JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat July 3, 2024

Notre Dame Football Live Chat July 3, 2024

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Eric Hansen

1:03

Hi BCND, and thanks for jumping in this week. ... and for remembering to add your hometown. ... Full disclosure, I think Rivals and the other college networks have struggled with portal evaluations because of the sheer volume or transfers in the new portal era. So that's why I rarely reference them and lean into Pro Football Focus' grades a little more. The good news, Rivals has not only rebranded recently, as reflected in the look of our home pages and others throughout the network, they've literally doubled their national staff and are putting much more resources into portal tracking and evaluations. (more)

BCND

BCND from Boston

1:00

Re: Rivals transfer ratings, how do RJ Oben & Rod Heard each get ***? From what I've read, each started and played really well in 2023. Thta said, what are the expectations for them? It would appear that RJ Oben would be similar talent wise to Javonte Baptiste but that heard would be an upgrade at safety over Brown.

Eric Hansen

12:58

Hi Jeff. We have not received our training camp access schedule as of yet. I'd anticipate we'd get quite a bit of partial access, as in stretching and non-competitive drills. The large windows of all access will be fewer, like maybe two or three, but will come earlier than later in training camp.

Jeff from Phoenix

12:57

Hey Eric, just a quick question today, do you know how much access you will have to fall camp practices? Thanks, and enjoy the 4th!

Eric Hansen

12:56

Hey Joe. Thank you. ... There are five time-tested one that I usually track that college football champs tend to still excel in. Total defense, rush defense, turnover margin, rush offense and pass efficiency. If I had to narrow it down to two, which is what you asked for, I'd go with pass efficiency and run defense. Of the last 26 national champs, dating back to the start of the BCS/Playoff Eras, only seven didn't finish in the top 25 nationally in both of those categories. None of the national champs was lower than 25 in both. Michigan, which one the title last year, was 8th in pass efficiency and 5th in rush defense. Washington, the team the Wolverines clobbered, was 13th and 58th respectively.

Guest

12:48

Joe from Novato, CA. We seem to have a well built team. What is one statistic on offense and defense that can predict ND's success in 2024 (example: most explosive plays on offense or most tackles for loss on d). Thanks Eric!

Eric Hansen

12:48

Hi Ced. Here's the entire playoff schedule and TV assignments ...

2024-25 College Football Playoff schedule, dates, TV channel, sites
All times Eastern

First round (Dec. 20-21)
Friday, Dec. 20: 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
Saturday, Dec. 21: 12 p.m. | TNT Sports
Saturday, Dec. 21: 4 p.m. | TNT Sports
Saturday, Dec. 21: 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
Fiesta Bowl: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 | ESPN
Peach Bowl: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 | ESPN
Rose Bowl: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 | ESPN
Sugar Bowl: 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 | ESPN
Semifinals (Jan. 9-10)
Orange Bowl: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9 | ESPN
Cotton Bowl: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10 | ESPN
CFP National Championship
7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20 | ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia

cederickwalker

12:45

ced Walker saginaw Michigan aka sagnasty saginaw pride when Notre Dame make the playoffs this season trust me they will make the playoffs I know they will have to play game first because championship weekend will be they bye week if they get a home playoff will nbc or abc or ESPN host the game 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

12:45

Bill!!!! Loving the exclamation points today. If I had fabulous prizes to give out today, you'd be in the running with your multiple ones. I hope you visited Len when you were at the Jersey Shore. And just to let you know, I was in YOUR town over the weekend and spent some time there. ... Thanks for the plug on the Olivia Miles interview. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. Loved the way she was so open. I've got more women's hoops content coming this week for those who follow the team. I've got a big feature coming Thursday morning on Pitt transfer Liatu King that I'm excited about. Then later in the week, I'll have a piece on Cass Prosper as she gets ready to head to Lille and Paris, France to represent Canada in the Olympics. ... Finally to your question. Players report July 30. Training Camp starts July 31.

Bill, St Joe, MI

12:41

Eric!!! Nice to see the chats are back. Just back from the Jersey Shore. The traffic at the Shore was CRAZY! I would encourage the chatters to watch your interview with Olivia Miles…she is as impressive off the court as she is on the court! My question is, when does “fall practice” officially begin?

Eric Hansen

12:41

With NIL opportunities and branding, having players' names on jerseys has a functional reason, so I could see that being a real discussion as we get closer to the start of the season.

12:40

Michael, I understand why, as a fan, the end zone aesthetics is important to you. It is WAY off my radar, but I can certainly ask. My mind is elsewhere when it comes to the program. I probably wouldn't even notice the change right away. But I would notice a slight change in a QBs throwing motion or a change in demeanor of a player in interviews. To both questions, I would think AD Pete Bevacqua would hold power in that kind of discussion. As far as the names on the uniforms, that is something that I will prioritize tracking down closer to the season, because it's suddenly very relevant to the players. (more)

Michael from Chicago

12:36

Do you envision ND adding player’s last names to jerseys for regular season games and/or adding ads or ND/Notre Dame/shamrocks to the end zones in lieu of or in addition to the slanted lines? Who ultimately makes that decision?

Eric Hansen

12:35

Tyson Ford and Aiden Gobaira were both four-star prospects. Both enrolled early as freshmen. Both will be juniors in school this year and won't be that far away from an ND degree. So it might be possible for them to make a comeback elsewhere after that happens, and then again maybe not. Most medical hardships don't try to reverse the process and are happy to be able to get their degree without paying tuition.

