JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Aug. 28, 2024

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Aug. 28, 2024

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Kagan From Angola

1:44

Hello Eric, we made it Irish Nation it's game week! I was wondering if you could give me a cold take luke warm take and a hot take for the game? My cold take would be both qb's struggle early throwing the ball and neither goes for more than 225 yds passing. Luke Warm take Riley Leonard and Love have three rushing td's between the two of them. Hot take Christian Gray is defensive MVP and has a multi pick game. GO IRISH BEAT AGGIES!

Eric Hansen

1:43

But I have actually interviewed two -- Garth Brooks was on our podcast when I was at the South Bend Tribune, and was great. And I interview Deepak Chopra for a news story when I was at the Trib.

1:42

Ideally, ND would like to play with the lead and keep a balance in its offense. Being predictable and getting in third-and-longs is what ND can't afford a steady diet of. ... I think Denbrock will spend the early part of the game getting A&M to show its hand. Then he'll go to work trying to attack it and find matchup advantages. ... As to the most famous or infamous celebrity non-sports-related ... we have a couple of subscribers insideNDsports.com subscribers who fit that profile but would rather keep a low profile. I also went to the same high school as a famous country singer, who was a few years ahead of me, and a famous sitcom star briefly lived next door to me in college before they both became famous. Meeting Joey Ramone of The Ramones and former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor were two which came to mind quickly (more).

1:36

Hi Paddy, thanks for your creative questions and for assuming I have an electric crystal ball instead of one powered by a hamster on a wheel. ... I would guess A&M will play a lot of nickel, but one of the beauties of this game is the high-level of chess playing you're going to get presnap with different personnel groups shuttling in and out of games trying to get mismatches. ... I can see where you were going with the question, but Riley Leonard's skill set and Mike Denbrock's aversion to go overly conservative, I think, will get us quickly into the chess match mentality (more).

Paddy in Chicago

1:26

Eric, thank you for sharing your time and wisdom, with all of us who can only wish we had your job. Do you expect to see A&M's D in an Elko 4-2-5 alignment for most of the game? I ask as it seems ND, given its OL inexperience esp. on the left, may have to utilize a lot of tactics like shifts and slants etc. etc., which could result in fewer drop back opportunities. In such case wouldn't 5 back be a bit overkill? And if A&M is wedded to that alignment, what Denbrock scheme tendencies in your view could leverage A&M exposure at the linebacker level? Plug in that crystal ball if you would please -- what might we keep an eye out for? Also: who's the most famous (or infamous!) non-sports celebrity you've ever crossed path with? Slainte! --Paddy in Chicago

Eric Hansen

1:25

Hi Matt. Glad to get your perspective. I do not anticipate a rotation of offensive line players in the game on Saturday night short of an injury or heat exhaustion. I DO EXPECT rotation at about every other position group except O-line and quarterback. I think continuity on the offensive line is going to be very important. ... Yes I very much see meaningful snaps in the game for freshman linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, both as part of ND's five-linebacker rotation and in sub packages. The position that could least afford an injury generically beyond offensive line is cornerback. Not because of quality, but because the numbers are pretty thin there. You have a great weekend too.

Matt from Austin

1:21

Hi Eric, I hope this finds you well. Just an FYI from last week's chat. Without question, Kyle Field is the loudest stadium in which I have ever seen a game and nothing else is close. Question, do you think in game substitutions will be made on the OL, ie. Spindler, Lambert, etc.? Do you see meaningful snaps for KVA? Lastly, what position can we least afford an injury/breakdown aside from the OL? After a busy summer, I hope you have a GREAT weekend Eric. Thank you.

Eric Hansen

1:20

And Chance Tucker has already taken a regular redshirt year, so if he wanted a sixth year, he would have to petition the NCAA for it. He already had eligibility in 2025 for his initial redshirt year. We are getting to the end of the COVID exemptions. There are only three players on the current roster who could exercise that extra year in 2025 through a COVID exemption, and it's unlikely all three would take it, and maybe none of them -- S Xavier Watts, OT Tosh Baker and TE Kevin Bauman.

1:17

Hey Ced. I took care of you from last week in getting the upstairs/downstairs assignments of the assistant coaches and publishing that first. So thanks for poking me about it. And QBs coach Gino Guidugli will be the only full-time assistant coach up in the box. My prediction is Notre Dame 24, Texas A&M 17.

cederickwalker

1:06

ced Walker Saginaw Michigan aka sagnasty saginaw pride ok are we down to 85 players I assume they gave chance tucker the medical redshirt we are at 85 also qb coach Gino will be in the press box it was mention mike mickens will be on the field so analyst and graduate assistant will be in the press box for defense ok my prediction sat night Nd 24 A&M 20 here come the irish trust the process the golden standard rally we are nd god country go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us

Eric Hansen

1:04

Hi Bob. The area the defense had the most room for improvement from a very good run last year was in the area of rush defense. I do think ND has the right combination of size, quickness and depth to potentially wear down the A&M offensive line over the course of the game. My expectation is rush defense is the area where the Irish defense will surprise and make a leap this season, and I think it's also a big part of the game plan. Putting the Aggies in third-and-longs and then coming after QB Conner Weigman with all kinds of pressures.

