JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 24, 2021

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 24, 2021

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Eric Hansen

3:31

Happy Thanksgiving, Dave. I'm not sure anyone will be competitive with Georgia in the CFP. Let's see what Alabama does with them in a couple of weeks first. ... As for whether ND being competitive? That might not happen if the Irish get into the CFP? But to me, the worst shot is the one you never take.

Dave from Tempe, AZ

3:29

Eric, Happy Thanksgiving and most of all thanks to you for the great job you do for us Irish fans! If all the variables of the college football universe tilt ND’s way, and the Irish make it into the playoffs, be honest - will Notre Dame be competitive with a)Georgia, b) Alabama, and c) Ohio State? I would really, really be disappointed by another humiliating beatdown on the big stage.

Eric Hansen

3:28

Hi Buddy. Great questions. Not ones that necessarily can be answered with an economy of words. So I need to oversimplify. Some recruiting strategies are universal. Some unique to schools like Stanford and Notre Dame. Hard work, the ability to identify talent and fit, the ability to build relationships are common cornerstones. At a program that's in the doldrums, you have a vision and you sell it. And you do it incrementally. As you begin to win more, the vision becomes more convincing. And you build a culture that protects that vision.

Buddy from Oakland, CA

3:24

.As an ND alum here across the bay from San Francisco, I follow Stanford football very closely and go to many of their games. Their program is on a definite downward trajectory. This year their defense has been non-existent. David Shaw over the years has been a very good coach and program builder, but I began to notice 3 years ago that he seemed to be putting less of an effort into recruiting. I think he thought Stanford as a world class university could recruit itself but that has not been the case. This leads me to believe that in college football, recruiting is more important than any other factor for success. Good coaches can win with good players. Bad coaches can lose with good players. But neither good nor bad coaches can win with bad players. Eric, what are the main factors in creating a successful recruiting program? I have heard it said that elite high schoolers want to play for winners … so if a program is in the doldrums how does a coach attract the elite?

Eric Hansen

3:23

Hi Mike. Thank you. I don't think Bruce Feldman implied ND lost ground either, but Alabama and Ohio State aren't stationary targets. And I also think he was referring to 2021, not what's building for 2022 and 2023.

Mike from Florence Nova Scotia

3:18

Hi Eric great work on the chats, I was listening to the last Pod cast and was surprised by Bruce F. Assessment that ND has not closed the gap with Bama, Ohio St. Noting the current recruiting status do you agree with his assessment? Thank you

Eric Hansen

3:18

Happy Thanksgiving, Len. I think Bauman is probably still shaking the rust, but has been medically cleared to play. His playing time in the postseason depends on how he looks in practice comparatively to ascending freshman Mitchell Evans and senior George Takacs. ... I can now see a scenario in which a UC loss could help ND in a playoff push but hurt the Irish and knock them out of the Fiesta and into the Peach if neither UC or the Irish make the CFP.

Len from the Jersey Shore

3:14

Hi Eric, Happy Thanksgiving! What a eventful season so far. Hope the Irish finish strong. A couple quickies. Is TE Bauman all healed or ony 70% or so. Will he get more playing time in playoff/bowl game? Do you still feel Cincy winning out is to ND's advantage? I believe strongly in head to head but understand the need to weigh SOS, bad losses etc. As always your views and thoughts are appreciated

Eric Hansen

3:14

Ced, whether ND adds WR(s) via the portal depends on how many of that group you mentioned comes back and whether ND can hold onto all three WRs in the 2022 class for another three weeks until signing day.

cederickwalker

3:13

ced walker sagianaw michigan do we take another wr in this recruiting class or we go transfer portal I know davis , lenzy , austin will comeback wilkins 50-50 rally we are nd go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us

Eric Hansen

3:12

Hi Mike. When I graduated from college, I knew I just wanted to cover college sports. It didn't matter what team. And actually getting away from what was familiar was the best thing for my personal and professional growth. And Indiana University -- not Notre Dame -- was the first team I covered on a regular basis, with some Purdue mixed in. Walking that tightrope, for fans looking for the slightest hint of bias, was also good for me. The first coach I ever interviewed who had just been fired was Lee Corso. The first basketball coach I ever had to interview was Bob Knight. ... Ok to your real question. ... No Zach Rice and that wasn't really expected, but Aamil Wagner was a nice pickup as was Drayk Bowen in the 2023 class. It will be a grind to the end, though, in the 2022 class trying to close on those last few prospects and hold onto others. And yes, if ND doesn't get a second HS QB in this class, I'd expect them to peruse the portal ... for depth. Yes, I think Quinn will return. Happy Thanksgiving.

