JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 11, 2024

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 11, 2024

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Eric Hansen

2:06

Patrick, this is another instance where having Howard Cross makes you better. Despite missing three full games and part of a fourth due to an ankle sprain and getting off to a slow start to begin the season with a cranky hammy, he is second on ND in both sacks (4) and tackles for loss (5.5) this season. And even when he doesn't get the sack, his pressure up the middle creates opportunities on the edges. But it will take more than him. And I think with Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa out for this game, the guy I have a hunch might find a pass-rushing role in this game might be Jaylen Sneed. But yes pressure and mixing up coverages is going to be key against the nation's No. 1 team in pass efficiency.

OK Patrick, on to your question ...

1:59

One last point for Brian K, Patrick before I get to your question. How much does the run game matter to ND? Marcus Freeman as a head coach is 30-3 when his team wins the rushing battle, including 10-0 this season. The Irish are 3-6 when they get outrushed under Freeman.

Patrick, Fort Wayne, In

1:58

Good afternoon Eric, I have watched IU football on several occasions this season and have been impressed by their dicsipline and hard-hitting defense. Throughout the season, they displayed few weaknesses. However, they've had injuries on the offense line. Michigan and Ohio State exploited this vulnerability with pressure up the middle that flustered QB Kurtis Rourke. His confidence was noticeably shaken and his ineffectiveness turned IU into a running team. ND is inconsistent pressuring QBs. How do you think Al Golden will attack IU and corral their high-powered offense?

Eric Hansen

1:57

Finally, ND's stress point is run defense. That may be where the Irish are most vulnerable, though Howard Cross III coming back helps a lot. And Georgia is the worst running team in the field. Trevor Etienne being healthy helps. And maybe having Gunner Stockton at QB gives them a run dimension with him that the Bulldogs didn't with Carson Beck, but they lose what Carson Beck does well. So, again NOT AN EASY TEAM by any means. They earned that No.2 ranking with the schedule they played. But it's not the Georgia team of 2021-23. Not yet at least.

1:54

Georgia got outrushed in both of its losses, to Alabama and Ole Miss decisively. It wasn't the only game they got outrushed. Ga Tech outrushed them 260-108 and took them to 8 overtimes. Kentucky outrushed them 170-102 and lost 13-12. So it matters. And what does ND do as well or better than any team in the playoff field? Run the (damn) ball. 10th in rush offense, 3rd in yards per carry. Now Georgia has the coaches and athletes to try to scheme something up and put the pressure on ND's passing game to win... but ... Also Texas is one of the worst running teams in the field 64th. They're also very turnover-prone. Both things bit them in the SEC title game and in the first meeting between them (more)

1:50

Rush offense: 98-20-19-36
Pass efficiency: 30-4-5-6
Rush defense: 36-18-1-2
Total defense :25-9-9-2
Turnover margin: 62-43-65-49

1:47

Hi Brian. Not saying it would be easy, and Georgia's numbers are hard to put into context because of a couple of things ... the competition level they played (four wins against playoff teams, two losses to teams in the top 16) and the fact that maybe they can put it all together in the playoff and play to the level they were expected to. If ND does win, I'll handle this is great detail, but I'm happy to give you some key points today. Georgia's numbers are almost shocking. In the BCS/Playoff Era EVERY national champ has ranked in the top 25 in at least three of these statistical categories. Rush offense, pass efficiency, rush defense, total defense and turnover margin. How many does this Georgia team check? Zero. And even when you compare them to Georgia's own standards, they don't measure up. The first number listed is the 2024 Bulldogs, then 2023, 2022 nat champs and 2021 nat champs: (more)

Brian K, South Bend

1:40

Hi Eric!!!! I've heard your analysis on Georgia, key metrics and not fixating with the name on their jersey evaluating this year’s team. I don’t disagree with that, and I'm also a "numbers guy". Let's assume ND defeats IU and plays the Dawgs in the Sugar Bowl. What makes you optimistic ND's metrics would still match up well versus Georgia? Georgia’s run defense would give ND an advantage on paper. Texas also had an advantage on paper running & passing in the SEC Champ game. Georgia's dominant D won that game against a more talented team. Georgia’s coaching staff experience and talent level is still very dangerous (I assume you agree). But - Mike Denbrock’s calling plays, ND Left-side OL has been inconsistent, and Love/Price have run very strong all year along with Riley Leonard's contributions at QB. How would Coach Eric Hansen devise his game plan to use Georgia's strengths against them on D and formalize an opportunistic attack to win this CFP game? Thanks for entertaining this question.

