JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 8, 2021

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 8, 2021

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Eric Hansen

3:25

OK, that's going to have to do it for this week. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll be back to do it all over again next week, though not likely Wednesday, which is the first day of the early signing period for recruits. More likely Thursday or Friday. I'll post something on my Twitter @EHansenNDI and on the ND Insider Facebook page once I get it figure out.

3:23

Hi Matt, thanks. Khari Gee is still percolating, but may be more of a fit at rover eventually. Too early to see if it was a misevaluation. Safety is the position group that needs the most attention this offseason (outside of QB).

Matt from St. Louis

3:21

Hi Eric. Thank you for doing these. A question occurred to me with all the press coverage about Marcus Freeman being a great developer. What happened to Khari Gee (did I get the name right?), the safety recruit we stole from LSU last year. It was touted as a big deal, but, when we needed to develop safety depth, we ended up with a converted wide receiver and a converted cornerback. Definitely examples of developing talent, but what about the talent that was recruited for the position? Still percolating? Recruiting miss? Something else? Thank you! I appreciate all your great coverage and time doing these chats!

Eric Hansen

3:20

Chris for obvious reasons, I haven't been able to take a deep dive on Oklahoma State, though I've followed them at least peripherally, because I'm an AP poll voter. It's my understanding Knowles will coach Okie State in its bowl game. I think Jaylen Warren is the big headache to deal with as a defensive coordinator. I think a big key is coaxing Spencer Sanders into mistakes with pressure. He's 83rd nationally in passing efficiency and has thrown 12 interceptions. Only two QBs in the FBS have thrown 13 and no one has thrown 14 or more. Jack Coan, by comparison, is 31st in passing efficiency and has thrown six picks.

Chris from Tulsa

3:12

Good Afternoon Eric, thanks for your exquisite coverage for us fans. Reading that Jim Knowles took the Ohio State DC position, from one OSU to another. I did not read anywhere saying whether he would stick around for the Fiesta Bowl only that Ryan Day said he would not be at Ohio State until after the Rose Bowl. How much of an impact do you see this being if Knowles doesn’t stick around for the bowl? Also, Jaylen Warren was out of the Big 12 championship game, I don’t see that being the case this time. What are your thoughts for the ND defense to concern themselves with more, Warren or Tay Martin and the WRs? Finally, can the ND find a way to run and/or neutralize Rodriguez? Thank you good sir, all the best

Eric Hansen

3:12

Ideally, Notre Dame likes to get its bye week in or around its fall break, which is deeper into October. It's not unprecedented, but I'd guess I'd rather have it in early October than mid-November, given those choices. That it's right before the Vegas trip to play BYU isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Chad from Elkhart

3:07

The bye week on the 2022 schedule is after week 4 (October 1). I don't ever recall having a bye this early in the season. Your thoughts?

Eric Hansen

3:06

Marcus was in his home last night. There's optimism that the momentum is swinging back to ND.

Joseph from LA

3:05

Eric, thank you for all things Irish. Anything new on CJ Williams the WR commit from the OC?

Eric Hansen

3:04

Hi Bob, nice to hear from you. If I understand your question, you're asking me how much you can offer recruits in NIL money to play at ND? It doesn't work that way. (Or at least it shouldn't). The NIL money comes after you're at the school. And it's only limited by the company's willingness to pay and the players' marketability. So it's not one size fits all, but rather a free market. ND has one of the strongest brands in all of sports, so that NIL potential is definitely there. And yes, Notre Dame has been extremely proactive in NIL. I don't agree that 4-for-40 is passé. If you can provide players access to play in the playoff and to play in the NFL AND give them a chance for a great life after football, why wouldn't that have appeal?

Bob Gorman Columbus OH for one more week

2:58

Eric, next time you hear from Kathleen and I, we will be in Oak Park IL, home of 5A State Champs Fenwick. Making moves for family and next chapter of life. How much NIL $ are available to play for ND? Will ND be able to compete for talent (which is a fit for ND) that is getting paid to play? Understand Freeman's comments about letting kids know they qualify for ND, but 4 for 40 seems less compelling in today's landscape. The ground has shifted under the feet of the administration. Are we proactive or reactive?

Eric Hansen

2:57

For home games, all healthy players are in uniforms. There are limits for road games. And no scout team players are not considered mistakes, Many eventual All-Americans started as scout team players.

Jim in Charlottesville VA

2:56

Hi Eric, I recently perused the current Fighting Irish roster online and noticed 7 Juniors/Seniors apparently recruited for the OL who best I can tell have played all but entirely on the Scout Team. How deep does ND go in dressing OL players for Game Day? Are Scout Team ones considered recruiting missed or mistakes?

