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

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 4, 2020

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Lou from Miami, fla.

1:06

Eric, any idea whether Jordan Johnson sees the field this week? We'll need him if we expect to reach in the 20s against Clemson.

Eric Hansen

1:06

Mike, he did travel to Atlanta (unlike Pittsburgh), but he did not get any snaps. My sense is had the score become lopsided early, he would have been worked in. I do think the little things matter in the trust factor with the coaching staff. I'm not saying it's right. I'm also not saying JJ will just fade back into a scout team role. The Armstrong thing is interesting. It would not have happened with a healthy Lenzy and Austin. I loved him as a freshman in training camp at WR, but I'm not sure he's a better option that Johnson, short- or long-term. Jafar is a great kid, so it's easy to hope it works out for him.

Mike from Rochester NY

12:59

Hi, Eric, apologies if i already submitted this question. Did Jordan Johnson get into the game against GT? If not, any thoughts why, since Kelly talked about getting him involved? I was surprised to not see him on the two deep for Clemson but Jafar Armstrong was. Is Johnson still learning the “little things”, like where to line up, correct route running, run blocking, etc.? I’m not being sarcastic, I know there’s more to WR than winning foot races downfield and wondering what’s holding Jordan back.

Eric Hansen

12:59

Now here's why you can't put them in your back pocket. IN 2022, teams must get back down to 85. That's going to be a huge challenge.

12:58

KJ, good question, and if you want a deeper dive into this, I'll post a link to a story I did recently on the weird scholarship math at the end of this answer.

Here's the short version. Yes, it opens up spots, Notre Dame's scholarship math this cycle will be calculated as it always is when it comes to new players coming in. Where teams can go over 85 in 2021 is ONLY by the number of players with otherwise expiring eligibility. So you can't just go out and grab 11 players from the transfer portal, for instance. The 85 math still has to work for everyone else on the roster.

KJ from Kent, Ohio

12:55

With Wardlow and Franklin transferring and also the likely chance that the Texas Dlineman who is currently committed, won’t actually be on the roster, does this add 3 more “takes” for this class? Or because of the “free year” of eligibility this year for all, will ND simply out those spots in their “back pockets?”

Eric Hansen

12:54

Bill, thanks. I will be in the press box Saturday. We've been rotating, since we're only allowed one person per outlet, and I wanted everyone to get a chance on our staff to experience this unusual/historic season from that vantage point. And thanks for the kind words. To your central question, Ian Book needs to be a better-than-average version of himself. That will allow the rest of the offense to operate, particularly the running game.

Bill 1000 Oaks Ca

12:51

Miss tempo but adjusting to multiple sets formations etc but can’t rely on defense to win this game need points!! Correct me if wrong but Bowden in heyday only ran 6 or 7 different plays but ran them to perfection ! Please tell me the most important thing ND has to do to win other than avoiding turnovers.?? Hope you’re in the press box & thanks for being the best! Please stay safe we need you! Go Irish!!,

Eric Hansen

12:51

I do think Notre Dame needs to take some shots — and complete them. Otherwise, Clemson is going to play their safeties up and gum up the running game and those tight end routes. I do think the running game and the tight end/running back throws will be critical Saturday, but Clemson is too good to let them play with nine guys near the line of scrimmage down after down.

Kevin from Rhode Island

12:49

Eric, do you think ND will continue to try and push the ball downfield vs Clemson even though it has proven to be highly ineffective for them? I see these as being wasted plays on Saturday with their hopes of "loosening up" Clemsons defense. Clemson will not alter their defensive game plan simply because ND took a few shots downfield. In my opinion the offense this week should be run through the running game, Mayer and Tremble. I also think it will be important to throw the ball to the RB's out of the backfield. Thoughts?

Eric Hansen

12:48

He does, and this goes to the core of Dwight from Arkansas' question. I wrote an entire column about why I felt this was the right approach in Monday's press conference. But of course, he knows it's a big game.

Analysis: Defiant Brian Kelly preps for Notre Dame's very necessary perceptual battles

https://www.ndinsider.com/football/analysis-defiant-brian-kelly-preps-...

steve toledo oh

12:45

Eric, what has happened to Notre Dame? Did our multimillion dollar head coach just tell us that he doesn't believe that the biggest home game to happen since FSU in 1993 and USC later should be a measure of where his program stands? He prefers to gauge his success with late game heroics vs Ball St, Vandy, Louisville and a 29-3 record against a composite schedule of teams whose winning percentages are below .500. His record against ranked teams is 1-3. After being demolished by a mediocre Michigan team last year, he famously stated that if they won in November all would be fine. A coach and players come to ND to play in games like this not downplay them. Should Swarbrick speak up in defense of this university's heritage and not support lowering expectations to preserve a coach's performance or lack thereof? We know "winning is hard", but what about "what though the odds"? That's part of who we are and it is embedded in this program. I think the players and students understand. Does he?

Eric Hansen

12:45

To your question, the reason I used those stats, without context, was to point out that PJ hadn't turned into Joe Montana and Book hadn't turned into Pat Dillingham. But contextually, they have played three common opponents this season (Ga Tech, Pitt and Duke) and Phil's cumulative numbers against those three teams are better.