Eric Hansen

1:37

2) Indiana's passing game could be a challenge, just in how efficient and consistent it is. The Hoosiers don't make a lot of mistakes. Statistically they are very balanced on both sides of the ball. There's a lot to like about the Hoosiers. When I covered them, Indiana could get some elite players, just not in great numbers, so you tended to see them clustered on one side of the ball or the other (usually offense). With the portal, coach Cignetti was able to fill a lot of holes on both sides and some of them were his old players from James Madison. I've got another question coming up in a bit on Georgia, so let me take a deeper dive on the Bulldogs there.

1:33

Hey Adam, thank you for the compliment. I was in your city for Thanksgiving ... or at least a suburb of it. ... 1) I think it's reasonable to question/frown about the wide receiver and defensive line recruiting in this cycle, knowing that the star ratings may or may not align with what happens down the road. But I think there are two elements we must factor in on looking at talent acquisition in this day and age that is not congruent to the Holtz Era standard ,,, and that is transfer portal and player retention from your own roster. If you sign the No. 1 or 2 class and half those guys are gone in two years and it's the good half, then that matters a lot. Also think about the transfers on this year's team and how they impacted ND making the playoff, some more than others. Jordan Clark is someone you might not think of, but he's been huge. And in that sense, yes I do think ND is recruiting/getting transfers/retaining at a high enough level to compete for titles. (more)

Adam (Dayton, OH)

1:28

Eric, Thanks for being the best. Super pumped/nervous for this playoff to start! A few questions. 1.) Big picture, I think it is clear Marcus Freeman has elevated recruiting. Still, I think it is fair to say there is another level that must e reached. Wide receiver, bigger defensive tackles, elite pass rushers, etc. Is there reason to think Marcus can get there still, or have the changes in college football essentially assured that Notre Dame will never reach the talent levels of the peak Holtz years? 2.) Playoff matchups. What issues does Indiana present, and where could they cause problems for ND? With Georgia looming large, where would you put them on the list as far as "bad" matchups? I.E., the teams that you would think, :man, not sure ND can get this done"?

Eric Hansen

1:27

Gene, thanks for chiming in. And so does that mean that if Love will conquer all, that means he did well on his exams? Ugh. Dad joke, sorry, and maybe not even rising to the level of a Dad joke.

Gene - Wyckoff, NJ

1:26

Eric, on the final exam front, my son is a sophomore at ND. Two nights ago he was at the library studying for finals and sent me a picture of Jeremiah Love two tables away, doing the same thing. His note to me was that it looks like the team is balancing workload just fine. Of course, my reply was "Love it!!! No pun intended".

Eric Hansen

1:26

But you have to balance that with the chance you may be playing four additional games and balance it with recovery and balance it with maybe less is more at certain times. Could teams practice after they're eliminated. It doesn't make sense to. No. They would not do that.

1:24

Hi Doug. Eric from frigid Indiana but kind of sunny. .... The 15 practice mythology was just that. There was no written rule about 15 practices. Coaches often used that number, because they were trying to make a point about how valuable those practices could be and comparing it to spring practices, of which there are actually 15 ... unless there's a global pandemic. ... So how many do they get? What they can fit each week within the NCAA's 20-hour rules when school is in session. When it's not, that cap is lifted. So if ND advances to the quarterfinals, they could theoretically practice more. (more)

Doug from Sunny Florida

1:19

Eric, normally bowl teams get 15 practices prior to the game. Is that rule the same for the playoff teams? How about playoff teams with a bye? Will first round playoff losing teams still be allowed full practices to continue afterwards?

Eric Hansen

1:18

I can't answer this is great detail yet, because I'm still tracking down some specifics, but with two weeks to prepare (ND only practiced once before knowing its opp, but lifted and conditioned that week) and the way practices and finals are being structured, to my understanding, it is not ideal but it the headaches are being minimized, if that makes sense.

Mike, Phoenix

1:16

Eric, additional question if I may. Number 1 concern is finals. ND has traditionally not played great ball during mid-terms. Any concern with finals? Thank you

Eric Hansen

1:16

Hi Mike. Thanks for watching Football Never Sleeps. We really enjoy putting that together. ... I do NOT take satisfaction from Iowa State's downfall. Most Iowa State fans I've come across are classy, know their football and know trolling an AP voter is not only a bad look for them and unproductive. But sometimes the trolls of your fanbase get the attention. ... Ohio State has had to reshuffle their O-line late in the season because of injuries, and I think that's where the Buckeyes are most vulnerable. ... I would be surprised if Flanigan flipped to defense. I think he can get in the mix for significant playing time at tight end as soon as next season. ... Yes ND can use any player throughout its postseason run without burning a redshirt year. Yes, I think there will be some freshmen who could help on special teams coverage and return units.

