JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 7, 2019

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 7, 2019

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Eric Hansen

2:18

Yes, because those patches are sufficient, and if Ruhland were healthy, he'd be your favorite player. Now that doesn't mean there aren't other elements that could cause a shortfall in wins. In the final four regular-season games, keep an eye on ND's rush offense and rush defense. The better those two numbers are, the better chance ND will be 10-2 on Dec. 1. Thanks for the kind words, by the way.

Ken - Pensacola

2:11

Eric - Your "Chats" are simply "GREAT". Can we still win the remainder of our games with a patchwork offense line?

Eric Hansen

2:11

Addressed this last week. Short answer. Not going to happen.

Drew Hemlock

2:11

My question is will notre dame fire brain kelly and go after urban meyer because urban can win those big games against ranked teams and championship games go Irish

Eric Hansen

2:10

He has been asked at press conferences, including this week. I've been asked in chats. I will continue to be asked in chats until he defers consistently. Then I suppose I'll be asked why he never elects to receive. His answer and mine: Weather is a factor. And analytics tell you scoring first makes a big difference in the ultimate outcome of a game. I've run the numbers before. There's no real statistical advantage in deferring. That's all I've got.

CondonT

2:08

Tell me why BK is insistent on receiving the ball when winning the coin toss. Someone please ask him that at the next presser. It makes ZERO sense especially when offensively we haven't done squat on the first drive of any game since Louisville.

Eric Hansen

2:08

It would be easier for me to guess what Brian Kelly's favorite color or boxer shorts is than figure out what a cable company is plotting to do in another part of the country. I have DISH network. It has the ACC Network. I don't have a long-term solution for you, but short term, you could sign up for a free trial on one of the streaming services, like Hulu or YouTube TV, and then cancel it.

Jeff from York, PA

2:01

What are the chances of the ACC network being picked up by a cable company? Cable TV, internet service, and phone service are expensive. I think it's ridiculous to purchase a streaming service too. Tonight - it will be tomorrow when you read this - the North Carolina vs. ND basketball game is only on the ACC network so I won't be able to watch it. The same thing applies to the football game on Saturday night. My friends and I have called numerous sport's bars and none of them carry the ACC network. Last year both of these games would have been carried by ESPN.

Eric Hansen

1:58

SMU has improved its program quite a bit, but there's a big difference in where SMU is and competing with Alabama and Clemson, etc. And is that model sustainable beyond one year?

I think ND will use grad transfers, but will be selective about it. So yes, on a much smaller scale. ... As for Joe Burrows, it's interesting that last year Book finished 17th nationally in passing efficiency and Burrow 65th.

James, Dallas

1:43

More on recruiting...

SMU transformed their program in a year by taking on 16 portal transfers. Justin Fields earned his job at Ohio State in a 3-way competition during camp -- all players were transfers-in. Will ND use transfers as a larger part of recruiting going forward?

Imagine the IRISH offense against Michigan with Joe Burrows at the controls.

Eric Hansen

1:43

Chris, to be honest, it wasn't my decision. But if it were, of course, I'd try to keep the offense balanced. There's nothing easier to attack for a team, like Virginia that gets a lot of sacks, than a one-dimensional offense. And having two offensive linemen missing, wouldn't help.

Chris Dooley From NH.

1:41

Why at times did you stick with the run? When Virginia shut our running game down. Also Ian wasn't consistent I would of gave our back up a chance.

Eric Hansen

1:41

There's no way Brian Kelly would sell out his seniors. I think it's sends the wrong message.

Michael from Chicago

1:40

Has there already been or do you anticipate a lightening of the load for those with expiring eligibility and/or NFL draft deportees to a) try to alleviate an injury and b) get the back-ups who will gravitate up the depth chart next year more game experience? I believe Jaylon Smith was quoted saying he still play the bowl game all over again but the trend at many schools seems to be shifting towards sitting (Bosa, Grier, etc). As much as I’d love to see more havoc plays from the Sr ND DE’s game reps for Foskey and his contemporaries are invaluable for next year.

