JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Feb. 13, 2020

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Feb. 13, 2020

Eric Hansen

2:55

OK, I've run out of time. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll do this again at least once before spring practice starts (which is tentatively set for March 5).

2:54

Jeff, I'm about out of time. To be honest, I want to chat with him first and see some spring practice to get a really good feel for that answer. I don't think those percentages will be static from week to week.

Jeff B from Oklahoma City

2:53

Eric, from what Tom Rees says we will see a much bigger commitment to the running game going forward. How is that going to look? A lot of power sets off tackle like Wisconsin or something else? What do you think the percentage of offensive calls will be towards the run game? Will it be more skewed towards running say like 60% run 40% pass or is that too much?

Eric Hansen

2:52

At times yes. 2, I think we saw some of the solutions in the bowl game that Rees plans to use in 2020, including some snaps from center. 3. The most? Option A.

Brian (Mishawaka, IN)

2:51

Hi Eric, 3 part question if you please. 1) Do you think running out of the shotgun formation contributed to our struggling in short yardage situations last year? 2) If so, what's the fix going forward - put the QB under center or pass more in short yardage situations. 3) What offensive personnel grouping do you think will be most widely used next year - 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB or 2 WR 2 TE 1 RB?

Eric Hansen

2:51

I indeed do not. Or even the TV remote at my house when the grandkids are over.

Tim - Pleasant Prairie WI

2:50

Scott D - I don't believe Eric has any control over that.

Eric Hansen

2:49

It surprised me a little, and yet it's not unusual for a coach to do that while looking for his next big opportunity.

Steve from St Louis

2:48

Are you suprised that Chip Long ended up as an analyst instead of securing another OC position, or does that help solidify Kellys decision to those who were unaware of the internal Issues?

Eric Hansen

2:48

Shaun Crawford and TaRiq Bracy. I have not heard that ND is looking at the portal for CBs, but I would be.

Carter from Seal Beach, CA

2:47

Who do you think the starting CBs are next year? Any talk of CB or RB grad transfer?

Eric Hansen

2:47

Mrs. Hansen just got back from India, so I'm sure the two of you would have lots to talk about. I do think Brian Kelly is determined to learn from past mistakes as well as past successes, so yes to your first question. When I asked BK about the debriefing, he said it likely won't ever have to be that extensive, because he's so much more in touch with the players on a day-to-day basis, which wasn't the case in 2016.

GB from Wasilla, Alaska

2:45

Eric, Happy Valentine's Day to you and Mrs. Hansen! The most eye opening article I read in the SBT last season was one that Carter Karels wrote about the lack of involvement in recruiting from Kelly specifically prompting at least 2 recruits to go elsewhere. Do you think that Kelly learned from those experiences and has he gotten more involved as far as you can tell? Is he going to "debrief" the players as he did after the 2016 season?

Eric Hansen

2:45

I've never heard of that being a problem.

Andy from West Chester, PA

2:44

Hi Eric, thank you for the chats and great coverage of ND Football. Sometimes looking over at the sidelines and on the field it looks like ND players are lacking in energy. I loved hearing the story when LSU coach Ed O. made his team run out of the tunnel again because he felt they didnt have enough positive energy. I know Coach Kelly is a yoga guy and has calmed down his sideline demeaner, but has he ever addressed the overall energy from his players during practice or games?

Eric Hansen

2:44

The gist I got from talking to Jack Swarbrick in this 2018 interview is that the intention is to get it done. Here's our exchange:

Q: In terms of scheduling, when the ACC commitment first started, there seemed to be a traffic jam in terms of new commitments and old contracts and kind of having to work through that. Are you through all those now? Are you at a place where it’s a little bit easier to put puzzle pieces together?
Swarbrick: “I wouldn’t say we’re through it in the sense that in extracting ourselves from some of the old agreements, we carried forward some commitments. What we did was free up dates and years.
“We’ve got a couple of games coming up with Michigan State. We’ve got a couple of games coming up with Purdue. We’ve a game still to play with BYU. Those all have come out of those prior relationships. We want to get a couple of more games set with Michigan.”

Scott D

2:42

When will ND honor their contract to BYU and get the game set in Provo? Quit ducking the game and get it set. This is not right by a relegious school not to honor a contract and a debt.

Eric Hansen

2:42

I do, maybe not in August/September, but once the season gets rolling, yes I do.

