JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat March 9, 2022

Notre Dame Football Live Chat March 9, 2022

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Eric Hansen

3:24

OK, that's going to do it for this week. Thanks for all the great questions. And for those of you pondering subscribing, we'll be running a special next week, so keep an eye out for that. ... We'll be back chatting next Wednesday at noon ET, so see you then.

3:23

Likelier by the day and coin flip, respectively.

Jeremy from Goshen, IN

3:22

Do YOU predict Dante Moore and Carnell Tate picking ND?

Eric Hansen

3:22

I was told LSU paid it.

Eric - Scotia NY

3:22

Nobody seems to want to touch this "aged" question with a 10 foot pole. But did BK or LSU have to end up paying ND a buyout? There were rumors of some type of "breach of contract" on ND's part - according to the trustworthy gentleman BK

Eric Hansen

3:21

Bob, I'll email Mick and get you an answer next week.

Bob Rodes

3:21

Manchester, TN Eric, do you have any idea how Mick Assaf's Irish Players Club NFT operation is doing? I see that three of them have sold recently on the open market for an average price of $183, but I can't see how many of the original 5555 NFTs have sold.

Eric Hansen

3:21

Patrick, you and Chip from Florida have similar questions. I don't have a great answer for either of you that's going to fit in this format. I'd like to do something comprehensive this spring that address your concerns beyond just speculating. Thanks for your patience.

Patrick Los Angeles

3:19

What if anything is ND going to be doing to be competitive in NIL? Sawbrick said there is a lot of unscrupulous activity by schools to entice recruits. How can ND make NIL prospects more attractive without buying players like so many schools are doing?

Eric Hansen

3:18

Richard, if you could share who the recruit was, I can ask our Rivals national guys their opinion, but it sounds like another service, since Rivals doesn't rank beyond a top 250. It doesn't seem plausible.

Richard Fairman (BG)

3:17

Eric just curious how one of the recruiting site published a new ranking list that had ND recruits drop 300+ places. How can a player drop that many spot when they are not playing high school games. Does going to the correct camps or 7 on 7 tournaments make that much difference. Always thought it was strange that different sites had different ranking for the same player but taking a player rated top 100 and dropping them to a top 400 player seems pretty hard to justify

Eric Hansen

3:17

Jimmy, here's a stat to remember. In 50 years, there have been a combined NINE starts by freshmen at offensive guard at Notre Dame. Nine starts. None of those came at left guard and none of them were made by the gold standard of offensive guards, Quenton Nelson. Rocco was in the two-deeps as a freshman. He got better. He will get a chance to compete and learn under one of the best assistant coaches at any position in the nation. So I think his fate is in his hands.

Jimmy Z Granger Indiana

3:11

Hi Eric, I have a question about Rocco Spindler. When he was being recruited, he was a very important part of his class. He had many big time offers and he could have played anywhere. Do you know if he is content with how he has progressed. If he doesn't start this year, could you see him leaving Notre Dame for somewhere else in order to get on the field sooner.

Eric Hansen

3:11

Mike, I think Tommy Rees would like a lot more balance in the offensive that the line wasn't able to help him deliver last season. So yes more running. But if you turn Buchner into strictly a pocket passer/scrambler, you miss out om putting a lot more pressume on opposing defenses. So I like some of your suggestions, but let's not throw out the RPO game completely.

Mike from Ann Arbor

3:09

Hi Mr Hansen. Thank you for your coverage of ND football. I am curious about what Notre Dame’s offense will look like this fall. An RPO centered gameplan could be risky with the limited depth at quarterback. And pass heavy play calling (such as in the Fiesta Bowl) puts a lot of pressure on a young and inexperienced quarterback. With their experienced offensive line, talented tight ends, and a good defense, could you see them utilizing a traditional power running game and play action passing reduce the demands on a young quarterback? Or is this style too old-fashioned or ineffective or just “not cool” in 2022?

Eric Hansen

3:08

Hi Joey. I like your strategy for approaching spring practice. I'm not sure that Marcus is going to want all the starters to take it easy in the BGG. Michael Mayer. Yes. Isaiah Foskey Yes. But there are some players -- starters -- who are going to need every rep. ... Knowing Patterson will return to center makes it less of a battle. It doesn't make sense to move a starter out of position (Kristofic), for instance. I think it will be Correll or a suprrise like Rocco Spindler.

