JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 13, 2021

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 13, 2021

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Eric Hansen

2:14

Did my mom pay you to ask that?

Lee from Lancaster, SC

2:13

Hi Eric, some players are better than others and I think the same holds true for sportswriters. You are one of the best and the one I turn to for all my ND football coverage. I'm curios, were you this good when you first started or did you get better with experience like many players do?

Eric Hansen

2:13

You are limited on scholarships. It's Coan or McCaffrey (or someone else)? Not both. Coan had the experience (and other qualities) ND was looking for. If Dylan was so good (and he very well may be), why didn't he ever take over at Michigan?

Chris in Albuquerque

2:10

Eric, I asked about McCaffrey simply because he looked very good against us. Yes we have 5 qb's but it appeared to me that albeit limited action, McCaffrey is better than at least 4 and arguably all 5 with the mobility that Book had to extend plays. I get only 35 attempts but that is more than the 4 qbs total in the room. Its opening night at FSU, would having a high 4 star McCaffrey be our starting qb be so bad? Appreciate the talks my man!

Eric Hansen

2:09

Big, big time.

Ryan mars pa

2:09

Good afternoon Eric what do you think about the hiring of the new defense coordinator Go Irish

Eric Hansen

2:09

Ugh. Not any credible rumors.

Greg - South Bend

2:08

Hi Eric, Any rumors about going Brian Kelly interviewing for the Philadelphia job again? I believe he was close last time until them hired Doug Pederson.

Eric Hansen

2:08

Mark, I still think defense is a big part of the formula, particularly rushing defense. But you can't win a national title with a great defense ONLY and a game manager at QB and a pedestrian offense. You need to have both elements if you're going to win two games against top 4 teams.

Mark, Orange County CA

2:06

Hi Eric, as always thanks for these chats. Do you think Defenses no longer win championships and a high powered and high scoring offense is the future of cfb? low scoring slug it out games are mostly a thing of the past? Kind of related, not much acknowledgement in the press of ND keeping Alabama to the lowest points scored in a any of their games this past season.

Eric Hansen

2:06

In the recruiting analyst industry, Kelly is looked upon as a very good closer, but not an elite overall recruiter. He has reacted to having that pushed in his face by making some changes, which include getting involved with some key recruits much earlier in the process and more often throughout it. Also Marcus Freeman will bring an elite level of recruiting to the job, not that Clark Lea was a slouch.

Adam, (Dayton, OH)

2:04

Eric, Justin from Houston had a great question (and you a great answer) re: ND vs. OSU OSU recruiting. Indiana is certainly not Ohio in producing talent, but as the best known Catholic university, can they do a better job of tapping into the Catholic high school resource across the country? Those schools are talent-rich, and ND should be a serious threat to land a kid out of those schools-no matter what state. Another point, Urban was one of the best recruiting head coaches of all time, and he upped OSU's talent level from the Tressel era, even though Tressel was a great coach and his Buckeyes a near elite program. Brian Kelly is not that level of recruiter. Could ND hire some type of recruiting specialist in a support system type-role to combat the fact that the head coach isn't an elite recruiter?

Eric Hansen

2:03

Sorry I had a wifi hiccup there... I'm back.

1:56

I wasn't surprised to read it, because I was the first one who reported it. And not surprised at all the Clark Lea may go in that direction if Denbrock is willing to leave Cincinnati.

Michael from Chicago

1:55

Not technically ND related, but...were you surprised to read that Mike Denbrock interviewed for the Vandy OC position? Reasonable to assume Coach Kelly made this suggestion to Coach Lea?

Eric Hansen

1:55

Eric, it goes without saying your parents have great taste. ... But to your point, I think the solution is both in talent upgrades and play design. And yes, I think Brian Kelly, Tommy Rees and the offensive staff will review that. It's all about keeping up with what's going on in football and then getting ahead of the curve. So any coach that's worth his contract is constantly striving to get better. I'm not sure which WRs you wanted to see that you didn't get to see. It seems like Jordan Johnson's lack of playing time was more self-inflicted. Now Xavier Watts ... I can understand your point there. Would it have made a difference between 10-2 and 12-0? No. But a healthy Kevin Austin and Braden Lenzy all season could have made ND more competitive in December and January.

