).

As far as this week's chat ...

12:06

► Finally, we’re all bearing down on Notre Dame’s Aug. 31 opener at Texas A&M.. And Darin Pritchett and I are together each week on Wednesday and Thursday on Weekday SportsBeat (96.1 FM, 960 AM, live streaming at wsbtradio.com). The re-emergence of the show on 96.1 FM is relatively new. The weekday shows run from 5-6 p.m. ET. You can download episodes as podcasts.

► The Inside ND Sports Podcast is finally back. This week’s podcast will drop on Thursday afternoon. On the most recent Inside ND Sports Podcast, we asked Aaron Horvath, senior associate athletic director for media, brand and communications and advisor to the athletic director, to join us to give us a behind-the-scenes look for the upcoming Notre Dame football docuseries "Here Come the Irish," that will be streamed on Peacock. Horvath discussed what ND fans should expect from "Here Come the Irish," how much head coach Marcus Freeman has embraced the attention, lessons learned from past docuseries projects, why episodes won't air during the regular season, the importance of the long-standing relationship with NBC Sports to make this happen, if this will be done for another sport and his perspective on the AD transition from Jack Swarbrick to Pete Bevacqua. The podcast can be listened to via SoundCloud or on your preferred podcast platform including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podbean and Pocket

12:05

► If you missed the last episode of our aspiring-to-be-viral Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps, it keeps its shelf life long after the live presentation. We are back in our normal Monday at 7 ET time slot. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube.

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