JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 22, 2023

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 22, 2023

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Eric Hansen

3:19

PS Tom from Sister Lakes, great question ... just couldn't do it off the top of my head. Will have an answer for you next week if you resubmit it.

3:18

OK, I am out of time. I am loaded up for the rest of the day with assignments, including covering MBB tonight. Thanks for all the great questions. Thanks for putting up with my "dad" jokes, as my grandkids call them. We WILL be back to do it all over again next Wednesday at noon ET.

3:17

Could Steve Angeli be ready? Yes, it's possible he is. But it's possible he isn't. If he had Marvin Harrison and Emeka Egbuka and Cade Stover to throw to, then the risk is diminished to a large degree. If you look at those national champs who won with first-year starters, there was a larger margin for error because of the teams that surrounded them. There's risk with a portal QB too, but they are more of a known than Angeli, most likely. I would venture to guess had DJ Brown held onto the near interception McCord thrown and Ohio State went on to lose to Michigan because of the disparity at QB, there will be Buckeye fans who will say Ryan Day should have gone to the portal.

3:13

Jeremy, this is a thoughtful, well-worded question that I'm going to get in one form or another, I'm convinced, every week from now until the Texas A&M game has been played to opener the 2024 season. And I'm going to change a lot of minds here from people who have dug in their heels on this. Let me try to put a little bit different spin on this. So last year was really the first season we got a full blast of the no-waiting transfers and the great impact it had on college football. So let's look at the 13 seasons before that -- 2009 to 2021. In 10 of those seasons a first-year starter was the QB on the national title team. Most often it was NOT a freshman like Trevor Lawrence, but an older player who came up through the system. Cam Newton and Jake Coker were notable transfers as first-year starters (Burrow won the title in his second season at LSU after transferring). (more)

Jeremy from Goshen

2:59

Hi Eric, thanks for taking this pre-thanksigiving chat when it could have been an easy excuse not to. I have been reading these chats for years and a long standing theme has been QB play and lack of development. We have blamed lots of different things over the years from recruiting the right talent, coaching, and others. It's always been wait for Jurkovic, wait for Buchner, now we're waiting on Carr and Knight. It bothers me that we have to go back to the portal again for 2024. My question is why isn't Angeli ready to play and play at a high level. He'll have been around for 2.5 years. I don't see Ohio State bring in transfers. Kyle McCord has played and improved as the year has gone on. Why can't ND develop their own talent and get them improving every year? Eventually I don't see how this doesn't hurt recruiting.

Eric Hansen

2:59

Hi Tom and Happy Thanksgiving. Last offseason, I believe Marcus Freeman said every one of his assistant coaches had at least one offer to go elsewhere, so expect more of that. I think Gerad Parker is the only one who is up for debate in terms of performance, and we don't know yet if Marcus Freeman feels that is justified. He has been publicly supportive. .. Two emerging players next year (who haven't already done so this year like Jeremiyah Love and Rico Flores) ... hmmm Eli Raridon and Jaylen Sneed/Christian Gray.

Tom from G.R.

2:55

Eric, wishing you and all your family a Happy Thanksgiving. Who on the coaching staff could start to feel their seats getting warmer, between now and an anticipated bowl game? Other than Al Golden are there other potential coaches who might depart? Of the guaranteed returning players, pick two you see emerging from the pack for next year. As always, thank you for your work. Go Irish ☘️ 🏈☘️

Eric Hansen

2:55

Hi Tony. I think there are reasons for optimism, plenty of them. The biggest unknowns are who's going to be the No. 1 QB? What other key portal pickups might be in store? Who's on the fence who might return (Watts, Cross, Mills, Fisher, for example)? And who will the coordinators be in 2024?

Tony, Lake Mary, FL

2:53

I know Angeli's play has come with the games in hand, but man he has thrown some dimes. Like his poise and I think he could serve as a good stopgap until CJ or Deuce get acclimated. Not to say Kenney can't do it, just haven't seen him. I think the young offensive weapons getting experience and likely some pre season reps with Angelic could be vital, not to mention Schrauth and Craig holding up nicely. Maybe I am overly optimistic (and looking ahead way past two games), but excited about next year. Is it one of those "ahead of schedule seasons like 2012 and 2018? The D seems to have a lot of unknowns next year outside of the secondary. Thoughts?

