JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 26, 2024

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 26, 2024

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Don in Scottsdale

1:59

Eric, hope Christmas was great for you and your family. Hoping the New Year starts with ND keeping the season alive. What's been the biggest surprise with this year's team? The biggest miss? Thanks for the all the content. You and Tyler keep us well informed.

Eric Hansen

1:59

I think if you click on that, it'll get bigger. It'll be right-sized in the transcript for sure.

1:58

1:57

This also includes 2023 national champ Michigan's numbers:

1:55

I'll give you all 12 teams in a bunch of significant offensive/defensive categories as the playoff began:

Bill from St Joe, MI

1:54

Eric, where can we find your 5 metrics which compare Georgia to ND…and perhaps all the remaining teams in the playoffs?

Eric Hansen

1:54

Just for comparison, here's Georgia's 2021 and 2022 national champs, respectively, in rush offense, pass efficiency, run defense, total defense, TOM:
2022: 19-6-1-10-66; 2021: 36-4-2-2-49

1:51

Hi Jack. You can respectfully disagree and you may be right. That question hurt my head, so it wasn't an easy choice for me. ... So I am using the numbers as they looked on Selection Sunday, Dec. 8 and not the reshuffled version with the four playoff games and several bowl games figured in. Now keep in mind how tough Georgia's schedule is ... but ...
Rush offense: ND 10, Ga 98 (not a typo)
Pass efficiency: ND 38, Ga 30
Run defense: ND 51, Ga 36
Total defense: ND 9, Ga 35
Turnover margin: ND 2, Ga 62

In the BCS/Playoff Era, not team has won a title without being in the top 25 in at least three of those categories. Georgia hits zero of them.

Jack, Strongsville,Ohio

1:45

Hi Eric. On FNS you and Tyler both thought that the Carson Beck absence would be more significant than Rylie Mills. I have to respectfully disagree because I believe the next man up for Georgia is better than the next man or group up for Mills. My questions. Based on your 5 key metrics how does Notre Dame and Georgia match up. Second, how much home field advantage will Georgia have in playing in the Sugar Bowl. Have a great New Year.

Eric Hansen

1:41

Happy New Year, Mike. It's hard to keep up with all our content during the holidays ... but Rocco Spindler right now is listed as questionable (ankle). Sam Pendleton would start if he's unable to go. I don't know whether even Jason Onye knows right now what he'll be doing in the spring, but he is welcome back. Sean plays nose and not DT, but with Hinish maybe doing double duty, maybe he elevates and gets a few snaps, but my sense is that rotation is going to be pretty tight in the interior. Look for him to make a move in 2025 ... up the depth chart that is, not moving elsewhere.

Mike K .Costa Mesa ca.

1:38

Will SEAN SEVELLANO play ? . Is R. SPINDLER hurt ? . Is ONYE coming back in the spring ? . Thank You & HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Eric Hansen

1:38

The gap in PFF rating is staggering and probably distorted between Beck (81.2) and Stockton (57.6). For comparison's sake for ND it's Riley Leonard 85.6 and Angeli 82.9. Georgia has an advantage in that it can run some stuff it hasn't all year with Stockton and has had the time to get good at it. ND has the advantage of game-planning for Stockton, where Texas didn't necessarily spend much time on him. ... I touched on the Mills situation off the top, but it's going to take a village so to speak ... More Cross, more Hinish, more Rubio, perhaps a vyper kicking inside on passing downs and a linebacker playing vyper on those same downs. ... As far as Fields, I want to see more of him over the next few days, but there are some similarities to Miles Boykin in terms of size, speed, physicality. Happy Holidays, Marie.

1:31

Merry Christmas, Marie. You're pretty plugged in, but former Arizona State QB Jaden Rashada hasn't played a down this season and is now in Georgia's depth, with Carson Beck's season-ending injury, so it makes sense for him as the No. 2 to get some No. 1 reps in case something happens to Gunner Stockton. I would expect Stockton to start and I think playing a QB over him who hasn't had a game snap in 2024 wouldn't be a smart move. Stockton, prior to the SEC Championship Game, has played about as much for Georgia as Angeli has for ND. And I think what he did against Texas probably is the most telling. He was considered a dual-threat QB coming out of high school and I think ND is going to see more of that aspect than what Georgia has shown with him. (more)

Marie from Atlanta

as always, thanks for hosting the chat, especially the day after Christmas and for all your great insights. Hoping you have a fantastic new year capped off by a Fighting Irish victory.

1:17

Hi Eric, I hope you had a very merry Christmas and got to enjoy some time with your family. Word down here in the South is that Stockton has been splitting first team reps with Rashada . Do you think there’s any chance UGA might start Rashada instead of Stockton? I think he did get some playing time in Arizona State. Which of the two quarterbacks poses a bigger problem for Notre Dame? Assuming it is Stockton who starts, What would be his strengths and weaknesses against Notre Dame? The Mills injury is devastating, of all those that will be filling in. Who do you think needs to step up the most to make the biggest difference? Finally, can you give us a comp for Malachi Fields? What are his strengths, and what does he need to work on?

