JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 31, 2024

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 31, 2024

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Sean, Schaumburg IL

1:44

After listening to FNS I was curious if a position change to Tight End/D end might be feasible for Aamil Wagner if he can't put on weight. A 270-280 pound TE/D end is always nice to have. Is he a transfer portal option if he gets passed on the depth chart?

Eric Hansen

1:44

Hi Ryan. I think Notre Dame still leads for the three-star legacy recruit from College Park, Ga., and that he'll eventually end up in ND's class. He REALLY enjoyed his last visit, on Jan. 20. But I think he wants to take his time to some extent and enjoy the process and not just make the decision that's obvious to outside observers.

Ryan mars

1:42

Good afternoon Eric What do you think about our chances of getting Jerome Bettis Jr when he makes his decision Go Irish ☘️☘️🏈🏈

Eric Hansen

1:42

Hi Don. I don't think we'll get Marcus Freeman this week. We will get Loren Landow as well as all of the offensive early enrolled freshmen and transfers as well as 30-year-old Citadel transfer/walk-on kicker Eric Goins ... to your question re Freeman, to me the biggest areas of attention this offseason for his growth need to be ... how to make the Irish a better road team, smoothing out gameday operations so, for instance, he and I never have to answer another question about 10 men on the field unless it's about the opposition. ... And blending leaning on analytics for in-game decisions with instincts/feel for the game when analytics should be overridden.

Don in Scottsdale

1:37

Eric, as usual you and the team are doing a great job. Before spring camp the only real view of the team are the coaches. That said it seems like Coach Freeman has grown into his position. Needs to continue however he seems comfortable with the job.. Not sure how much interaction he has with media; what are you seeing that we can't? Are there "soft spots" not apparent that need attention? I know you meet with him Friday. What do you need to see to believe the program can move to a higher level? Thanks.

Eric Hansen

1:36

Hi Ed, and thank you. The best asset a special teams coach can have is having a head coach who prioritizes it and gives him the full run of the roster. When it's part of the team culture, which it is under Marcus Freeman at ND, negotiation/persuasion skills aren't as important. Not all special teams coaches have the same strengths. With Brian Mason, he was incredible with watching film and being able to figure out ways to block punts ... and to scare the snot out of the punter when they didn't get home on the block. Marty Biagi is a rare special teams coach who actually was a kicker and punter in college. That gives him an edge with those positions. By remaking Spencer Shrader's swing, for instance, he was able to add significant distance to his field goals. Being able to evaluate players who will help you on coverage and returns is important as well.

Ed from Sayville NY

1:30

Hi Eric, what do you hear, what do you say? I feel like I have learned much about offensive line development by listening to Bob Morton on the podcast. He’s outstanding! Another area I would like to learn more about is special teams. What are the skills that a successful coach would need? It feels like negotiation skills would be paramount in relation to getting the players you want both from a recruiting and current roster perspective. Thoughts appreciated.

Eric Hansen

1:29

Thanks for jumping in, Jeff. The NFL Draft hopefuls do have access to the Notre Dame strength and conditioning staff, though most don't train om campus but in the scenario you suggested. Because Loren is new, I'm not sure how compelled this group would be, because they don't have an established connection with him. There have been some players who stayed in South Bend and trained with Loren's predecessor, Matt Balis, in the past. Or kind of mixed and matched ... personal trainers up until Pro Day in March, then a switch to Balis.

Jeff from Phoenix

1:26

Hey Eric, the great questions in the chat so far inspired me to jump in. For the players preparing for the draft, do they have access to Landow and his NFL experience? If they don’t graduate until May, are they working out at ND? Safe to assume those that have graduated are off working with professional trainers in warmer locales? Thanks as always-

Eric Hansen

1:26

Ced, I know it's difficult in the offseason, because people kind of jump in and our on offseason news and aren't necessarily plugged in 100 percent of the time (Marie from Atlanta is an exception). Transfers Rod Heard II (Northwestern) and Beaux Collins (Clemson) are finishing up their degree work remotely this semester while living in South Bend. So, they can attend spring practices but not participate in them. They can lift at the Gug under the watchful eye of Loren Landow and his staff but can't participate in team lifts. They can attend team meetings but are excluded from some other team activities. So they and the eight June-enrolling freshmen will get their number assignments this summer.

cederickwalker

1:22

ced walker saginaw michigan I notice rod heard and beaux collins roster # wasnt announced what date will spring practice start here come the irish trust the process the golden standard rally we are nd god country go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us

Eric Hansen

1:21

And Michael, there's nothing wrong with your questions. We're this close to talking to him directly, which is always preferred to sources.

1:20

I'll let him spill the team on that on Friday. As was all the details of what he envisions for the ND program. So check it out Friday at insideNDsports.com.

