JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 9, 2020

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 9, 2020

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2:05

Hi Eric. Happy 2020!! I kind of remember reading an article by Tyler around pre-season camp about how the ND staff had changed their evaluation of QB's. The bottom line was that they were going to put on a higher premium on accuracy than athleticism. Book over Wimbush is a prime example. With the QB's that are in the pipeline how much do you think that this change in philosophy impacted the development of Jurkovek? Also, how close do you think BK is to finalizing his staff? Is there someone already in the extensive ND vetting process? Thanks and please keep the chats alive in the offseason. Your chats are like a sunny day in the middle of a dreary SB winter!!!

Eric Hansen

2:04

Honestly, it happened while I was chatting, so I haven't had time to really process it. A quick thought, with Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss and Leach at Miss. St., football in that state is going to be a carnival ride. Also my first thought off the top of my head is that it wouldn't impact the hiring process in South Bend.

Jolene from Nashville

2:01

What do you make of the Mike Leach hire at Mississippi State, and how do you see the coaching dominos falling around the country impacting the current openings in South Bend?

Eric Hansen

1:59

I agree with your opening statement. To your question. I think barring a long-term injury in the spring, there are enough QBs on the roster and coming. If there were an injury, especially it it were to Ian book, ND could look at the transfer portal for a grad transfer.

Lee from Lancaster, SC

1:57

Hi Eric, some ND fans are blaming Coach Kelly for Phil Jurkovec entering the transfer portal, or they are criticizing Phil for not sticking around for one more year. However, I think that's unfair to both men. Coach Kelly has the right to decide which QB he thinks give his football team the best chance to win games, and Phil J certainly has the right to transfer to another school if he determines that's in his best interest. Do you agree? Also, will BK need to recruit an additional QB or will Drew Pyne in 2020 and Tyler Buchner in 2021 be enough?

Eric Hansen

1:56

I can't imagine Brian and Phil not having conversations before he made his decision. ... I like what I have seen so far from Brendon, which admittedly isn't a lot. The fact that he was named Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year is not insignificant. I love his mindset. What I hope to see more of in the spring is how he reads defenses and how accurate he is on his passing at different route depths. I'm optimistic I will like what I see,

Stan from Rockford IL

1:53

Great article on QB Clark. https://www.ndinsider.com/football/hansen-who-is-brendon-clark-and-wha... Refreshing take on all the gloom and doom re: PJs exit into the transfer portal. Just as Ian came out of seemingly nowhere to become a productive QB contributing to back-to-back 11 win seasons, here's hoping Clark can even better his opportunity if/when given his chance. Do you think there was any discussion between Jurkovic and Kelly before he decided to enter into the transfer portal? Are you as optimistic about Clark's potential as his advocates in your piece are? Keep up the excellent analysis we've come to expect from you.

Eric Hansen

1:53

Thanks, Stan.

Stan from Rockford IL

1:53

Great article on QB Clark

Eric Hansen

1:53

Mary Helen, thank you. I think it's easy to blame things on Chip Long, because he's gone. In this instance, some of the dynamics I spoke/typed about earlier in the chat were influenced by e less than ideal relationship between Long and Phil.

Mary Helen from Portage Mi

1:50

Eric, I am sure I am one of many wanting! to get your thoughts on Phil Jurkovec entering the transfer portal. When he signed he seemed to be the answer to all of ND’s problems. Did Kelly just not give him a chance or did he really not live up to the hype? Thanks for all you do! You’re the best!

Eric Hansen

1:50

Isaiah Foskey would have played a major role on a team with less talent and depth in 2018, Instead he developed at a more deliberate pace and should be on track to become a major factor this season.

1:49

Ok, Brian I love the way you ended that. Well done. Let me get to the core of what I think you're asking me ... and that is why does it seem other high-profile programs have more plug-and-play freshmen? In some cases, they have to. They have so many players leaving for the NFL as true juniors, there aren't as many opportunities to bring those young players along more slowly. Some of it is because ND's recruiting at WR and RB, two positions where young players tend to get on the field faster, have lagged when it's come to elite prospects (and that might be changing). Thus, you're having to develop players who are much more incomplete than at other programs. Braden Lenzy as a freshman was too skinny and didn't come in as an established route runner, though he did have top-end speed. I'll argue with you that he should have played earlier and more often this season. Where ND has excelled at recruiting -- O Linemen and D Linemen -- tend to be more developmental positions by nature.