12:43

Here's what I want to throw out there for consideration. In today's college football, it's quite possible that both the quarterback that stays (Tua Tagovailoa for example) and the one who leaves (Jalen Hurts) can both be good players and both be successful simultaneously. It doesn't have to be one or the other. I'm open to the possibility that Phil could ultimately be the better player between Book and PJ. I felt that way when he walked in the door that he had a higher ceiling. But he's not on the team anymore, so let's kind of live with that and be happy for him.

12:39

In 2018, just before national signing day, I did a (premium) story on the sweet 16 top recruits of the Brian Kelly Era. My criteria was not all about star ratings. Geographical significance, impact on program perception, need, timing, how the player developed, and team success are all part of this big picture. The order will have changed, but the 2018 snapshot is still significant.

Stephon Tuitt was No. 1. Phil Jurkovec was No. 2. Unlike a lot of people on our beat, I never fell out of (platonic) love of who he could become. But I did wonder if he needed a fresh start elsewhere. I felt his struggles were more about things above the eyebrows than supposedly unfixable flawed mechanics. Phil has publicly stated why he thought that it got to that point with him, so we'll let those comments stand. (more)

12:34

John, I get this thread in some form every week. As I mentioned to someone in my Twitter mentions Saturday, this has become the soundtrack of my life ... at least professionally. Some people are made PJ transferred and feel the Book should have been the one. Some think both should have stayed. Some just want to know what the heck happened. Let me preface my answer to your specific question with some generalities that might help us move on at least advance the conversation. (more)

Hello Eric-John From Birmingham

12:25

Interesting to see that you indicated that Ian Book(against teams that are a combined 12-28) has moved ahead of Phil Jurkovec (against teams that are a combined 23-25) in the category of NCAA Passing Efficiency.Which direction will the Three Year Starter at QB for ND move against Clemson ? Thanks.

Eric Hansen

12:25

I think we're all in agreement, that ND, win or lose, is going to have to deal with a Clemson hangover, and Kelly is already laying the groundwork for that.

“Look, this game it’s not the end-all for us,” said Kelly, whose Irish visit nemesis Boston College and reborn former Irish QB Phil Jurkovec the following Saturday. “For us, we could win this game. But if you lose to BC, this game doesn’t mean anything.

“I mean, we’re still in pursuit of a conference championship, so it’s about steady play. It’s about raising your level of compete on Saturdays, which we’re in the process of doing. It’s about consistency in performance, which we’re certainly well on our way to checking that box.

“You’re going to get opportunities like this, and you want to win these games. But we can’t be overly emotional about this football game and lose sight of the fact we’ve got five more games to play.

“We can’t empty the tank and say, ‘Hey we beat Clemson; we’ve arrived.’ No we haven’t.”

12:24

Dwight, don't forget North Carolina. They're spastic on defense, but they're really, really good offensively. I wrote in my column after the Georgia Tech game, the month of November is the proving ground, not just this weekend.

Brian Kelly is very aware of this dynamic. It's why he took the approach he did at Monday's press conference:

Dwight from Arkansas

Sorry, hit send too quick. With a team possibly 'down' if Clemson wins and a BC team with a qb looking to prove to his old teammates that he can play do you see a real problem the next 2 weeks? (That's not even considering that an explosive NC team looms ahead).

12:21

I think these next 2 games will pretty well define the ND season. They will finish with a winning record, but with Clemson and BC back-to-back the potential for 2 defeats is there. After last Saturday's performance by back-up D.J. Uiagalelei I don't think anyone can feel sorry for the Tigers. With such a talented replacement and Etienne (and as Kelly points out, they have so much more talent) I still feel Clemson is a solid favorite at ND on Saturday. An Irish loss would not be a shock but could set up for another L at BC. The Eagles have impressed me and dominated Clemson for a half. If they put 2 solid halves together when ND comes calling they could very will win.

Eric Hansen

12:20

Now it's not a linear math problem. If Clemson is strong in the passing game and balanced, it's going to make defending the run harder. But ND has the defensive makeup to be competitive in that matchup.

12:19

Ryan, thank you. I think Travis Etienne is more dangerous than those backs you mentioned, even though his current numbers don't reflect that. I think he's very dangerous in the passing game, but Clemson this season has yet to face someone like Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and his ability to so profoundly affect the run defense and the ability to cover someone like Etienne and it not be a mismatch. Here are the reasons for ND to feel good about this matchup. Clemson is 55th nationally in rush offense. ND has already faced and tamed three rushing offenses ranked higher than that -- Fla St. (27), Louisville (33) and Ga Tech (52). Rush defense has been the slowest evolutionary step in Brian Kelly's time at ND. The Irish ranked no higher than 70th between 2013-2016. Other than 2012, they've been no higher than 36th. They were 60th last season. They're eighth right now.

Ryan from Atlanta

12:05

Eric, I always appreciate your excellent work, and especially so under the difficult working conditions that this year has brought. My question: the Irish have done a good job of limiting big play backs like ISU’s Breece Hall and Louisville’s Javian Harris. They didn’t do a bad job on Etienne in 2018. But this year, I have to believe that he will be more involved in the game plan given a freshman quarterback starting. Do you believe the Irish can limit him, and if so, how? Thanks, and go Irish!

Eric Hansen

Let's get going.

12:04

Here are the rules. I'm willing to waive the "no bare feet" rule today, in part due to the unseasonably warm weather in South Bend today/this week.