Eric Hansen

2:52

Notre Dame had him in for a visit the summer of 2021 for the '22 class and didn't press for him. He's a sophomore now, so he's in the yucky territory when it comes to getting transfers through admissions. Maybe a high academic peer would produce a maybe instead of a hard no. I'm not sure he would be looking around given his success there this year. Unless is is ACC-avoidant.

Matt from Strong Island, NY

2:49

…piggyback on DJ’a question—maybe Stanford’s Ayomanor?

Eric Hansen

2:48

DJ, it becomes serious when the portal actually opens on Dec. 4. Until then it's speculation ... not that Notre Dame isn't doing its due diligence on players it would like to see or expects to see or both in the transfer portal. I'd be willing to answer this in more depth next week, but already we've seen one name that was being floated, Utah QB Cam Rising, announce he's staying at Utah.

DJ from fresno

2:46

Are there any serious names being mentioned for transfer portal quarterbacks and receivers coming in for 2024?

Eric Hansen

2:44

Matt Happy Thanksgiving to you. I'm trying to line up an expert on the TV numbers for our podcast next week so we can comb through the numbers and get a better sense of how that fits in with the dollars the Big Ten and SEC are taking in at the top of the college football food chain. At the very least, these are encouraging figures.

Matt from Strong Island, NY

2:42

Thanks for doing this chat on a busy family and travel day—you rule, as usual. I would love to hear your opinion on the renewal of the NBC deal and whether it’s truly competitive. $50 million-ish from NBC + $12 million-ish from the ACC is quite a bit less than the $70 million-and-rising the Big XX schools are taking in. Is the lower deal just the cost of doing business as an independent? Do you think we get anything significant in return from NBC for taking a lower number? Thank you, and happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Eric Hansen

2:42

Hi Jimbo. In all candor, you're ahead of me in scouting Matt Jeffery for football. ND has done well with that combo, even in the past when Will Yeatman played TE and lacrosse at ND before transferring out. Some of ND's players have excelled at both sports in high school -- Ian Book and Tyler Buchner and Jack Coan and Jamir Jones to name a few. We'll get more info about his football prowess when we get to football signing day next month. And you're right about KK Smith being included in that group, with him being out all year so far following shoulder surgery. Yes speed and talent upgrades coming at a position group that needed it.

Jimbo Hinsdale IL

2:34

Hey Eric, with the news that the number 1 lacrosse recruit Matthew Jeffrey is now committed to play both lacrosse and football at ND next year, how do you envision him making an impact? His film shows that he is pretty electric with the ball in his hands in space. I feel like the WR room is quickly becoming stacked with young talent and the competition will bode well for next season’s output (excited to see KK Smith healthy and contributing as well). Thoughts? Bright future ahead.

Eric Hansen

2:34

Thanks, Len. I'd say offensive high was lightning-delay hot dogs and the IN-GAME adjustments against NC State we didn't see later in the season when teams got a book on Gerad Parker and the Irish. Offensive low, Clemson. A HUGE missed opportunity. Defensive high ... USC. Masterful. Defensive low? Probably getting pushed around by Clemson's run game and the final series vs. Ohio State.

Len from the Jersey Shore

2:30

Eric, the season is nearing an end. I can think of many great plays/series and many disappointing ones. My favorite positives on Offense was the drive to go ahead against Ohio State. Coincidently my biggest downer on D was how that game ended, more the coaching errors than the execution errors. You have heard coaches say to put their players in a position to succeed is their most important purpose. That includes teaching, schemes, practices etc. It had to hurt to staff to know the D had only 10 on the field. The biggest D moments were the entire game against USC. The way the D controlled that offense was special. The biggest Offensive downer was the game plan versus Louisville. I still feel as if ND was tipping their plays or maybe the ex Big 10 Louisville coach was stealing them. What were your Offensive highs/lows and defensive highs/lows? And thanks for hosting.

