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

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 27, 2021

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Eric Hansen

2:23

Doug ... With Dave Ragone, I think you're thinking about Mike Ragone, the former Irish tight end. Dave, the NFL coach, went to Louisville. As far as Anthony, I think he'd be great and I've heard his name come up in speculation at different points. He only coached full-time in college one year (2011) and has been in the NFL since, so I'm not sure how appealing coaching in college at this point would be for him.

Doug from Sunny Florida

2:16

Eric, Anthony Weaver and Dave Ragone were just named as Defensive and Offensive coordinators in the NFL. Do you know if either has expressed any interest in coming back and coaching at ND or if ND has reached out to gauge their interest recently or for future positions?

Eric Hansen

2:14

I think the score in each of those games would have been closer. I don't know the outcome would have been different, but the postgame feel would definitely have been.

Nick from MN

2:14

Looking back on last season, it seems to me that Ian Book played by far the best football of his career (or at least the season) in the Clemson I game and the North Carolina game, and then couldn't get back to that level in the ACC Championship or the playoff (although I recognize that wide receiver play was not as good in those games either, especially the championship game). If he had been able to stay at that level, do you think those games would have been one- or two-score losses instead, and would we now be talking about how close ND is to reaching the next level?

Eric Hansen

2:13

Gene, you speed it up with better recruiting. When you do that, your depth is better, your margin for error is better, you're playbook works better. There are three programs that have that talent/player development/coaching quotient down. And 127 others are chasing. It's not just talent. Otherwise USC and Georgia would be celebrating national titles in the past decade. But camera-ready talent is a great equalizer.

Gene in NY

2:10

Eric, Thanks again for all the great coverage and giving us something to look forward to during these difficult times. After watching the playoffs, my question is not so much about talent disparity (yes, it is apparent) as talent development. Main reason ND gets there is that QB and OL were all in their third solid year of development. How often is that going to happen? Until this past year where Book surpassed most everyone’s expectations, I believe the best QB years under Kelly were Book’s and Kizer’s first year, where both started on the bench. Why is that? Alabama loses top receiver and ‘other’ receiver ends up Player of the Year. Clemson loses QB and RB next year and are pre-preseason #1. ND loses two speedy receivers and in big games there’s no receiver to be found. OL took three years to reach expectations-why? How do you speed up development??

Eric Hansen

2:09

Stephen. I did the cookie story, and the best part of it was that Beth and the Elston girls months later made a sack of cookies each for Tom, Tyler, Carter and me. Tyler and I actually tried them out during our podcast. I can tell you this. (Sorry mom) best cookies I've EVER tasted. ... but that's not your question. We would LOVE LOVE LOVE to do more personality profiles on the assistant coaches. Limited access because of COVID and limited access because that's kind of the way BK wants it are the two hurdles. Generally, we get a chance to do those stories in the summer for our magazine/special section. My hope is at the very least we get a chance to do some of that then.

Stephen from Toledo OH

2:04

Hi Eric!!! Glad to have the chats back and can’t wait for some more Irish news. This year is gonna be interesting with all of the exiting OL and the addition of new coaching staff. I recall an article someone did on Elston and his wife’s cookies and how he met Kelly and grew to be one of his main staples in his programs. I was wondering if you had any plans on doing in depth stories on the updated staff. I’d really like to get to know them, their experience, college play, coaching influences, schematic ideals and even family life and how they tie in to BK himself. Was wondering if this was something on the docket or something you’d consider? If you have time obviously since you have so many coaches in the program. Thank you

Eric Hansen

2:04

Jim, with Kevin Austin having to undergo postseason surgery on that foot, I'm not sure what his availability is going to be like in the spring. Some of that will be affected by just when spring practice is held. The later it's staged, the better chance you'd at least get to see a limited version of Kevin in the spring.

Jim, Terre Haute In

2:02

Hey Eric, last week you mentioned you would be interested in seeing how receivers such as Jordan Johnson, Braden Lenzy and one or two others developed coming into this spring, but no mention of Kevin Austin. Was this omission intended or by design? Do know something the rest of us Irish fans don’t know regarding Austin? Thanks as always for your responses to our questions.

Eric Hansen

2:02

Doug, if Marcus Freeman coaches the way he did at Cincinnati and closes in recruiting the way he's kicked down doors, then yes. Huge step toward moving on up. But modernizing the offense, or evolving might be the better word, is critical too -- through recruiting, through getting speed and talent on the field and through scheme and play-calling.

Doug from Sunny Florida

2:00

Eric, since the 2016 season, ND has certainly been trending in the right direction. I feel they're at the upper part of the Tier 2 teams with sights on Tier 1 (Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson). What pushes ND into the top tier? Is Marcus Freeman someone that can help push into the top tier with his recruiting? Seems like he's getting his foot into some doors that weren't necessarily open on the recruiting trail to ND.

