JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Oct. 14, 2020

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Oct. 14, 2020

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Eric Hansen

3:13

OK, I fell short of getting to all the questions by a lot and even went overtime. I'm going to have to work on my typing speed and brain speed. Thanks for all the great questions, answered and otherwise. We'll be back to do it all over again next Wednesday at noon.

3:11

And thanks for the kind words.

3:10

Kevin only played three plays, so it was hard to cast much of an impression. Absolutely. I think we'll see more and more McKinley and Austin together as the weeks go by.

Brent:Elkhart, IN

3:10

Greetings Eric, Thank you for your wonderful information on ND Football, really appreciate it. My question is concerning the passing game. Was Kevin Austin still a bit gimpy during the Florida State game? I am still waiting to see how he can impact the downfield passing. I also believe that having him on the field at the same time as Javon McKinley makes it a tough matchup for opposing defenses. Do you think we will see more of that moving forward? Seems to me with both of them on the field, and add our very talented tight ends to the mix makes it a nightmare for the opposing defense. What are your thoughts on that?

Eric Hansen

3:10

They're going to need to improve on defense, but I had them very close to that on my ballot -- No. 6.

Jacob, Hobart, IN

3:09

This is the first time 3 ACC teams (counting ND) are in the top 5. Do you agree with North Carolina at #5? Seems a little high to me.

Eric Hansen

3:09

I think Tommy listens to McNulty a lot, because they have a previous relationship, because John has been a college offensive coordinator and that he's coaches multiple positions on offense. But I Tommy's strength is communicating with all of the offensive assistants.

Denis from Niagara Falls, On

3:08

Hey Eric: Which of the offensive position coaches do you think has the most input with Rees? I know they all have equal input in theory, but if you had to say one, who would you say it is? Also, if you had the power to choose only one of the assistants who could provide input, who would that be? I"m a big fan of Mcnulty. Thanks a lot.

Eric Hansen

3:07

Doing well here, John. I hope all is well in Michigan. I am not predicting a loss to a team outside of Clemson. I do think November is going to be a tough month, but I think ND will be peaking at that point.

John Walled Lake MI

3:06

Hi Eric, how are you doing? How does the rest of the schedule look like to you? Besides a lost to Clemson, Who else do think Notre Dame will lose to?

Eric Hansen

3:06

If I'm Brian Kelly, I have that in my back pocket, especially if spring practice isn't normal spring practice, or if there's an injury in spring practice. The Irish did that with cornerback Nick McCloud. They contacted him in January but didn't move on him until late spring.

Joe Asbury Pk Nj

3:03

Working on the premise that this is Ian Book's last season at ND would you consider a grad transfer QB with this years class ?

Eric Hansen

3:02

I think this defense does have a lot of room to grow and will. As far as how it stacks up against Clemson, ask me again the week of the Clemson game (but not on Election Day).

Peter in Provo

3:01

Hi Eric,
With a reasonable amount of continuity in regards to player availability going forward,
how much better can this defence be, and will it be enough to keep us in the game with Clemson?

Eric Hansen

3:01

I think with the 21-day layoff, Brian Kelly was focused on getting the starters as much work as he could to get them back to game speed and timing.

Erik, Granger, IN

3:00

Thanks for being here! I wish they had let the backup OL take that first and goal late in the game to get four meaningful reps on tape and see if they can punch it in. What was the point of leaving the starters in when they had nothing to prove/learn and we weren’t technically trying to run up the score anyway? Is it dangerous for “cold” players to come in late like that?

Eric Hansen

3:00

Absolutely, there's a lot of credit to go around. But it starts with the O-line.

Cliff from Battle Creek

2:59

Hi Eric, great chat last week! I had concerns the first week with the O-line that you advised to just wait on. You were right lol. Brian Kelly said that this is the best offensive line unit he's had. My question is do you think that's true versus Nelson\Mcglinchy years? If you do think this is a better unit does any of the credit go to the RBs? The RB room feels completely different than we've seen in quite a while. Thanks!

