JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat August 14, 2024

Notre Dame Football Live Chat August 14, 2024

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Eric Hansen

12:37

Hi Tom, yes Notre Dame had quite a showing with their Olympians, including a handful who competed for other countries. I, for one, really enjoyed what little I got to watch of them. Thank goodness for DVRs, Tom, I think why you don't hear as much about chemistry with the TEs is because it's kind of been a given ND will have excellent tight end production. The newness would be consistent WR production, so that's why the microscope is on that position group a bit more, plus there are so many newcomers there six of the 11 scholarship guys. As far as media access, our final access point for the SEASON is tomorrow, and it's a partial practice. Not complaining, just answering your question. There will NOT be any access during the season, but maybe once during bowl/playoff prep. But we have some good sources who are at practice and will keep you posted without giving away trade secrets. And for the record, Texas A&M is WAY, WAY more restrictive about its exposure with the media than ND.

Tom Kennesaw, GA

12:32

Hi Eric, congrats to all of our Irish Olympians, whether they won a medal or not!!! Proud of all of them. A couple of questions: everyone is talking about the chemistry being developed between the QB's and the WR's. While I understand we want to be much better with deep balls and opening things up, I am wondering how much the offense is working on developing the chemistry with the TE's??? I still think that with the quality of TE's on the roster this is still going to be an important part of the offense. Second, I understand why teams are so protective of their practices before the first game of the season and why they limit media access. Do you think that you will have more access once we get into the season and opponents will have tape of what we do from previous games?? Finally, will the media be allowed to view any of the scrimmages scheduled in camp?? Thanks for all things Irish!! Keep up the great work... Go Irish, Beat A&M!!!!

Eric Hansen

12:31

Hi Dave. Notre Dame has two receivers in the 2025 class that will sign in December, Jerome Bettis Jr. and Elijah Burress, and hopes to get two more commitments. And you're right, that will probably entail flipping both of those players out of other schools' classes. And they haven't given up on Derek Meadows, who committed to LSU. Their strategy is that once players see the Mike Denbrock offense at Notre Dame and not just at LSU, and they see Mike Brown coaching up the current WRs, that it will convince the good WR prospects to give Notre Dame a second look.

Dave, Ponte Vedra, FL

12:28

While recruiting has been excellent, the lack of highly rated WRs stands out. Do we have any chance to flip someone to the Irish?

Eric Hansen

12:28

Arnie, you are right about that, but usually that means a tackle kicking inside rather than an inside guy going outside. Sometimes the interior guys lack the length or athleticism to play tackle. If the current guards, there are two I think that would work best -- Billy Schrauth -- but then are you weakening guard? And Sullivan Absher, who worked at tackle as a freshman in 2023 and in the spring. Those would be long-term/injury-induced possibilities, not go in for a few snaps because someone lost a contact lens or their helmet popped off.

Arnie Hinsdale, IL

12:25

We have often heard o line coaches say they will "put the best five out there". Has there been any discussion of moving either Spindler or Coogan to tackle?

Eric Hansen

12:25

As far as grad senior Kevin Bauman, whose missed all or large chunks for the last three seasons, he still has the best recruiting pedigree of any TE on the roster and when he was healthy, he was very effective in the red zone. If he id not physically compromised -- and he is doing everything in practice, no restrictions -- I think he can be a nice complementary piece at the position group to Evans, Raridon and Flanagan, etc.

12:23

Hi Trevor. I am not properly caffeinated yet, so please forgive me if I misinterpret your question. Notre Dame is looking to build a six- or seven-man rotation from its 11 scholarship receivers and walk-on Tyler Buchner. I think the guy who will be the surprise inclusion in that rotation is Marshall transfer Jayden Harrison, who came with a huge rep as a kickoff returner but not so much as a WR. I think Beaux Collins will surprise in terms of how much he impacts the team, the Clemson transfer. Freshman Micah Gilbert was the spring surprise. I think Cam Williams will be quiet this year but someone to watch in 2025. (more)

