JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 18, 2020

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 18, 2020

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Doug from VA Beach, VA

2:01

Hi Eric, Thanks for the chats and all the great coverage as always! Has there been any word on possible tickets for the public for the Syracuse games since the students will be gone?

Eric Hansen

2:01

It means they're tired of confusing fans and media. It was a pain trying to do the math every time there was a statistic, because taking out those 22 games skewed, for instance, Brian Kelly's record when outrushing another team or leading at halftime. To be honest, I'm glad ND is putting out the right number and then adding an asterisk. I think vacating wins is a stupid punishment that benefits no one, particularly in this case.

John in Fort Wayne

1:58

Eric, Notre Dame congratulated Brian Kelly for win number 100. Please tell me the University doing this means they don't recognize the NCAA's ridiculous decision to vacate 21 wins, as far as the school's official record book.

Eric Hansen

1:58

Notice the numbers are now out of 126 and not 76 or 77 as earlier. So being top 25-30 is desirable. The pass-efficiency ranking went from 55 to 38 in one week, which is significant. Notice Wisconsin's strong start but in a small sample size.

1:56

Give me a second to download it. It's being ornery with me.

1:53

I sure can.

Steve from St Louis

1:52

Thanks for the great coverage as always. Can you please update us on where ND stands at the bye week in the five statistical categories you track. Thanks.

Eric Hansen

1:52

The Chip experience did not make Harry want to leave. They actually got along well, in part because Chip deferred to Harry. ... as far as the vacated games go, it comes up to 21 wins and 1 loss vacated. So the adjusted record would be 79-36 instead of 100-37.

Jim in Fremont, Ohio

1:48

Eric, enjoy reading your chats every week. Got a question or two for you. With everything coming more to light with the "Chip Long" experience, do you feel that he was a reason for Harry Hiestand leaving? I like Jeff Quinn and this has nothing to do with him, just wondered if the "chip experience" made Harry want to leave. Also, with Coach Kelly hitting 100 wins, the national people had to say it "included vacated wins" so if you took out the vacated wins what would his win total be?

Eric Hansen

1:47

Thanks, Ed. Sometimes Notre Dame will recruit a player with the thought that he projects as a center. Some classes they do not. Jarrett Patterson was recruited as a left tackle. He had never played center before the winter/spring of 2019. Nick Martin was somewhat similar to that. Zeke Correll, likely the next man in for Patterson, was recruited with the idea that he would play center. In 2021, there is not a true center recruit, nor so far is there in the 2022 class.

Ed Fish, Granville, N.Y.

1:43

Did ND recruit a true center in 2021 or 2022 class love your information,u are the best,stay safe.

Eric Hansen

1:42

Terry, thank you. We are only semi-frozen tundra here, but 60s tomorrow!!!! That hasn't been Book's forte until recently. If he continues to harness that part of his game, he takes his game and ND's offense to another level, which is significant. He's always been a good runner. But his awareness of when to try to extend a pass play and when to scramble and not running himself into pressures has been outstanding the past two weeks, especially.

Terry O’Donnell

my question: does anyone in college football match his footwork and his Houdini like escapes, not to mention terrific judgment staying in the pocket and accuracy in finding targets? Thanks for your superbly balanced and honest reporting.

Thanks in advance for taking my query. I really like Ian Book’s attitude, competitive level and attention to detail, which you highlighted in an article this week.

1:40

Eric!!!! Just 4 exclamations. Do not want to usurp Manny .. Terry O’Donnell, Ottawa ON..frozen tundra area .

Eric Hansen

1:39

Brendon Clark is the next man in.

Thomas Tyks- USHER

1:38

First, Congratulations to Coach Kelley on his tenure here at Notre Dame. I think the football writers have it right this time on the rankings. Should anything happen to Ian Book, who does Notre Dame have as a back up plan? "You Don't Loose, until You Quit Trying" (Samuel Davis- Congressional Medal of Honor- Vietnam)

Eric Hansen

1:38

He is on track to. I'll have an update Monday.