Eric Hansen

2:59

Don't forget Nov. 27 in that thought process. There's a top five team on the road that Friday night.

Rick Dierolf

2:58

Rick Dierolf, Sinking Spring Pa. Hey Eric, Is our o-line this good or is the performance a product of the competition. I’m afraid Clemson will stack the box and dare ND to beat them with their wide revivers and they have not exactly set the world on fire. Please give me hope we can have success running the ball against Clemson. I know I’m getting ahead of things, but I think we are all fairly or unfairly judging the success of the season on Nov. 7th.

Eric Hansen

2:57

In Tommy's four games vs. Chip's 38, the biggest difference is Tommy's willingness to go under center when needed, to vary formations more and be more creative in the run game without getting gimmicky.

Joseph from Los Angeles

2:55

Joseph from Los Angeles Eric, while only three games is a small sample size, I have found Tommy Rees’ playcalling to be very dynamic since the first half of the Duke game. Great to see so many personnel packages ways to run the ball, ways to influence ant have to block defenders on certain players etc. How would you compare his playcalling style with the Chip Long style that we have seen the last couple of years? Thank you!

Eric Hansen

2:55

Alex, thank you. I'm not great at comparisons, but Watters was the guy who came to mind of being able to blend the physicality with the finesse and pass-catching ability.

Alex from Jackson, Missouri

2:54

God bless, Eric...One question and a few thoughts. 1st-Who does Kyren Williams remind you of from backs of ND’s past? It has been a long time since someone has been that athletic, IMO. A worse pass catcher than Riddick, but more of a bruiser than him. Maybe Ricky Waters? Really interested to hear your thoughts? Hope you enjoy watching Williams play as much as I am sure most on this board have. My thoughts are it was a fun game to watch Book play. He looked calm and decisive for the most part. Stepping up calmly in the pocket and checking down was on point. Which is easier to do with the O-line play. They are also really fun to watch with the semi truck holes they open and the pass protection. Best line by far since McGlinchey, Nelson, and crew. And kudos to Tommy Rees. Exceeding expectations in the OC department.

Eric Hansen

2:52

Well Notre Dame is outscoring its opponents 17-0 in the fourth quarter, so they've got half the equation right. Look, if ND really wanted to get in the end zone later, they could have kicked a field goal or gotten more creative near the goal line. If you're watching the game at home and don't read the postgame coverage, I can understand the frustration. But given the context of what went on behind the scenes, it was a pretty impressive outcome.

Tim - Pleasant Prairie WI

2:45

Hi Eric. I found it rather troubling that the Irish were unable to put any points on the board in the 4Q vs. Fl St to really put the game away. It seems to me that in this Covid year when teams are playing different numbers of games, the CFP committee will be using the eye test and looking at margins of victory more than ever. Was Saturday's 4Q offensive performance a concern to you or was it just one of those days where chances were there but they just couldn't put it in the endzone? Finishing games strong is paramount to sustaining a realistic playoff run, IMHO.

Eric Hansen

2:45

Awesome. Thank you. I agree, the readers make me look good with some really interesting questions. They often inspire story ideas for me as well.

Pat from Evergreen, Colorado

2:44

Eric, No question. Just want to thank you for doing these chats and I want to thank your readers for their great questions. They give you good stuff to work with. It makes for a great read.

Eric Hansen

2:44

Let's see how they hold up against Pitt on Oct. 24. The Panthers are No. 2 in rush defense (partly because of sack yardage). And let's not forget the 2017 team that finished seventh nationally in rushing yards per game and set school records for rushing yards in a season and yards per carry in a season. The test is how they hold up in big games. Those are still to come, but I love the way they've started and a like the explosiveness and the ability to hit home runs with their speed.

