JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 16, 2022

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 16, 2022

Prev Page View Full Chat

Eric Hansen

1:17

Hi Jose. Let me answer this more broadly to start with, and then I'll work my way back to your specifics. I think there's a concern among the bowl folks about waning player interest and perhaps fan and media interest as well once the 12-team playoff is in place. The last two years perhaps don't accurately reflect the player disinterest because of the COVID factor, but perhaps that won't factor in. ... Now to your question and assertion. It's not a universal take that Kyle Hamilton and Kyren Williams "quit" on their team. I'm not going to litigate that argument today, but just point out that there are two sides to that debate. As to will bowl committees take the attrition into consideration? No. Nor should they. Too complicated to figure out, for one. I will say as an AP poll voter for decades up until this year, how to factor in missing pieces into a final ranking is challenging. (more)

Jose from Rio Grande, PR

1:04

Hey Eric! You interact with a lot of fans. Can you help me understand why they still care about what bowl bid ND gets when they also have players who quit on their team (a la Hamilton & Williams and likely to be Mayer)? The Pitt-MSU bowl was a joke with all the players sitting out. Do you think bowl committees will take into account the defections before extending bowl bids?

Eric Hansen

1:04

Hi Shane. Thank you. I think the overall inexperience of the wide receiver room doesn't play well against the relative inexperience and limitations of Drew Pyne. So that's a tough dynamic to overcome. But I think there's a lot of talent in the WR corps that should be more apparent next season, with some very good talent coming in.

Shane from White Deer, Texas

12:55

Hey Eric. Happy post Navy survival week. Question/Observation. Is it possible that the Receiver room gets a bad rap from time to time? I have seen a lot of posts that seem to disparage this group for not being a good group of receivers. But with Drew Pyne’s skill set, is it possible that this group may look better under different circumstances? Or, are they average receivers, excluding Mayer obviously, and are hindering the QB room? As always thanks for all you do for ND fans everywhere.

Eric Hansen

12:55

Never too early for me, Patrick. Every week I make a matrix of the national statistical standing of Notre Dame and every team the Irish play, future and past this season, to get a sense of how their matchup is trending. USC hasn't been tested like some of the other teams in the CFP top 10, but they don't have a lot of weaknesses. Most of the ones they do have are on defense -- 87th in total defense, but they hold the score down because they force so many turnovers. They're a bad third- and -four down conversion defense, 85th and 105th, respectively. Good quarterbacks have torched their pass defense, and they're pretty meh against the run. Beyond that, they're one of the more heavily penalized teams, per usual, and stink on special teams, though the Trojans have not had a punt blocked ... yet.

Patrick, Los Angeles

12:47

it is probably too early to ask, but where do you see USC’s most significant weaknesses? Thanks.

Eric Hansen

12:47

Chris I haven't taken the deep dive into the impending ND TV deal yet and won't until at least after the regular season. But I am keeping up with in a cursory way, and you're right about the commitment to Big Ten football in prime time. Irish AD Jack Swarbrick actually seemed optimistic about the Big Ten deal ultimately being beneficial for an independent Notre Dame program. I hope to connect with Swarbrick after the season to get his details about why he likes it. Maybe ND would be happy to have all days games. That's how the original contract was structured way back in 1991.

Chris, Jeffersonville, IN

12:44

Eric, wish weather forecast was better for the last game…….. Listening to NBC Saturday seems the TV deal includes a BIG 10 Saturday night game each week. Just wonder your thoughts on how this will affect the future contract and schedule for Notre Dame? Thanks for the great insight and coverage…

Eric Hansen

12:44

Jerry B, you lively minx, asking about my underwear options. OK, I'm game. If I had to set outside, I'd bundle up in any way I could. I learned that lesson the hard way at the first Garth Brooks concert. But I'm in the press box, so ... Tyler James wrote a pretty detailed version of what went wrong ... actually play by play. So I'll give you the short answer. Ultimately, it's up to the coaching staff to adjust the play calls so that the quarterback can function. However, Pyne didn't help matters with his execution.

Jerry

12:38

Jerry B from Dallas: With regards to our 2nd half offense problems versus Navy, how much was due to the OC and the plays that he was calling and how much was due to the QB not able to get the ball out of his hands quick enough? Eric, on a personal note, inquiring minds would like to know if will you be wearing long underwear to the BC game this weekend? Keep up the good work - thanks.

Eric Hansen

12:38

Hi Pat, the only one that's on the record saying he's been asked to come back and is considering doing so is Justin Ademilola. He's not sure yet what he wants to do, and I think there are a few others in that same mode, that they want to wait until the regular season is over to decide. If Brandon Joseph is able to play in the USC game (he's questionable for BC), and his draft stock stays relatively high, I think he'll leave. Once we get through the USC game, I'll be able to gather more info, because the players themselves will have a better idea. ... Marcus Freeman alluded Monday that perhaps all the seniors had made their decisions, but ND has kind of walked that back in the past two days.

Pat (St. Paul)

12:34

Happy Chat Day! Wondering if you are getting a sense about players possibly returning that might not have. i.e. is Brandon Joseph going to stick around another year? Any other buzz on stay/go decisions?

