JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 18, 2024

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 18, 2024

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1:21

Don from LA. Happy Holidays, Eric. Thanks for your words of wisdom on everything Irish! CJ Carr really seemed to catch the eyes of writers like yourself last spring. Can you elaborate of his skill set or his way of being on the field (leadership qualities) that led to such praise? Do you believe he's a lock at the position and promising enough to attract top WR talent (like Virginia's Malachi Fields or Troy's Devonte Ross) in the portal?

Eric Hansen

1:20

I think scheduling USC in the traditional dates you're used to seeing them is going to be challenging enough with the Big Ten membership. And I don't think they really needed a bye week this year, just not to play Army the game ahead of USC. But if that USC road game remains a late-November staple every other year, if YOU asked Pete Bevacqua to put a bye week there, I think he and Marcus Freeman would tell you that would not be the best place to use a bye, particularly in seasons where you just get one.

Bob (Oxnard)

1:17

Hi Eric. Merry Christmas. After the playoff dust settles, can you make a note to ask Pete Bevacqua sometime if he can get us a bye week before we play usc in the Coliseum in future years? Do you think he could pull that off? Thanks.

Eric Hansen

1:17

What's changed since the Louisville game, above all, is Riley Leonard's passing ability and how much better ND's offensive line is now ... both of which open up opportunities in the run game. I not only think Riley Leonard needs to be the threat as a runner, he needs to be a runner -- and maybe the leading rusher, depending on how IU sets up its defense. I think in the passing game, you'll see Leonard get the backs and tight ends involved ... and use the screen game.

1:14

HI Len. There are some similarities in how the Louisville and IU games set up in terms of the strengths/weaknesses that present and can attack. And you're right, ND is light years ahead on offense from where it was. So let me unpack your questions ... Yes, I do think Notre Dame will be able to run the ball against the No. 1 run defense nationally ... now to what extent? Louisville was the season-low (117) for what is now the 10th-most prolific rush offense. The Irish have been under 200 yards rushing only once since the Louisville game -- 168 vs. Ga Tech, which was a pretty strong run d. (more)

Len from the Jersey Shore

1:08

Hello Eric!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Merry Christmas!!!!!!! The team that is closest in ability and style to IU that ND had on their schedule this year IMO is Louisville, as they played that day against ND. Louisville threw the ball well, had some quick backs and a well executed game offensive plan. Their D held ND to under 300 yards total offense. What will be different in this game is IU this season has had much fewer turnovers than Louisville, and plays the run better (even considering the competition that IU has played). What has changed for ND is their offense is considerably better that is was in September against Louisville. Eric do you think ND can run on IU? With using the QB threat as a runner? Without using? Will they need short passes to complement the running game and keep the IU D honest?

Eric Hansen

Let's get down to it ...

All other rules except no manifestos and no 17-part questions have been waived in the Playoff spirit.

1:06

If you don't, you'll end up on somebody's "naughty" list.

PLEASE include your name and hometown along with your question.

As far as this week's chat ...

1:05

► Finally, at WSBT Sports Radio 96.1, we’re rolling toward Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff opener on Friday night. Darin Pritchett and I are together on Wednesdays and Thursdays leading up to the game on Weekday SportsBeat (96.1 FM, 960 AM, live streaming at wsbtradio.com). The weekday shows run from 5-6 p.m. ET. I’m also part of the Gameday SportsBeat crew, and the pregame show will run Friday from 5-7 p.m. You can download all episodes, including the pregame shows, as podcasts.

► The Inside ND Sports Podcast dropped on Wednesday. We reached out to Doug Lesmerises, cohost of Kings of the North on YouTube, to preview Notre Dame’s matchup with Indiana and the rest of the College Football Playoff on this week's Inside ND Sports podcast. Lesmerises discussed the presence of northern programs in the College Football Playoff, how many Big Ten teams have a chance to win the national championship, how important playing at home is for Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State, how good Indiana is, what's legit about the Hoosiers and what could get exposed, how far the Irish can go, his expectations for Ohio State in the playoff, if Penn State should make it to the semifinals, who would make sense as a replacement for OSU head coach Ryan Day, if Oregon is a dominant one seed, if Curt Cignetti's Indiana revival will last 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.

1:04

► 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’re back in our normal Monday at 7 ET time this week and next week. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube. We’ll also have two postgame shows Friday night/Saturday morning on our YouTube Channel. Former Notre Dame O-lineman Bob Morton and I will team up LIVE about an hour after the final whistle for Into The eNDzone, and we’ll take viewer questions live. Then Tyler James and I team up on Postgame Takeaways, which will be available for your Saturday morning viewing.

1:03

Some quick programming notes:

1:02

Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat and thanks for adjusting to the time slot change this week.

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