Joey G. Philadelphia

3:05

Hi Eric, While the Irish players will start battling for their positions on St Patrick's Day. (How Fitting) I will be battling for a position at the nearest bar. Lol. Looking ahead to the Blue Gold Game. I would assume some of the starters will take it easy while the youngsters battle for a depth chart spot. With Patterson injured what players will be battling for the center position during the spring?

Eric Hansen

3:04

Len, let me take a run at this after I've seen a couple of practices. Deal?

Len from the Jersey Shore

3:04

Hi Eric, Thanks for hosting. New coaches, different QB, different starters everywhere, maybe players change positions In your opinion which area of the team will suprise us? Which will dissappoint us? LB DL,Safeties, CB's QB's RB's TE's WR's OL Special Teams Include coaching in your evaluation of your choices. Second question, with all the changes player leadership will be vitally important. On a whole will player leadership be better that last year or not as strong?

Eric Hansen

3:03

Thanks Skip. I appreciate you confidence in me being able to reach and influence teenagers. My sons are in their 30s now and the messages from the teenage years are FINALLY getting through!

Skip from Houston

3:01

Thanks for all the good reporting you do and share with us. Not a question but a suggestion - you could hopefully do a lot of good for teenagers and especially recruits by pointing out that no proper English sentence begins with "Him" or "Me". Thank you.

Eric Hansen

3:01

I want to circle back to John. Palmyra's question ... sorry forgot this earlier. Jordan Botelho is a super talented player who could end up back on the D-line or find a home at linebacker ... somewhere. It's a huge spring for him. I am not ruling out any of those scenarios.

2:59

Hi Chris, I'll phrase it this way .. what I need to see for positive results .., and then you can just flip them for the not-so-go bottom line. Buchner looking like a true No. 1 QB. Colzie and Styles ascending at WR, expected growth of the O-Line, Chris Tyree surging. Cornerback looking like the most improved position group, Brandon Joseph looking like his 2020 self and a definitive answer at middle linebacker.

Chris - Newmarket, NH

2:56

Hi Eric, thanks for taking my question...I know you have limited viewing during spring practice, but I was wondering what things, if they happen, might shape your opinion of the team heading into the fall, both positive and not so positive?

Eric Hansen

2:56

Hi Chuck. This question's a bit complicated. Matt Balis gives the players the right techniques, the right training, the right mindset to succeed at Notre Dame. He helps with the foundation. Players then typically train elsewhere, at the direction of their agents, for the combine specifically. So if they run a slow 40 time, you can't pin that on Balis per se. But the foundation they have is a reflection of him and usually reflects positively. There have been players who after peforming at the combine not up to their expectations and asked to train at ND before the Pro Day, and there's generally been good feedback from that. I don't think Kyle would have skipped the 40 unless he were injured. Thanks again, Chuck.

Chuck from Cleveland

2:50

Hi Eric, hope that your new initiative is going well. Based upon the Combine results for all ND players, do the results reflect badly or well upon Balis? I understand that the Combine is more a beauty show vs whether they can really play, but Strength & Conditioning Coaches surely have a personal interest. Secondly, Kyle would not have run the 40 if he knew that his speed was not up to par, right? Flawed results? Thanks and best of luck...will always follow you.

Eric Hansen

2:50

Hi Shaun, what I'll say about Drew Pyne off the top is the guy isn't afraid and he works extremely hard. Physically, he's not as giftted as Buchner, and Buchner works hard too and is comfortable in the spotlight. Buchner to me simply has the higher ceiling. Keep in mind, if you're a Notre Dame fan, you want Pyne to be good. With Buchner exposed to injury in the running game, you're likely going to need Pyne to win a game for you at some point. But I hate to put in this way, if Pyne wins the job, then Rees and Co., missed on Buchner.

Shaun- boston

2:46

It seems TB will be the starting QB week 1. I thought DP played really well, and showed a certain moxy with his game. Obviously I don’t see practices- but is the gap that big between TB and DP? Can Drew win the job? Thank you

Eric Hansen

2:46

Hi Frankie. They make a good first impression. I see your concern is Rees having someone like John McNulty to bounce ideas off of. I think between Gerad Parker, Deland McCullough and Harry Hiestand, you have that resource. I had hear it was suggested that Marcus consider a David Cutcliffe type, but that Rees was not open to that. I'm OK with him spreading his wings a bit more. I think two losses is realstic, but not necessarily the ceiling for this team.

