JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 17, 2021

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 17, 2021

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Sean, Greensboro

12:29

Eric, first, Happy Thanksgiving to to and your family.Hope you get to see your grandkids. My brother went to UVA, so I can enjoy my Turkey day.Two questions. First, did Coach Kelly take his foot off the gas after being up 21-0 at UVA? If so why? Second, do we have to have a Heisman winner every year? It seems to me there are are lot of good players this year, but not one that stands out. Thoughts? Thanks for all you do.

Eric Hansen

12:29

Tom, I think Notre Dame has ascended to the point where the Irish would beat them in a close November game without Hamilton. ... I don't think UC is any better than they were in September, but I still think that's a quality team. ... I think Justin comes back. I think Jayson has a big decision to make and would be wise to get feedback from the NFL, which he will. My sense is that feedback would lead him to go into the draft.

Tom Kennesaw, GA

12:25

Eric, with a semi-healthy Kyle Hamilton back on the field in say 2-weeks, who wins a ND-Cinc game at this point in the season???? Go Irish!!! Your thoughts on the Ademilola twins coming back next year? I think their return is very important to the success for next season. Thanks. Go Irish!!!

Eric Hansen

12:25

As far as Drew Pyne, I would expect him to go into spring looking to win the job over Tyler Buchner. Incoming freshman Steve Angeli will also get reps as would Walker Howard if he flips his commitment from LSU to ND. I think leaving before or after spring makes little sense, especially if he emerges as No. 2. By the end of the 2022 season, he'll have progressed pretty far toward a degree, since he enrolled early as a freshman. If after the 2022-23 spring semester, there are other QBs jumping him on the depth chart, then maybe he considers a transfer then ... with a degree in hand. That's my read on it.

12:18

Jim, I did a deep dive on Kyren in preseason and spent a lot of time talking to the family. He is motivated to be a support to them above and beyond anything else. When you see him not going down on his way to the end zone, that's who and what he's thinking about. That's a difficult dynamic to change. Kyren is very smart, and if coming back a year was going to significantly change the way the NFL views him, then maybe ... but I think they really like him now. NIL money could be a factor, but again, I'd be surprised if he came back. (more)

Jim Tal, Valley Center, CA.

12:13

Good afternoon Eric. Hope all is well with you as the regular season begins winding down. I have two questions. To begin with, do you foresee any scenario by which Kyren Williams would entertain coming back next year? Secondly, does Drew Pyne stick it out and resist going the portal route? I still think he has a role at ND - be it as a starter or not - and that it would be a mistake to leave given all that he's invested up to this point. Something tells me he still will get some chances moving forward. As always, thank you for taking the time to do these chats.

Eric Hansen

12:13

Hi Mike. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Yes, I do think there were some solid takeaways for the Irish defense even without Armstrong. Coverage was one of them. The ability to so thoroughly thwart Virginia's Wildcat game that the Cavs quit on it was another. The pass rush was huge. And it will be potentially in each of the last two regular-season games. Back to coverage, getting so many reps for Ramon Henderson and Xavier Watts is big for this year and next.

Mike from Rochester, NY

12:10

Hi, Eric, an early Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! The Virginia game was entertaining and really showed the depth on the defensive side. I know Brennan Armstrong was out and that certainly hurt the VA offense but they still had all those great receivers everyone was talking about leading up to the game. I thought the defense did a very good job covering all those receivers and didn’t leave the backup QB many places to throw the ball. Am I right or did the QB just fail to find the open man? If I’m right, it certainly reflects some growth and improvement by the secondary and bodes well for next year.

Eric Hansen

12:09

Word out of Georgia Tech is that their No. 1 QB option is questionable because of an undisclosed injury. Backup Jordan Yates has played a lot -- started four games. Their passing stats are very similar, but Sims is by far the more dynamic runner of the two.

Cheryl from Rockwall Texas

12:08

Is GT QB Simms out for the ND game?

Eric Hansen

12:08

I agree that next year's team will likely be have a roster and an identity that would make it a tougher out in the playoff and maybe even a team that could advance past the semis. This 2021 team is ascending, but I still think it has a razor thin margin for error if it gets into the playoff.

Ray Sebastian Fl.

12:04

Hi Eric , love these live chats.Thank you! Don't think Irish would do well in playoff this year, but next year might be different. What say you?

Eric Hansen

12:04

Off we go.

Here are the rules.

12:03

Please include your NAME and HOMETOWN along with your question.

12:02

A quick note, I will be doing a chat next Wednesday at noon ET. So feel free to follow along while you're doing some early Black Friday online shopping or while you're stuffing your turkey.

12:01

Greetings, and welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, Georgia Tech Week Edition.

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