JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 4, 2020

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 4, 2020

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Jim Tal, Valley Center, CA.

2:13

Eric, my best to you and hats off for your superb coverage of the Irish. If Book should engineer a win this Saturday, will that be enough to elevate him into a status as one of ND's best ever QBs? Also, for all the knocks that have been leveled at him, shouldn't we give him real credit for the way he is able to distribute the ball around and involve multiple receivers. Not all QBs are capable of that feat which reflects his ability to go through multiple progressions. I mean, he got the ball to eight different pass catchers last week. In my book, that's pretty darn impressive. Thanks much.

Eric Hansen

2:12

Yes. I don't follow the ESPN 300, because I think it's the least reliable of the recruiting services. There aren't a lot of spots left in the class, but Ceyair Wright, Donavan Edwards, Titus Mokiao-Atimalala are all four-star prospects, plus a handful of four-starts they're trying to flip out of other classes.

Jeff from York, PA

2:06

ESPN has a long list of four and five star recruits in their top 300 players. Many of them are still undecided. Is ND recruiting any of them?

Eric Hansen

2:06

Mike, that is a fun question, but I don't have a fun answer, because it wouldn't have ever registered. I would have no way to verify that's who it actually was, and even then I'm kind of stupid when it comes to celebrities and don't know all the ones I should. But let me tell you, I have great fun and appreciate the folks who do submit question, whoever they are. I am blessed to have such an astute group and one that puts up with my lame humor.

Mike McFadden, Williamsport, PA

2:03

Hi Eric, Hey, I have a little bit of an offbeat question today just to ease the tension of the Clemson game, ok? During your many years of holding these chats, can you think of what celebrity/actor OR the most influential person OR biggest athlete (f-ball or otherwise) may have sent in a question? My guess is Joe Theisman. Am I correct? Thanks.

Eric Hansen

1:55

Alex, thanks. If I were calling plays this Saturday, I would need a raise and Brian Kelly would need his head examined. Having said that, I would use the tight ends and the running backs as much as I could get away with. I would try to limit possessions as long as I could play with the lead, but as Marie suggested, I like tempo in short, intermittent stretches. Defensively, I'd make sure JOK got matched up with Travis Etienne in the passing game. I'd mix some blitzes in to try to throw D.J. Uiagalelei's timing off. I'd also play Isaiah Foskey a lot. That's the short version anyway.

Alex from Jackson, Missouri

1:51

Eric, hope all is well on this Wednesday. If you were calling plays on Saturday, what would be your game plan? What do you see as ND’s best plan of attack against their defense? Also, what would you identify as Clemson’s weak area on defense? If they have one. Thanks, and God bless.

Eric Hansen

1:49

The wide receiver issue/challenge has layers to it. I'll try to lay this out in a coherent way. At times there have been separation issues, but some of that is related to chemistry/timing and not trusting that the receiver is going to break right and get open. Sometimes Book is going to have to throw it and let his receiver make a play, as Skowronek did against Pitt. I do think ND's offense functions better when there's a pure speed receiver at the X position. They're on the roster, but two of them are hurt at the moment and one (Jordan Johnson) is trying to prove he belongs in the rotation. Thank you all for being here and providing me sanity.

Dan, Grand Rapids, Mi.

1:46

Hi Eric Thanks for providing all of us some sanity the day after the election. How do you think the ND WR's will do vs the Clemson db's? Will they get open enough to prevent Book from having to thread the needle on every throw? That seems to be what's lacking in the passing attack. Is it the recievers, scheme, coaching or something else? At least it wasn't a 17 questioner! Thanks again for keeping us informed.

Eric Hansen

1:45

Denny, I don't think there was anything sinister there, and he might have been overstating it a bit in the heat of the moment. Both recruit nationally, though Clemson has some regionality to its roster as well. Notre Dame relies on "fit" a lot more than Clemson does, but the Tigers have done a very good job of that, nevertheless. Clemson wins with a lot of five-star players, but Dabo was winning with more mortal levels of talent during the early part of his regime.

denny from beaverton ormcast.net

1:43

Hi Eric; Well "the bright lights and big stage" are all here for Saturday's game! Can you peal back the onion on Coach Kelly's statement that he and Dabo have a different business plan for developing players. Thank you again for your hard work in keeping us informed.

