JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Aug. 28, 2020

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Aug. 28, 2020

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Ron Dover De

1:47

Kind of surprised by Robertson and Olmstead opting to look to transfer at this time. Any opinion why now and what is driving their desire to transfer.

Eric Hansen

1:46

Thanks Rick. Lots of grab-and-go meals, No training table buffets. Lots of players living off campus, with freshmen and sophomores able to do that this year as an exception.

Rick from Peoria, IL

1:44

Eric- Looking for some insight on what the team is doing different this year as it pertains to room & board. Love the chats...thanks for all you do...stay safe!!

Eric Hansen

1:40

I think they can have that conversation, and I think some of that could depend on whether ND makes it through its entire season or if it gets interrupted and then finished in the spring. Let's say ND plays a regular fall season and spring football looks like it's going to be back to normal. My sense is that he'd benefit more from being at ND, and I think he, his family and the Irish coaches would think so too. Interesting question, for sure.

Tim in Atlanta

1:37

Is there anyway that ND coaches insist that Tyler Buchner plays one more year in HS? After playing only one year against inferior competition it would benefit him to play in the spring in CA. What do you think?

Eric Hansen

1:37

We just got word yesterday there will be limited media in the press box at home games (one person per outlet) and three ND media members total able to attend road games. Those are ACC rules.

Chad, Denver

1:35

I know attendance by fans at games will vary based on location, will media be allowed to attend or will that be a game by game decision? Love your work and thanks for your insights.

Eric Hansen

1:35

I would say RB Kyren Williams and TE Kevin Bauman fit that profile on offense. DE Ovie Oghoufo and CB Clarence Lewis would qualify on defense ... as well as the other freshman cornerbacks.

Lawrence from Denver

i realize you don’t have a lot of access, but can you name one or two on-field surprises since spring practice was cancelled? What do we know about this football team that we didn’t last year? The emergence of Kyren w.? Any others?

1:33

Hi Eric,

Eric Hansen

1:31

Paul, thanks. I like Brendon Clark's potential quite a bit. I like his arm, his composure, his athleticism. I don't like his lack of game experience, which isn't his fault. I'm sure they're investing a lot to get him ready, but there'd be a dropoff, especially against good defensive teams.

Paul, Lititz Pa

1:27

Eric - Glad you are back to help us thru this unusual season. What is your opinion of Brendon Clark? Has he been able to get enough work in to be a viable backup option? Coach Kelly seemed to project a need for better consistency. I’d be nervous if Ian were to suffer an injury. What is your heart felt opinion of Clark’s abilities to be - next man up?

Eric Hansen

1:26

Hi Dave. I did mention it in the story I did on him ... 4.5 in the 40-yard dash. ... here: https://www.ndinsider.com/recruiting/nolan-ziegler-grows-into-burgeoni...

Guest

1:24

Eric, thanks for your years of great work and insight. We our fortune to have you. What do we know about Nolan Ziegler’s foot speed if anything? If he’s growing this fast seems unlikely he’ll end up a safety.
Niles Knucklehead Dave

Eric Hansen

1:24

I'm going to go with the popular pick of North Carolina. I had Louisville on my preaseaon AP Top 25 ballot as well, so I'd include the Cardinals as well.

Charlie, Dom. Rep.

1:21

Let's assume the season is normal from here on out. Other than Clemson, which team on the current schedule should scare ND the most? UNC seems to be a popular pick, but I worry about Louisville.

Eric Hansen

1:19

Mike, Jack Kiser made a strong first impression when he arrived and got past his injury last year and continues to do so. He's grown into an inside linebacker and is one of many options competing for playing time at the buck linebacker.

Mike Foreman, Nyona Lake.

1:18

Was wondering if the kid from a small school that made Mister Football in Indiana two years ago will ever play at N.D. I know Jack worked his back side off in high school and would sure like to see a kid from a small school make it at N.D. Of course I am talking about Jack Kaiser. Just wondered if you think it will ever happen for him?

Eric Hansen

1:18

With a lot of grad transfers, you're rolling the dice on their injury history. We've seen that with Avery Sebastian, Freddy Canteen and Cam Smith struggling to stay healthy once they arrived at ND. Cody Riggs did stay healthy and was a starter. With Speights the upside was apparently worth the risk, and what did ND lose by taking that risk? Really nothing.

1:14

Jeff, both of those questions are more complicated than they might seem. Let me try to untangle them. Isaiah Robertson declined to tell Tyler James what his injury issue was when the two communicated. ND decline comment as well. If Robertson finds an NCAA school as a landing spot, he's going to have to go through a rather complicated process of proving he's able to compete. Michael Deeb as able to do that a few years ago, but, he was changing from playing football to playing baseball.

Jeff from Phoenix

1:11

Hey Eric, I have a question about the medical disqualifications of Robertson and especially Speights. I realize medical information can be sensitive and understandably limited from the ND football staff. But, how was Speights recruited as a grad transfer to supposedly compete for a running back position, and then declared medically ineligible? Did something come up recently or did someone not do their homework in the recruiting process? And will Robertson be able to transfer to another school and become 'un-disqualified'?

Eric Hansen

1:04

You came to the right place. The formula is modified a bit because there are no divisions, but it still works: https://theacc.com/sports/2018/9/10/FB_0910180524.aspx

Mike McFadden, So Wmspt PA

1:03

It seems that no one knows what the tiebreaker is for the ACC championship game is. If THREE teams go 9-1 record, who gets into the game? And then assume they do not play each other? and then assume FOUR teams go 8-2? Thanks for answering this question Eric. Can't wait for Duke to get here!