Trevor, Rockwood, Tn

12:17

I'm very intrigued by the WR room this year. Who do you feel is the breakout receiver this year from perhaps the 3rd/4th string this year? This seems to be a group of receivers with a lot of the same attributes and same skills sets at the X, Y, and Z. I really feel there is not a dominant presence on the inside or out at WR; a lot of really good WR's, but not a "OMG, Where did that guy come from," type (I hope im wrong). We know what Colzie, Greathouse, and Faison can bring; all really good, although that could seriously change under Denbrock. Any underclassmen you got your eye on to shock the fan base this year and maybe a year or 2 to come? Plus, any chance Bauman is a factor; really rooting for that guy?

Eric Hansen

12:17

Hi JBM. We (the media) finally had a chance to talk to all four scholarship quarterbacks and QBs coach Gino Guidugli after practice on Saturday. Angeli looks very similar to what he did in the spring, a high-floor guy who can win you some games if called upon. Not a dual threat, but certainly not a statue either. Has a very good attitude about having himself ready for THIS season with an eye on competing to be the starter in 2025. Even though Riley Leonard hasn't been formally announced (will probably happen Saturday) as No. 1, he looks the part and everyone says as much -- coaches and players.

Guest

12:13

Any word on Angeli ? Haven’t heard anything from Eric or Tyler on his progress. jBM , Surfside , SC.

Eric Hansen

12:12

On defense, Bryant Young at DE, Kyngstonn Viliam-Asa right from the start. Eventually, CBs Karson Hobbs and Leonard Moore could help and maybe S Tae Johnson playing a nickel role.

12:11

Hi Mark. Great to have our friends from Canada with us ... and great question. Let's start on offense. I think both of the freshman RBs have a chance to earn a role in that deep rotation, Kedren Young and Aenyas Williams. At WR, I think Micah Gilbert has the best chance among the freshman to impact games in the second half of the season. On the offensive line, Anthonie Knapp and Guerby Lambert -- already No. 2 at the two tackles spots -- will be more prepared later in the season to step in if needed than they are now, but both have done well to position themselves. (more)

Mark

12:07

Greetings from Lake Louise Alberta! What freshman do you expect to have the biggest impact during the last half of the season once they have had a chance to ramp up?

Eric Hansen

OK, off we go ...

12:06

If you want me to relax the "no bare feet" rule, I'll need a screenshot that says its hotter than 90 degrees where you are or a note from your mom.

Here are the rules.

12:05

PLEASE include your name and hometown along with your question(s).

Now to this week's chat ...

► Finally, we’re all in on Notre Dame football preseason camp. 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.

12:04

► 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, Tyler James and I welcomed back Brandon Wimbush, a former Notre Dame starting quarterback in 2017 and 2018. Wimbush has been invested in the NIL space since his playing career ended, which has included co-founding MOGL, a platform for athletes to connect with advertisers. Wimbush discussed his expectations for ND QB Riley Leonard, how Wimbush's legs helped the Irish against tough defenses, protecting mobile quarterbacks, what Mike Denbrock brings as offensive coordinator, how to handle the transition as a transfer QB, what he's learned in the NIL space, how the latest rulings will impact NIL, if he would transfer out of ND again, how his ND education has impacted him 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.

12:03

► Tyler James and I left the newspaper business, gratefully on our own terms, back on Jan. 1, 2022 to join the Rivals Network and introduce Inside ND Sports as a platform for Notre Dame sports fans, particularly the football crazies, to get their news. As we enter our third football season, we’re giving you a chance to sign up FOR A YEAR of all of our premium content as well as great content from across the Rivals Network of college athletics sites for just $24 for your first year. I’ll do the math for you. That’s 76% off the regular subscription price, just to give us a test drive. Just use this link — https://notredame.rivals.com/sign_up?promo_code=NDCAMP24 — and use promo code NDCAMP24. Thank you in advance and welcome.

12:02

Some quick programming notes:

12:01

Greetings and welcome to the "Are we there yet?" rendition of Notre Dame Football Live Chat.

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