Guest

1:20

Michael - San Antonio. Did Loren Landow announce who is on his staff? Did he keep any existing coaches, or bring new ones in, or a mixture?

Eric Hansen

1:19

Hi Mark. I get this a lot, and I understand why. Because if you ask someone else on t he beat, you might get a very different answer. I really think this is not only about determining No. 1, but determining 2-3-4 as well. When was the last time ND started the spring with someone like CJ Carr as No. 4? I think it's important for team chemistry as much as anything that the competition is real. They need to see in practice who's No. 1. Otherwise, you have the potential for a split locker room. It also would make themselves question whether their standing on the team was legit if people didn't have to compete for their jobs. Realistically, I expect Riley Leonard to win this. But I will admit this now, I never thought Ian Book could pass Brandon Wimbush on the depth chart, and he did. And he was the better college QB. So, one thing that's great about sports is surprises. That's how we got Pat Coogan as a starter, got Howard Cross as an All-American and got Jordan Faison as a bowl game MVP.

Mark, Orange County CA

1:14

Hi Eric, Really appreciate that you host these chat even in the off season, Do you think spring camp will be a true quarterback tryout or only a tryout to determine the #2 quarterback?

Eric Hansen

1:12

All three need to have some coverage skills. But that becomes more urgent as you move away from the middle linebacker. Inside at the will and mike, there needs to be a level of physicality to deal with guards coming at you. If this is more confusing than helpful, email me, and I'll try to do something that's not so off the top of my head.

1:10

Linebacker play has changed dramatically, even since Manti Te'o played at 250ish and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up. Notre Dame plays the mike (middle linebacker), will (weakside) and rover. The rover concept under Mike Elko and Clark Lea was to man it with a safety/linebacker skill set (think Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah) who wouldn't have to come off the field on third down because he could play the run, cover tight ends and cover slot receivers. Typically, the rover comes off the field on third down. (more)

1:07

So the field receiver is the guy who lines up on the side of the field where there's the most real estate for the defender to cover. The harder it is to defend that player one-on-one (think Will Fuller), the more it potentially opens up the rest of your offense because of the choices the defensive coordinator must make in terms of safety help. So having someone with elite speed at that position is a premium. The boundary receiver doesn't necessarily have elite speed, but usually have great size and physicality. If he has both, all the better. So Miles Boykin, Chase Claypool, Ben Skowronek and now Jayden Thomas are good examples. They can muscle cornerbacks in the smaller space. (more)

1:03

Hi Mike. Thank you! So let's give you the simplified versions of this. Remember, these are generalities ... there are always exceptions to the rule. So Notre Dame in three-wide receivers sets plays two outside receivers and an inside guy (slot). The slot receiver typically is an elite speed guy with great moves, usually not overly physical. Jaden Greathouse, when he's in the slot, doesn't fit that mold, but is really effective in part because of his physicality. Chris Tyree is more what you think of as a slot receiver. Then there are two outside receivers. And this is where ball position in relation to the hashmarks comes into play. In the NFL there is less of a differentiation of the outside receivers, because the hashes are closer together. (more)

Mike from Rockville

12:59

Hi, Eric! Thanks for keeping these chats going in the offseason! Now might be a good time to ask a question I’ve always had. I didn’t play football, so can you help me understand the differences in the specific positions for the wide receivers (ex: X) and linebackers? And also what traits ND is looking for in each of those? If this is too much, I can ask about LBs next time. Thanks in advance!

Eric Hansen

12:59

Hi John. Marshall Pritchett is a three-star tight end prospect playing at Rabun Gap Nacoochee School in Rabun Gap, Ga. He has visited Notre Dame four times, the most recent being the Ohio State game on Sept. 23 and does not yet have an offer. The Irish already have four-star legacy recruit James Flanigan committed and would like to take two in the 2025 cycle. They Irish have prioritized four-star Linkon Cure as the other TE. So the door isn't closed, but without and offer, he's not a priority at this point.

John - Elkhorn, Ne.

12:51

Greetings Eric- wondering if the Irish are done recruiting the tight end position or if Wes Pritchett’s son is still on their radar? Thanks!

Eric Hansen

12:50

In looking at how Kelly did things, he seems to have been more involved in the day-to-day running of the offense, the coaching of the QBs etc., but it took him having a 4-8 season to invent in being accessible to the players. So other than sacrificing sleep and delegating things that can/should be delegated, I don't think Marcus Freeman has emphasized recruiting at the expense of something he shouldn't be.