Eric Hansen

1:39

Chuck your suggestion for a Martini made me chuckle. I'm sure that would go over well with the brass. In any event, let me cut to the essence of your two questions. Let's start with Lenzy first. He's getting an opportunity now, and I think that's what he wanted all along. Not a guarantee, but an opportunity. So let's see how that plays out. I think it's his time. The Chip Long question has a lot of hidden layers to it. I think what you're asking me is: Is he good enough to be at Notre Dame. I think he is. I think he's an asset in recruiting. I think he can be part of the solution to an offense that's taken some steps backward.

chuck @ Brigantine, NJ

1:27

Eric, great article on Relevance --- so much insight & objectivity! Will it ever be apparent to BK, in my humble opinion after watching 6-10 games EVERY week, that Chip Long IS the root cause of our Offensive woes? I am still bullish on BK and Ian but the O-Line is porous and the play calling is predictable. Long puts Ian in situations that test an inferior O-Line and Ian's abilities. After penalties that put us into 2nd &15 and 3rd and 11... after 2 runs into the line where the Defense is waiting, we all expect Ian to find open receivers??? One more question, do you think that Braden will transfer? Imagine if we used Rocket like we use Braden Lenzy ---feel certain that we are wasting a unique asset ....but I am not at practice every day. Sorry for the long winded diatribe --- you deserve a Martini after you read this!!!

Eric Hansen

1:27

Thanks, Bill. My mom is Italian, so your talk about Italian food distracted me from your football question and made me homesick. I don't think the coaching staff lacks killer instinct. I'm sure they would have liked to put Va Tech away early and they were one yard away from a 21-7 lead at the half when the fumble happened and made it 14-14. That's execution, not lack of killer instinct from the coaches.

Bill 1000 Oaks CA.

1:26

Local sports bar best bet to see Sat game.? 80 year fan thanks to drunken uncle Franco.58 Grad.Giuseppe just made risotto with porcini mushrooms followed by split Barbaresco 1990.Question arose do you think coaching staff lacks killer instinct?Wish team played with Claypool's intensity.Go Irish ! GR8 chats Mr Hansen!!!

Eric Hansen

1:23

That may be the case with the Bears, but I don't think the ND offense is too complicated for Ian Book to function. That doesn't mean that the play-calling doesn't have room for improvement.

Michael from Chicago

1:22

Steve Young recently commented that the Bears should simplify the playbook and get back to the basics for Trubisky. Do you believe the same should be true for Book? Earlier this year there was an emphasis to push the ball down the field and him “seeing ghosts” in the pocket since Clemson have been well documented. What says you on where the play calling should head from here?

Eric Hansen

1:22

Dwight, better execution and a more consistent approach across the board needs to be the next step in distancing themselves from Michigan or your bottom line prediction will likely come true.

Dwight from central Arkansas

1:21

I'd like to think that Saturday's last ditch effort to win was a catapault for the rest of the season. You had to feel good for these guys. I still don't understand why this team can't/won't take control from the get go. A top tier team, Bama, Clemson, OSU, doesn't mess around. They take charge, unfortunately like Michigan did against ND. Good teams take the 'fight' out of their opponent. I still see a 8-4 or 9-3 mark if ND can't use their skills and strengths to dominate. The talent IMO seems to be there, it just doesn't take over games as I think it can. I know VTech was a step above others but with Duke and BC ahead, isn't it time that they exert their will?

Eric Hansen

1:21

Ha. Alex thanks. Loved that parallel.

Alex from Jackson, Missouri

1:20

Eric, I just read your article in regards to the breakdown on the defense for next year. It answered the original question I had in reference to next year’s CB situation. After reading it, I screamed like Jim Carrey did in Dumb and Dumber when he realized C Bass was in the bathroom with him! Hopefully they can find a free agent (transfer) for that group. Much like the Cardinals offense needs to find one. No further questions from me today.

Eric Hansen

1:20

Michael, before this season started, I thought ND would go 10-2. but I felt like they were set up better to make a playoff run in 2020. So that's my thinking. I certainly spend a lot of time reporting on what's going on with the current team. The 2020 angle is not being pushed by Brian Kelly. I do want to point out Notre Dame is 28-6 since the start of 2017. I'm not sure that's bad coaching any way you slice it. Michigan was a bad game. No question. Let's see how the rest of the season plays out and then we can recalibrate our big-picture thoughts on coaching if we need to?

Michael - Sanford, NC

1:17

Eric – I really enjoyed “Hansen: Can Notre Dame work its way back into playoff relevance in 2020? Part I & Part II”! Two really well thought articles! Thanks so much for your insight. Just one question, though, on next year – Why do we keep hearing about "next year" for the Irish and not "Right Now"? True, they have had some good seasons but consistency is not there. Is it the coaching? When I hear that expression, I am reminded when Paul Dietzel was the Gamecock coach (’66-’74) sans The Chinese Bandits and his teams were mediocre at best (42-53-1) with 1 or maybe 2 winning seasons. He always kept referring to “next year” and how they would be great – it never came. I am beginning to think Bill Belichick was right when he said, “Good players cannot overcome bad coaching – It’s impossible.” Also, thanks so much for the opportunity to submit my question early!!!