Eric Hansen

1:59

Thanks, Neil. I think the tiebreaker question logic that was shared with you is sound, but I wouldn't be rigid in applying it. Sometimes the sense of urgency of a player who hears the clock ticking is going to break the tie in the other direction. Sometimes the older player works harder. I would take all those factors into account. ... In terms of whether I see that with the Irish? I don't see all ties going to the younger players. It's more about who they project will improve faster and more sustainably from that point forward,

Neil (Indianapolis, IN)

A coach once told me that, when two players have similar ability or performance, the tiebreaker on playing time should always go to the younger player. Do you agree in the context of major college football, and do you see that with the Irish?

1:56

Thanks for these chats, Eric. Your combination of thoughtfulness yet respect for the fact that these are still college kids whose names are in the public domain never ceases to impress.

Eric Hansen

Thanks for the normalcy to all of you. I enjoy this.

1:55

Other than the sanctions, which we listed in their entirety and you touched upon, it means: Don't do this again while you're on probation, or the sanctions will be more restrictive.

Mark, Orange County CA

1:54

Hi Eric, thanks for hosting these chats. Can't express enough how your coverage of ND football has provided us fans with a sense of normalcy in these less than normal times. My question is what exactly do these latest NCAA recruiting violations mean in terms of being on probation. I understand the fines, and and restrictions but what ramifications does being placed on probation mean?

Eric Hansen

1:53

Tim, thanks. I read Shake Down The Thunder years ago and enjoyed it. I've also gotten to know Murray Sperber ... very interesting guy.

Tim - Pleasant Prairie WI

1:53

Hi Eric..Bruce from Centralia IL asked an interesting question about TN and rules violations. Your answer was superb. It put me in mind, however, of a book I recently read and one I am reading now. The former is "Shake Down the Thunder" and the latter is "Onward to Victory". Both are by author Murray Sperber, as I am sure you are aware. In these books he goes back in history after accessing archives no one had previously accessed, to reveal many things and explode many myths about Notre Dame Football, Knute Rockne, and college football in general. Among the things that I found interesting was the relationship between media members and the schools, especially Notre Dame, back in the days during and prior to WWII. That realtionship has changed greatly in the years since, as you attested to in your response to Bruce. I just wanted to recomend these books to your readers. "Shake Down the Thunder" focuses strictly on the creation of Notre Dame football. "Onward to Victory" on all of college football.

Eric Hansen

1:52

I should have mentioned Mike Jones Jr. in my answer to Natrona Heights Greg. Because of the caliber of player he is, I think you have to do your due diligence with a guy like that. If his skill set transfers to whatever Marcus Freeman is going to call the rover, he's very much worth a look if you can make the scholarship numbers work. If he's a better fit inside, then I'm going to pass.

Chris , Salt Lake City

1:47

Any chance that ND goes after clemson LB Mike Jones? Appreciate the Irish Warmth you bring in snowy Utah!

Eric Hansen

1:46

Gabe, you got me. It'd be one thing if I was alive in 1937. I'm not THAT old LOL. ... To your more timely question, I think they need to be competitive for positions. There's a lot of talent in those two classes. I'm really eager to see what Jordan Johnson, Xavier Watts and Lorenzo Styles Jr. can do in a receiving corps that will include Kevin Austin and Braden Lenzy among others.

Gabriel Weiss from North Liberty

Happy Wednesday Mr. Hansen! Im excited for the young receivers coming into the program or have been in the program for a year now. Do you expect any sophomores or freshmen to make an impact in the receiving game next year? Will JJ play a major role? Thanks, as always, for your time

1:41

Hello, Mr. Hansen, why did Notre Dame run the single wing formation in 1937? haha just jokes have a good one

Eric Hansen

1:41

Quarterback, and it's not even close.

Paul - Annandale, VA

1:41

What is the most important position that needs to be filled? From current players and recruiting.

Eric Hansen

1:40

Andre, other than the risk of penalty, I see no holes in your argument. At some point, when Brian Polian is available for non-recruiting questions, that's one I'd like to send his way ... the whole philosophy around punt returns.

Andre

1:39

Andre from Baltimore. Thanks for your column. It's fine that we almost always call for a fair catch on punts. But as long as we're not going to run it back, why not go for the block much more often? Why block the gunners when we don't care how fast they get downfield ? The only downside i can think of is the possibility of running into the kicker, but if we practice blocking the punt all season and do it several times a game, wouldn't we get pretty skillful at it?

Eric Hansen

1:38

Greg, thanks. Your secret is safe with me. And if your boss finds out, tell him to call me and I'll set him straight. ... With Houston Griffith doing a portal U-turn, there's less urgency to look at a safety. I would be looking at quality grad transfer cornerbacks and defensive ends, perhaps taking one of each. With school starting next Wednesday, the Irish may wait until after spring practice, look at the numbers and then either get more serious or back off.

Greg - Natrona Heights, PA

1:32

Eric, I love these chats...truth be told I read them while I am at work so please don't tell on me. What are your thoughts on other positions that we may be able to add through the transfer portal and what areas do you think the coaching staff needs to address though the transfer portal? Keep up the great work and GO IRISH!!