Brian

1:42

Hailing from Simpsonville, SC. I am obviously a disaster in sorting out this system. I actually am posting a question for the first time because I figured there would not be many questions or things to talk about. (ahem) My question really boils down to, "What the Hell?" I'm not a big BK guy but I think he has done enough and continues to do enough to have earned the right to keep his position. But I can't help feeling (emphasis on the emotion) that other teams/systems seem to integrate young players and play them sooner than we/BK/ND do. Talk me down. Are my facts (of other programs' success) not accurate or did ND and BK (and recruiting services) just whiff on #15? Either way, I think it will take a while for me to get over this one (emotions, again). But, finishing on a high note, I will bring you Smoking Pig grub in November, if you like.

Eric Hansen

1:41

Brian, your first sentence means a lot to me. Strangely, your second one does too.

Brian

1:41

Hailing from Simpsonville, SC. First, thanks for always bringing A-game. Second, I agree with your Smoking Pig observations.

Eric Hansen

1:40

He may or may not have to sit out. It depends if he gets a lawyer and how good that lawyer is. By rule, he would have to sit out. And knowing that, you can see this is not all about Book coming back. From what I've been told, this isn't about Phil testing the waters and maybe coming back. His intent is to transfer.

Lawrence from Denver

1:38

Won’t PJ have to sit out a year after transferring? So if he’s upset about spending another year as a backup where he may not get to play, how does it help to go to another school where he definitely won’t play? Presumably, he would get the keys to the offense for two years after Book. Any chance PJ decides to stay after testing the waters?

Eric Hansen

1:37

Stan, thank you for reading and for being a part of the chats. Before I wrote the story on the six most compelling players, I wanted to get to the bottom of where Phil's mind was. As I first looked at sources who would provide the best read, their silence got my suspicions up. Tyler and I had actually divided up a list of people to follow up with shortly before the news broke, Phil's going to have to answer just why he left, but I think it had more to do with things other than Book's return and Buchner's impending arrival. I think the biggest reason Phil didn't live up to the hype is that the hype swallowed him. It took on a life of its own and magnified every flaw and growing pain, which in turn made those things worse. Now there are other factors, and I think those will become apparent in the days ahead. There's a lot of revisionist history going on about what people thought of him coming out of high school. I still think in the right situation, with the right frame of mind, he can be pretty good.

Stan from Chester

1:29

Well once I get over the trigger finger, I might be able to get the question in. First of all, thanks for a season of great coverage in all things Irish. You would think that once the season is over the news would sort of fade to black, but this seems to be the exception. Did you have inside information before you wrote the article about the five to watch or was it just logical intuition that told you than PJ would enter the portal? Was it just because IB is coming back, or do you think he was looking ahead to 2021 when Tyler Buchner, who seems to be the "anointed one", hits the campus? Why do you think PJ never lived up to the hype? Was he oversold or what? Thanks again for your columns.

Eric Hansen

1:28

Hank, I don't think it's unfair to scrutinize ND's quarterback development model. But just because Phil is transferring isn't evidence it's broken. If that's the case, then why would anyone go to Georgia (Eason and Field transferred)? Or Ohio State (the Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow transferred)? But to your question, that's why this offensive coordinator hire is so very critical for Brian Kelly to get right.

Hank las Vegas

1:25

Happy New Year to all and to all a good night. Well while it has been obvious to mostly everyone who follows Notre Dame football Phil Jurkovec made it official and has decided to enter the transfer portal. This question is not meant to be a joke, but what would make a highly recruited quarterback come anywhere near a football team coached by Brian Kelly? His list of quarterback failures now including Phil Jurkovec must have the attention of anyone ND is attempting to sign. So seriously how can Kelly go into a recruits home and convince the recruit and his parents that he above all others can bring the best out of them.

Eric Hansen

1:24

Thank you. Matt, lots of good questions there. Let me try to get to them all. We didn't see a lot of Clark in practice, so it was hard to tell. The buzz from those in practice was that the gap was larger between Book and Jurkovec most of the time than the gap between Jurkovec and Clark. Was Phil ready? I think ready to be the No. 2 option. Did ND fail in developing him? I think they share responsibility in that regard, and it will be interesting to see how the Chip Long piece fit in that equation. I talked to some folks beyond Clark's coach that I didn't use in the article. The general feeling is that of ND's current/future QBs beyond Book, Tyler Buchner (a 2021 commit) is the most talented and Clark is the most likely to be the starter in 2021 on opening day.

Matt in Augusta NJ

1:18

thanks for the chats. From the practices you saw, did you think Clark was pushing Jurkovec for the backup QB job 2019and would he in 2020? We really didn’t get to see enough of Phil to get a real understanding of his potential, as a fan. He didn’t really play in pressure situations when he got in, but I thought he looked good from the limited time he got. The chatter has always been about him being a player who plays big in games, but not in scripted situations, a la blue gold game, which seemed to be a low for Phil. His throwing motion, fixing his throwing motion, and finally letting him throw how he wanted was also topic, and I believe you have discussed it in the past. Was Phil ready?, and did ND fail in developing him? I read your article on Clark’s Coach in Virginia and he could not have said better things about him. Is Clark Ian Book 2.0,a 3 star player who will make the most of his chances, but has limited pro potential?