Bob (Oxnard CA)

1:01

If A&M plays smashmouth football running the ball, do you think our defenders are big enough to stop them given the enormous size/weights of the A&M offensive line?

Eric Hansen

1:01

Hi John. Thank for being part of the chat. Miami (Ohio) was picked to win the MAC, and its head coach, Chuck Martin, and Denbrock have some history together, so I think Miami could be better than people think. I'm curious about Virginia. The Cavs were picked near the bottom of the ACC, but I'm wondering if they could be better than advertised, at least by the time they get to November and come to Notre Dame Stadium.

Guest

12:56

John Villa Park Ca. Thanks for the great insight you provide. Appears that you nailed it when you mentioned Georgia Tech as a trap game. Are there any other teams on the schedule that you think could prove to be better than they are currently perceived?

Eric Hansen

12:56

Notre Dame's schedule may lend itself to more opportunities for backups to play, and maybe it won't. And ND really has three deserving backups, but the team goals come first.

12:55

Yes, you'd like at least one backup, Steve Angeli, to gain some in-game experience in case something happens to Leonard. You'd also like to be smart from an injury-risk standpoint in a one-sided game. What does Leonard taking reps in that situation benefit him? Perhaps somewhat revealing is how LSU managed QB reps last season with a Heisman winner as a starter, in Jayden Daniels, and Denbrock as that team's OC. Backup Garrett Nussmeier got 155 game snaps and third-stringer Rickie Collins played 13. About a third of Nussmeier's reps came in the bowl game against Wisconsin after Daniels opted out for the NFL Draft. Another third came in two combined games -- blowout wins over Grambling and Army. The rest were scattered over four games. (more)

12:51

Hi Robert. thank you! It seems like this should be a simple answer, but it's really not. And here's the biggest reason why. The ND offense is far from a finished product, and contributing is the fact Riley Leonard is not only new to the offense, he missed spring football except for mental reps. So the need to maximize his on-field opportunities trumps everything else. This is not about setting the stage for 2025. This is about evolving Leonard's game and having him ready for a playoff run, above all. Now, other factors do come into play, though further down the importance scale. (more)

Robert, Dunedin,FL

12:45

Eric- As the season progresses, would you think it wise to get the backup qbs some reps beyond the last drive or two? Say ND is up big early in the 3rd, could we see one or two of our backup qbs in for some action? Could be a wise move in case of injury and help develop by getting game reps. Thanks for your insight!

Eric Hansen

12:44

And to your question about whether Denbrock and Elko squared off ... yes to that. In 2015, Notre Dame, with Denbrock calling the offense, beat Wake Forest and Elko, 28-7, but it was a labor and Denbrock said as much after that game.

12:42

“I think if you're going to lose weight and gain strength — those guys are all stronger across the board with their lifts and in the big-muscle groups that they need to perform at a high level. So, a little less weight, at least in my case, would do me a lot of good, and hopefully it does them some good as well.”

12:41

Hey CD, and thank you. I think I'm as skeptical as you are about how that might work out, but I'm open to that skepticism fading. The interesting thing is several of the O-Linemen lost weight purposely over the summer, including Spindler and Coogan. And I asked Mike Denbrock about that last night. Maybe mobility is more valued in what Denbrock wants to do offensively? Here's his answer, which wasn't particularly illuminating and perhaps by design:

CD from CLE

12:30

With 2 OL under 300#, are you concerned? Will their size be more advantageous to the running or passing game? Has Dembrock ever faced an Elko Defense? Thanks for hosting again this year, Eric, looking forward to 12-0 if the O-Line pleasantly surprises!

Eric Hansen

12:28

As far as the offensive line, I think you are maybe underrating how much Anthonie Knapp and Sam Pendleton factored into their own ascents. Perhaps it's because neither was close to being a five-star prospect. Three other things factored in ... there wasn't an attractive tackle prospect in the portal that ND felt was worth pursuing. 2) Charles Jagusah's injury. 3) Since the NFL opened its doors to true juniors in 1989, never had an offensive lineman from ND come out as a true junior. Then suddenly in one draft cycle, this past April, two of them do. So if even just Blake Fisher comes back, it changes the whole conversation about the offensive line, no?