Mike Costa Mesa ca.

3:05

How did you gravitate to write for ND football instead of Ohio State ? It sure seems to me like ND 's recruiting in the last month has gone down, no Zack rice , there are a lot of rumors out here that usc is gonna flip Williams from Mater Dei . Do you think Kelly will go get another qb transfer for next yr ? I get a feeling that now that the off line has improved Kelly will retain Quinn , your thoughts ? Have a great thanksgiving

Eric Hansen

3:04

Thanks so much, Wick. Geoff Collins won't even publish a depth chart. If doing so really costs your team in the W-L department, then really how good of a coach are you? I appreciate Kelly's approach. There will be times he dances around a question, and he usually has a reason for it. Zoom was awful for those situations, because there was no mechanism for a follow-up. I'm going to go off on a tangent for a second. This has been the most fun I've had covering a team in my career, because we had the fans back in the stadiums, we could do in-person interviews. We could feel kind of normal again. ... OK back to your question. I don't think Brian Kelly would ever do/say anything that would put his team at a competitive disadvantage. I also think it helps when recruits meet BK that the authenticity they see in a press conference or in an interview transfers over to in-home visits and campus visits.

Wick from Estero, FL

2:57

Eric, I’m such a Notre Dame nut that I even watch all of Coach Kelly’s press conferences. With a few exceptions (like the time he lit into Lakin Litman), BK seems professional, straightforward, and very informative. True, his humor often falls flat, but you can’t have everything. What I like most is that Kelly is very transparent about injuries. Compare this with other coaches who are never revealing about injuries like Bronco Mendenhall and Geoff Collins. As a journalist, how do you rate Kelly’s accessibility and openness at press conferences? By the way, I appreciate the way you ask tough questions without coming off as being antagonistic. Great work, Eric!

Eric Hansen

2:56

Hi Leo. Thanks for the kind words. The balance may be easier than you think. I'm not sure local Notre Dame fans view the team much differently than the national fan base. And we have to think nationally when it comes to Notre Dame. Ninety-six percent of our web traffic at ndinsider.com comes from outside our print coverage area. I love the local fans, and it's really fun to have a national and even international following.

Leo from Auburn, NY

2:51

Eric, you and Tyler have a huge responsibility. Most college football sportswriters have only a local or statewide presence, but you two are writing to a national audience; and I might add you do an awesome job. I’m impressed with your objectivity and I wonder if deep down inside you are fans of the Irish? After all if the Irish are good your readership expands. How do you balance local loyalties with national responsibilities? Like I said…you two do an outstanding job of keeping Notre Dame’s national following fully informed in a fair and objective manner. Thanks for that.

Eric Hansen

2:51

Hi will, and thanks for the compliment. Three games without a touchdown is a notable accomplishment regardless of who is playing quarterback. So is the improved tackling, the improved pass rush. etc. And keep in mind ND was doing it without the best defensive player in the nation. And without its most dynamic linebacker for the entire season. And a wide receiver heavy into the safety rotation. And against one of the best fleets of wide receivers (Virginia) no matter who was playing QB. Yes subtract points for no Armstrong in the Virginia game, but that was Jordan Yates' fifth start, so he wasn't exactly untested.

Will from Pitman, NJ

2:42

Eric, many thanks to you and Tyler James for your great coverage of Irish football. Much has been made of the defense not allowing a t.d. in the past 3 games. Most commentators say that this is evidence that Freeman’s system is taking hold and that the players are executing his aggressive strategy with the confidence of reckless abandon. I really hope this is true but I still stay a bit skeptical. Starting with the second half of the Navy game the Irish have faced three backup quarterbacks because of injuries to first stringers. What is your read, Eric? Is ND’s latest defensive success due to an improved scheme and execution or is it due to weakened opponents?

Eric Hansen

2:41

Connie, thank you. Brian Kelly talked about this a little bit on Monday, with regard to the Georgia Tech game, that there's a fine line in lopsided games. If you can get the wide margin organically, I think the committee respects that. But if you have to manufacture it -- leaving starters in til the end, calling timeouts to tack on a late score, etc. -- the committee won't be impressed and neither will classy people like you. So, in the Georgia Tech game, Notre Dame piled up a 45-0 lead. Scored 10 in the second half and 0 in the fourth quarter. The second team QB played much of the second half. Ohio State did the same thing with Michigan State. Built a 49-0 halftime lead and played to a 7-7 draw in the second half with lots of reserves seeing action.