Eric Hansen

1:17

I think the biggest mistake Brian Kelly could make going into the hiring process for his coaching vacancies is doing so with less than an open mind. That also means automatically eliminating a worthy internal candidate or someone Brian Kelly has worked with before just because of the optics that his fan base will reject. The jobs should go to the best candidates period. I know at the Tribune, we've had equal success in hiring former interns as we have had with national searches. I think the "comfort hire" concept has been overplayed. I think coaching chemistry has been underplayed. Yes, Brian VanGorder was a huge mistake. But Mike Elston is an example where familiarity has paid off in a big way. How involved do I think Jack Swarbrick is? If I'm BK, I hope quite a bit. I think he'd be a great sounding board and I'd want to get his opinion. Happy New Year, Marie.

Marie from Atlanta

1:08

Happy New Year Eric! Do you honestly think serious consideration will be given to an outsider for the OC position.?If so who would be some realistic candidates, and who would you like? Are you at all concerned BK is reverting to his habit of comfort hires? I realize he has made the tough choices, but that was much closer to 2016 when he had no choice and presumably Swarbrick had significant influence. Comfort hires ( Quinn for example) seem to have been much less successful than outside hires. (Long, Elko and really Lea was and outside hire coming with Elko) How involved do you think Swarbrick is in the current hiring process?

Eric Hansen

1:07

Brian Kelly had no control over Phil leaving.

Floyd from South Bend

1:06

I don’t believe Ian book can win Big games next year. His very limited on what he can do! Do you think Brain Kelly made an mistake letting Phil go! I do.

Eric Hansen

1:06

I've heard rumblings about it. That's more in Carter Karels' wheelhouse then mine, I texted him, and Carter think it's possible. He's actually working on that story and gathering info as I type this.

Scott From Muskegon MI

12:59

Any news on flipping Ohio st commit Cameron Martinez, he's a great player and overall kid, hopefully the staff is pushing hard for him.

Eric Hansen

12:59

Yes and no am I surprised. I just did a story on Clark last night. It's here:

https://www.ndinsider.com/football/hansen-who-is-brendon-clark-and-wha...

I don't think Avery Davis will ever be a QB again, but I'm not certain he'll be a running back in 2020 either.

Mr. Stones from SB

12:57

Are you surprised Phil Jurkovec is in the portal? Will he come back or leave? How ready is Clark to fill in if Book is hurt? Is Avery Davis a QB again?

Eric Hansen

12:56

I always believe you play for the season in front of you and give it your best shot.

Jay from Chicago

12:56

Eric, while I am hopeful ND can beat both Wisconsin & Clemson (among others) in 2020 and go on a CFP run, I am not optimistic. Too many questions at too many position groups to navigate the always ambitious ND schedule. My question is whether you believe it would have been better to run with Ian Book against the 2020 slate or get Jurkovec experience with a view toward 2021 and what appears to be a more manageable schedule?

Eric Hansen

12:55

I love how concise you made your questions. Love it. Love it. Question 1: Yes, I do think Phil had a fair chance to compete. Question 2: I believe the staff has to take part of the responsibility in Jurkovec not developing more quickly and decidedly. You can't trumpet him as the best QB in a class that included Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields , as Brian Kelly did, and then act like he arrived in South Bend as a long-term project two years later.

Peter from Providence, RI

12:50

Eric: Do your think the coaching staff gave Phil Jurkovec a fair chance at QB? Do you think the coaching staff was responsible for his apparent lack of development? Thank you.

Eric Hansen

12:50

I wrote about him earlier this week as one of the six most compelling players to watch heading into winter workouts. I have long believed safety is his best position, so if he's going to ascend, this move is going to help. I love his athleticism, his attitude, how hard he works in the weight room. There are a lot of reasons to believe that his time is coming -- soon.

Rui Girao, Ossining, NY

12:48

Houston Griffith....where have you gone my friend...so highly rated and talked about coming into the program...this year was a complete WASH for him...thoughts?

Eric Hansen

12:48

I think Jeff Burris deserves a long look. Brian Kelly certainly has familiarity with the 47-year-old former Irish DB. He was a defensive analyst at Notre Dame in 2016 and is currently CBs coach at Louisiana Tech under Skip Holtz. He helped develop Amik Robertson into an All-American the past two seasons.

Justin in Houston

12:42

Hey Eric, your ND coverage is second to none. Is Jeff Burris high on the list for the vacant DB coaching spot. He would be great with his ND background, NFL playing and coaching experience and he’s been different places in college and has had success. Plus there has to be no doubt he knows how important recruiting is. Your take?

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