12:33

Hi Len. This concept has evolved in recent years to some extent in that medical hardships are more easily reversed. There was a time that it was near impossible to do so, even if a player transferred to a different school. It still is a monumental task to get it reversed if the player doesn't transfer. Joey Tanona, for instance, was able to show the original head injury that led to the medical hardship and how he recovered from that in order to be eligible at Purdue. The NCAA taking a hard line keeps schools from stashing players beyond the 85-scholarship limit and then bringing them back. (The 85 limit may be going bye bye soon). (more)

Len from the Jersey Shore

12:23

Hello Eric, Thanks for hosting and I am hoping your summer has been fantastic!!! Recently Tyson Ford and Aiden Gobaira were placed on medical scholarship. Please explain this. On the surface it seems a place ND can go to allow players, who will not be in the rotation, to finish their ND degree and then seek to finish their eligibility elsewhere. This allows ND to meet their scholarship limit.

Eric Hansen

to track the progress.

12:23

Hi Lorne, and thank you. I think there will be an emphasis on scheming up big pass plays on offense to complement the other parts of the offense and heighten those. I think it's a big emphasis to be a consistent additional element, but to be clear not something ND will make its bread and butter. Your uncertainty about the offensive line is legit. Until we see the chemistry, cohesion and efficiency come together, that's going to be a chronic story line. But ND has the talent to change that storyline ... but how soon? Where I don't see the parallel is Jack Coan and Riley Leonard, and how the O-Line's growing pains might affect them. Leonard not only is more nimble in the pocket, his ability to be highly involved in the running game itself gives Marcus Freeman a trump card against a loaded box that Brian Kelly didn't have with Coan. The areas where Notre Dame has the most room for improvement all tie into the deep passing game to a degree, so August training camp will be worth following very closely (more)

Lorne

12:16

Lorne from Reno. As always, thank you for doing these chats -- it's great to be able to ask an expert about a subject over which we all ... obsess. Anyway, with Riley Leonard winning the Air-it-Out Challenge and our improved speed at the wide receiver positions (and fantastic running backs to keep the defense honest), you would think that we will have more big plays in the passing game this year. But the inexperience at tackle has me thinking about 2021 and Jack Coan's frequent near-death experiences (which led to scaling back the passing game). Do you think we'll be able to protect Leonard (I'm assuming he's our starter) well enough make the long ball a viable threat?

Eric Hansen

12:16

Kevin!!!! You are the new exclamation point king. I actually am hoping to talk to Philip Rivers for some backstory before the season starts ... but to your question. I'm not sure about Minchey, but I talked to Angeli in the spring and he already had a training plan mapped out back in New Jersey, so I don't think he was snubbed. I doubt Minchey was either, as CJ Carr did attend. I know Riley wasn't trying to publicize it, because he felt bad about not having the whole team down. But again, I think the other guys had prearranged agendas in May.

Kevin-Sleepy Eye, MN

12:13

Eric!!!! Let’s talk about Riley’s trip Alabama. Angeli and Minchey were not invited? Or did he invite several other players who were unable to make the trip down?? Seems like a productive time with Rivers. Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

And as Patrick suggested, feel free to share your lineups.

12:12

On defense: Boubacar Traore and RJ Oben at ends (but lots of rotation of backups). Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills in the interior. LBs Drayk Bowen, Jack Kiser and Jaylen Sneed. CBs Christian Gray and Ben Morrison. Safeties: Xavier Watts and Rod Heard II. Lots of rotation throughout the defense. Jordan Clark would be my starting nickel.

12:10

OK, that seems like a great place to start. Let's start on offense | QB Riley Leonard. RB Jeremiyah Love. WRs Beaux Collins, Jaden Greathouse, Kris Mitchell. TE Mitchell Evans, RT to LT: Aamil Wagner, Billy Schrauth, Ashton Craig, Rocco Spindler, Charles Jagusah. (more)

Patrick, Fort Wayne, IN

12:07

Good afternoon Eric. Let's have some summer fun. What would be your favorite starting 11 on each side of the ball come Texas A & M? I am not asking for who you think will start, I want to know who you would like to see start. Just good fun to throw out there and encourage others to share their desires.

Eric Hansen

And we're off ...

Here are the rules:

12:06

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

As far as this week's chat ...

► Finally, we’re spinning forward into summer workouts for the Notre Dame football team as the entire roster is back on campus taking classes and working out. And Darin Pritchett and I are together this week on Tuesday and Friday 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

► No Inside ND Sports Podcast this week, with Tyler James on vacation. On the most recent Inside ND Sports Podcast, Notre Dame women’s basketball star guard Olivia Miles joined us. The 2023 All-American missed last season as she recovered from a knee injury, but she’s getting back in gear for a comeback year. She discussed the timeline of her recovery from the ACL injury, what she learned about herself while sitting out, scouting reports on newcomers Liatu King, Liza Karlen and Kate Koval, if she ever considered transferring, the keys to success in sharing a backcourt with Hannah Hidalgo, how head coach Niele Ivey helped her through this process, her confidence in her knee, how she's expanded her game 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.

► If you missed the last episode of our aspiring-to-be-viral Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps, it keeps its shelf life long after the live presentation. We are in a bit of an irregular pattern there until July 29, when we’ll move back into our normal Monday at 7 ET time slot. Right now we’re working around vacation time and guest co-host availability. The latest edition was last Thursday. Former Notre Dame O-lineman Bob Morton and I have penciled in the next one for this Friday at 6 p.m. ET. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube.

12:04

► The chat will move back into weekly mode once training camp starts. It may not always be on Wednesday through training camp, due to practice/interview conflicts, but it will be weekly. I’ll definitely settle into a Wednesday routine in late August. If there’s a demand to do another chat soon, I’m willing to do one in two weeks. Just let me know if you’re interested.

Some quick programming notes:

12:03

Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, the back-from-vacation edition.

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