Guest

2:39

Hello Eric! I'am frankie from Virginia I wonder ask you do you have full confidence of Marcus's coach staff ?? My opinion is they need offensive experience for senior offensive analyst? What is do you think about notre dame this year record ?? 9-2 oh well I would like see them running game old style control the game also balance passing game are need more aggressive and defense are need havoc aggressive and cover

Eric Hansen

2:39

Vince, I know C'Bo isn't a speed back, but if he stays on the roster, he'd give ND five, which I think is a good enough number. If he's not, I think adding from the portal could make some sense. Braden Lenzy could help there in a pinch, but with the WR corps so thin, that's not a great option.

Guest

2:36

Vince from upstate NY finger lakes -Burdett NY thank you Eric - don’t you think we need another speedster running back from portal? After Tyree, if an injury to him and then any of the other backs -not lots of proven talent. I like all our backs but they need experience- so important to have some security? Thanks again.

Eric Hansen

2:36

An addendum to Jeff's question, Jayson Ademilola is somewhere on that list, but not clear where because of his rehab.

2:35

Thanks, Erik. Well lifting with the players in winter workouts is a first. Access is better than it's ever been with the media, so there's an openness that's unparalleled in the post-Holtz Era. More aggressive recruiting. A willingness to admit he doesn't have all the answers and the determination to go get them.

Erik from Salina, Kansas

2:32

Thanks for all of your great coverage. Given that this isn't your first rodeo when it comes to coaching transitions at ND, what have you seen from Coach Freeman through the winter and heading into spring ball that differentiates him from his predecessors?

Eric Hansen

2:31

First, thanks to Irish Illustated's Tom O'Malley for doing most of the compiling. He asked Tyler and me for our assistance, but he had done a lot of the groundwork. ...
1) Justin Ademilola and Bo Bauer
2) DJ Brown and Marist Liufau
3) Tyler Buchner and Drew Pyne
4) Houston Griffith and Clarence Lewis
5) Isaiah Foskey
6) Cam Hart and JD Bertrand
7) Josh Lugg
8) Michael Mayer and Avery Davis
9) Jarrett Patterson
10) Michael Vinson
This is Marcus' first time doing this, so my read is more of a guess. I would imagine, he'll unveil them this spring at some point. Based on this list and picking/guessing four, I'd go with Patterson and Mayer, Foskey and Cam Hart. ... Maybe Brandon Joseph earns it coming in from the outside.

Jeff from Phoenix

2:26

Hey Eric, can you give us the names of the SWAT leaders for the team? Since the ultimate 2022 team captains usually are chosen from the SWAT leaders, do you have some predictions for those that will eventually be named team captains? When would Freeman announce the team captains? Thanks!

Eric Hansen

2:24

Hi Paul. The change in the portal dynamics (no year of waiting) has definitely affected roster dynamics at the QB position more than ever before. But I think to alternate years with big ambition would be a mistake. Apparently, Marcus Freeman thinks so too, which is why they hope to -- and very well could -- land Dante Moore and Julian Sayin in back-to-back cycles. ... as to your Canada question, YES, there is an incredible group in Toronto who I would love to party with. I'm sure you would too. Email me (ehansen@insidendsports.com) and I'll put you in touch.

Paul W, Toronto, Ontario

Hi Eric forgot to ask this in my earlier question. I've noticed you seem to have a fair number of followers from the Toronto/Ontario area. Do you know of or have a list of ND Fan Clubs up this way or any organization that get ND football fanatics together for their games in the fall. Would be nice to live and die with other ND crazies so I don't drive family crazy every Saturday.

2:17

Hi Eric. Outside of Alabama no team seems to be able to have their four and five star quarterbacks stay in the program if the depth chart is stacked against them and they go to the portal. Do you think this will affect the way ND recruits QB's. For example go for the big name every other year and the Drew Pyne/Steve Angeli types the other years so as to keep the QB's from entering the portal so quickly.

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