Eric Hansen

2:29

Beav' you are most complimentary than Eddie Haskell on his best day! And it's all appreciated! ... That's hard to cut down to one ... On ongoing blessing are these chats and how many people submit questions and really, really good questions that give me story ideas and make me think. ... Gosh, the fact that narrowing this down to a singular moment/facet/event is so difficult says a lot. ... I would say how Audric Estimé dealt with the death of his mom and how that family rallied around him ... and how while he misses her, he draws incredible strength and inspiration from her and smiles every day and lives life to the fullest ... for both of them.

The Beaver. Grand Rapids, MI

2:22

Today I am thankful for (1) a University and football team I love and love to follow; (2) a Rivals reporting staff that values their jobs like I value my passion and turns following Notre Dame football into a sports community rather than reading sports news (thank you Eric); and chatters like Marie and Manny and Ced(fromsaginawwholovesnotredameasmcuhasanyone) who make me smile when I see their names even before I read their questions. Eric: name one ND Football experience this year that has been the most rewarding or made you the most thankful to follow and report on this team.

Eric Hansen

2:21

Too much eggnog by the people selecting the top 10? I could see him not making the top five, but top 10 ... wow.

Shane from White Deer,Texas

2:20

Hey Eric. Happy Thanksgiving. Quick question. What do you think is the primary reason Audric Estime was left off of the Doak Walker top 10? Thanks.

Eric Hansen

2:20

I think all but Option A is possible, as well as none of the above.

Mike-Stillwater Ok

2:19

I had a question about coach Parker and his tenure as OC at Notre Dame. Do you believe he would leave on his own, be fired or be demoted back to his TE coaching position? Go Irish ☘️

Eric Hansen

2:19

Or Ohio State and Marvin Harrison Jr.? Or a fully healthy Riley Leonard? My assertion is that ND needs an elite coach in that position. It's now Marcus Freeman's job to determine whether Gerad Parker can learn from 2023 and evolve into that kind of play-caller/game-planner in 2024.

2:17

Jonathan. What do they hide in Hideaway, Texas? Sounds mysterious and a place with some good watering holes. ... Great research. Here are some numbers to give back to you. Sam Hartman's stands at 158.8 pass-efficiency rating, third-best single season mark in ND history. The games he was over that mark -- and he was WAY over were Navy, Tennessee State, NC State, Central Michigan and Wake Forest ... so four teams before he started to see a loaded box. His numbers against Ohio St. (140.0), respectable ... 112.2 vs. Duke, 115.6 vs. Louisville, 70.9 vs. Clemson. The year prior against Clemson he fashioned a 234.9. So if those were the numbers for a QB of say a good Group of 5 school like Tulane, you'd say, that's reality. When you have the resources and aspirations of Notre Dame, don't you need to have one of the best offensive coordinators in the country who can at least mitigate those numbers if not transcend them in the big games? Like Al Golden did when facing USC's offense and Caleb Williams this year? (more)

Jonathan from Hideaway, TX

2:07

Eric, hi again! I realize that fan is short for fanatic. But do you think we’ve maybe gone overboard on the criticism of ND’s offensive scheme and play calling? By “we” I certainly mean to include myself. I’ve been as frustrated and bewildered as anybody, I think. But seeing Jaden the Great finally (FINALLY) revert to form last weekend, and seeing Jayden the Junior (sophomore eligibility) still so obviously limited, it got me second guessing myself. Plus, looking at team passer ratings ranks—say that 3 times fast—got me wondering even more: USC #9 (167.21), Alabama #10 (166.78), ND #11 (162.07), Ohio State #12 (161.38). Pretty good company right there. And finally, unlike those other impressive pass-stat teams, ND has maybe played the toughest teams to pass efficiently against: #1 Ohio State (97.71), #6 Clemson (101.00), #24 Duke (120.45), #24 NC State (120.45), #28 Louisville (120.95). What do you think? Have we sold Parker short?

Eric Hansen

2:06

He's kind of in that gray area. I would guess someone would like him enough to use a draft pick and I would anticipate he'll stick on someone's roster as a backup next year.

Rick from Ohio

2:05

Do you think Sam Hartman will be drafted or signed as a free agent?

Eric Hansen

2:05

Yes, they have a pretty good idea of who's staying, who's going and who's on the fence. But there are always surprises.

Frank from Royse City, Texas

2:04

Eric, do the ND coaches have an idea what players aren’t coming back at this point?

