JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat June 29,2022

Notre Dame Football Live Chat June 29,2022

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Eric Hansen

3:07

OK, that's going to do it for today. Thanks for all the great questions. We will move back into weekly mode in August with the chats. Thanks again for joining in today.

3:05

Stan, Michael Mayer is such a mismatch at tight end, you'd want to keep that as his primary position. But he's talented enough to move him around the formation, so you're on point with you're right on point thinking his versatility could be an asset.

Stan from Chester VA

3:04

Is it possible that Michael Mayer, as talented as he is, could be used as a WR if there is someone in the works with enough skill at TE to fill that role this year?

Eric Hansen

3:04

Tim, yeah there's some hyperbole there, yet it might be the best/most concise way to get the concept across. I think you might be parsing it a little too carefully. If you're an English teacher, that's what you should be doing. If you're not, have fun with it.

Tim - Pleasant Prairie WI

3:02

Hi Eric - I frequently see recruiting analysts using the term "must get" when referring to a recruit or recruits. Seems a bit hyperbolic to me, with the implication being - if you follow the logic - that if you "don't get" a "must get", then your program is going to fall short of its goals. In other words, if I don't get "must get" QB "A", then it follows that whatever QB I do get is less than the standard I need to win. Do you too see a bit of overuse of the term "must get", or am I just making something out of nothing?

Eric Hansen

3:02

Roger, good question. It's something I haven't really considered. I'm sure ND has. They do have staff dedicated now to helping student-athletes navigate NIL. I'm sorry I don't have more details.

Rog from STL

3:01

With the huge NIL numbers being reported to lure football commitments, do you know if ND is offering financial adviser assistance and or tax help? I can see a huge problem developing when these young men get that much cash with all the scammers and questionable agents, not to mention the IRS tax issues with this money. If that QB that committed to Miami is really getting 10 million, I hope he has honest people to help him learn not to get fleeced or indicted on tax fraud.

Eric Hansen

3:01

Thanks Bill!!

Bill from St Joe, MI.

3:00

RE the BYU game: if you are a season ticket owner, you will be able to purchase up to 4 tickets when they go on sale. That is what I was told when I purchased my season tickets. Although all other games are on sale, the ND Ticket office has yet to release the Vegas game yet. After the season ticket owners are satisfied, then I expect the lottery rules I.e.the bigger your donation go into effect

Eric Hansen

3:00

Jeff, I understand your concerns. You partially answered your own question. Coach Mason has a strong, strong track record. He was also smart enough to scout the country for the kind of walk-ons who could provide real competition. Spring issues on special teams are not uncommon in the spring. If we're having this conversation the second week of August, then we can talk about going for it more on fourth and short.

Jeff from Phoenix

2:57

Hey Eric, glad to be back chatting. My concern and question is about special teams. My anxiety started with the combination of a new coach, punter, and place kicker and the sub-optimal performances in the spring game. Now the attrition at running back could put more stress on Chris Tyree at the kick return position and make fair catches there the more prudent option. I realize we had new kickers join the team in June and Mason has a good track record pre-ND. But, when we start at OSU, who do you expect to do the punting, place kicking, and returning, and do you see Freeman possibly going for 4th and short more often early in the season vs a field goal? Thanks!

Eric Hansen

2:57

I like the growth curve he's on. I like the way he handles pressure and big moments. I love his maturity. He'll make mistakes and he'll learn from them.

Guest

2:56

What are your expectations for Tyler Buchner? In the limited time we’ve seen him, has there been growth? Do you think he sees the field & is an accurate passer? Do the turnovers concern you? Thanks, Bob from Chicago

Eric Hansen

2:55

The expectation is that Eli Raridon is a strong candidate to play as a freshman, and that he does offer some versality in being a tight end who can play detached.

ced walker

2:54

ced walker saginaw michigan do u see eli rairdon playing as a true freshmen that can help at wr the golden standard rally we are nd go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us

Eric Hansen

2:54

Joe, you're not the only one with questions about BYU tickets. I had some info, but I don't think it's quite up to date. Please email me (ehansen@insidendsports) and I'll get back to you in short order.

Joe from Kc

2:52

Eric, as always thanks for doing these! Do you have any insight for the BYU game in Vegas as far as tickets go? I saw none are being released to the public in a few weeks when ND does the ticket sales. How does that work if you are a season ticket holder? Obviously you can buy them on secondary market… but ouch! Thanks again.

Eric Hansen

2:52

I think ND might end up going over 25 ... maybe 27. Off the top of my head I would prioritize a quarterback, two more wide receivers (Hanafin and Greathouse), safety Caleb Downs, LB Jaden Ausberry, DT Jason Moore, Jeremiyah Love or Richard Young at RB, and either OT Monroe Freeling, DE/OLB Samual M'Pemba or CB/WR Micah Tease. ... OMG I've turned into Dick Vitale when he's including 78 "deserving team" in his 68-team NCAA Tourney bracket.

Guest

2:45

Jay from Cincinnati. If we land Jagusah, Flores, Bell and Grey that puts us at nineteen commits for the ‘23 class. That leaves maybe room for say five or six more recruits. Who are the recruits you’d like to see the Irish focus on to finish this class? Thanks and I appreciate your work.