Eric Hansen

1:03

And if you want to see how the scholarships break down by position and class, go here: https://www.ndinsider.com/recruiting/scholarships/

1:01

Erik, thank you for being here. With the transferring out of John Olmstead, Notre Dame is at 85. Marist Liufau and JD Bertrand have been part of that 85 since they arrived on campus. Olmstead's transfer allows one-time walk-on Colin Grunhard to stay on scholarship.

Erik, Granger, IN

12:55

Thanks for being here! Are we at 85 scholarships after the recent medical disqualifications? And do the two players who could have gone on academic scholarship (Bertrand and Liufau?) still have that option?

Eric Hansen

12:55

Thanks Bob. My best answer is I don't know. I am not angry and understand the pandemic prompted people in our business to make some tough business decisions. I haven't been on the air since late March. Thanks for the kind words, and I hope I have an answer soon.

Bob Loganville, GA

12:51

Started to tune into Sports Beat periodically over the last several weeks (it's been tough since sports talk is no longer about sports) and have not heard your insight. Are you taking a break or have you left the weekday show. Your insight and grounded, reasonable and logical insights is the main reason I tune in.

Eric Hansen

12:46

Tom. Haha. He actually doesn't get to select the questions. Someone does it for him. Honestly, I think whoever does it will do a good job, but it does make it difficult to answer a follow-up question.

Tom Kennesaw, GA

12:45

Eric, since you have so much experience through these Chats of answering questions from those submitted thru a queue, I think that you should offer to help Coach Kelly deal with his Zoom conferences!! That way as fans we could be assured that he is not just answering the puff balls someone is choosing but that there might be some real insightful questions presented to him. Let us know his answer. Good luck with that one!!

Eric Hansen

12:45

Patrick. Thank you for the kind words. ... Don't forget Brock Wright and George Takacs in the tight end mix as well. I think Tremble is the biggest mismatch as a tight end. And you can certainly pair him with another tight end or even play three at times. You could also move him around the formation, flexed out or in the slot. Skowronek also give you good size in the red zone as a traditional wide receiver.

Guest

12:32

Eric, Hi Patrick K. from South Bend, Cautiously optimistic we'll have football in 15 days, with the quick emergence of thr two freshman tight ends do you think there's any chance Tommy Trimble could line up as one of the wide receivers thus giving the Irish three sizeable wide outs plus one or two large tight ends? It would certainly create some matchup problems especially in the Red Zone or third and short.Thanks for all the legwork you do getting us up-to-date info.

Eric Hansen

12:31

Jim, thanks for the question and the warm thoughts. Same to you and your family. I want to be careful here, because we're in a pandemic, and health and safety should come first. Having said there, there are big challenges ahead. For instance, we haven't had access to a single player (even on Zoom) since training camp started a little over two weeks ago. Florida State, in roughly the same time frame, has made 41 different players available, as well as every assistant coach. When we talk to Kelly, we don't ask questions directly. They are chosen from a queue, This isn't a criticism. It's the look at our temporary reality, since you asked. It's my job to overcome those things and give you great coverage. That's life. And apparently it's a life with college football, which is something to celebrate,

Jim Oakwood Ohio

12:22

Peace and blessings for safety and good health to you and your family Eric. My question concerns the limitations by ND this year for your (and other media) reporting. You and your SBT colleagues have done a wonderful job but it's obvious to a faithful reader that your stories lack your personal observations of practice and the information normally gleaned from your Q & A with Coach Kelly and personal interviews of players. Do you see this changing? Is ND going to in-house media (interns or PR specialists) in an effort to control the "message" that they want to convey vs the reporting of the professional media? Be well.

Eric Hansen

12:19

Had Kevin Austin been healthy, I think we would have been looking at Austin, Lawrence Keys III and Braden Lenzy with a lot of Ben Skowronek mixed in. I think Skowronek moves into the starting lineup with Austin out. Javon McKinley has a chance to earn a spot in what could be a fairly deep rotation. You don't bring a guy like that back to rot on the bench. But he is at the WR position (boundary) which has the most depth.

Don Brigantine Beach NJ

12:16

Hi Eric...who do you think will be our starting wide receivers when we open up our season? I sure hope Javon McKinley gets a good look from the coaching staff. Thank you.

Eric Hansen

12:13

In terms of backups getting more practice reps, I did ask Brian Kelly about that the last time we had a Zoom with him, and he did indeed say the coaching staff had tweaked the practice structure to build more depth with more reps for backups.

12:09

Hi Mike. It's difficult to speculate on your first question. Notre Dame feels like it has better safeguards in place now and will get better cooperation from the students. I don't see a scenario at the moment where the start of football season won't happen. But this is 2020, so what seems impossible one minute is overcome the next and vice versa sometimes. There are very few absolutes.

Mike-quakertown PA

12:06

Good afternoon, thanks again for taking our questions. I am not sure if you have any inside information-if anyone does it would be you-but when campus opens up again with in person classes, will another outbreak cause Notre Dame to send students home and shut down the season, or will they go back to online courses and move forward with football? Also, do you know if Notre Dame has been giving first team reps to second teamers or even third to make sure people are ready to go in the event of guys being out for positive covid tests? Thanks!

Eric Hansen

12:05

One of my sons is here, by the way, hopefully to help me with some tech issues and not to heckle me.

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