Connie from Pacifica, CA

2:35

I am an ND alumna but my son is a Stanford grad. Because we live in the Bay Area our family goes to every Stanford home game. I will tell you first hand that Stanford’s defense is as porous as a vegetable strainer. If ND can score 55 points against Georgia Tech, they can certainly score 55 points against Stanford. But should they? There is the argument that you want to impress the CFP committee but how impressive is a total beatdown of a pitiful team? My larger point, however, is that Stanford is a great university with whom ND has a relationship of respect. In the past the Stanford/ND series has been characterized by last second hard fought battles. Do we really want to humiliate a respected rival? Won’t it come back to haunt us in the future? I hope Coach Kelly shows mercy…and sportsmanship. What do you think, Eric? You do a great job of keeping us up to date on the Irish. Thanks!

Eric Hansen

2:35

Henry, thank you and thank you ... and no, we have always had turkey. BUT we have pasta the day after Thanksgiving. Yum to both. ... I'm going to reserve my critique on Kelly's coaching until after the season, because the next two games figure very much into that assessment. ... My MVP would also be Kyren, but my offensive Player of the Year would be Michael Mayer. However, I have a special level of admiration for Jack Coan. What a great teammate.

Henry from Stockton

2:31

Hi Eric. Let me add my name to the long list of Irish fans who appreciate this chat and the football information you give us. It's my best source for Irish football. Thank you! Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! Wondering if your family follows the Italian tradition of ravioli on Thanksgiving. I have a couple of comments and would like your thoughts. There is a huge possibility the Irish will be 11-1 after Saturday. (Stanford has been devastated by injuries, especially of the defense.) Based on the adversity faced by this team, I believe Kelly and his staff have had their best coaching year in Kelly's career at ND. Also, Kelly has gotten all he could have gotten out of Coan. I have Coan as the Offensive Player of the Year. (Williams should be MVP).

Eric Hansen

2:30

Up in the air for both. Josh Lugg said Monday he'd consider it. Bo Bauer said he wants to focus on the rest of the season and then will ponder it. If Lugg were to come back, he's probably play guard in 2022. Bauer would compete to be the starting middle linebacker. And in case you wanted to see the transcript, here it is.

Steve from DFW

2:28

I didn’t see the transcript last week-sorry. Will Bo Bauer & Josh Lugg stay for’22? Roster impacts? Thanks!!!

Eric Hansen

2:27

Hi Jim. Thank you for your sentiments and same to you. No LOL, I am not standing by that prediction. Jack Coan is playing too well and has earned that start. As far as walk-ons getting scholarships, I believe ND is at 81, so there's room for that. And yes, Brian Kelly has awarded some in the past for the spring semester. When doing scholarship counts, once classes start, a school is locked into that number for the rest of the fall semester, even if guys like Lawrence Keys III and Brendon Clark jump into the portal during the semester.

Jim, Oakwood, OH

2:23

Hey Eric, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family ... I hope you have a wonderful time with your family! In some of the pre-season articles, you, Tyler and Tom made various predictions - and I'd like to ask you about one of them: your prediction that the QB for the last game would be Tyler Buchner. Do you still stand by that prediction or is the likely starter Jack Coan? Sure would be nice for Tyler if you are correct given the close location to his home. Second question: Might Coach Kelly award scholarships soon, retroactively, to some of the deserving players ... like "Milk?" He's done a terrific job and other than Tyler's wonderful story, he's rarely mentioned in the game comments. Thanks for a wonderful year of reporting, and your analysis of ND Football. Be well.

Eric Hansen

2:23

Hi Michael, if I am understanding your question correctly, Notre Dame sits down with all the players near or at the end of the season to gauge the next season, for the player and the team. This also helps with getting the numbers right in recruiting. And so with the early signing period, that process has to start a bit sooner. Yes, ND would not ask a player to transfer as an underclassmen unless he were going to be expelled. There may be conversations, however, that lead the player to conclude a transfer would be best. As far as players with degrees in hand staying or going, yes it's an invitation process to come back. And that's not universal at all. At many schools "redshirt seniors" don't yet have their degree, so it's not an invitation process. That doesn't mean a school might not try to push them out anyways.

Michael from Chicago

2:17

Is it correct that while being honest with players about potential pt that they don’t ask them to transfer until their 4 years are up (or is it graduation based)? How common is it at other power programs that they do that (if at all?)?