Deandre (Hammond, IN)

2:41

Hi Eric! Do you feel confident that this years offense will perform better than last years offense

Eric Hansen

2:41

Patrick, thank you. I would put DE Isaiah Foskey at the top of that list. Others I think can move into prominent roles are CB Isaiah Rutherford, RB Kyren Williams and that big class of linebackers, including Marist Liufau and Jack Kiser.

Patrick - Traverse City, MI

2:34

Hi Eric, thanks for the chats. Any thoughts on who will emerge this year from the 2019 class? Specifically, guys who did not contribute, or were limited to 4 games for fewer in the 2019 season. Thanks for your great work.

Eric Hansen

2:34

Dan, that's a difficult question for me to answer, because it's not only about academic bit, but cultural fit. So there are 5-star players with good enough grades who wouldn't last at ND because they weren't cultural fit. That said, Notre Dame can do a better job at attracting top talent, particularly at the running back, wide receiver and cornerback positions. They made strides in two of those areas in the 2020 cycle. That trend must continue, and Kelly is committed to making changes to do so.

Dan, Grand Rapids, Mi

2:31

Hi Eric, I need your best guess....About how many 5 star recruits of the elite teams...Ala, LSU, Clemson, OSU, etc, would actually qualify to attend ND. They get 3, 4, 5, or more every year, and ND gets 1 every-other year, maybe. Also, how many of the above teams starting 22 (O&D), would qualify to attend ND? Sorry for the 2-parter. You're the BEST!

Eric Hansen

2:30

Because if the defense remained a mess, which it didn't, Brian Kelly didn't want Mike Elston to be an undeserving casualty. Turns out, it was a smart move. Elston is outstanding.

Erik (Granger,In)

2:29

Thanks for being here! Been wondering this for awhile. When VanGorder was fired, why was it kept secret that Mike Elston was pulling the strings? What was the point of naming the other guy publicly and not him?

Eric Hansen

2:29

OK, so you're looking for pleasant surprises. I will say Houston Griffith among returning players (I don't think Kevin Austin counts as a surprise), and Xavier Watts among the freshmen.

Len from the Jersey Shore

2:26

Hi Eric Thanks for hosting! Hope you are experiencing decent weather. All we seem to get in Jersey is rain, a lot of rain. I guess it beats snow. Which returning player will surprise this year (better that expected performance)? Which incoming player (freshman or transfer)?

Eric Hansen

2:26

Chad, those are tough questions to answer, because you're making me agree with your premise that there's a problem with the assistant coach's passion if I answer it. My answer, which may not fit your question is, when you're hiring an assistants, you want coaches who are great teachers and recruiters. I think earlier in Kelly's time, he was willing to live with an OK recruiter, if he thought that coach could bring exceptional expertise on the field. The example in which that went terribly wrong was Brian VanGorder. I think in some instances there was an assumption a particular coach was going to be very good in recruiting at ND and it turned out not to be the case.

Chad from Greenville, SC

Follow up, how ling till all thr assistant coaches are passionatr recruiters?

Why has it taken so long for BK to make sure all his assistant coaches are motivated recruiters?

2:21

Greetings from Auburn, AL where inam having ounch bwfore my sons college tuor.

Eric Hansen

2:21

This would be easier over beers. I'll start with the notion if ND can find some answers at cornerback, the defense has a chance to be really good. I think the Long/Quinn relationship did not help the run blocking. College football has roster churn. I think there's talent to go along with the inexperience. That's a start?

Tom S - Austin

2:18

People seem pretty optimistic about ND in 2020. However, I can't help but worry, especially given that we have few proven returning players at key spots. While we return our whole offensive line, they were dismal at run blocking last year, (especially in short yardage situations), no returning receiver or runner has any significant yardage at ND, our QB is, (like T.Rees), playing mostly on moxie and the back end of our defense is one injury away from possibly being in big trouble. Please talk me down from this ledge.

Eric Hansen

2:18

His contract goes through 2021 and it's going to be extended. My sense is he'll be here 3-4 more years in total.

Tim (Vancouver, WA)

Eric, thanks for all you do. How much longer does BK stay at ND?

2:17

By way of Almost Heaven WV

Eric Hansen

2:17

I didn't get to see much, but I knew from reading about them what was going to be on display. I think a more transparent replay system would be a big hit.

Joe from Georgia

2:16

Your reaction to any of the XFL innovations which were on display in their debut weekend? How awesome would it be to have real-time access to replay considerations and processes in all sport which use it?

Eric Hansen

2:15

Safety.

Neil from Indianapolis

2:15

Other than CB and QB, which position group do you think ND can least afford a major injury at heading into the season?

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