Guest

1:37

Hi Eric JIM ,CUMBERLAND MD ,and a good after Noon to You .My question to You is ? Branden Lenny going to play against North Carolina .

Eric Hansen

1:36

We'll find out on Tuesday night. That's when the first set of rankings from the CFP selection committee will be released. There will also be a teleconference with Gary Barta and Bill Hancock from the CFP, and I plan to ask those questions that night. My sense is there will be some leeway because of COVID, but not sure how much. The powers-that-be with the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl (national semis) and the CFP Championship Game have pledged to be flexible just in case. I don't think this is just an accommodation for the Big Ten and Pac-12 as much as it is for everyone as the number of cancellations and postponements have spiked. That's a reflection of the climbing levels of infection across the country in the general population.

Jeff from Canton, MI

1:30

Hi Eric! With the Big Ten and Pac 12 having as many as 4 or 5 games played less than ND, how do you think the selection committee will grade undefeated teams such as an Oregon going 6-0 or or Ohio State going 8-0 compared to other teams such as an 11-1 Clemson, 11-1 ND or 10-1 Alabama? I think it will make for some very interesting conversations in trying to pick that #4 team in the playoff. I've also heard of some rumors to delay the games/playoffs to get the PAC 12 more time to play their games.

Eric Hansen

1:29

I think both C'Bo (5-11, 201) and Kyren Williams (5-9, 195) show a lot of power for their size. I'm not great at the comparison game, because my mind doesn't naturally work that way. The backs who come to mind, like Ray Zellars, were so much bigger (234) and he was technically a fullback. Same with Robert Hughes or more recent vintage. C'Bo has surprised me. I did not think he'd ever be able to play at the level he is. He has convinced me. You're right about the Kiser fumble, and I'll shoot ND a note about it. Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

Tom Kennesaw, GA

1:22

Hi Eric, thanks for the chat on a bye week. A couple of things: have you ever seen anyone run harder than C'bo for his size? Does he remind you have any former Irish RB? Also, why did the box score only list 3 fumbles? Clearly Kiser fumbled his interception but then recovered it. The boxscore lists number of fumbles and number lost and both say 3. Thanks again and have a safe and Covid style Thanksgiving!!

Eric Hansen

1:21

I'll go with Philip Riley, the recently re-committed cornerback from Florida.

sorry, we had an internet outage. I'm back.

1:19

Wow, that is looking way, way ahead.

Eamonn from Portland, OR

1:14

Eric! Long time habitual reader, love the chats and articles! Thinking to next year, since this year is not captivating enough :) who you got for a surprise starter/impact player on the 2021 squad? A la Jarrett Patterson, Clarence Lewis type of guy.

Eric Hansen

1:13

Stan, thanks for your good wishes and comments. To your questions: 1. I don't think they're a weakness as much as they've been relatively untested by elite QBs. That's also a position group that's probably been hit the hardest by COVID. I think there's upside to that group. 2. More blitzes? I haven't studied Sam Howell's numbers vs. pressure yet, but that makes sense to mix in some (BUT NOT HUGE DOSES). 3. North Carolina is really. really balanced, much more than Clemson was before or after playing ND. So what do you take away. I'd still lean toward run defense, so that UNC can't play ball control. Ideally, you forced them into early mistakes, play with the lead and play ball control yourself. 4. I'm not sure if he wants to be the first seventh-year senior on college football history. He would be a valuable person to bring back if you can convince him.