Brian from Southbend

2:38

Hey Eric, Its seems like its been a while since ND has had a pair of running backs who possess both the speed and elusiveness that #25 and # 23 do this year. Is it hyperbole to say that with this talented offensive line and tight end group leading the way that this could potentially be ND's best running team since the Holtz years? I know Florida State is not really good defensively but they knew exactly what was coming with that counter play and couldn't stop it.Thats seems like the true mark of dominant running game.

Eric Hansen

2:38

I don't think a lot of the players who would have exhausted their eligibility under the pre-COVID rules will come back beyond K Jonathan Doerer.

Manny Goshen

2:36

After reviewing the 7 major mock drafts. I think it is safe to say that Krammer, Eichenberg , JOK and Ade will be on NFL rosters in 2021. I didn't see Book or Hainsey on any of them. Do you think BK will re-recruit Book and Hainsey to return for the 2021 season. I can picture an offense with Kristofic, Banks , Patterson, Lugg , Hainsey, Tremble and Book. Almost the same as this year but with an extra year of experience and a year with Ballis. Your thoughts?

Eric Hansen

2:36

Tom thanks and nice to see you on the chat. I think the quarantines and isolations hit the defense harder both in terms of sheer number and in terms of impact, so I would expect to see better run fits especially. Just moving Crawford back to safety is going to improve a lot. On offense, I'd expect to see the wide receivers be sharper in their executive and timing.

Tom Kennesaw, GA

2:33

Hi Eric, hope all is well with the Hansen family. Being a former Student Trainer I was very happy to see Rob Hunt get a game ball last week. The training staff/doctors do a LOT behind the scenes to make sure that players are available for Ssaturdays. My questions 1) Coaches always say they improve the most between games #1 and #2. With 21 days between games do you expect the same kind of improvement between #3 and #4 and if so in what areas?? Q#2, what is your over/under for Kevin Austin this week: Catches 2.5 and Yards 25? Thanks and Go Irish!!!

Eric Hansen

2:32

Those are the only two options I get? I don't get to factor in Tommy Rees' play-calling and commitment to the run? To the improved chemistry in the offensive meeting rooms with Rees instead of Long? To the sheer determination of Kyren Williams to transform his body and Chris Tyree to silence the doubters that he wasn't ready to be any more than a niche player as a freshman?

Bob Loganville, GA

2:30

Eric, How much of the RB play as to do with Lance Taylor or actually utilizing a true RB instead of a converted WR? The patience and vision at the RB position if better than I have seen in many years.

Eric Hansen

2:30

Ok, Gabriel, I'm guessing it's you who submitted this question earlier anonymously.

Gabriel Weiss from South Bend

2:30

Hey Mr. Hansen. Thanks for fielding our questions again. If Clemson is undefeated at the end of the year, and Notre Dame and Miami both have one loss, who gets in the conference championship? Assuming everyone else has at least 2 losses too. Thanks, new to this whole conference thing!

Eric Hansen

2:29

Thank you, whoever you are and wherever you are. ... To your question, we can't answer it YET and when you see the tiebreakers, you'll see why. Here they are:

Two-Team Tie
1. Head-to-head competition between the two tied teams.
2. Head-to-head competition versus the team with the best overall win percentage and proceeding though the conference. Multiple ties within the conference will be broken from first to last using the league’s tiebreaker policies.
3. Overall win percentage versus all common conference opponents.
4. Win percentage versus common conference opponents based upon their order of finish (overall conference win percentage) and proceeding through other common conference opponents based upon their conference order of finish.
5. The tied team with the higher ranking by the Team Rating Score metric provided by SportSource Analytics following the conclusion of regular season games.
6. The representative shall be chosen by a draw as administered by the Commissioner or Commissioner’s designee.

Guest

2:26

Hi, Eric; really miss you on Sportsbeat..not the same without you!..If ND runs the table in the ACC, and if UNC and Clemson’s only loss is to ND, who would play ND in the ACC Championship game?

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