Eric Hansen

2:45

From what I've seen so far, he's delegating well. He's also extremely efficient. So for example, when we ask him about Tyler Buchner in a press conference, he's not going to be able to provide the level of detail that BK did ... or tell us in detail why Billy Schrauth is likely going to be an All-American someday. He knows what's going on, but is not as buried in the details. For example, he trusts his assistants to run the OTAs when he's not available. Then they report it him. I hope I'm explaining this clearly. If he micromanaged as much as BK did AND put as much into recruting as he is, then I think you'd have a potential burnout situation.

Doug from Sunny Florida

2:40

Eric, the time that coach MF spends on recruiting is well documented and may be a blueprint going forward, especially for younger and/or new head coaches. This time is probably being taken away from his other commitments as the head coach. Where do you see this time coming from and have you seen any other areas being adversely affected by the time spent recruiting? Could he possibly just be delegating other facets of his position to others?

Eric Hansen

2:40

Don, thanks. It's a perfect 76 here at the moment. Wish I could see my computer screen outside on the deck. Oh well. I think the mistakes BK made and the ones Marcus might be prone to are different. With BK sometimes it was stubbornness and thinking he had all the answers. He had trouble understanding the different demands on him at ND and got pulled in too many directions without properly delegating. I think Marcus, it will be more about logistics and communication. He's not granularly into the offense, so how does he affect change there on gameday when he wants/needs to. The Fiesta Bowl is a good starting spot for him in terms of what he needed to address this offseason.

Don in Phoenix

2:34

Eric, Hope you are enjoying summer. It's hot here but was away last week and it was surprisingly hot there. Read the Marcus interview summary and like him and think long term he will be a success. It's the upcoming season that concerns me. Kelly was a seasoned head coach and he made quite a few mistakes his first year at ND. What does he need to consider that perhaps he hasn't talked about that might be problematic?

Eric Hansen

2:34

Hi Tom. Thanks we really are enjoying what we're doing and still are close enough with old friends from the olde place to meet for lunch or a beverage. It is expected to come with the territory unfortunately. These are generally non-contact injuries. And there are strict protocols for warming up, etc. ND does so much with sports science, that there really are fewer offseason injuries in this day and age even though it may not seem like it. ... To be clear, he did seven 30-minute interviews, not one-hour interviews. If this were August, that would be crazy. As I mentioned in yesterday's story, he's not a control freak and that does cut down the wear and tear on him. He really does trust his assistants and the other people aronund him. Now having six young kids ... my son has six almost identical ages, so that's where he's working some magic.

Tom from Toronto

2:27

Hi Eric, I hope that you and Tyler are pleased with your work changes. I am not sure that I understand how the informal practices work. A concern is the serious injuries that at least two players have sustained. Are these to be expected and come with the territory? Are there changes that could be made with the setup that would reduce the likelihood of these injuries? Second, does it look to you that Marcus Freeman may be spreading himself too thin? Seven hour long interviews on one day, for example. I am impressed with all that I read about his dedication to the job, but worry about burnout. Any thoughts? Thank you.

Eric Hansen

2:26

Not yet, and maybe not ever. He'd be good at it, but you're taking away a future starter at corner. There are no easy answers with the numbers also low at running back. ...and thanks for the feedback on the baseball.

CJ from Kokomo

2:26

Great work covering the baseball program and the road to CWS, outstanding.

2:25

Wondering if Jaden Mickey might be a good candidate to move to Wide Receiver?

Eric Hansen

2:25

Not yet.

Kevin Fort Wayne

2:25

Eric, with the injuries at RB is there any discussion on converting another current position player to help add depth?

Eric Hansen

2:25

Hi Bill. It's nice to be chatting in June. Thanks for joining us. Clark Lea was uncanny with halftime adjustments. Not just by Notre Dame standards. He did have the advantage of working in a familiar scheme that he and Mike Elko had put together. If you track Marcus at Cincinnati, they had growing pains in years one, but from year 2 on, they were really good with original game plans and refinements at halftime. I take nothing away from Clark. His consistency was remarkable. As far as a head coach, Marcus has better material to work with, but his recruiting prowess gives him an advantage over Clark being ND's head coach had BK left a year earlier.

Bill from St Joe, MI.

2:18

Nice to have the chat back, Eric! My original question disappeared into the internet ether when I placed my iPad down to watch Aaron Judge hit …(a 2 run homer into the left field bleachers)…so here is my shorter observation /question. I believe that Marcus was the right hire under the circumstances. There’s no doubt as to his impact in recruiting, and he may be better suited to the head coaching position than as the defensive coordinator. I say that because I believe that Clark Lea was more effective with his half time adjustments, and hopefully Al Golden who has made statements that in the NFL, one has to make adjustments after each possession rather than wait for halftime to do so. Do you think I’m off base with that halftime adjustments comment?