Stan from Rockford IL

1:04

Eric
Here’s hoping this finds you and your family well. Thanks for the mid-week chat despite ND having a bye week. So much to feel enthused about with this team. Three comments before my 4 part question. Happy to see Javon’s and Avery’s patience being rewarded and recognized after way too little props placed on them by much of the fan base. And watching #15 WR Frosh Johnson celebrating with the other receivers was good to see. Please! No transfer portal before we get to see him used in the O’. Onto the questions: 1) Are NDs CBs a weakness? Remembering the ’85 Bears, their CBs (Frazier and Richardson) didn’t need to be elite because their pass rush was dominating. So 2) Would you favor more blitzes vs. NCs young excellent QB if the front four don’t get into his face? 3) With the O’ balance NC has, should ND focus on stopping the run like they did vs. Clemson, making NCs O’ one dimensional? 4) How can we convince my main man Crawford to return for just one more year? He was all over the field vs. BC.

Eric Hansen

1:03

As far as the successor coming from within, I'm still squeamish on someone who hasn't been a college head coach taking over. The best-case scenario, I would think, is for Clark Lea or Mike Elston to go somewhere else for 2-3 years as a head coach and then come back if you wanted to go internally.

1:00

Keep in mind Bruce, that snapshot may look very different in 2024/25. Look at how different it is from 2016 to 2020. Let's assume the strengths and challenges are static. The player development part of things is elite. That includes having someone like Matt Balis running things, but also the sports science involved and the sports psychology (Dr. Amber Selking). Notre Dame made a big step forward with the indoor facility, which solved a lot of logistical problems. The second phase of the Gug expansion needs to happen. It will give ND an even stronger infrastructure. Recruiting got some needed redirection, but I think we need to see what that looks like post-pandemic to truly gauges those tweaks and changes. (more)

Bruce, Centralia, IL

12:50

Eric, if BK retires in 2024 or 2025, what are the program strengths that the next coach will inherit, and are there any clear areas for refocus or improvement? If the culture is strong right now, as seems to be the case, then doesn’t that suggest a promotion from within as the preferred path? Thanks as always.

Eric Hansen

12:48

I think a one-game blip is no cause for alarm, and I think this team is mature enough to make sure it doesn't become part of their tendencies. The turnover issue is huge against a team like North Carolina, which scores a lot and gives up a lot of points. You can't afford to give a team like that extra possessions.

Guest

12:46

Hey Eric, Randy from Mississippi I believe Brian Kelly has to get a handle on the unsportsmanlike penalty’s as well as the turnovers. What you say?

Eric Hansen

12:46

Denny. I did have a chance to meet Paul and chat with him several times when he used to have a role on the Notre Dame radio network. I did not have much contact with him in his later year as his health was declining. He was certainly a fascinating figure in Notre Dame football history.

denny from beaverton ormcast.net

12:44

Hi Eric; I fell in love with Notre Dame football as a Catholic grade school boy of 10 when I saw Paul Hornung on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1956. He was my hero and I had many more over the years but "the golden boy" was the first. He was a colorful character maybe alot like George Gipp of earlier years. I knew he loved Notre Dame and heard that he was a gracious and accommodating person to fans in later years. I never had the chance to meet him and wonder if you ever did Eric? Seeing our heroes pass focuses us on our own timeline a little closer. R.I.P. Paul Hornung.

Eric Hansen

12:44

John, we talked about that a bit in the podcast. Tommy Rees leaves that more up to the quarterback, though there is a supporting role in that for the center. So to go from Jarrett Patterson to say Zeke Correll wouldn't be as huge an adjustment as it would have been under different offensive coordinators.

John from Toledo

12:42

Jarrett Patterson's injury caused me to wonder what the center's role in "quarterbacking" the O-line is in Tommy Rees' offense. I haven't heard Patterson much or seen him pointing in such a way as to suggest pre-snap blocking shifts at the line of scrimmage. Bottom line, I wonder what Jarrett's replacement needs to contend with other than moving the guy in front of him.

Eric Hansen

12:41

OK Dan, thank you and you can be my agent moving forward. Alex Bars is alive and well playing for the Chicago Bears this season. He's played in all 10 games to date, though some of those on special teams only. The last two weeks he's started at center and at left guard.

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