Mike, Phoenix

1:10

Eric, 1st time watching of your podcast. Good stuff! Do you take any satisfaction from Iowa state losing 3 games as their fans weren’t happy with you for your early rankings of that fraud team? Indian held OSU to its lowest rushing output of the year. Was OSU without 1 or 2 OL starters for that game? Do you see a possible position change down the line for James Flanagan moving to the DL like his dad? Can ND use any player for the next 4 games and still maintain a redshirt? If so, do you see any players who have limited action so far being used in the playoff games? Cheers! Go IRISH!

Eric Hansen

1:09

Lorne, if I can solve this issue, I want NIL money for doing so! I do think the portal window opening for five days after a team is eliminated in any playoff or bowl game after Dec. 28 was a good move, but the rest of it I'm not sure can be solved without say labor laws and players unions and collective bargaining. Most kids want to get into a school for spring semester and want to take visits and make a good, sound decision. And if they wait too long, then they won't be able to transfer until the spring window and have more limited options. I think what will happen, especially if/when the playoff expands to 14 teams, is bowl games as we know them will start to wane. Maybe have a Group of Five tourney ... and/or like NIT for football?

Lorne

1:05

Lorne from Reno. Thanks, as always, for the chat. Lane Kiffin is right (hard as that is to say), opening the portal before bowl games is dumb. There are going to be some bowl games with badly depleted teams and likely some horrible games. But the idea is to allow players to transfer before the next semester and, you know, go to school. If you open the portal after the bowls, players won't be able to transfer until after the spring semester. Any thoughts on how to solve this issue?

Eric Hansen

1:04

Hey Pat, will he may be drinking bourbon today, and may have a fire going but not because of that. He was playing diplomat, which I think is more like Connect 4 than Chess.

Pat from Bordentown, NJ

1:03

Eric - Do you think Jack Swarbrick saw the chaos/uproar that giving byes to conference champs would cause and subtly pushed this on purpose to point out the lack of real importance of conference championships - I.e. Jack was playing chess while the rest were playing checkers? I’d like to think so and picture him sitting home with a bourbon by the fire laughing hysterically.

Eric Hansen

1:03

Hi Mark. I don't think that will happen this December, though I believe QB Blake Hebert was trying to arrange his schedule to ATTEND some practices. It's a good question for me to ask Marcus on Sunday. Thanks for the idea and the kind words.

Guest

1:03

Mark Czar Grand Rapids Michigan >>>> last year CJ Carr participated in bowl game practices. Will any early enrollees this year participate in playoff practices? With the possibility of multiple post season games - that could be extensive practice time. CJ Carr was the first time I recall an early enrollee getting practice for bowl prep - new rule? EH you are the best.

Eric Hansen

1:02

Hey there Jack. I had not heard about Rocky, and you know where I was born, so you know I know who that is. ... I think all four teams would be favored if you flipped the venues, but I do think it's a notable advantage and I would say Ohio State/Tennessee is the one where it would show up the most significantly, although if the Buckeyes get off to a slow start, the crowd in Columbus might boo both teams. ... and thank you!

Jack, Strongsville,Ohio

12:59

Hi Eric. I must first say did you see that Rocky Colavito passed away yesterday. A great outfielder and slugger for the Indians in the 1950s and 1960s. My questions. How important is the home field advantage to the Irish in the playoff game? Of the 4 sites, South Bend, Austin, State College, and Columbus which home team benefits the most by having the game on their campus? Thanks as always for your great work.

Eric Hansen

12:59

Len, thanks for the factoid and for the exclamation points!!!! Can never get too many of those!

Len from the Jersey Shore

12:58

Hello Eric, and thanks for hosting. I have to admit I am looking forward to the 12 team playoff. I wasn't sure it would work at first. There are some ranking and seeding kinks to work out, and a bracket of 14 would eliminate an automatic high seed for lower ranked conferences. However, conferences landscape has changed dramatically. The SEC and BIG 10 should be considered TV money cartels, more than conferences. That being said here is a fun factoid. Going back to the days of a true Big 10, a Pac 10, a Big 8 and a Southwest conference the bracket would have the following. Big 8 no one; Southwest Conf. SMU, Texas ; ACC Clemson; SEC Georgia, Tennessee; Big 10 IU, Ohio St.; Pac 10 Oregon, ASU; Group of whatever Boise St; Independents (of which there were many teams) Penn St and Notre Dame. Only one zero and no conference with more than 2. When you remove the Cartels it becomes a fairly balanced field. No question and thanks for all the great coverage!!!!