Eric Hansen

2:56

I think the best chance for them to meet would be in a bowl game. They haven't had a home and home since 1997-98. And ND already has SEC teams Arkansas, Alabama and Texas A&M on future schedules. If there is an opening, it's likely to be after Kelly's 10-year contract is over.

Robb from Manassas, Va

2:51

Thanks for all you do Eric. What are the chances of Notre Dame scheduling LSU sometime in the future. I hope not. We get nothing out of that - it would only showcase the LSU football program and we'd end up giving them credibility. There are plenty of SEC teams we can schedule if that's an objective.

Eric Hansen

2:51

I think retaining Mike Elston was a huge win, as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. Marcus was asked Monday about whether Elston would be the coordinator, and he didn't know yet. He's deserving, so I think the question Marcus is pondering is whether Elston is more valuable paying him as a defensive coordinator but keeping him in his current roles, or have him give up being the recruiting coordinator to be the defensive coordinator. I'd lean toward keeping him in his current role. It's a win-win on two fronts.

Dave from Alpha, Nj

2:47

Hello Eric. Thank you for always doing these chats. I’m hopeful that Mike Elston Gets promoted to defensive coordinator. What do you think? He is also an excellent recruiter. This is the deepest the defensive line has been in quite a long time. With him at the helm, I truly believe that would continue.

Eric Hansen

2:46

I don't think experience is overrated when it comes to the Notre Dame job, and I had to be convinced the lack of it could be overcome. I think Jack Swarbrick did too. Talent, drive, fearlessness and exceptional recruiting skills are all important. This hire wasn't a simple math problem. It was calculus. Timing, potential, risk and the state of the program all factored in. So in way, I am agreeing with you premise, just using different words.

Connie - Pacifica, CA

2:43

Eric, I am a graduate of ND but my son is a Stanford alumnus. Since we live in the Bay Area we go to all the Stanford football games. I see a lot of parallels between ND's hiring of Marcus Freeman and Stanford's hiring of David Shaw in 2011. Both were star players for major Power 5 universities, both were coordinators under strong Head Coaches; both were 35; both were promoted to the head job after their bosses bolted for more money; both were at academically rigorous institutions, and both had no head coaching experience at any level. When Shaw was promoted, the same sorts of questions were raised about his inexperience that are now being raised about Freeman. Shaw answered those questions very convincingly. In his first 8 years he won 82 games aqainst only 26 losses with 5 bowl wins and 5 wins vs ND. Eric, do you think experience is overrated when dealing with exceptional human beings?

Eric Hansen

2:42

I think the Irish have a shot at OG Billy Schrauth and have a chance to get a recommit from DB Devin Moore. There may be others, but I think those two are the most realistic. Marcus Freeman and the assistants have been basically playing defense since Kelly's departure as rival schools jumped to poach the Irish recruits during the uncertainty.

Cheryl from Texas

2:39

Who do you see committing to the class of 2022 that haven’t already stated their commitment ?

Eric Hansen

2:39

Hi Michael. Not sure if you read my column on the topic. Remember, he was in shock when Kelly said he was leaving. He thought about his six kids and that he needed a job. Then he said, "I need to talk to my wife." And that's when he was able to clear his head and think about what was most important to him. Yes, several assistant, including Rees and Elston, were asked to go with Kelly to LSU.

Michael from Chicago

2:35

Coach Freeman commented that he verbally told Kelly that he would go with him to LSU. This was a surprise to read unless Freeman didn't think he was getting the ND job? Can you share any insight to that and how close ND was to losing other assistants to LSU (Rees' status seemed to be tenuous). How about Elston? Were any of the other asst. coaches offered to go as well (Alexander, McNulty, Mickens, Taylor, etc.)? Thank you for your top notch coverage of this transition!

Eric Hansen

2:35

Joseph, the math part gets sticky, and I'm not going to get lost in that. I'll repeat myself that we need to have these discussions and they're not always going to be easy discussions. And you made a contribution to that discussion. That's a small step toward progress.

joseph from indianapolisndo

2:32

50% of d1 college players are black 13 or black head coaches (14 with freeman?) blacks make up 12% of population about right for black head coaches per % of population she needs to get facts straight before asking racially charged questions

Eric Hansen

2:31

Well, the Gipper, I'll have a better answer next week, when we see who signed with the Irish on Wednesday. And then an even better answer after we see if players like Kevin Austin, Isaiah Foskey and Jarrett Patterson elect to come back. In this moment, the positions that make the most sense are: safety and QB (for depth) and possibly wide receiver.

The Gipper, Mine Hill, NJ

Wishing your and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2:28

How involved do you think ND will be in the transfer portal., and if so, what positions of need do you think they try to address?