Eric Hansen

1:42

Thanks, Don. The surprises on ND's team for me are the running backs and cornerbacks. Nationally? BYU, Indiana, Coastal Carolina. Disappointments nationally? Michigan, Penn State, LSU and pretty much the whole Big 12.

Don, Cabo San Lucas

1:39

I know everyone wants to dissect the upcoming game 9 ways to Sunday. But give your brain a short break. Covid aside, what surprises you most about this season? What teams jump out as pleasant or sad sacks? Stay well.

Eric Hansen

1:39

Ed, thanks. No I think his testiness was kind of a positive thing. I enjoyed it personally. He's locked in for Saturday.

ed palm beach

1:38

Listening to Coach Monday he obviously got a bit testy about his lack of success in BIG GAMES channeling questions to his record past few years. Do you think the pressure to produce a signature win finally hit home with him...Thanks for your excellent reporting

Eric Hansen

1:38

The difference between the portal and what existed before is that players are able to cut out the possibility the school from which they're transferring can block certain schools as a potential new destination or even from contacting a player. The player can also go back to his old school, provided the old school still wants him. Eventually, it's likely all football players will have a one-time transfer exemption with no waiting. That should happen formally next year.

bdsailor

1:35

Barney, Long Island. Eric, what's the deal with "the transfer portal"? We hear it mentioned more & more these days. It seems like it is being expanded to allow any scholar athlete to switch whenever he or she feels like it and begin playing immediately.

Eric Hansen

1:35

Manny !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think a lot of that depends on whether there's a rematch (and there should be if ND wins) and what that score is like with Trevor Lawrence playing. I think the fact that D.J. Uiagalelei played well in his other start helps ND in the perception game if the Irish win.

Manny from San Pedro

1:33

Eric!!!!!!!!!! This is what makes college football so good. If we win this week but lose the rematch in ACC title game. Will experts not give us credit due to Lawerence being out?!?!?

Eric Hansen

1:33

Mike thanks and thanks and I am. Notre Dame, if it can stay healthy, has a growing, improving secondary that has a chance to be elite next season. I wonder if McCloud will come back and be part of it. I like the depth at corner better than I like the current depth at safety. And who would have guessed that at the beginning of the season? On Monday, I laid out some possible playoff scenarios, and yes I think it's possible for both teams to make the playoff with a split, but we need to know more info about the other teams in the mix.

Mike-quakertown PA

1:30

hi Eric! I hope you are well and healthy. I just read your article on Nick McCloud and I very much enjoyed it. I appreciate pieces that help me get to know the players. Do you think notre dame now has the depth in the secondary to hold elite passing offenses in check? Does notre dame have to win both Saturday and then beat clemson again in the acc title game to make the playoff, or can they split the games and still get in? Thanks for taking our questions!

Eric Hansen

1:28

It absolutely was, and Phil has said as much. But Chip was gone in early December and Phil still chose to leave. He did not absolve Brian Kelly, perhaps in part he might have felt Brian waited too long to get rid of Long. Thanks for the kind words, by the way.

Joe-Valparaiso, IN

1:25

Hello Eric, you are the best! Was Chip Long's abrasive personality a significant factor in Phil Jurkovec's decision to transfer or were there other over riding factors? Something was mentioned during the BC-Clemson telecast that inferred it was "people" issue.

Eric Hansen

1:24

I will suggest that to him. Tyler does keep track. And if he's ahead, he usually lets me and everyone else know about it. That's why I kind of sense I'm winning so far this season. But certainly, we can do a short review. That might be fun. Thanks, Kevin, your first question was a really good one.