Eric Hansen

2:16

Thanks? I think? And how is the eggnog?

ledyer@att.net

2:16

Thanks Eric and all ! Tweets are not a subscription or $ 1.00 @ monthly 🤔 ! .....no question or comment, I appreciate yuall ..... by and bye.....amen 🙏 .

Eric Hansen

2:15

OK, thanks Bill. I will present it then without comment.

BIll from St Joe, MI

2:15

Eric, very nice of you to hold this chat the day before Thanksgiving. I watched the release of the CFP rankings on ESPN last night and was quite surprised that not a single commentator mentioned how the ND season turned around once they solved the O Line problem by putting Alt and Kristofic on left side. You have to wonder how closely these “talking heads” really pay close enough of attention to what goes on the college football landscape. Just a rant and not a question for you.

Eric Hansen

2:14

IrishRob, Happy Turkey Day, and Happy Leftovers Day, for that matter. ... Under current NCAA rules, the only way Notre Dame could add a 13th game is if it were a road trip to play at Hawaii, which is the nation's No. 114-ranked team, according to the Sagarin computer rankings. That actually would hurt ND's strength of schedule (and its travel budget). .. Even if ND could play BYU on Dec. 5, it would not be considered a conference championship. And what incentive does BYU have to schedule that game? Look, even in non-pandemic years, teams with only 12 games on their résumés have made the playoff field. The fixation on the "13th data point" is real, but also can be overblown.

IrishRob via Dunder Mifflin in Scranton PA

2:06

Sorry for the follow up. This epiphany came to me this morning as I started thinking about college football. The media seems to go "nuts" talking up the extra game most teams have during championship week, and how that win means more than whatever ND did to that point, all things being equal. I am more of a why reward teams that win average conferences guy, but my question is, could ND schedule another game during championship week, with say a BYU, that keeps them on the mind of the ranking committee? What are the benefits and drawbacks of doing something like that, if it is even feasible....Happy Turkey Day to all!

Eric Hansen

2:05

Happy Thanksgiving, Paul. That was really Buchner's first run at having the whole playbook thrown at him. And yes, he was playing behind the reserve offensive line for all but five of his 21 snaps. All in all, I consider it progress.

Paul D. - Lititz Pa

2:01

Eric, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Much to be grateful for u as an ND fan. I’ve been a big fan of Tyler Buchner and I’d like ur opinion of his GT performance. Remove that first play long run, he did not look great. Question - was that due to 2nd and 3rd string O line offering no protection or is he not far enough along to run the entire offense. Thanks

Eric Hansen

2:01

It depends on how guys develop. but there's a lot of proven talent in the interior (Howard Cross, Rylie Mills, Jacob Lacey) and some up-and-comers like Gabriel Rubio. On the edge, there's less certainty, though Brian Kelly is making the pitch to Foskey that he can improve his second-day NFL stock to possibly top 10 by returning. Jordan Botelho, Justin Ademilola, and Nana Osafo-Mensah have made progress. Alexander Ehrensberger and Kahanu Kia are among the intriguing young defensive ends. And who knows what Osita Ekwonu might turn into? The two freshmen -- Aiden Gobaira and Tyson Ford -- might be able to help early. And the 2023 D-line class is going to be special.

Mike, Lemont, IL

1:55

Eric, Lots of talk about starting 5 on the OL next year but a bigger concern to me would be the DL. Kurt and Myron are both gone. If Jason and Foskey both opt to the NFL it seems like ND would be quite thin on the DL next year. what do you think? Happy Thanksgiving. Cheers!

Eric Hansen

1:54

Hi Dave and thank you. That's the aim with the 2023 class. Let's use the 247Sports 2023 rankings, since they've updated theirs more recently. Notre Dame has offered scholarships to four QBs ranked among the top 100 prospects regardless of position AND have hosted them on campus: No. 5 Nico Iamaleava, No. 15 Dante Moore, No. 48 Jackson Arnold and No. 98 Christopher Vizzina ... as well as No. 155 Avery Johnson. I think ND will land one of those guys. As far the current roster, I wouldn't sell short Tyler Buchner. To play at the level he has with no senior year or sophomore year in high school is impressive.

Dave ponte vedra

1:43

Love these chats, thanks so much for all your good work. With the substantial improvement in recruiting over the past few years it seems like winning a national title again isn’t just a crazy dream. I think we’re just a truly elite QB away. I’m not sour on any of our QB’s, but I don’t see elite anywhere. Do you think the Irish can eventually get a Young or Stroud type on campus?

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