12:24

Hi Steve, two really good unrelated questions, so let me break these up. Let's start with the wide receivers first. So essentially we're adding back in Rico Flores Jr., Tobias Merriweather, Chris Tyree and Braylon James. And let's say ND is still committed to a six-man rotation. Not having seen the four departees this offseason, I'm going to keep them at the same skill level as when they left. So who makes the six-man rotation that now comprises Jordan Faison, Kris Mitchell, Beaux Collins, Jayden Thomas, Jaden Greathouse and Jayden Harrison. I think Flores and Tyree are in and Harrison and Mitchell are out. Tobias has a very high ceiling and perhaps a change of scenery will bring that out. But he wasn't reliable enough to crack this rotation. (more)

Steve, Kenosha WI

12:17

Hi. Eric. If last year’s receivers and this year’s receivers were all part of this year’s position group (forgetting a hypothetical glut of players) how would they be ranked together in terms of 1st team, second team etc.? Second question: while I admire the talent/competitive spirit of the freshmen and sophomores that have taken over the starting OL, a team should never have that extreme chasm of a lack of experience from one year to the next. Was this a case of poor prior talent evaluation and development, scheme fit, etc?

Eric Hansen

12:16

Hey there whatever your last name is! I do forgive the informality and thank you for not trying to create a nickname instead of using my last name. ... Your memory is very good regarding injury history with Denbrock's dual-threat QBs. We had Brandon Wimbush (a backup during Denbrock's last run as offensive play-caller at ND) on our Inside ND Sports Podcast a couple of weeks ago. And he talked about the art and science of staying healthy and how to take hits and when to avoid them. It may be worth the listen to you. It's definitely coached ... and then the player needs to have some awareness and the right mindset as well.

Jonathan in Addison, TX

12:12

Hey there, Hansen! (Forgive the informality. Just trying to change things up a little.) I’ve been wondering about Coach Denbrock’s tendency to run the QB coupled with his apparent lack of tendency for getting his QBs injured. First, do you know, am I right to think Malik Zaire’s fractured ankle at Virginia is the last significant blow Denbrock’s QBs have taken despite running the ball with regularity? And second, do you know of any secret to that sauce? I’d expect some correlation between the number of QB rushes and the number of QB injuries just as a matter of common sense. But it seems that Denbrock’s offense has been largely immune to this with Kiser (ND), Ridder (Cincy), and Daniels (LSU) all running the ball a good bit without many (perhaps any?) games missed due to injury. On the other hand, if you think my question might jinx the good luck, please don’t post it in the chat!!!

Eric Hansen

12:11

Hi Brendan, It's fair to wonder, but keep in mind some of the best quarterback in Notre Dame history improved into that status over time. Jimmy Clausen and Brady Quinn, for instance, were near the bottom of the national pass-efficiency ratings as first-year starters. And yet not every quarterback gets better from a passing standpoint. Brandon Wimbush is an example of one who did not. Why Leonard projects as a good bet to improve beyond his past performance are his physical tools, how mental toughness, his work ethic and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock's history of designing offenses to bring the best out in QBs. Jayden Daniels' stats at Arizona State were below average. Two years later at LSU, he set an NCAA record for pass efficiency and won the Heisman Trophy. So again, I like Leonard's chance of being the best version of himself this season, whatever that looks like.

Brendan from Pittsburgh

12:05

Are we overrating Riley Leonard? Which stats or games give you confidence that he can be a good enough passer to win in College Station?

Eric Hansen

Off we go ...

12:05

Here are the rules:

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

12:04

As far as this week's chat ...

► 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. I’m also part of the Gameday SportsBeat, and that pregame show runs Saturday from 4-6:30 p.m. ET. You can download all episodes, including the pregame shows, as podcasts.

12:03

► The Inside ND Sports Podcast will drop on Thursday afternoon. On the most recent Inside ND Sports Podcast, we asked Carter Karels of GigEm247, their former coworker at the South Bend Tribune, to come on and serve as a Texas A&M expert. Karels discussed the biggest preseason developments for the Aggies, the fit of quarterback Conner Weigman with offensive coordinator Collin Klein, if A&M has enough running back talent without Rueben Owens, how good A&M's defense is, the biggest question mark on offense for the Aggies, special teams concerns, Kyle Field's atmosphere, how quickly head coach Mike Elko can get things turned around and more. The podcast can be listened to via SoundCloud or on your preferred podcast platform including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podbean and Pocket Casts.

► 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. Also ahead this week on our YouTube channel, will be two postgame shows, the first immediately after the game as we debut Into the eNDzone with former Notre Dame offensive lineman Bob Morton. He and I will have our instant reactions from the game and then take a lightning round of questions live from viewers. Our Postgame Takeaways show, with Tyler James and me, will drop later, after we’ve done interviews and pushed out our written content.

12:02

Some quick programming notes:

12:01

Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat for the first game week of the season!

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