JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat March 30, 2022

Notre Dame Football Live Chat March 30, 2022

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Robert from Sartell, Minnesota

1:46

Even with three inches of brand new snow here, my mind is still on Irish football. Eric, can you detail Tyler Buchner’s strengths and weaknesses as a passer? Hope Spring has sprung in South Bend!

Eric Hansen

1:45

We were told there was interest from Mike Brey. And there was some mutual interest from Maryland, but he was never the front-runner. I don't think it's accuate to portray Mike as looking for a new job as much as Maryland was attractive and worth taking a look. So I don't think ND needs to look now with Mike coming back at least for next year.

David from Brookline

1:41

Eric, rumors were spreading that Coach Brey was interested in the Maryland job. Are they accurate? And, if Coach Brey is looking, is ND looking at potential next hires? Thanks in advance.

Eric Hansen

1:40

Jeff, I really appreciate the feedback. And the same question flashed through my mind as the words came out of his mouth. But he based it on feedback from the running backs themselves. I was kind of floored. I do consider Deland as an elite position coach, love the hire. But I thought Lance Taylor was pretty sharp and had a big-picture knowledge. Until I get a chance to dig a little deeper, I'm making the same assumption your are, that the McCullough/Hiestand/Rees coordination on teaching is stronger than the Taylor/Quinn/Rees combination.

Jeff from Phoenix

1:37

Hey Eric, really enjoying the content. In reading the article about the RB coach McCullough, I have a question/concern about something he said. In reference to current vs. previous years and coaching, he said "...these guys (running backs) have been given very specific reads they didnt have before...", so referring to backs running to holes created by the called blocking scheme. How is it even possible that a RB didnt know the blocking scheme and where to run? Was there some disconnect between previous coaches Quinn and Taylor? Or have I read this incorrectly. So for the present group of Hiestand/McCullough/Rees, can we be confident that they on the same page for coordinating and teaching the running game? Thanks-

Eric Hansen

1:36

Hi Mark. If it's Notre Dame, I'd say in April. Maybe sooner than later.

Mark< Kincardine Ontario

1:35

Eric, Thanks for all your great work covering our team, can you tell me when will Dante Moore will make his decision?

Eric Hansen

1:35

Your question reminds me, Marie had a third part to her question regardingt QB recruiting. Marie, if Moore hasn't committed by the Blue-Gold Game and it drags on, I think ND will see if Christopher Vizzina is ready. I don't perceive that bridge has been burned. ND needs to get one of them, and I think they will. I'll wait to go further down the rabbit hole until there's some clarity with Moore.

1:32

I used a phone a friend with our recruiting writer, Kyle Kelly. He was supposed to have heard from the Moores on their way back and hasn't. I don't think anyone on the beat has. And I don't take it as a negative re Notre Dame. This is a big decision for him and maybe he just needs a little time to reflect on what he just experienced, without voicing that 82 times to different members of the media. I still feel good that he ends up at ND. You asked for a percentage, and I'll say 70 percent. I'd never say 100 percent, even with my own kids. Teenagers are unpredictable, but Moore is pretty grounded.

Jeff Erickson Mishawaka, IN

1:17

Hi Eric! What can you tell us about Dante Moore's ND visit Monday-Tuesday? What % would you put on ND landing him?

Eric Hansen

1:17

Chris thanks. It's a good page to be on!

Chris in Albuquerque

1:16

Hey Eric I think Maire from Atlanta and I are on the same page lol! Have a great one sir!

Eric Hansen

1:16

To me, Marist Liufau is LB1. His best position is the Will (weakside), but he could play all three positions. Bertrand had a low Pro Football Focus grade (58.3) in 2021, and that was pulled down by his coverage grade of 50.6. Teams were able to isolate him in bad matchups. So MLB seems like a better fit. He'd have to compete in August with Bauer and freshmen Burnham and Tuihalamaka. I could see that becoming a time share. Bertrand is a good tackler when healthy and very good at play diagnosis, which gives him a quick first step.

1:12

He did log more plays than any linebacker on the roster last year. He had 753 snaps. Drew White was next with 511 and Jack Kiser was third with 371. Overall, the defensive leader in snaps was CB Clarence Lewis (832). Wtih White having a hard cast on his left wrist post-surgery, he's not in the contact periods and that will save some wear and tear on him. The question still remains, where does he best fit? (more)

1:10

Hi Len. I am cool with Pujols finishing his career with St. Louis. Not a big fan of the DH, but I will tolerate it. ... On your QB question, Buchner looks like QB 1 throwing the ball, moving around, extending plays. And Pyne looks much improved. He's got more mobility than some people might realize. Then there's a cliff to 3 and 4. JD Bertrand is a fascinating study. Incredible worker and leader and teammate. But how does he measure up athletically and where does he fit. I asked Marcus Freeman about that and he assured they'd find a spot for him at middle linebacker or weakside, which he played last year. (more)

Len from the Jersey Shore

1:02

Hi Eric and thanks for hosting. As a Cardinal fan are you glad to see Pujols back with the Cardinals for a year? And are you good with the dh rule change in the NL? Now for football. I saw that both QB's through TD's in the red zone at the practice the press was at. How did it look thru your eyes for the QB's throwing and the receivers catching those passes? Second, last year JD Bertrand came out of no where to fill in admirably for an injured and short depth linebacker core. I am sure he logged the most plays of any LB. Has he physically recovered from that load? Not just the wrist but the grind. Did he top out last year? Will he split time this season with Bo Bauer as a the primary backup at the mike position?

