JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 4, 2023 | 1/4/2023

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 4, 2023

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Eric Hansen

3:33

OK, that's going to do it for this week. Thanks for all the great questions. We're going to go into intermittent mode until spring practice starts in March. If there's a full news cycle in the next few days, we'll go ahead and do a chat next week. Happy New Year, everybody.

3:30

Adam. Happy New Year. I've got a great cook, who I happen to be related to, when I'm in Dayton, so to head out for pizza would not be polite or pragmatic. But thanks. Not sure why you'd eliminate missing three years of football essentially as a factor in accuracy. Sam Hartman missed much less time and yet had a higher completion percentage and pass-efficiency rating EVERY YEAR he was in college. We had Aaron Taylor on our podcast last week and it's his believe ND will have a Joe Moore Award finalist-caliber line next year.

Adam, Dayton, OH

3:26

Hi Eric, Happy New Year sir! Made me smile to know you were in Dayton, next time you are in town, you should get a Marion's or Joe's Pizza if you haven't! Those are the type of places that if you move away, you make sure to visit whenever you come back to town. Two questions. 1.What did you think of the Tyler Buchner Experience? The potential is obviously tantalizing, but I think he has some major accuracy concerns. And in my not-expert opinion, I don't think it is all coming from lack of experience/needing more game reps. Is being a playmaker while still having accuracy concerns (Lamar Jackson) good enough? That is my take, what is your take on what Tyler Buchner can be? 2.) The offensive line. Credit because they ran the ball down South Carolina's throat. But Carolina was depleted and not exactly Georgia at full health, and I thought Tyler sure got hit a lot when he was passing. What does the future hold for Hiestand and the offensive line? Do you expect them to be elite in both run and pass blocking?

Eric Hansen

3:24

It is a football chat, and I try to keep it to that. I did remark on Twitter last night that it feels like the wheels are coming off. Keep your eye on crowd size, apathy and whether this team improves and shows promise for next year. If those three things trend badly, I believe a change is in order.

Tom in Virginia

Not criticizing the question. Hoping for some insight.

3:22

Brey? Only slightly off topic.

Eric Hansen

3:22

I did Don. There's some really good questions still in the queue, and I'm coming up on another work commitment here, so I'm dodging the ones with longer answers and trying to do the ones that allow me to go into lightning-round mode. Thank you for the question, and I get some form of this in every chat now. The short answer is you're right about the POTENTIAL to ruin the sport. But I also think there are people capable of working for a solution.

Don from Cincinnati

3:19

Eric thanks for your great work! I submitted a question earlier about you opinion about the NIL and transfer portal as it now. I think it will ultimatey be the ruination of college football unless College Presidents and fans take a stand. If you got my first question sorry for the repeat.

Eric Hansen

3:19

Your venting re Lacey is understandable.

Mike from BR,LA

3:18

Just a comment. Ehrensberger getting lost under a new coach--disappointing, but a German DL is not exactly a no-brainer. But it "picks at" my Jacob Lacy disappointment. Not that I actually know the kid, but he really seemed like a "ND guy." You've already stated in a few places that Washington has to step up, so I guess I'm just agreeing/venting

Eric Hansen

3:18

That was early in the season, Mark. It wasn't close at the end. Happy New Year.

Mark, Orange County CA

3:17

Happy New Years Eric. Towards the end of the season you mentioned some defensive stats where ND performed worse than during the BVG era. Do you think we have the right defensive coordinator to get ND to the playoffs next season?

Eric Hansen

3:15

Not for football.

Jay, Granger

3:15

Is Mike Brey the head coach next season for the Irish.

Eric Hansen

3:14

Tom, thank you. We're in lock step when it comes to the thoughts on the QB situation.