Eric from Akron

1:50

Good afternoon Eric. When I watch other teams in the playoff offensively, I see WRs running free from time to time - Monday was a good example. I refuse to believe this is a talent issue - but rather an offensive design issue. Do you think this is something the offensive staff will review this off-season? Do you agree that some of our younger WRs should have seen "some" pt? Thanks and take care!

Eric Hansen

1:49

Joey, there were a lot of layers as to why they passing game wasn't better. Some were limitations of the QB. Some was because of injuries to two of the most dynamic athletes in the WR room. Some could be development/coaching at that position. We'll know more definitively this year. ... Not sure why you're picking on Avery Davis. The guy made amazing progress this season. As far as up-and-comers at the slot position, I'm bullish on incoming freshman Lorenzo Styles Jr.

Jack Coan will enroll at ND in February and will be present and available for spring practice.

1:42

Again, my lack of coordination is on display. Let's go to Larry first and then Joey G,

Joey G. Phila,Pa

1:41

Hi Eric, After watching the Irish Wr’s no show in yet another big game. In your opinion is it a QB,coaching, or lack of talent problem. Also, don’t see all the hype about Avery Davis return. ND doesn’t have anybody that can unseat him?

Guest

1:41

Larry from Topton, PA. Hi Eric! It's great to have our chat; highlight of the week! Short question: will Jack Coan be at ND for spring practice? (whatever form that takes) t

Eric Hansen

1:41

Yes, there will be some more departures. Right now, I'd say the positions where looking at grad transfers might make a lot of sense are: safety, cornerback and defensive end.

Dan McCarty

1:39

If you were to do a two deep roster AFTER all of the transfers, departures and graduations, where are the big holes to fill?

Eric Hansen

1:39

Ken. As you know we changed the format and the timing last year because of the uncertainty of whether there would even be a season. We're hoping to roll at least the timing back, but I'm not sure about the format. The new format was more profitable to the company, and that matters to them. As you may not know, we're under our third ownership group in a couple of years time and are now a part of a much larger company. The old, old owners knew me, sat in my office and talked football on occasion, know what kind of car I drove. The intermediate owners knew me and my reputation in the college sports world. The new owners might not know me beyond my corporate ID, so navigating changes in the format might be a bit more complicated. I am optimistic, though. No promises, but thank you for asking.

Ken - Pensacola

1:34

Eric - Happy New Year to you and yours. Looking forward to chatting with you this year. Ok, when can we expect for a SLICK ND Insider for the 2021, like smooth. crisp pages with plenty of GREAT Information on our team? And when could we expect to see it hit the stands. Thanks mucho - GO IRISH! Thanks again. Ken

Eric Hansen

1:33

Tony, I think there is value in having the polls, if nothing else to generate interest in early-season games and for the historical context they bring. ... I mentioned I had ND fourth. You can see my entire ballot here. You can use the dropdown menu to look at any of the other voters' ballots. I think a big reason why A&M jumped ND is because voters were encouraged to turn in their ballots early. I'm not trying to take a stab at bad political humor. AP wanted to publish the results a couple of hours after the game. Especially for those covering the game, that was a tough ask. So they asked for early ballots and just fill in 1 and 2 with winner and loser. I think the Alabama-OSU final score probably would have influenced some voters who turned their ballots in early.

Tony, Fairfax, VA

1:27

Yes polls don't matter, but still mean something for fans. how did you tank the irish in the final poll? TAMU jumping is egregious. Another data point of uselessness of polls. But hey it fired me up.

Eric Hansen

to support that belief.