Eric Hansen

12:59

Snapper Michael "Milk" Vinson told me he's seen Bryan hit 56-yarders with some regularity. ... Next surprise is RB Audric Estime. I expected improvement. He's got some impressive finesse in his game to go along with his power. And the last surprise is freshman RB Jadarian Price. I was impressed by his high school numbers, competition and highlight stuff, but he's just more ready for college ball than I had imagined.

12:55

Thanks, Marie. I'll preface the surprise part by saying there's a handful of players who have made significant strides, but I expected them to. So I won't include them in the surprises. That group, however, would include Tyler Buchner, Marist Liufau, Lorenzo Styles, Blake Fisher and Joe Alt, Rylie Mills, and a few others. ... So to the true surprises. CB TaRiq Bracy has a very good practice as a nickel and at CB. Freshman CB Jaden Mickey. I expected him to get in the mix, but he's skilled AND feisty. K Josh Bryan. I figured he probably had a good leg and maybe accuracy issues. He has VERY GOOD range and was accurate in the practice I saw. (more)

Marie from Atlanta

12:44

hi Eric, I hope you are having a great week and enjoying the spring. After watching one complete practice who were the five players that surprised you the most? Also, if Dante Moore does not commit to Notre Dame by the blue gold game or shortly there after and drags his recruitment into the summer how do you think Notre Dame will play out their quarterback recruiting? It feels as if they may have burned their bridge with Christopher Vizzina by so clearly making it known that Dante was their number one choice. Will they go back and add players to the board And if they do, is it too late to be getting into the game with any good quarterbacks?As always thanks for your great insights and for hosting the chat.

Eric Hansen

12:44

First, Jadarian Price playing as a freshman is a strong likelihood. He's got versaility, elite speed, intelligence and just a mature, grounded kid (my impressions after speaking to him Tuesday). Deland doesn't look at his depth chart as 1-2-3-4, but more who can do certain jobs. Who's the best 3rd-and-long back? Who's best on 3rd-and-short? Who's best in the slot? Wh's the best closer? So he plans to play all four. Tyree is the fastest player on the team. Diggs, has great visiion. Estime has power and way more niftiness and quickness than he showed in the fall practices. They all can pass block. They all can catch. If I broke down their opportunities at this moment, I still think it goes 1. Tyree, 2. Diggs, 3. Estime, 4. Price, but I don't think there will be a huge disparity in carries from 1 to 3. Again McCullough plans on playing all four.

12:37

Hi Dennis. Thanks for the compliment and the virtual beer. You might have posted your question before I posted my story on new running backs coach Deland McCullough yesterday, but it is really more of an overview. Let's give you the detail you're looking for. (more)

Dennis. Double Oak TX

12:27

Hello Eric. I really appreciate the effort you put into these chats and the tidbits of detail to be found there. Have a beer on me.
Audric Estime appears to be a big time back to me. Chris Tyree has experience and great ability significantly different from Estime. Logan Diggs is good but appears to me to finish third in this group. I’m leaving JD out of the discussion for now just because he’s a freshman. I know there is a new RB coach which could change the perception of who’s who and I’d appreciate hearing your thoughts on the RB group related to what we may see in the fall, understanding what we may see in the spring game could change things significantly. Thanks for your work.

Eric Hansen

12:27

Hi Tom, and Happy Easter to you. ... Notre Dame is at 84 after C'Bo Flemister left the roster. That's one under the NCAA maximum. You can check out our scholarship chart here for future reference. To your question, if the injury situation stayed the same over the balance of the spring, I see ND adding at least at WR. Another CB still might make some sense depending on performance more than numbers. Maybe a running back for depth, but I really like the four they have in terms of potential. There could be additional roster attrition after spring for ND, and that would help dictate positional need.

Tom from Maryland

12:18

How many players does ND have on scholarship at this time? Is there anyone in the transfer portal that ND is really interested in pursuing? Eric, keep up the good work and have a great Easter with your family.

Eric Hansen

Recruiting wide receivers will become much more easy if/when QB Dante Moore commits to the Irish.

12:17

ND needs to evaluate the receivers it has to see what it needs to shop for -- a Kevin Austin type? Depth? Both? I think depth is a given, but your example of the numbers at the slot position can be bolstered through the running back position as well as moving Braden Lenzy or Lorenzo Styles around. I think the two players who will help determine ND's market the most this spring are how Deion Colzie and Joe Wilkins Jr. perform. And yes, ND is addressing the position big time in the 2023 recruiting cycle, with Braylon James from Del Valle, Texas, likely the first of the elite targets to commit to the Irish.

12:11

Hi Joey. I agree it's a position that needs to be evaluated this spring and post-spring with some urgerncy. But I think being thorough makes more sense than making a knee-jerk move. First, the second wave of portal talent will be starting in the next few days/weeks as spring games get played and players re-evaluate their situations. For them to be immediately eligible for the 2022 season at their new school, they must be in the portal by May 1. Then they can take their time shopping for their school and vice versa. (more)

Joey G. Philadelphia, Pa

12:07

Hi Eric! Looking at the depth chart heading into the Blue Gold game., The slot receiver position is a glaring weakness. With just Salerno and the injured Davis ND can’t rely on just these 2 players. You would think Freeman takes a hard look at the portal.Do you agree we need to address this position in recruiting?

Eric Hansen

We're off and running -- or at least jogging.

12:04

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