Tom Kennesaw, GA

3:13

Hi Eric, Happy 2023!! Let's hope for a great year. Given TB's peformance in the Gator Bowl, do you really think that the QB competition in the fall was as close as MF had us believe?? TB and his skills look much better than DP's are. What do you think? Your first answer is spot on. TB had 200 snaps in '22 while Pyne had 683. Last year TB had 165 snaps to Coan's 718. That means in two years TB has less than a half season in experience. He still has a lot of learning and from what I have read Hartman could be a great teacher for Buchner. Your thoughts. Thanks again for a year filled with great insight and help getting us through the really tough times (Marshall and Stanford). Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

3:13

Happy New Year, Len. 1. I believe he will but not in 2023. 2. MLB is his best position today. The belief is his ceiling is higher at vyper, when paired with his body type. 2B. The thought and hope all along was that Burnham would be a vyper in college. 3. Not sure it's lack of talent, as much as lack of depth or lack of experience at some positions. Let's see what the portal brings before I address the last part of this. There's new prospects jumping in every day.

Len from the Jersey Shore

3:09

Happy New Year Eric, Three quick questions today all on roster management. 1-Will Tyler Buchner develop enough accuracy to lead ND to a championship? 2-Is Vyper Junior Tuihalamaka and Joshua Burnham best position or a position of need for the team? JT was to be JD's replacement inside with more speed and athletic ability. JB was a "football player” with the rare athletic ability to play many positions. Where did you and the Rivals staff expect them to play? If they bulk up to play Vyper will that weight preclude them from other positions? 3-There was much good and bad in the Gator Bowl. Which position group if any showed the lack of talent to win a natty? Will the portal/incoming class address that deficiency, if any exists in your opinion, adequately? Short answers are okay and thanks for having these chats.

Eric Hansen

3:08

Thank you, Lorne!

Lorne

3:07

Lorne from Reno. I’m not going to quibble about things that were bad or could have been better in the bowl game or this season – always with the negative waves, Moriarty. I’m very happy for Braden Lenzy – what a way to end your career. I’m excited about Sam Hartman and Tyler Buchner both being on our team next year (still hoping on the first one). I’m happy for Coach Freeman and his strong recruiting class and 6-1 finish. Looking forward to watching that loaded backfield again. Ben Morrison – wow. Thankful for the careers of all the players who will be moving on, and wishing those who go that route luck and success in the NFL. It is a joy to watch these young men grow from high school prospects into great football players and, almost without exception, fine representatives of the University. Finally, thankful for this chat and the excellent coverage provided by you, this site, and the rest of the media covering the Irish. Happy New Year, and go Irish!

Eric Hansen

3:07

Jim, thank you and best wishes to you and yours. The Golics recently had Jack Swarbrick on a podcast and did a really good job with it. I have not submitted my request, wanting to put a little distance in there and wait until the national championship game was over. I will keep you posted.

Jim, Oakwood, OH

3:02

Hi Eric, Wishing you and your family a very Happy and Healthy New Year! I loved your lede, and alliteration (persistent postseason parade), in the Jarrett Patterson story last Thursday. You crushed it. You expressed his perspective and thoughts about not opting out but rather playing for the group goals rather than making a "business" decision. A wonderful story. Talk about team first culture and character, wow! Even after he endured a very tough year physically and is on the threshold of an NFL career. My question is whether or not Jack Swarbrick has granted your request for a post-season interview about the past season and his thoughts about Coach Freeman's successful performance? Thanks for all of your great work. Be well.

Eric Hansen

3:02

Any day now the 2023 schedule is supposed to be unveiled. I am told it is finished.

Guest

3:02

When do you expect the tbd at Duke and NC state to be schedule?

Eric Hansen

3:01

Hi Vince. Jaylen had one tackle and two 15-yard penalties. I think he got a little too wired playing against his homestate school. Played fast and physical. I expect big things from him in the spring. ... Both the press conference and TV did not confirm Morrison's injury that we believe to be concussion-related.

Guest

2:59

Vince from Burdett NY. In the bowl game did Jaylen Sneed LB have a personal fowl penalty? How was his play in general? MF looked upset with him coming off the field but TV is so hard to really know. Also what was Ben Morrison’s injury and his status now ? Thank you !!

Eric Hansen

2:59

Hi Curt. I really don't. Most of what's left of projects (with some exceptions), and ND needs impact players, which means transfers.