12:48

Hey Doug. Great question and one that's very difficult to answer in a streamlined fashion, and I'll give you one scenario. Because Marcus Freeman invests so heavily on the front end of the recruitment and maintaining that momentum, he may be saving himself time and stress in November and December when other teams try to get players to decommit .. .or an assistant coach leaves for another job ... those recruits have that longstanding and strong relationship with Marcus Freeman. So instead of dividing his time during ND's stretch run or bowl prep or playoff prep or scrambling to sign an 11th-hour recruit, he's made a smart investment on the front end. (More)

Doug from Sunny Florida

12:36

Eric, it's been well documented that coach MF puts in a lot of time and effort into recruiting and it is certainly paying dividends. I asked a form of this question in a past chat but after two years, your response may be different. The time that he spends recruiting has to come at the expense of some other area of the job. Do you see him spending less time in an area(s) of the head coach position than previous head coaches as a result and if so, where and does it seem beneficial or detrimental overall?

Eric Hansen

12:34

Hi Patrick. Walk-on safety Luke Talich has his freshman season end prematurely in 2023 as a result of a broken collarbone. He was playing primarily special teams. I know safeties coach Chris O'Leary is extremely high on Luke and couldn't wait to see how the 6-4, 198-pound freshman performed as a 210-poiunder. Well guess what, that's where he is now. And with Northwestern transfer Rod Heard II not joining the roster until June, Talich and the other young safeties will have plenty of opportunity to show out this spring. The numbers right now would not allow him to be on scholarship, but that will likely change after spring semester, and I would anticipate Talich no longer being a walk-on at that time.

Patrick, Fort Wayne, IN

12:30

Good afternoon Eric. Can you give us an update on Luke Talich, the walk-on safety that was profiled last fall. I know he is getting over an injury. Do you think he will get a scholarship this spring?

Eric Hansen

12:30

Hi Skip. None of the above technically. I think I was pretty thorough in the story I did, but I'll try to boil it down. Gabe Rubio is away from Notre Dame football this semester to attend to personnel matters. This semester and Notre Dame. He is not in the transfer portal. There is a path back to being on the roster either this summer or in the fall and being on the roster for 2024. Like most things in life, there is not absolute certainty that will happen, but I think that's a scenario that's more like than not to happen.

skip - Houston

12:26

Which is true - Rubio is out of football at Notre Dame - Rubio is out of football - Rubio is out of football only this semester? Thanks.

Eric Hansen

12:26

As far as the differences between offenses of Mike Denbrock to the two Irish offensive coordinators that preceded him, that's driven more by personnel than philosophy. If Riley Leonard is the starting QB and Gerad Parker had stayed, he would need to retool the offense to take advantage of Leonard's much different skill set than Sam Hartman's, for instance. I think the biggest difference you'll see between Denbrock and Parker is what ND's offense looks like in big games against elite defenses and how the offense will adjust in game to the defense's tactics. ... New ND football director of performance Loren Landow is one of the interviews we have Friday, so I'll let him do the talking on that matter.

12:20

Hi Marie. The week is going great. The snow is melting and we'll get a chance to do some football interviews out at Notre Dame at the end of the week. As you likely are aware, colleague Tyler James has been reporting and opining on this for subscribers in The Inside Lounge premium message board.

What I can add here is that Notre Dame Football director of recruiting Chad Bowden is an extremely valuable part of ND's recruiting success under head coach Marcus Freeman (and actually in the final year of the Brian Kelly regime as well). I would be concerned if no one came after Bowden. That he's in demand by a program like Michigan speaks to his value. My assumption is more money and continuing to expand his role would be things that Bowden would find attractive in opting to stay at ND. (more)

Marie from Atlanta

12:10

Hi Eric, I hope your week is going well. How concerned are you about Michigan coming after Chad Bowden? Do you think that Notre Dame will do what needs to be done to keep him? Switching gears, what will be the biggest differences in Mike Denrock‘s offfense compared to that of Parker and Rees? Finally, any update on how it’s going with Landow in the strength and conditioning program? Thanks for all the great insights and hosting the chat.

Eric Hansen

Let's get rolling.

Here are the rules:

12:08

12:07

Please include your NAME and HOMETOWN along with your question(s).

As far as this week's chat ...

12:06

► Finally, we’re in the midst of a busy football offseason at WSBT radio season, and Darin Pritchett and I are together this week Wednesday and Thursday on Weekday SportsBeat (960 AM, live streaming at wsbtradio.com). The weekday shows run from 5-6 p.m. ET. You can download episodes as podcasts.

12:05

► This week’s Inside ND Sports Podcast will drop on Thursday. On our most recent edition, former Notre Dame offensive lineman Bob Morton (2002-06) discussed the progress that can be made in winter workouts, how realistic strength/weight gains are, if Michigan would be smart to promote Sherrone Moore to replace Jim Harbaugh for the sake of continuity, his recruiting visits to Notre Dame, if it's possible to always play the best five offensive linemen, what he thought of Charles Jagusah's starting left tackle debut, the development of three-star recruits and more. The podcast can be listened to via SoundCloud or on your preferred podcast platform including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podbean and Pocket Casts.

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