Kevin from Round Rock,TX

1:22

Long time reader, first time poster. I love the chats and the podcasts....thanks so much for giving us the skinny on the Irish. I have a request: when you and Tyler do your "props" bets on the podcast, could you review your previous week's results? I really enjoy hearing your prognostications, but it would be lots more fun if I knew how well they turned out.

Eric Hansen

1:22

I think Avery Davis is a wild card in this game.

Ken from Westland

1:22

Eric, if we pull off the upset this week, which WR really has to step up?

Eric Hansen

1:21

We had to pick a score on our podcast. Otherwise, I would have not thrown one out there. But since Tyler James made me, I picked the Irish 27-26. I am not overly confident in that pick. Thanks to you, RC, and the other chatters. It's nice to have some normal fun when the world seems to be so intense this days.

RC from Albany

1:19

Hi Eric - I am excited for the opportunity to take on Clemson but also concerned about our ability to keep pace with Clemson offensively. What is your prediction for Saturday night? Thanks for keeping the chats going - I need the distraction

Eric Hansen

1:19

The number of transfers itself isn't high, but in-season it indeed is. As Ja'Mion Franklin and Jahmir Smith both strongly suggested, some of this is pandemic-related and is a mental health issue. I'm not saying it's that way universally, but it is factoring in -- and not just at Notre Dame.

Michael from Chicago

1:17

Any insight into what seems to be a higher number of in season transfers than usual for the Irish? Can the players that have decided to leave the team but remain in school be on the sidelines for home games? Or do they sit in the stands since they are students?

Eric Hansen

1:17

Marie, we will have a raincheck brew the next time. I do like the notion of changing speeds with the offense. It does make sense, by and large, that ND bleed the clock, limit possessions and shorten the game, but I think tempo in small stretches makes sense. Brian Kelly is missing some good coaching tips this week if he's not tuned into the chat.

Marie from Atlanta

1:15

Hi Eric, We missed you at the Georgia Tech game. Great that we finally made it to Clemson week. I know the prevailing opinion is that for ND to win this game, it needs to be relatively low scoring and not a shoot out. That being said, do you think there is any chance we see a series or two of up tempo play just to mix it up, and possibly throw Clemson off a bit.Thanks for hosting the chat.

Eric Hansen

1:15

Absolutely, there has been talk about it, and this might be the game where you will see it happen. He does have 2 catches for 15 yards. If Kyren Williams weren't so good in the passing game, I think we would have seen more of Tyree at this point. But I like the way you think.

David H. from Washington, DC

1:13

Thanks for doing the chat, Eric. Has there been any discussion by anyone on the Irish about using Chris Tyree in the pass game? Given the struggles Notre Dame has had creating big plays downfield, he seems like a matchup they could exploit against opponents' linebackers or safeties.

Eric Hansen

1:11

First Tyler has worked with Rick Mirer (as a little kid) and other outside QB coaches since then. But if Notre Dame can't develop a kid of that caliber, then they made the wrong choice at QB coach and offensive coordinator.

Tom from Downers Grove

1:10

Hi Eric, what can the coaching staff do to help prevent the QB slide of Tyler Buchner when he gets on campus? Can they also hire outside help maybe from NFL coaches to help coach him in the offseason?

Eric Hansen

1:09

Not in a game like Clemson. Like Syracuse? Yes. Like Florida State? Yes. Notre Dame was kind of a flailing defense coming into the Georgia game that started to come of age that night and then turned it on in November. Clemson's defense is much better than Notre Dame's was at any point last season. Actually Notre Dame's defense is better than ND's was at any point last season.

Erik, Granger, IN

1:08

Last year against Georgia, I read somewhere that there would be 20+ plays per game where the Georgia QB could just turn around and hand the ball off and basically take a mental break, because their O-line and RBs could be trusted to get the yards, but on every play Book would need to be mentally involved making the right pre-snap read and then the right post-snap read in the read-option or RPO game. Do you think this year Book has the luxury of those mental breaks on simple running plays, and will that benefit him in a game like Clemson?

Eric Hansen

1:07

I wouldn't rule it out. I would not expect it in large doses, however.

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