JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 27, 2021

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 27, 2021

Eric Hansen

3:14

That's going to do it for this week. I'm ready to stay in weekly mode one more week, so let's go ahead next Wednesday at noon ET. By the way, I improved my percentage to 62% of the questions answers. Thanks for all the great questions.

3:12

Jim, thanks. I'd say the three with the best chance of an impactful NFL career are Liam Eichenberg (who I think had to withdraw), Aaron Banks and Ade Ogundeji. You could argue all three of them might have their best football ahead of them. Of the other four, I'd take a flyer on Daelin Hayes if he can stay healthy. As for Book, someone's going to like him enough to at least put him on the practice squad.

Jim Tal, Valley Center, CA.

3:08

Hi Eric, having these chats at this time of year is such a blast. It's so great to be able to discuss ND football after the season has ended. Thanks for continuing to do this. Of the number of Irish players down at the Senior Bowl, how many do you believe have a realistic chance of having an impactful career in the NFL? And along those lines, if you had to guess, do you think that Ian Book will be on an NFL roster come this September? The opinion on that seems to greatly vary depending on who is offering an appraisal. Take care.

Eric Hansen

3:08

Foskey, MTA, Hinish, Justin Ademilola.

Bill from St Joe, MI

3:07

Understanding that we are a couple months from Spring practices, nonetheless, what do you project the starting defensive line to be?

Eric Hansen

3:07

I've written about this from both of them. In a nutshell, they enjoyed it. I don't think this year changed Notre Dame's desire to be an independent one iota.

Jeff B from Oklahoma City

3:06

Eric, now that Notre Dame has played in a conference for the first time , what were the thoughts of Kelly and Swarbrick on the experience? I will say that although I hated the outcome, I did love seeing ND play on Conference Championship Saturday and it appears the conference route is a much easier route to get in the CFP. The only game I really missed seeing was playing USC. Do you think this past year makes it more or less likely ND will ever make the move to a conference?

Eric Hansen

3:06

Kyren Williams and Kevin Austin.

John

3:06

Munster, Who will be leading rusher and receiver?

Eric Hansen

3:06

No comment.

Tom from Virginia

3:05

Someone more miserable than Greg?

Eric Hansen

3:05

Denis, full disclosure, Carter Karels handles most of these. I have done some when both Carter and Tyler James are off. The last one I did was a 2022 linebacker recruit from Michigan named Nolan Ziegler. I did as much background as I could that morning once I knew he was going to commit. Better background = better questions = better story. I'm not sure if that's the answer you were looking for, but that's how my process works.

Denis from Niagara Falls, ON

3:02

Hey Eric. I was wondering if you could explain the dynamics of a story that you would write about a commitment. Kind of like a human interest background story, that sort of thing. Do you approach the recruit and get permission? Would you ever do a story without permission? Do you try to get a scoop and in return promise a story? (not implying anything unethical about this). What would the accepted, ethical considerations be? Thanks so very much.

Eric Hansen

3:02

Bill, I'd have to watch the play over again. I don't generally do film studies, but I can rewind sometime and take a look at that. ... My favorite BBQ place in South Bend? Frankie's, of course.

Bill from St Joe, MI

Regarding the Alabama game, do you think that Shane Simon was too aggressive when he rushed himself out of his run fit or was he trying to protect the edge against Harris (the play where Harris hurdled Nick McCloud? Second question, what is your favorite Barbeque joint in your neck of the woods?

3:00

Really appreciate your wonderful coverage of ND football and continuing these chats. Two questions: re the A

Eric Hansen

3:00

A lot of the coaches were out of the office last week. Look for momentum to pick up this week/

Jeff from Phoenix

2:59

Eric, what is taking so long with hiring the secondary coach, any imminent announcement?

Eric Hansen

2:59

Maybe it's obvious to you. Intermittently throughout the time we've been doing the Pod of Gold podcasts, I've asked our guests whether they thought ND could/would win a national title while BK was still coaching. I've gotten one "no." And you can't say they don't win big games. They beat the No. 1 team in the country THIS YEAR. As far as attendance, it's not a Notre Dame thing, it's a college football thing. It's industry-wide, and I've done stories on it. You have your right to be interminably miserable and pessimistic, but don't try to pass it off as something that's factual.

Jason, Amber, PA

2:56

Well, Eric, I'm just stating the obvious. My friends and I used to travel to South Bend even if we didn't have tickets. We would pay a scalper. Now that we can get tickets we usually aren't interested in attending. ND is losing fans and those that remain loyal usually expect them to lose the big games. The question isn't about will we lose, it's about how bad will we lose.

Eric Hansen

2:56

John, what's your 40 time and do you have any eligibility left? Position that will improve the most? It needs to be wide receiver. it will probably be interior defensive line, which isn't a bad thing, maybe cornerback.

John

2:55

Munster, IN 6 2, 260: What position will improve the most? Which player will surprise us?

Eric Hansen

2:54

I think there was a time when you could win a national title with a game manager at quarterback and an elite defense. Now you still need that strong defense, but the offensive pyrotechnics are very much a necessary part of the formula. This season was a referendum on that.

Jay - Columbus, OHH

2:53

Thanks Eric - read the article this morning. Refreshing to hear you are a Rees and BK believer in getting the offense on par with the defense. Makes me wonder what they have been waiting for?

