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

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Feb. 13, 2020

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Brian Sontchi

1:06

Hi Eric: Brian from Batavia, IL and hoping for a warm and very rarly spring season. Polian is known for his recruiting acumen. He has done a very good job coaching up players in the punting and field goal specialties. But why has it been difficult to develop blocking schemes to enhance many more positive yards returning kick-offs and punts? This can be an area to assist the Irish win those games against the elite programs. Since Polian has been special teams coach for the Irish, the return game has been below average at best. Your thoughts on the needed improvement. Thank you.

Eric Hansen

1:05

Thank you, Tyler.

Tyler - Cleveland Ohio

1:05

No questions but appreciate the work. Excited for spring work outs to begin and leaders emerge. Go Irish

Eric Hansen

1:04

I think that's what my pick would be.

Carter from Seal Beach, CA

1:04

If I were to expect the starting WR in the season opener in 2020 as Austin, Lenzy, and Keys, will I be letdown?

Eric Hansen

1:03

Thanks for the kind words, Pat. My answer is no. They would not recruit a fullback. Brian Kelly feels the tight end can do everything the fullback can do from a blocking standpoint. From the potential to get to 2-3 yards, he (and many other coaches) doesn't see the value.

Pat, Springfield, IL

1:02

Will ND ever recruit a fullback, a guy who can get 2-3 yards on two carries in third and fourth and short situations? Or is the day of the fullback gone? Keep up your insightful, honest and accurate work.

Eric Hansen

1:01

Doug, 27 and snowy here, but man we've been lucky. I never put away my grill this winter. Will grill out tonight. ... First I'm not sure Tommy said that. I think that was people speaking for him. But I don't doubt he wants to be better at running efficiency. Teams that win national titles tend to be really good at running the ball, or at least more than adequate. So running the ball well, makes it difficult on defensive coordinators, when you can pass well too. I think that's sound thinking. I think the biggest different between Rees and Long is Rees tailoring his offense from year to year around his personnel and Long trying to fit ND's personnel into his ideal scheme, whether that personnel fits or not. I think it will be easy for players to adapt ... the Quinn question is a big I don't know from me, but my sense is it will be a good combination.

Doug from Sunny Florida

12:52

Eric, 82 with unbelievably bright sunshine here. Tommy Rees made the comment that he really wants to run the football which sounds strange coming out of a one-time quarterback's mouth. Seems like he'd want to throw the ball a lot given his QB background but I understand that running the ball successfully opens up the passing game. Have you gotten a feeling yet on what his 'style' of offense will be or look like? Do you think it will be similar to Long's with multiple TE sets, RB in the passing game, etc. or will he have his own stamp on the offense? Does his blocking scheme mesh with Quinn's? Will it be easy for current players to transition to he system?

Eric Hansen

12:51

Larry, thanks, and an intriguing question for sure. I think that philosophical shift was heavily influenced by Chip Long, but Kelly was on board.

I think accuracy is going to be emphasized over all else. And when you look at the teams in the playoff, you had Nos. 1. Burrow (LSU), 2. Hurts (Oklahoma), 3. Fields (Ohio State) and 8. Lawrence (Clemson). For comparison's sake, Book was 24th. Brandon Wimbush, in his season as a starter in 2017, was 86th. None of the QBs in the playoff were statues.

So if you can get accuracy with some athleticism, that seems to be the optimal combination. Certainly Tyler Buchner seems to fit that mold. To your question about more QB runs this season, I look at the bowl game (with Rees as play-caller) and Book ran 7 times. That's about 2 carries under his season average. My sense is that he'll want that to be a part of the offense, but not its bread and butter. It's something for me to ask when we get a chance to chat with Rees.

Larry

12:39

Larry from Berks County, PA: Hi Eric. A question about the ND QB model... During the ‘19 season, you guys talked about ND shifting their preference away from dual threat quarterbacks. BUT, Book’s late season surge was helped a great deal by him using his legs. Is it possible that the lean away from dual threat QB’s was Chip Long’s preference, and now with him out of the picture, we can expect to see QB runs used more in the offense? And maybe even start recruiting dual threat QB’s again? Thanks for all you do in the Tribune, and on WSBT.

Eric Hansen

12:39

I don't think it's obvious at all. Tyler Buchner, who's a junior in high school, appears to be the most gifted of those options. Yet that would mean him starting a true freshman in 2021 if he's the choice. I would think Brendon Clark would have an edge, because 2021 will be his third year in the system. Drew Pyne, who's on campus now as an early enrollee is the other option and, I think, the last likely one.

Coach from Reading,PA.

12:36

Eric, Is it obvious to you who will succeed Ian Book at QB? Thanks a lot I appreciate your work

Eric Hansen

12:36

Marie, thanks for the question. When I saw John McNulty's résumé up against the other candidates, it certainly suggests his background with quarterbacks is valued. When we get a chance to talk to Kelly, Rees and McNulty here before spring practice starts, that's a notion I want to explore with them. Absolutely, quarterback development hasn't been a strength during the Kelly Era.