Curt Warsaw In

2:57

Eric, do you see the Irish signing anymore high school players in this class?

Eric Hansen

2:57

Happy New Year and yes.

Irish Mike, Altoona PA

2:56

Happy New Year Eric! After Tyler Buchner’s Gator Bowl performance are you still advocating for Sam Hartman? After listening to Mike Goolsby’s podcast, I’m leaning towards not bringing another QB in, via the portal!

Eric Hansen

2:56

Hi Tom and Happy New Year. Pro Football Focus uses real humans ... lots of them, and not bots. They grade every FBS team and they do it overnight to have them ready by Sunday morning ... all except special teams, which show up a day or two later. Here's a link that goes into more details about how they pull this off and what goes into a player's grade.

Tom from Sister Lakes MI

2:51

Eric, Happy New Year. You often refer to how players grade out on PFF. Who does the grading? Are all FBS players graded? If so, that's an awful lot of players to grade. I hope this is done by real football people and not some electronic technology. Please describe the process for us. Thank you.

Eric Hansen

2:51

Pat, if I understand your question, you're not asking me whether he was inbounds but whether then announcers were biased against ND? My critique of them is that they missed some things including the fake field goal, but I thought they were fair to both teams in their comments. So I guess I would take your bet.

Pat, Buffalo Grove, IL

2:49

I’m referring to the “catch” by the S Car receiver on the side of the endzone that, I believe, tied the game at 38. There was such an obvious puff of white that was kicked up by his foot, that had to mean his foot was out of bounds, yet the announcers never said a thing. They kept replaying it in slow motion yet they ignored it. How much do you want to bet, had it been an Irish receiver, they would have pointed it out??

Eric Hansen

2:49

Joey if only I had the psychic ability that you purport to have, I could answer your question. Not knowing what it is, I'll ask you to kindly resubmit it sometime in the future.

Joey G. Philadelphia,Pa

2:48

Hi Eric, Happy New Year! After watching the Gator Bowl twice yes twice! I’ve come to a different conclusion about the game than you. I know you’re going to talk today about how great Tyler Buchner played and how he toughr

Eric Hansen

2:47

Notre Dame's pass rush is a huge question in 2023, with the all-time sacks leader moving on and Keon Keeley decommitting and picking Alabama. Jordan Botelho showed some flashes in the bowl game, but the spring will be very revealing in that regard. When ND plays USC next October, I'd be tempted to line up Jaylen Sneed as a pass rusher on third-and-longs. I think the best was to mitigate him is constant, relentless pressure that doesn't expose your coverage. But it's a good idea to score lots of points and play with the lead.

Bob Gorman Oak Park IL

2:42

Eric! Thanks for another outstanding season of insights for ND fans. My questions relate to the best way to stymie Caleb Williams next year and to beat Southern Cal. Williams reminded me of Mohammed Ali floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee as he back pedaled away from our pressure and then scrambled like Fran Tarkenton. Is there more speed waiting in the wings to play that can hang with him? What would you try to do or who would you play? Do we have to score 40-50+ points?

Eric Hansen

2:41

Jim. thanks and you as well. He came in thin and sort of inexperienced as a WR having played a lot of RB in high school. He got injured a lot. He had a lot of drops in practice. He might have been a kid that hit the portal had the rules now been in effect then. But he stayed, worked his butt off and matured. He was very unselfish. He definitely has my respect.

Jim Tal, Valley Center CA.

2:38

Hi Eric, wishing you and your family the very best and much happiness in 2023. It really was uplifting to see Braden Lenzy go out in such a crackerjack manner in the Gator Bowl. In so many ways, he epitomizes what it means to be a Notre Dame man. The sacrifices he made and the effort he displayed throughout the year was inspiring. And all that despite the fact that he was underutilized and never featured. He clearly showed what he was capable of against South Carolina and what might have been. Eric, in your opinion, what were the prime reasons that held Lenzy back and never allowed him to reach his full potential? It says here he could have been a force to be reckoned with had the environment that surrounded him in South Bend been different. Thank you.

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