JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat March 10, 2023

Notre Dame Football Live Chat March 10, 2023

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Don in PHX

1:02

Eric, Hope you are well. Things seem to be calming down just in time for Spring workouts. Let's hope injuries are few and minor. I'm interested in seeing the defense. Seems to me Golden's crew was a mixed bag; good keeping teams out of the red zone but bad once there. What do you need to see this spring to think this was a one year anomaly?

Eric Hansen

12:54

Hi Tim, and thanks for tuning in to Football Never Sleeps. We've all seen Tommy Rees at times show a demanding side to his QB coaching, but I think overall he's more warm and fuzzy than Gino. I think with Gino you'll get a consistent temperament but maybe a little more distant. He's pragmatic, though and he did a great job of developing Desmond Ridder at UC. I think maybe the biggest difference is Gino doesn't have to coordinate the offense, just contribute to it in meetings. There may be positives to that. You're right about continuing a lot of the concepts with the Rees offense. Initially, continuity is a huge importance, but as Gerad Parker and the others assess the strengths of this year's rosters, then you start to add some wrinkles that enhance those new strengths. A much better approach than tearing down and starting from scratch.

Tim from Atlanta

12:46

During the "Football Never Sleeps" discussion, you mentioned Coach Guidugli's no-nonsense "businesslike" demeanor and approach. Do you see this diverging from Tommy Rees's approach to coaching the QB's? Beyond these impressions, what does Coach GG bring to the QB room that may have been lacking a bit with Rees? It seems that the Irish are very much interested in learning and continuing Rees's offense, so am curious what these new coaches on offense may change rather than repeat. Thanks!

Eric Hansen

12:45

Marcus being able to recruit at an elite level and retain talent isn't the unknown. It's how much of that is eroded by NIL and Notre Dame's tinier pool of transfer portal prospects. If those two factors become close to neutral in the overall recruiting picture, then I like ND's chances of getting to the playoff and at least winning some games at that level. As far as a natty in the next five years, I'll give it an optimistic 20 percent.

12:43

Hey Len and thanks for reading our content. I think the success quotient of Rees is more layered than simply the talent differential, but that's certainly part of it. The skeptical ND fan would point out Rees was around long enough to recruit every QB on the roster and be a part of recruiting the skill talent around those QBs. But to your questions directly, Notre Dame has put together three top 10 classes in a row for the first time since 2006-08. Two of those classes has Freeman's fingerprints on them. The consistently underrecruiting/underdeveloped positions during the Brian Kelly Era -- QBs and WRs -- both were addressed successfully in this cycle. (more)

Len from the Jersey Shore

more - Would you venture a percentage that in 5 years that ND wins a NAtty?

12:30

Hi Eric, Thanks for hosting. I have read all or most of everything that you and Tyler have wrote concerning Tommy Rees including answers to our questions in all formats. I have recently taken with reading Alabama articles on Rees which has only reemphasized the positives and the negatives. In Tuscaloosa they are contending that a lot of the negatives in the passing game have been a lack of talent/performance at the QB position and WR position with the emphasis on talent. Then I read elsewhere that in the last two NFL drafts (2022 & 2023) ND has had or expected to have only 5 players drafted. This backs up that talent opinion of the Bama press. Coach Freeman came into ND knowing he needed to update the roster. A simple question. How well has he done considering recruiting and transfer portal in obtaining that talent ? Will he get the talent needed that with a few good bounces and a talented QB ND can get that Championship?

Eric Hansen

12:30

Hi Frank, let me look at this more broadly. Do I think Notre Dame might take a look at the late-spring inventory in the transfer portal. The late-spring window to enter the portal is May 1-15. That's going to depend on several factors: 1. Injuries to the current roster. 2. Overperforming or underperforming position groups. 3. That the number of outgoing transfers syncs up. Assuming no new major injuries and the position groups perform about as expected, I think the two areas that would warrant the most consideration for a portal addition are interior defensive line and safety. Offensive line only if the young talent disappoints or there's an injury. Quarterback no. There are already five of them.

Frank from Royse City, Texas

12:25

Do think the new OL and QB will attempt to bring in some Grad Transfers?

Eric Hansen

12:22

Hi Rob. I think they can occasionally do tight end things with Jayden Thomas without actually moving him to the position. The way he blocks, some of his route-running are a lot like a flex tight end or can be. I'm assuming you are asking about a permanent move and not just a spring temporary situation? I wouldn't sell short the tight end talent and you want to give those inexperienced guys as many reps as you can. So with Evans, Staes and Sherwood, you should have enough healthy bodies. Maybe Bauman and Raridon would be cleared for some non-contact stuff. If Thomas weren't so high on the depth chart, maybe at 215 pounds, I'd consider it, but he may be a starter in 2023, and I want him doing the things in spring he'll be doing in the fall with a new coordinator pushing the buttons.

Robb, Colorado

12:13

Hey Eric, Thoughts on Jayden Thomas getting a move to TE at some point in the spring. Lots of youth and injuries at that position and he seems like he could really blossom as a receiving type who is also willing to block.

Eric Hansen

12:13

I think the best-case scenario is Sam Hartman turns out to be everything he's advertised to be and Buchner is better off for having spent a year for him. Because he gained an injury redshirt year in 2022, he'd still potentially have two years to be the starter beginning in 2024.

12:11

HI Jeremy, I guess this is what we sign up for weather-wise. Ugh. New QBs coach Gino Guidugli said Tuesday in meeting with the media that they'll treat the Sam Hartman/Tyler Buchner QB reps division as a true competition. And I think Marcus Freeman feels it's important to do that for several reasons. It's important for Hartman's new teammates to see him earn the No. 1 status. It's also important that Buchner feels he has a chance to prove himself. Now as far as the outcome, barring injury, it's going to be more like a pro wrestling match, where the winner is already known. Buchner must feel like he's being developed and not essentially redshirted, so he needs No. 1 reps too. (more)

Jeremy from Goshen

12:05

Hello Eric, I hope you are enjoying the snowy skies of of South Bend today... Isn't it fun living in Indiana this time of year? Do you think the QB competition is going to truly be wide open? If it's close, and the coaches feel like they could get a similar level of production, should ( or will) they go with experience (Hartman) or more diverse physical tools (Buchner)? With a new OC and new QB coach, do you know what their preferences are? Also, if Buchner sees that after spring ball that the competition is basically over and he lost. What odds would you give him to transferring?

Eric Hansen

OK, let's dive right into the questions.

12:04