Eric Hansen

2:26

John, thanks. I appreciate you. He gets paid until the end of his contact, which usually comes up for renewal at the end of the season. However, some assistants have multi-year contracts, in which case the financial obligation would continue beyond the end of the season, offset by whatever he might make in his new job.

Guest

2:24

John From Kannapolis NC. Thanks for everything that you do love your input. A simple question if the head coach of a university like Notre Dame leaves and the new coach does not retain them what is the financial implications for that coach? Does he only get paid to the end of the season? Thanks again

Eric Hansen

2:23

Ed, I can't speak for other people, and I've been up front in and (hopefully) clear in my columns and this chat last week how I feel about what Brian Kelly brought to the program and the manner in which he left it. From what people have shared with me, their issue is Brian being inconsistent in his message about why he left and also the issue of how he left. Brian leaving is not the issue. Doing it in a way that comes off as in conflict with your words and what you have claimed to stand for does rub people the wrong way. Authenticity is a word that comes up a lot, fair or unfair.

Ed of Omaha

2:13

Eric, thanks for keeping us so well informed this past week. I'm surprised at the recent hate for BK. He took the ND job when it was a complete disaster. He endured some very difficult seasons and the criticism to go along with it. Through sheer perseverance he developed a very solid program with an 85% winning percentage in its past 5 years. He brought ND into the modern age with state of the art facilities and resources. He even hired the rising star who now heads up the program. Like any good capitalist he cashed in on this success to get a huge pay raise at a program that now gives him a chance to win a national championship. Why isn't this the great American success story? I'm confused.

Eric Hansen

2:13

Hi David, let me cherry pick a couple of points here. Buchner pulls a hammy, and he's injury prone? And given that he was a starter for one year in high school with no games or practices his senior year because of COVID, i think just lining up behind the center and not the offensive guard is remarkable. Let's let this play out with Buchner. I personally would take him on my team in a heartbeat. Now might ND need to go to the portal for depth and not a potential starter? That's a possibility unless they can get a second QB signed in this class (and with limited options left).

David from Tempe, AZ

2:10

Eric, I am as excited as the next guy about the energy that Marcus Freeman brings to the Irish. But to be successful he needs an elite quarterback. That is the lesson from last Saturday's Alabama beat down of Georgia. I am worried about what happens to the quarterback room when Coan graduates. Buchner showed he can run a limited RPO package effectively, but when it comes to reading defenses he seemed to struggle. So...I'm not sure he's the elite guy Freeman needs. He is also injury prone, which brings us to Pyne, who realistically is at best an average backup who may well transfer. Beyond him is an untested Ron Paulus iii. Then you have a newly recruited freshman and a host of walk-ons. Like I said...it's worrisome. What's your assessment, Eric? Will Freeman be forced to go to the transfer portal?

Eric Hansen

2:09

Hi Mick, a took a glancing blow at this question earlier, but you added some more specifics. So let me give this a try. Again, math is a problem ... not that it can't be overcome. I don't think it's a bad idea to consider, but I'm not sure once you vet it that it is the right move. So yes, discuss, but I don't think that's where it will end up. Especially if you are counting on that veteran head coach to recruit for you.

Mick from Philly

2:06

As a Philly guy, for decades I loved rooting for Phil Martelli head coach at St. Joe's basketball. Then two years ago he was fired by a new athletic director (who came from Notre Dame). We were all crushed. But then Phil picked himself up and went to Michigan where he was hired to be an assistant and a mentor/advisor to Juwan Howard, a rookie head coach. They have been a very successful team. My question to you Eric: Do you think Marcus Freeman will bring in a veteran head coach to assist him? I have heard the names David Cutcliffe and Skip Holtz being bandied about.

Eric Hansen

2:06

Hi Ed, and thanks. There's not a universal answer for this. Some coaches coach their coaches. Some are much more involved in the details. Brian Kelly, when he got to ND, spent the vast majority of his time with the offense and specifically with the QBs. That changed after 2016, and he became more balanced (but still leaned offense). My impression is Marcus will be balanced (but lean defense) and will be more involved in the details than most coaches ...at least in year one.

Ed from Ocala, FL by the way of Niles, MI

2:04

Eric could you pull back the curtain a bit as far as how much is the head coach involved in watching film of opponents and in developing the game plan for each side of the ball. Is it a “we need to attack by air” and particulars are left up to the coordinators etc? I ‘m trying to get a picture of how Marcus’ role will change as he steps into the head ball coach role. Keep up your awesome insight!

Eric Hansen

2:03

Hi Mike. The assistant coaches that have been announced as saying are in place for 2022 (and presumably beyond).

Guest

2:02

Mike from Roanoke VA Hey Eric, excited about Coach Freeman. My question is regarding the assistant coaches. Are the ones who announced they were staying on board for next year or was it just through the end of this season?

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