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

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 4, 2023

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Eric Hansen

12:51

Happy New Year, Marie. I think there's a few elements that can make ND's defense. Let's start with the rover position. Jaylen Sneed has a lot of the same traits that not only made Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and All-American and allowed Notre Dame to play nickel defense when it wanted to, not because it had too. That made ND a tougher team to run against without compromising its pass defense. If/when Sneed reaches that point, that's step 1. ND will finish the season ranked 22nd in total defense, but 37th against the run isn't good enough. Nor is being 50th in third-down defense, 130th in red zone defense and 100th in turnovers gained. (more)

Marie from Atlanta

12:41

Happy new year, Eric! All the best to you in 2023. What a great win for the Irish in the gator bowl. What things do you need to see happen in the off-season for this defense to become playoff/championship level? Particularly, with regards to the defensive line and the linebackers. Also, with the loss of Brandon Joseph, do you see Clarence Lewis switching to safety? Is it realistic to think the Defense could reach championship level next year or do you think ND is still a few seasons away from developing a championship level defense? Thanks for hosting the chat and your insights.

Eric Hansen

12:38

With Brandon Joseph declaring for the NFL Draft, the number is actually 93. Check out our 2023 scholarship chart, which we keep updated throughout the offseason. Keep in mind, ND is often in the 90s during the winter and spring and doesn't have to be to 85 until the first day of fall-semester classes. Marcus Freeman and his staff have a pretty good idea of who is contemplating transfers and who might be an injury hardship. Some players may want to battle through spring practice to see where they stand before using the later portal window, which runs from May 1-15. Justin Ademilola, with NFL aspirations, also needs to decide whether he wants to use his sixth college season or move on.

Kevin, Lake Geneva WI

12:29

There are about 94 scholarship players potentially available, not counting any further portal additions, for the 2023 season, Do you know of potential transfer out or injuries or whatever to get down to 85?

Eric Hansen

12:29

But whoever comes out No. 3 in that will linebacker competition isn't going to be happy. And there needs to be an open competition.

12:28

Hi Rich. I think early in the season, the premise was that Marist Liufau had missed the entire 2021 season and thus would eventually catch up from a production standpoint to the potential a lot of folks — including me — had for him. I think Liufau put a lot of pressure to be that guy — the breakout star — and he ended up missing the routine by trying to do the spectacular. You could make a case that by late in the season there was enough of a pattern established for Kiser to play more. The dilemma was there wasn't a viable backup rover ready to play. I think next year Jaylen Sneed will be ready to assume that re with Nolan Ziegler coming on to provide depth. Then you have to sort things out at the weakside and backup middle linebacker positions. Kiser, Liufau, Prince Kollie and freshman Drayk Bowen all need to get looks in spring at that position. With Junior Tuihalamaka growing into a vyper end, perhaps Bowen could back up JD Bertrand in the middle. (more)

Rich Key West

12:21

I am totally confused with the snap management from Golden on his linebacker squad. Lifau lead the linebackers in snap counts for the regular season and had the least production of the three starters. With essentially twice the number of snaps than Kiser he had fewer tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. Kiser was on the bench for most of the second half of the season in favor of an extra defensive back and it seems to me like rather than lose his production sliding him over to Will would have made a lot of sense. What do you think Lifau brings to the table production wise, not potential wise, that Golden bases his playing time on?

Eric Hansen

12:20

Now had ND brought in someone like Hudson Card from Texas (who landed at Purdue), that would not have made sense for Buchner and maybe the others to be patient, since Card has multiple years of eligibility. Buchner a the starter in 2024 is still an ideal timeline with presumably Angeli, Kenny Minchey and CJ Carr as a freshman all developing behind him. And if he doesn't turn out to be the QB Tommy Rees thought he'd be, then one of the young QBs would overtake him.

12:17

Hi Joe and Happy New Year. The way you've set up your question doesn't leave the outcome that I think its the most likely, and that's this: When you take a transfer of that caliber, it always has the potential to create ripples. Do I think taking Sam Hartman for one year is worth the RISK of losing Tyler Buchner, who has up to three years left? Yes I do. Because Hartman is a known quantity who can elevate the QB position at ND where it hasn't been since Jimmy Clausen. However, that doesn't mean Buchner WILL transfer. I would argue if the chemistry is good between the two, Hartman can help Buchner become a better quarterback long term. He would still then have two years to compete to be the starter. Without Hartman, you have three career starts at QB1 and zero career passes thrown among your backups. I still really like Buchner's potential, but he needs time to develop after missing the 2018 and 2020 season in high school and most of the 2022 season in college. So he's still an unknown. (more)

Guest

12:07

Joe C. Massapequa , NY . Happy New Year Eric ! Appreciate your coverage very much and looking forward to an exciting offseason and Spring updates . My question is a simple one . Is ND better with Hartman for one season ,IF it results in TB12 transferring ? Or , is the version of TB we saw in the Gator Bowl good enough to say he can lead ND to a playoff appearance? Thus passing on Hartman.

Eric Hansen

Let's get started.

12:04

Here are the rules.

As for today's chat, please remember to include your NAME and HOMETOWN along with your question(s).

12:03

Some quick programming notes:
► Our Inside ND Sports Podcast presented by Dead Soxy records on Thursday this week. So be sure to look for it on our homepage or on your preferred podcast platform including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Podbean and Pocket Casts.
► After a one-week hiatus for Christmas break and travel, Tyler James and I were back with our YouTube show, Monday Night Live, on Monday, Jan. 2. In that episode, we break down the Gator Bowl’s takeaways — short term and long term, the future of the QB position at ND, roster churn season and some quick predictions on the 2023 season. When you can’t catch us live, you can watch anytime during the week, as the show keeps its shelf life going through the entire week.

12:01

Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, Post-Gator Bowl Edition.

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