Eric Hansen

1:15

Joe, thanks. I do like the decision to play Vaughn this year. You have to play for this year first, in my opinion. Cornerback is a concern. My suggestion is that ND needs to comb the grad transfer market next semester. The thing I do like about the recruits in the 2020 class long term is that they're three-star prospects more because of their experience at the position. They're all three pretty good athletes, however.

Joe Williams Bay Wi

1:12

Hi Eric Great job as always Looking ahead to next year Im really concerned about how we are going to look at corner As of now we look like we will have a bunch of 3star guys manning that position In light of that do you like the decision to play Donte Vaughn and not red shirt him

Eric Hansen

1:12

One last postscript. Teams have a template on how they want to approach Book, it seems. A strong running game would seem to help break that template. Chip Long could certainly influence that as well.

12:59

A couple of the chatters last week brought up the question of whether Book still had a mental hurdle to overcome with regard to getting injured last season at Northwestern. I'm not dismissing it yet and here's why: Other than the two games against the two Group of Five teams (New Mexico and Bowling Green), Book's pass-efficiency rate has been below his career mark in all nine starts since that game against Power Five teams. He's been jumpy in the pocket in some, but not all of those games. I thought he improved in that area last week. As far as the social media response, he hasn't had four years of criticism ... it's actually just been part of a season. So it is something new. He strikes me as a mentally tough kid who has the capacity to eventually push past it. In general terms, the voices close to a player in that situation can be part of the solution ... or not.

Patrick, Fort Wayne, In

12:50

Eric, I made a habit of watching Ian Book's footwork during the W. Virginia game. He continually threw off his back foot on long and intermediate throws. This tells me he has little confidence when throwing more than a few yards past the line of scrimmage. Watching Book during past seasons, I liked his scrappy nature, a body language that he could get it done. What do you think has made him second guess himself? I know the ND QB hype is overwhelming and social media is oppressive, but this is his fourth year in the fish-bowl. Is he better as a counter-puncher - one who is best when little is expected? Also, Julian Okwara made a play last week. I marked it on my calendar.

Eric Hansen

12:49

With ND sitting at No. 15, the Cotton Bowl is in play. Realistically the Irish would have to get back into the top 10. I can't see a scenario in which the Orange Bowl would come back into play.

ced

12:49

will nd get the cotton or orange if we win out saginaw michigan

Eric Hansen

12:48

I think Jafar Armstrong will prove yet to be an asset to the offense. We saw it in the passing game much more so than the running game against Virginia Tech. I believe he'll take another incremental step forward this week. Having two new starters on the O-Line doesn't help matters, but I think Ruhland and Lugg will be sufficient. I think the big-picture answer here is that teams are going to gang up on ND's run game and force Ian Book to beat them with his arm. If he can do that consistently, then the defenses will loosen up against the run. If he can't, then I'll be getting these kinds of questions (and a very good one at that) for the rest of the season.

Stan from Rockford IL

12:44

Really look forward to your analysis and these weekly discussions and your other posts. Is ND down to one reliable RB, and he with a rib injury? Is the problem an ineffective run blocking OL, too predictable play calling, or could it be that ND has but one go-to RB on the roster?

Eric Hansen

12:43

What's wrong is that Notre Dame won 12 games last year. However, you're not getting the same version of Book that you did last year. I still believe he has the capacity to improve. As far as Phil Jurkovec, accuracy is way up the priority scale in OC Chip Long's way of thinking. It's way more important than being a dual threat. If Jurkovec gets to the point where his accuracy is outstanding, then the other traits you mentioned become relevant.

South Bend Paul

12:40

My logic is this: Book will likely provide ND with 9-10 wins this year and next but will never lead us to The Promised Land. Jurkovec's size, running ability, and arm strength might (or may not) provide us with the capability to go all the way: he has untapped upside. what is wrong with my logic?

Eric Hansen

12:40

I would sweat off eating Taco Bell right before bedtime. That should save you some money on therapy.

Ted from Chicago

12:38

Dear Eric, I had a dream this week that you, me and Tyler were in a plane that was flying around dangerously with a number of close calls but landed safely. Tyler was the pilot. Do you think this is a metaphor for the season or would you advise me to seek professional help?

Eric Hansen

12:37

Kevin, the return games (punt and kickoff) aren't good. No question. However, I think you're overgeneralizing. ND is ninth in the nation in kickoff coverage and 30th in punt coverage. They're 45th in net punting. Their punter, while holding for the game-tying extra point last week, made a heck of a save on a bad snap. Jonathan Doerer is making 75 percent of his field goals and has not missed a PAT. His touchback rate on kickoffs is way up. So the next step is to fix the return game. Recruit Chris Tyree may be part of that fix.

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