Eric Hansen

12:57

Before we get to the next question ... here are the five finalists for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation's top assistant coach:

ARIZONA STATE – Marcus Arroyo, Offensive Coordinator
INDIANA – Bryant Haines, Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers
NOTRE DAME – Al Golden, Defensive Coordinator
TENNESSEE – Tim Banks, Defensive Coordinator
TEXAS – Pete Kwiatkowski, Defensive Coordinator and Outside Linebackers

12:55

And finally, is this a good week. Marie, I've covered national cc games and MBB Finals Fours and lots of other cool stuff and this 12-team playoff between the team I started my career covering and the one I cover now is as good as it gets.

12:54

As far as breakout players for ND ... if they haven't broken out yet, I'm not sure they will this year LOL, but let me name two players who must rise to the occasion and then two whose role/prowess might expand. The two musts -- Christian Gray at CB and Beaux Collins at WR. Two who I think will move more into the spotlight -- TE Mitchell Evans and going out on a limb here, but I think Jaylen Sneed can help with pass rush. ... Finally, ND needs to win on the line of scrimmage and I think that'll be the difference in the game. That's where IU had problems with Ohio State and Michigan.

12:50

Hey Marie. If ND makes it all the way to the championship game, dinner in Atlanta for you and your family is on me. Thanks for your 'A; game questions. ... Let's start at the end and work backwards. My Final Four is Texas, Oregon, Boise State and ND. I have Oregon beating the Irish in the title game. I do not have any money bet on any of that, so please don't try this at home. ... The reason I have ND making it to the finals, is I think the teams they match up better with are on their side of the bracket. And think the three toughest matchups, not the three best teams necessarily but three that line up numberwise as a challenge are Oregon, Ohio State and Tennessee in that order. I think Clemson would have been the most favorable first-round matchup. (more)

Marie from Atlanta

12:42

Hi Eric, I hope you’re having a great week. You must be excited to be attending the first ever playoff game on a college campus. What are the key position group matchups that Notre Dame will need to win in order to be sure to defeat Indiana? Is there any particular position group where you feel Indiana has a significant advantage over ND? Can you name one player on offense and one player on defense that is a potential breakout player during the playoffs? I know this has come up in several chat/podcast during the season and that you’ve run the numbers, of the teams in the playoff pool, which teams does Notre Dame match up best with, and which teams are the worst matchup for Notre ohDame? finally, who’s in your final Four and who are you picking to win it all?As always, thanks so much for hosting the chat and the great insights.

Eric Hansen

12:41

My sense is that we'll see changes when all the contracts get reworked for the 2026 season, but perhaps even for 2025. But if the playoff moves to a 14-team format, and there's momentum for it, why not wait until 2026. In that format, just two teams get byes. I think that is a solution that will work for everyone.

12:39

Hi John. The rule was put in place thinking there was going to be five strong Power 5 champs and maybe another good one from the Group of Five champs. So one of those Power 5 conferences wouldn't even get an automatic bid. What happened was realignment and the Big Ten and SEC having so much more resources and being so much better and deeper than the Big 12 and ACC ... and now there's no Pac-12 (yet the No. 1 team is a former Pac-12 team). Former ND athletic director Jack Swarbrick designed the 12-team playoff and lived with ND and non-conference champs having a ceiling at 5 seed to get a deal done and knowing those teams didn't have to play in a conference championship game. So, that's the why. Now where do they go from here? (more)

Guest

12:35

John Villa Park, Ca. Thanks for you great coverage of ND football. I am reading a lot of analysts saying the first four byes should not be awarded to conference champions. Wasn’t this rule put in so ND would not be able to get a bye as an independent.? Do you think they will change it so ND could get a first round bye?

Eric Hansen

12:35

CMH thanks, now I'm curious if you are more ancient than me. ... and thanks for the compliment. I don't anticipate that would be what the Irish do, but I don't think this is a silly question. I think how the roster fills out with the transfer portal will factor in, as will the progress of guys like Micah Gilbert, KK Smith, Logan Saldate and Cam Williams in winter workouts. I think he's the best recruit in the class, whether he plays corner, safety or wide receiver. But I do expect him to stay at corner.

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