Eric Hansen

2:16

Hi Dan, thanks for jumping in with a question. Full disclosure, I used a phone-a-friend lifeline to Kyle Kelly on this one. Here's his response:

I think one of the main distinctions is recruits typically have a player host on official visits. Usually, there's much more on the plan, because it's typically a two-day visit. I think unofficials are more or less a check-in with the coaches and an opportunity to see the campus. Whereas officials are much more detailed. For example, ND took the kids golfing, had cookouts and all kinds of other things during the officials.

Also, not all unofficials are the same. When Dante Moore unofficially visited campus in late March, it was a detailed two-day visit. Whereas other kids basically come up for a day to check things out.

Dan from Syracuse

2:09

Hi Eric- Long time reader, first time questioner. Love the work you, Tyler, and Kyle are doing! My question is about the distinction between unofficial and official visits that recruits take. My limited understanding, which could be wrong, is that recruits pay their own expenses for unofficial visits, but have their expenses covered by the university for official visits, of which they have a limited number they are permitted to take. Apart from these practical differences, what distinguishes what a recruit experiences during an unofficial visit as opposed to an official visit? Can, or do, recruits have the same experiences and receive the same treatment on unofficial visits as they would on official visits? Thanks, Eric!

Eric Hansen

2:09

Hi Marie. Thanks for checking in today. Let's start with the 2024. A lot of the elite QBs are starting to commit. And while Julian Sayin was very high on ND, Carr committing is a game-changer for him whether he reclassifies or not. He's probably trending toward Georgia. With the 2024 QB dominos starting to fall, ND will likely look more at ascending QBs if Carr reclassifies. Those who were at the Irish Invasion Camp with Carr were Ryan Puglisi, Jake Merklinger, AJ Surace, Isaiah Marshall and James Resar. ... There's not a strong push at this time to make athletes employees. That could change over time. It's not a concept I would embrace, but there may be some advantages when it come to things like guaranteed health care, etc. Not yet in my wheelhouse. Very nice to chat with you too.

Marie from Atlanta

1:55

hi Eric, I hope you’ve had a couple of great weeks. Since it looks like Dante Moore is becoming unlikely for Notre Dame if CJ Carr were to reclassify who are some of the quarterbacks you think Notre Dame would go after in the 2024 class? Conversely if CJ Carr does not reclassify who do you think ND Will pursue in the 2023 class, either uncommitted or trying to flip? What is the current status of the attempt to make college athletes employees, and what is your opinion of this idea, pros, and cons? So glad the chat is back this week, thanks for everything you do.

Eric Hansen

1:55

Regarding the offensive line, Patterson and the tackles are absolutes in terms of inclusion, though Patterson could be a center or a guard. So it comes down to who are your 4th- and 5th-best offensive lineman. If Lugg is healthy. I believe Harry Hiestand things he's No. 4. So it's Zeke Correll vs. Andrew Kristofic (and some guys like Rocco Spindler trying to play their way into the discussion).

1:52

Hi Tom, not sure there's such thing as a quiet summer anymore. but I'll settle for nice weather. ... To your Buchner question, you guys didn't get to see him in the Blue-Gold Game, but the Buchner we saw in practice (albeit limited windows), was a much more advanced version of what you saw in 2021. When I asked Marcus Freeman about him on Monday, he smiled and was happy with the summer progress. I've always been high on Buchner and continue to be. I hope to have a more detailed answer for you in August. ... Remember recruiting is about strong relationships, so I think the only WR that may give Texas a longer look is Jaden Greathouse, who was already considering the Longhorns. I think CJ Carr helps in recruiting and Greathouse is still considered a Notre Dame lean. Texas already has two WRs committed in that class. (more)

Tom Kennesaw, GA

1:43

Hi Eric, hope you were not planning on a peaceful summer! It seems as though recruiting and the accompanying media have become a season of it own. Not sure the real story with Dante Moore but I feel that MF and TR did all they could to convince him to come to ND but I'm sure there will be fans who blame them for him going somewhere else. When he continued to delay his decision it was very concerning to all involved that other teams and people were swaying him away from ND. It also cost us some WR who were considering joining him in SB. With CJ Carr hopefully coming next year or the following year what is your take on the QB position and the development of TB? I am very nervous about the commitment of Manning to Texas and the possible impact on some of the top WR that are leaning to coming to ND. Would not surprise me if we lost one or more to Texas, your opinion? Regarding the possible position shuffling along the OL, what do you think will be the determining factors? Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

1:37

Hi Len. Thanks for the feedback on baseball. Although there was probably some bandwagon-jumping, the overall interest in the baseball team far exceeded or expectations. So we continued to funnel resources in that direction. I think you're making an assumption about players who change their mind that might not be quite fair. During the Kelly/Freeman Era through the 2022 recruiting cycle, ND has lost 36 recruits to decommitments and signing elsewhere but gained 62. Among them some really strong leaders in JD Bertrand, Jarrett Patterson, Houston Griffith, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Daelin Hayes, Khalid Kareem, Shaun Crawford and Drue Tranquill. Where Marcus draws a line is committed recruits can't take official visits. They can take unofficials. And while they don't encourage that, it's a price you pay for chasing more five-stars and high four-stars. But he's not going to sacrifice character. Not everyone is a character fit.

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