Eric Hansen

1:17

As far as being disruptive, colleague Tyler James notes in his Christmas Day story that the redshirt sophomore tight end was dismissed from Arkansas in late October for what head coach Sam Pittman described as a violation of team rules. In that story, Tyler expands on Washington's side of the story. So I'll let you read that. What I can say is Marcus Freeman's not going to take someone he considers as a risk. And while ND did not recruit Washington out of high school. Mike Denbrock and Gino Guidugli did when both were at Cincinnati. In act, UC was one of the three schools that hosted him on an official visit. So there is a connection there.

1:11

Hi Gus. It was a GREAT atmosphere. And I think even with the uniqueness of the event feeding into that, there are some lessons that can be learned about what to do and what NOT to do to liven up gamedays during regular-season games. ... Notre Dame wasn't looking at Ty Washington to be the next Mitch Evans, as I understand it, but a depth piece to go along with Eli Raridon, Cooper Flanagan, James Flanigan and Jack Larsen. Kevin Bauman has a sixth-year option, but it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't exercise it, given all he has been through with injuries. (more)

Gus lakeside park,ky

1:08

Hi Erik and Happy New Year.Why would ND “settle” for a TE like Ty Washington?His production has been minimal and it sounds like there issues in his past that could be disruptive to one of the most stable rooms in the program.Great atmosphere Friday night.Maybe we need a gimmick for the fans at all home games.

Eric Hansen

1:07

Kevin!!!!!!!!!!!! Strong exclamation point game ... but Manny is the king still. ... Not all CFP schools had exams last week, as ND did. IU was scheduled to, but I don't know if their team could take them early. Georgia was Dec. 5-11, so they've been done for a while. With school out, the NCAA's 20-hour rule does not apply, but keep in mind more physical practices at this time of year doesn't necessarily mean better. Where ND can take advantage of this is meeting time, film reviews, recovery and less stress and multitasking.

Kevin-Sleepy Eye,MN

1:03

Eric Hansen!!!!! Lets talk about weekly practice time schedules. With the CFP last week; did all schools have finals last week? Did both Indiana and ND have same amount of practice time?? And now moving forward in play offs; how is practice time regulated? Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

12:58

Hi KP, Jason Onye's last game was in September and hasn't been practicing, so his return wouldn't help. For those not following as closely, Onye has been out for the last eight games for personal reasons. But if he opted to return to football and to ND in the spring semester — and he would be welcome — that would be a big boost for 2025.

KP South Bend

12:54

With Rylie Miils now out, what is up with Jason Oney. We could sure use him now!

Eric Hansen

12:54

There will be a five-day window after ND's playoff run ends, whether that's in New Orleans, Miami Gardens or Atlanta. There's also a 10-day portal window in April. So I don't want to speculate, but I would not be surprised if one leaves eventually.

12:52

Manny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas. We did, but it was quick. Almost felt like I had Christmas at a drive-thru window, but it was fun. ... I actually asked Marcus Freeman that very question on Monday. I'll give you a little more depth than he was able to provide in a press conference situation. ND starts compiling names and scouting reports on every position group way back in the summer time. Matt Jansen, ND's director of scouting, leads that along with GM Chad Bowden. That's not knowing what the needs will be and who will actually be in the portal or not. By the time the portal opened on Dec. 9, the Irish knew exactly who they wanted to target and whether that player was a potential fit in all ways. So the balance is getting your homework done early. You hear that kids, who want to wait 'til the last minute ... like I used to? As far as QBs, yeah there is a chance ND could lose one or more outgoing. The window closes on Saturday, BUT (more)

Manny from San Pedro

12:47

Eric!!!!!!! Merry Christmas!!!!!!!! I hope you and your family had some quality time! I know mine did as we witnessed ND win their first playoff game in history!! So exciting!!!! I’m sure the chat will have a bunch on Georgia. So my question is the transfer portal. How does ND balance playoff prep and the Portal? Also is any of the qbs on the roster expected to transfer once we win their championship!!

Eric Hansen

12:46

I think you could play him at either, but I think he helps ND more in the boundary. and keep in mind, ND has had really fast boundary receivers at times (not always) -- but think Miles Boykin and Chase Claypool. But 6-4, 220 with really good speed, I think that's his best spot, with Beaux Collins gone and quite possibly Deion Colzie and Jayden Thomas moving on as well. Micah Gilbert will likely be in the rotation as well. On the field side, Jordan Faison likely is your starter, with KK Smith, Cam Williams, Elijah Burress pushing behind him. Again, I think Pauling probably ends up in the slot with Greathouse and Logan Saldate.