Eric Hansen

2:04

I don't think Brandon Joseph hurt his draft stock by coming to ND and probably would have been best served to return in 2023. What hurt him was his 2021 season at Northwestern after having been an All-American in 2020 as a redshirt freshman. That year he played with future first-round draft choice CB Greg Newsome II. In 2021, he did not. Since you didn't ask what hindered him in 2022, I'll just answer what you did ask. Watts is way better in the run game and as a tackler. He started behind as a coverage guy and has caught up and passed B Joseph. Joseph is a little taller and longer. I do think Watts would benefit from returning to ND in 2024 but would not blame him if he chose to move on.

Matt from DC

1:57

A lot has been made of Xavier Watts leading the nation in interceptions…which evokes memories of Brandon Joseph to some extent. Can you compare and contrast their games/skill sets? Joseph seemed to hurt his draft stock by returning for an extra year. Do you think Watts would have more to gain or more to lose by returning to ND?

Eric Hansen

1:54

Happy Thanksgiving, Bob. This is a really good question with a strangely complicated answer, which I will try to simplify to the point maybe of oversimplification. I'm not sure Greathouse will be a No. 1 WR per se, because you may have a whole bunch of young receivers emerging at the same time. So that is not to diminish his ceiling but more to explain the potential around him in his class and in the next class of Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert and Logan Saldate. You're right, the hamstring slowed him down ... so did the move to boundary receiver out of necessity. But it's not all about speed. Of the freshmen WRs in pure straight-line speed -- Jordan Faison, Rico Flores Jr., Braylon James and Greathouse -- Greathouse is No. 4. But the way he runs routes, used his body to shield the ball, the way he reads defenses and coverages elevates him. Tobias is faster than Jayden Thomas and Deion Colzie, and yet to this point ... but I do like where Greathouse appears to be headed, as you do.

Bob (Oxnard CA)

1:42

Happy Thanksgiving week! Greathouse looked faster than he’s been. Do you think he can emerge as a true # 1 receiver down the line? I think I at least underestimated the impact of his hamstring problem on his speed earlier in the year.

Eric Hansen

1:41

Marie, if you next week ask me for grades on the side dishes Thursday ... I will happily comply. Given it was their first career starts and Wake Forest was well aware, I'd give them each a B (Craig was more consistent). They were encouraging debuts. ... I think Craig has a chance to be the starting center, but I think there are other options in play. ... There were many more deeper reserves who got in on defense (38 players total) than offense (23). So impressed ... Eli Raridon on offense and Devan Houstan on defense, even though Devan only played 6 snaps. I am not counting the young WRs who have been playing a lot. ... Stanford's biggest advantage? Their marching band potentially plays better defense? Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Marie from Atlanta

1:33

Hi Eric, Happy Thanksgiving! Taking into consideration, it was the first start for both, What grade would you give Billy Schrauth and Ashton Craig for their play on Saturday? Do you think Craig will be the starter at Center next year? Of the younger players that got in at the end of the game who impressed you the most, and who surprised you the most? I know Stanford is down this year, but somehow, Notre Dame never plays well out there, is there any part of the game where Stanford would have an advantage over Notre Dame? Enjoy your turkey and your family,, thanks for the great insights and for hosting the chat.

Eric Hansen

1:33

Hi Tim. It is possible that both return ... I'll preface it that way or that one returns and one leaves ... but I'll play your scenario that both leave. Without doing any research or having to do any, I would say Jim Leonhard, who's 41 and currently a senior analyst at Illinois. In his six seasons as Wisconsin's D-coordinator (2017-22), the Badgers in total defense ranked 2-29-4-5-1 and 10. ... 2. NEVER. Brian Kelly did that in 2011 and he almost had a mutiny on his hands. 3. You're right, stay tuned.

Tim Ozark, Mo

1:28

Dang it....not tech savvy. 2. Do you hear anything from coaches about the difficulties of succeeding with "someone else's guys"? Back in the day, players stayed, and so did coaches until they found success with "their guys". These days, everything is so fluid it's got to be difficult. 3. How cool would it be to have an offense with a runner like Love, a passer like say...CJ Carr, and someone to catch it like maybe.....Cam Williams??? Wait a minute.....stay tuned...

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