Eric Hansen

2:53

I think you have to give DelVaughn credit for stepping up in the last recruiting cycle when it was imperative that he did. And yes, I think that same opportunity is there as far as player development this year. It's critical there needs to be a lot of it at a very talent position group.

Alex from Jackson, Missouri

2:51

Eric, what is the difference in Del Alexander, and Todd Lyght? Other than the positions they coach. They seem to be getting very similar results on the field. I would give Alexander the edge on recruiting. Make or break year for him?

Eric Hansen

2:50

Jason, when I was asked earlier what kind of questions that I usually pass on, I should have included this. You answer your own questions within your questions. If you're not going to come at this with an open mind (and we don't have to end up agreeing), then why come at all?

Jason, Amber, PA

2:49

Unfortunately, Marcus Freeman will eventually discover that he can't recruit the best players because ND will not admit them. When I watched Cincinnati play it was obvious their overall defensive speed was far superior to the speed, or lack of speed, in the defensive backfield. Will ND ever come to the reality that their elite academic standards will never allow them to win a national championship? Are they happy that games are not sold out? Do they think they can continue to raise ticket prices to make up for the lower attendance at games? I know this discussion is about football but will JS finally realize that Mike Brey needs to be forced into retirement?

Eric Hansen

2:48

Again this is a concept Jack Swarbrick isn't fond of, especially if we don't know the end point of the current head coach or if it's too far in the future. That's the case right now.

RickDierolf

2:47

Hey Eric, Rick from Sinking Spring Pa. Do you see any chance that Marcus Freeman could turn into a head coach in waiting at some point?

Eric Hansen

2:47

Mike Elston is staying. His choice. Not lack of options. ... I'm not sure about how Mickens' role will fit with who ND ends up with as the safeties coach. He'd welcome more responsibility and I would think could handle it. But let's see who the safeties coach is first. ... I believe Nick Lezynski will come back as an analyst, but that's not official.

Tyler - Cleveland OH

2:43

Thanks for the chat Eric! Just a couple questions and I understand things are fluid but no news on Elston taking a new job would lead me to believe he is staying at ND? Any chatter? Also would it be of interest to promote Mickens to pass game coordinator and handle CB and Safety recruiting since he’s been touted as a recruiter and ND has lacked in that department with the exception of this years class. Does Nick Lezynski play a role? Thanks!

Eric Hansen

2:42

As I mentioned in my column today. he did some of those things this year ... playing to the strengths of his current roster and committing to and coaxing physicality from an offense that needed to move in that direction. The next step is getting more dynamic. Faster receivers. A QB who can be in the top 10 nationally in passing efficiency and a scheme to match. Some of that involved recruiting and player development. As the OC, he needs to have influence there. Is BK holding him back? I don't know why that would be.

Guest

2:38

Jay, Columbus, OH Eric - What steps in your opinion does Rees need to do as an OC to get ND on the same page as other top ten teams? Is BK holding him back? Thanks,

Eric Hansen

2:38

Jim, thanks for the nice note ... but next time include your hometown, please!!

Jim Heckart

2:37

Eric, this will be more of a reflection than a question for you. I was fortunate enough to have you publish two of my questions during your chats in the past month or so. I don't know how other questioners feel about having their issues discussed, but when I saw my questions being answered I felt like a celebrity. I told my wife and daughter and son-in-law about it and basically walked around our house like a new author who had just had his first novel published. It was exciting seeing my name in print and having a guy like you who knows so much about Irish football answer my questions. Thanks for being there every week to keep us all updated on the ins and outs of our favorite football team. Keep Covid free, and as Norah O'Donnell of CBS News says: "Stay positive and test negative."

Eric Hansen

2:37

Jack and I have only really had one discussion about how he views retirement, and him doing something different didn't come up in that conversation. I think it's a viable alternative, but at age 66, doing some fishing might sound pretty good too. I wouldn't rule either out, but he does ooze passion about what he's doing now, at Notre Dame.

Rich/Phoenxiville PA

2:33

Maybe a bit off-topic, but...It seems apparent that JS is closer to the end than the middle of his tenure. I've not seen it mentioned, but it occurs to me that he'd be a great candidate should the Power 5/BCS decide to strike out on their own in FB, more or less split off from the NCAA/bowl alignments. Lawyer, shrewd negotiator, NCAA experience, knows the P5 conferences without being aligned with any one. Years of experience managing the most prolific football program in the country (IMO). What do you think? Would there be interest based on your interactions with him?

Eric Hansen

2:31

I think it's important for him (and other assistants) to show improvement every year. Football is an evolutionary game. Now if you're asking me, when should he be mentioned in the same breath as Steve Sarkisian (Bama), Kevin Wilson (Ohio State), and Tony Elliott (Clemson), I think Brian Kelly's expectation is that Rees' learning curve will be quick and his ceiling high. So I would say to expect more than an incremental step forward in 2021. Better of with a separate QB coach? I don't think so. I'm good with that being the same person.

Sean,Greensboro, NC

2:26

Screen just flipped Sorry for the inconvenience, First, we Irish fans are a impatient lot. How long should we wait for Rees to show he can be a difference maker? Second, in your opinion, would we be better off with a separate QB coach?

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