Eric Hansen

1:31

When I talked to BK in July one-on-one about upping his game in recruiting, he sounded sincere when he claimed he needed to be more involved at critical junctures. Ford was offered in April, so not to have talked to BK from April through January has a bad look. Now would Ford have done so if he had been able to make a visit? Very likely. What I hope to get to the bottom of is this: Was BK unwilling? Or was this a lack of organization, and someone dropped the ball on getting him involved? In either case, the response to make sure it doesn't happen again is what's important now.

1:27

This 2022 recruiting cycle will help fill in those blanks. ... The Tyson Ford question has come up a lot today. For background, this was info from a story Pete Sampson did for The Athletic on a recent verbal commitment from a standout DE recruit from St. Louis, who recently committed to the Irish. I don't doubt the reporting. What I'm not sure of is the context. Some of the time BK wasn't texting the kid, he was in fact, busy trying to hire Marcus Freeman and keep him from taking an offer for LSU. And you could explain how from mid-December on he was locked in on getting ready for Alabama. (more)

1:23

Hi Marie. You are a mind reader when it comes to the first part of your question. I was thinking the same thing yesterday as I was writing my column that focused on Rees. I actually reached out to someone in the recruiting business to get those answers. We talked off the record, because there's a hesitancy by some to be too candid and risk getting avenues of information cut off because of that candor. What I've learned so far from that conversation and others before it is that Rees is very good at evaluating quarterbacks, He's very good at reciting Notre Dame's selling points. He comes across as authentic. But there are a lot of unknowns as he broadens into the offensive coordinator on the recruiting trail, and not just a position coach. Can he evaluate other offensive positions as adeptly? Is he willing to extend offers to kids Notre Dame is starting way behind with and has steep odds of eventually landing? Is he able to win a tug-of-war for a coveted undecided prospect? (More)

Marie from Atlanta

1:14

Hi Eric, I hope your week is going well. What do you think of Rees recruiting and evaluation potential? After watching Marcus Freeman tear it up the last several weeks, I wonder if Rees has the chops to recruit the talent necessary to compete for championships. For example why was ND so late getting in on the Ty Simpson recruitment? Also I read where Tyson Ford said he had no contact with BK during his recruitment as opposed to 6-10 meetings with Lincoln Riley, do you really think BK is serious about upping his personal recruiting efforts? If so this is not a good look or a good start. Thanks for hosting the chat , always look forward to your opinions.

Eric Hansen

1:14

Fred, first thanks for the kind words ... Now to Brendon Clark. The knee Clark had surgically repaired in high school started giving him trouble late this past season. There's reason to believe he's undergone surgery since the end of the season, but that has yet to be confirmed, so don't run with that. As soon as Brian Kelly is available, we'll get a better read on where that's headed. If he has to miss spring or is limited, it will hurt his chances of winning the job or even being the No. 2 option. ... From what I've seen of Clark, I like him a lot and want to see more ... but it's a very, very small sample size. I can't disagree with you about ND's quarterback recruiting and development needing to take a big step forward. That's not a knock on Ian Book. He by far exceeded what was expected of him. But ND needs to take a big step forward on the recruiting and development fronts if it aspires to compete for national titles.

Fred from Richmond

1:05

As always I enjoy reading your chats and staying on top of everything related to Notre Dame Football, you seem to more informed than anyone except maybe Coach Kelly. What is the current status of quarterback Brenden Clark. This young man's potential is extremely intriguing. I saw him in high school and was blown away by his accuracy and scrambling ability. He played in a very strong high school program which produced many excellent college players. Everyone seems to be handing the job to Tyler Buchner, and forgetting about Clark, which I believe is a big mistake. Certain players have that "it" factor and he is one of them, I thank Ian Book for all he accomplished but he never had that "it" factor. I have been thankful for everything Coach Kelly has done for the program, but his inability to develop strong quarterback play has been troubling. We have had great offensive lines and have placed several receivers in the NFL, but no quarterbacks, do you see this as a problem as many others beside myself do?

Eric Hansen

1:04

Larry. Notre Dame has extended scholarship offers to three QBs in the 2022 class. In August, offers went out to Steve Angeli (6-2, 205) from Oradell, N.J., and Gavin Wimsatt (6-3, 200) from Owensboro, Ky. This month, they extended a third to Ty Simpson (6-2, 185) from Martin. Tenn. Simpson is the highest-rated of the three, followed by Wimsatt and Angeli.

Guest

1:00

Larry from Topton, PA: Hi Eric! Thank you for keeping the chats going during the offseason. I always learn a lot from reader questions and your answers. As you have mentioned, with four quarterbacks having freshman eligibility in 2021, QB recruiting could get challenging going forward. What can you tell us about the status of QB recruiting for 2022? Thanks Eric!!

Eric Hansen

12:58

Bill, thanks. Yes Notre Dame has certain measurables they're looking for when they're recruiting certain positions. Sometimes a prospect outside of those measurables feels too good to pass up. Sheldon Day is an example of that. nd yes they go into the recruiting cycle looking at needs. There are exceptions. Let's say they want to take two wide receivers, and they have two commitments, but there's an elite five-star guy still in play. They'd wait on him and take him, but not necessarily any other third receiver.

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