Eric Hansen

12:34

Hi Jeremy. You answered part of your question with your assessment of Drew Pyne's growth potential. And I agree with your view of Tyler Buchner. He could turn into something special. COULD. Missing so much game and practice experience this season, though, makes our assessment more of a gamble. ND will be bringing in four young wideouts. I think you're leaving too much to chance by not bringing an experienced QB (for this year only) to come in and compete. We don't know how soon Steve Angeli will be ready, especially having to share reps with so many QBs in the spring. I like Angeli's game, but there's nothing about it at this juncture that screams he's ready to pilot a team with playoff aspirations in 2023. In my scenario, you either get a QB who's better than Buchner or he pushes Buchner toward his ceiling and he wins the job.

Jeremy from Goshen

12:27

You mentioned in your last Chat that you are in favor of Notre Dame bringing in a QB from the Transfer portal. Can you elaborate as to why? Both Buchner and Pyne would be healthy and I presume competing once again for the starting role. I personally feel that Buchner still has the ceiling & potential to be the starter and be successful. I feel Pyne is too limited physically to be a championship caliber QB. Even if Pyne or Buchner get injured, Angeli should be within striking distance of being ready to play by next fall with the reps he is getting.

Eric Hansen

12:26

I think early in the year, there were communications logistics that had to be worked through. That was not the case Saturday. And really when you look at ND scoring 38 points in the third quarter all year, with a trajectory to end the regular season with 45, not adjusting is an issue that must be overcome. If that stands up, it'll be the fewest third-quarter points scored in a season since 1997 -- Bob Davie's first year as head coach. I give Tommy Reed credit for seeking out the Navy DC after the game and getting some insight. He sounded Tuesday night like he learned a lot from that conversation that might help moving forward.

Matt from Gulfport

12:22

We seem to have difficulty making in-game second half adjustments. Opponents are making adjustments at halftime, and our coaching staff appears ill-equipped to deal with these. Assuming you agree with this premise, is this just a learning curve for the staff or a lack of in-game communication between Coach Freeman and his Coordinators that can be corrected?

Eric Hansen

12:22

Sure, but ND needed to do better than a three-and-out when the Irish finally did get their hands on the ball. And then when Navy got the ball again, THEY had a three-and-out. The Irish should have been able to take advantage of that and find their rhythm. Instead Drew Pyne threw an interception on the third play of that drive. And the momentum shifted quickly and decisively after that play.

Terry from Ithaca, NY

12:16

Do you think the delay for the 10 minute Navy possession in Q3 had a negative impact on the ND offense? How could they not be flat?

Eric Hansen

12:15

Phil's options kind of came up casually in the media conversation Tuesday night with ND offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. Rees has kept in touch with Phil over the years and they have an amicable relationship. But Rees was unaware Phil had another year. And when told he did, I think Rees was happy for Phil but didn't get the sense he was interested in pursuing a reunion. My person al opinion is that Phil would be better off at another school and so would ND. Really like his skill set, but there are more-proven options that are going to be available. And that's what the Irish need, someone who's proven and ready to compete, not a reclamation project (though a promising one).

12:10

Larry, thanks for perceiving me as a voice of reason. Wait 'til I tell my kids! Former Notre Dame quarterback Phil Jurkovec does have his COVID-year exemption available to exercise if he wanted to come back and play college football in 2023. His NFL DRAFT stock has crumbled in part because of injuries these past two seasons at Boston College. Now, complicating matters is that the redshirt freshman who has replaced him while Jurkovec has been sidelined, Emmett Morehead, has been extremely productive. So Phil in 2023 can A) Plunge into the NFL Draft pool anyway. B) Return to Boston College and battle Morehead or C) Hit the transfer portal again. (more)

Guest

12:05

Larry from Topton, Pa: Eric – Thanks for being the voice of reason, in a season of wild swings!! A crazy hypothetical for you: I am not saying that PJ would be interested, but – should and would Notre Dame take Phil Jurkovec as their transfer portal quarterback next year? Thanks Eric.

Eric Hansen

OK, let's get going.

Here are the rules:

12:04

As for the chat ... please remember to include your NAME and HOMETOWN along with your question.

12:03

Tyler James and I were back with our YouTube show, Monday Night Live, this week with the week’s headlines, a full review of the wonky win against Navy, viewer questions and a Boston College preview — all with minimal glitches. The show will run every Monday night at 7 ET the rest of the football season. If you can’t catch us live, you can watch anytime during the week, as the show keeps its shelf life going through the entire week leading up to the next game.
Finally, recruiting writer Kyle Kelly will host a subscribers-only recruiting chat in the Insider Lounge on Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST.

12:02

If you haven’t already, check out this week’s Inside ND Sports podcast presented by Dead Soxy with our special guest Mike Renner. Lots of great insight from the former lead draft analyst for Pro Football Focus. Among the topics discussed are his evaluations of Notre Dame's top 2023 NFL Draft prospects, including TE Michael Mayer, DE Isaiah Foskey, OL Jarrett Patterson, S Brandon Joseph, CB Cam Hart, DT Jayson Ademilola and DE Justin Ademilola.
Renner also discussed how impressed he's been with OTs Joe Alt and Blake Fisher, what Boston College QB Phil Jurkovec should do this offseason, who ND should target as a potential QB grad transfer and his take on offensive coordinator Tommy Rees’ play-calling and coaching future.

A few quick programming announcements before we roll into questions ...

12:01

Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, Boston College Week Edition, and on a day where there actually may be some frozen tundra here in South Bend, Ind.

Connecting…

Message History

On Off

Your current subscriptions

None

E-mail Address	Chat Owner	Status	Remove

Enter your email address to be notified when Eric Hansen hosts a chat