Marie from Atlanta

12:33

Hi Eric, Thanks for having the chat. Do you forsee John Mcnutly being involved in Quarterback development? Qb developmetn at ND has been average at best recently, and OC Ress is going to have a lot more on his plate in the upcoming year. I think it is imperative ND has a back up QB who is ready to go in the event Book gets injured or to enter the game as a spark if Book is unable to get over the hump in big games. I think many people would agree that replacing Jalen Hurts for Tua in the NC game was probaly one of Saben's greatest ingame adjustments ever, and it worked out well, I think ND needs to be able to do the same if necessary.

Eric Hansen

12:31

OK, I don't see a question there, so I'll just post that as a comment.

Clancy from Sheboygan

12:31

I hope there are frequent Javon McKinley sightings this fall. So pleased he showed heart by returning for a 5th year. His blocking, steady hands and clean route running have always been evident; Hope Tommy Rees values his leadership and puts him on the field.

Eric Hansen

12:30

I don't think that's necessarily the case. He'll have a lot of speed at receiver, even if he doesn't have experience. He'll also have all five starters back on the offensive line and a play-caller with whom he has great chemistry. ... The reason Bo Bauer doesn't start is because Drew White plays better, especially in pass coverage. There's still a lot to like about Bauer.

Jim - New Jersey

12:27

Is it possible that Book takes a step back without his safety net of Kmet and Claypool? I feel he does. Is the reason Bo Bauer doesnt start due to the coaching staff not trusting him because hes very good on Specials and plays with intensity?

Eric Hansen

12:27

OK, Matt, I'll answer these in sort of rapid-fire fashion: 1. Kevin Austin Jr. 2. Kyle Hamilton and maybe maybe maybe incoming freshman OT Tosh Baker. 3. More access; bring back Thursday night sessions with Brian Kelly; have BK talk first after games; don't be afraid to roll out young guys like Kyle Hamilton who have great stories to tell; let assistants talk. 4. Timing and the circumstances of his firing ... both. 5. Continues to calculate in the vacated games into their record-keeping.

Matt (KC)

12:21

Since 17-part questions are out, would you take 5, but right to the point, your answers can be also. 1. Who is going to be our go to skill player (WR, RB, or TE) for production next season like C. Claypool was? 2. Out of all the players on the roster currently or coming in, do we have any legitimate future NFL top 5 draft picks, maybe K. Hamilton or someone else? 3. If you could change one thing about how Notre Dame football interacts with the media, what would it be? 4. Do you think Chip Long has developed a reputation that is hard to get past or was his apparent lack of job offers more a result of timing or letting the financial terms of his contract play out? 5. You will be disappointed next year if Notre Dame.....?

Eric Hansen

12:20

Joe, keep in mind that of the eights CBs on the roster, six will have freshman eligibility in 2020 (including three redshirts), so we haven't seen much of any of them. However, someone who did was Troy Pride Jr., every day in practice. We asked Troy about this (and many other things) on our most recent Pod of Gold podcast. He singled out Isaiah Rutherford as his pick to click. Rutherford surged late in the season and into the bowl workouts.

Joe Williams Bay Wi

12:16

Hi Eric I was wondering what your early thoughts are about Next seasons cornerback position.Does anyone other than Tareq Bracey jump out to to you I’m hoping there’s a Julian Love out there somewhere

Eric Hansen

12:16

Accuracy, poise, good decision-making, good recognition of defenses, fronts and the ability to shift protections. I think he is smart enough, athletic enough already, so those are the things I'd like to see this spring and in August.

Andrew Sioux Falls, SD

12:15

What would you need to see from Brendon Clark this spring/fall to feel confident as him as the backup QB?

Eric Hansen

12:14

Jeff. I would be surprised if the cornerbacks coaching search went past the end of the week. The tight ends search was always ahead of this one. An offer has been made to Mike Mickens, who interviewed last Wednesday. He's at Cincinnati, so there are a lot of moving parts with him, given his head coach was in the running, then withdrew from, consideration for the Michigan State job. UC is his alma mater. If he decides to stay, ND is ready to move on quickly.

Jeff from Phoenix

12:11

Hey Eric, any news on the cornerback coach hiring? Seems like its dragging, so did ND miss on a first choice or was it a matter of the tight end coach hire taking priority? Thanks

Tim - Pleasant Prairie WI

12:09

Just a lesson for the youngsters out there!

Eric Hansen

12:08

Awesome response.

Tim - Pleasant Prairie WI

12:08

Married 35 years. You don't get there by forgetting. Ordered flowers last Monday..

Eric Hansen

12:08

I am adequately caffeinated, so let's get started.