Mike from Rochester NY

12:36

Merry Day-after-Christmas, Eric!!!!! I hope it was a great one for you and the family! On FNS you talked about Malichi Fields’s track prowess. Is he fast enough to be a downfield threat at field receiver? Do you see him there or boundary receiver?

Eric Hansen

12:35

NWI, I wondered the same thing as I went back on looked at the games that Georgia lost or struggled in vs. the game the Bulldogs did not. And there's a lot to like in Ga Tech's game plan given some similarities in the skill sets of Riley Leonard and Haynes King, Ga Tech's quarterback. Tech outgained Georgia, 563-405 and outrushed them 260-108. And the games that Georgia lost, they were outrushed. And then ones where they almost lost, they were outrushed. And Marcus Freeman is 28-3 when his teams win the rushing battle and 3-6 when they don't. Now Georgia will learn from the Ga Tech game and adjust, and I doubt Riley Leonard's rushing attempts will get up into the 20s as King's did in the 8 OT game that was tied at 27-27 after regulation. The RPO game has huge potential for ND. ND's receivers are going to have to step up too to make it work.

NWI_Irish96, Munster

12:25

How much can Georgia Tech's success running the ball against Georgia be a blueprint for how Notre Dame will attack that defense?

Eric Hansen

12:25

As far as a tackling grade, the gap is smaller, but Mills is better than Rubio. The one thing, though, where Rubio really excels is run defense. Only injured defensive end Jordan Botelho has a higher season grade among Irish D-linemen than Rubio (71.1) Mills is (61.9). Mukam in a small sample size has really struggled. ... Let's go to your question 3 about transfers. I'll be brief here at this point and get into greater detail in some more specific questions. I think WR Malachi Fields would likely start at boundary receiver and Devonta Smith would be the starting nickel. Will Pauling is a guy who will be in the rotation likely tag-teaming with Jordan Greathouse in the slot, but he could move outside. Ty Washington at tight end is a depth piece. ... As far as Christmas with the team, my reporting is lax there as I barely could keep up with Christmas with my grandkids and other family out of state. I apologize.

12:18

I am probably more optimistic than some of the others on our beat that there's still enough duct tape to get through this, but let's look at it realistically. It's not so much going from Rylie Mills to Gabe Rubio. It's going from Mills/Rubio to Rubio/Armel Mukam. And where the Irish will miss Mills the most is pass rush. His 7.5 sacks not only lead the team this season, but since ND win a national title in football in 1988, only two interior D-linemen have recorded that many sacks in a season or more for the Irish -- Jerry Tillery (8.0) during an All-America season in 2018 and Bryce Young's dad, All-American Bryant Young (7.5) in 1992. Per Pro Football Focus, Mills is ND's top pass rusher with a grade of 82.4. Rubio is at 57.9. Your also losing volume. Mills leads all Irish D-linemen in snaps with 539. Rubio has 181 and Mukam 60. Rubio's high in snaps this season is 34 vs. Army. So you're likely going to see Donovan Hinish rotate in at both interior positions. (more)

12:10

Hi Ken, you gave me a lot to unpack, but I think two of these are on a lot of people's mind, and you asked them so well. So let's start with your question No. 2, about Mills and then work to the others ... and Merry Christmas to you and yours before my brain gets all into football mode. ... As I was walking back to my car after Monday's press conference that included news about Mills, I was chopping it up with The Athletic's Pete Sampson and Irish Illustrated's Tim O'Malley about that very topic. And you're right, I think there have been junctures where we've asked, OK, is THIS instance a bridge too far ... and it turned out not to be. (more)

Ken from Steel City, PA

12:06

Hi Eric, merry Christmas to you and the family! I hope you got to spend some quality time with your grandkids and family. Hopefully Santa was good to ya this year. Three questions this week: 1) Do you know if the team got any gifts for Christmas or what the team did to celebrate since they stayed in South Bend. 2) The Athletic thought that the injury to Mills is a game changer for the playoff run. I thought this about the injury to Morrison as well and we are still going strong. Can his production be replaced? What are your thoughts? Not asking you to comment on their work just the situation overall. 3) How impactful do you think the 3 incoming transfers will be, are they as good of gets as they seem to be?

Eric Hansen

I hope everyone had a great Holiday. ... Now off we go.

I am caffeinating today due to car lag.

12:05

Rescinding the "no drinking" rule for everyone but me seems to have worked, so let's keep rolling with that.

12:04

Here are the rules:

PLEASE include your name and hometown with your question and please don't do it telepathically.

As far as this week's chat ...

12:03

► Finally, at WSBT Sports Radio 96.1, we’re rolling toward Notre Dame’s College Football quarterfinal matchup with Georgia on Wednesday night. Darin Pritchett and I are together on Thursday and Friday this week 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 next Wednesday from 5-7:30 p.m. You can download all episodes, including the pregame shows, as podcasts.

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