1:27

Jim, thanks for the kind words there. You all helped me get through COVID with my sanity as well. ... The Alabama-Clemson-Ohio State dominance is a problem for all of college football. That's why there's talk about maybe moving to an eight-team playoff before the contact expires to explore that possibility without strings. Would that necessarily solve the problem? Not sure, but it might help recruiting at some schools. Over the three seasons we've had our Pod of Gold podcast, I've intermittently asked guests if Notre Dame can win a national title under Kelly. Out of maybe 20 guests, some of whom have no ties to ND, I've gotten one "no" response. Here's why I would say yes. Notre Dame is achieving things they haven't done in decades. This 2020 team was the first since 1990 to go wire to wire in the top 10 of the AP poll. They're one of only five teams to make it to the playoff twice. And they've got a head coach who not only believes he can win a national title, he's busting his butt to continue to find ways

Jim from Berlin, CT

1:18

Eric, I want to reiterate what so many others have said throughout the season: Thank you so much for all the great info you gave us on the Irish. You have helped us all get through a really tough football season as well as an even tougher Covid year with your insights and comments. I hope you and your family contuse to stay safe in the coming year. My question is this: Realistically, are we just deluding ourselves by thinking the Irish can somehow overcome the advantages that the Alabamas, Ohio States and Clemsons of the world have in recruiting in order to truly compete on their level in the playoffs? Since 2012, we've been outscored 103-27 in our three playoff matchups and have also lost badly to Ohio State and Clemson in two other contests. Should we just be satisfied with a top ten ranking and not have out hopes dashed by thinking we can beat any of the elites?

Eric Hansen

1:18

Bruce, thanks. I don't think it interrupts the momentum, because this isn't expected to be a playoff team. As long as BK gets the most out of them. As long as there's a feeling of progress. As long as recruiting continues to progress, I think momentum remains and maybe builds.

Bruce, Centralia, IL

1:16

Hi Eric, The end of the season was disappointing, but the trend of the program in recruiting and on-field performance seems overwhelmingly positive. If the team slips back to say 8–4 next year, how much does that interrupt the momentum that BK and his staff have been building? I say 8-4 only because there are so many questions that need to be answered, including what we can expect from Jack Coan. Thanks as always. - B.

Eric Hansen

1:16

Trevor, I mentioned this last week, that you always start by identifying your five best O-linemen and then fitting them to positions. The top three are Patterson, Lugg and Correll, but Patterson is likely to miss spring. And is he best at LT or C? I'd put Correll at center in the spring and Lugg at right tackle and then get a look at some of the younger LT talent, like Andrew Kristofic and Tosh Baker. There's a group of Kristofic, Carroll, Spindler, Gibbons that are probably competing for two spots. Maybe Baker makes that leap with a great winter in the weight room. My Hunter Spears surprises.

Trevor

1:11

Hey Eric this is Trevor from Drayton Ontario Canada . Really enjoy reading these chats figured I'd jump in with a fw questions about the Offensive Line as of right now who do you think the starting five would be ? Whos a dark horse or sleeper in the mix who may have not played this past season who could push for playing time or even split reps ?

Eric Hansen

There's a magnifying glass feature that zooms in on the depth chart.

1:10

Without further blather, here's the early depth chart. This might be tough to see on phones.

1:09

Bill. thanks. I am going to share a depth chart I've been playing around with, but hadn't published yet. I placed incoming freshmen at the bottom of their positions, even thought I think several will quickly climb. Offensive line was a lot of guesswork. I'm also not accounting for players who will be limited in or miss spring all together because of an injury. A lot of positions are very fluid. I think the offensive line has a lot of talent, but it's getting the chemistry right and putting the pieces in the right places. I think QB, safety and cornerback would be the positions of biggest concern.

Bill Kaufman

1:02

Bill - Windsor, CO. Eric, thanks for the great reporting you do for all of us Irish fans. My question: What position groups at this time appear to be of most concern for the 2021 season? Which players do you believe will be the starters in those position groups?

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