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

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Oct. 14, 2020

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Chuck from Brigantine, NJ

2:25

Eric, glad that you are staying safe and able to bring your best insights into our somewhat tainted perspectives. Understand rust and COVID disruptions but Saturday was not pretty. Here is my take: To beat Clemson and maybe even UNC, Irish must score lots of points. They will not do it on the ground vs Clemson as Venables might stack the box and bring up the Safetys and force Ian to beat them long. At this point, I just do not see it --- Jurkovec looks much better throwing the long ball vs Ian. What can the coaching staff do to better prepare the team to stretch the Defense? What are the chances that Ian will dramatically improve on the long ball -- has not in 2 years. I love his tenacity and play making but .....help me, Eric.

Eric Hansen

2:24

Jonathan, I watched some of the Louisville-Georgia Tech game while working on other things, so wasn't paying that close of attention. I'll take your work that's what they were doing. Javian Hawkins is very fast, so that might explain the approach. Also, I'm not sure their offensive line is producing the kinds of block consistently that would give him faith in being patient, for fear of defensive penetration.

Jonathan

Ugh. Rest of Q. Is there something schematic that explains this? Do you see it as something that Coach Satterfield is trying to do differently from what I’m used to seeing across the football universe on Saturdays and Sundays? Any insight would be appreciated. Go Irish!

2:22

Hideaway, TX. Greetings, Eric! Watching Louisville, I can’t help notice that their very athletic offensive backfield seems to operate always at full-tilt. There seems to be no patient waiting for blocks at all. Just an all-out, immediate sprint for daylight on every rushing play. Is there something schematic that explains this? Or is

Eric Hansen

2:22

I think that's still constellating given the 21-day gap between games and just getting some players back late last week. On offense, they pride themselves on physicality. They're also multiple in personnel groups, formations, blocking schemes, play calls. On defense, their calling card needs to be an upper-tier run defense. We'll find out soon if that's achievable.

Ken - Pensacola

2:20

Eric, one of these days, I'll learn how to submit my question. What's the identify of this year's team in your estimation? Thanks and GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!

2:19

Eric - Great to chat with you, as always. In your opinion, what's ND's identy

Eric Hansen

2:19

Turnovers.

Bruce, Centralia, IL

2:19

Eric, let’s consider the unimaginable - that the Irish drop one of the softer games on the schedule, i.e., not Clemson or UNC. In your view, what would be the factors on the ND side that could lead to such as result? Thanks very much.

Eric Hansen

2:17

However, as I mentioned in a story earlier this week, championship teams tend to excel in at least four of these five metrics -- if not all five -- rush offense, pass efficiency, rush defense, total defense and turnover margin. So those are important elements as well.

2:15

Bill, they had that with Brady Quinn, who was able to do that to a certain extent, and with Jimmy Clausen, who was less so able to cover up. .. Look, of the five most important metrics that title teams tend to do well, passing efficiency is one of them. Of the 22 national champs in the BCS/Playoff Era, only 4 ranked lower than 18th nationally and none lower than 37th. The pattern is even similar with the national runners-up with one exception. The worst passing efficiency team to play for a title in those 22 years? The 2012 Irish, who ranked 74th.

2:09

From Avalon, N.J.

Bill

2:09

There seems to be the belief that in order to consistently compete with the Alabamas and Clemsons of the word, ND needs to improve their recruiting numbers from top 10-12 classes to top 5 classes. While I don't necessarily disagree with that sentiment, don't you think ND would be better able to bridge that gap with with a first or second round talent draft pick at QB? It's crazy to me that, assuming Book gets drafted, ND will only have two quarterbacks drafted in the last decade. This is no knock on Book and I am not talking about the need to get the next Trevor Lawrence, but consistently having a Justin Herbert or Drew Lock-like NFL prospect behind center could mask some deficiencies elsewhere.

Eric Hansen

2:09

As you climb he ladder into playoff-caliber teams, they challenge you to do everything well and will try to scheme on both sides of the ball to make you do what you're weakest at doing. The teams that aren't as good try to do that too, but they often don't have the personnel to be able to execute that consistently. The deep balls are something ND with which will find out in the coming weeks whether it can be a threat consistently in games. I think Lenzy and Austin up to full speed gives them that chance. Now can Book get them the ball? We're about to find out.

Gene from NY

2:04

Hi Eric, Thanks as always for the great coverage. That was the first game in some time where it seemed Book was comfortable the entire game. Certainly, the offensive line asserting its will helped a great deal. The one thing I believe remains a concern is that there does not appear to be a real threat for the offense to hit on 20+ yard plays. Regardless of how good OL is, I don’t see them running through Clemson as easily. I’m aware of the ‘take what D will give you’ or ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ thoughts, but do you believe they should try working this into the game plan on a regular basis to gain some confidence they can do it?

Eric Hansen

2:03

Andy thanks. I think Rocky made some good suggestions along those lines, and I'd agree. In empty stadiums or those with small crowds, offenses can communicate at the line of scrimmage better. The shortened training camps and starts and stops due to outbreaks have limited live tackling. The chemistry on defense has been disrupted by less togetherness off the field. I think we'll see a return to something closer to the norm in 2021, that is provided life is normal in 2021.

Andy - San Antonio, TX

2:00

Hello Eric! Happy Wednesday from South Texas! I was listening to the recent Pod of Gold with Rocky Boiman (good stuff) and it got me thinking about defense. There have been a lot of good to great college teams giving up large numbers on defense this year - several examples alone from the SEC last weekend. In your opinion, is this the way the game is trending in high school and college, or do we add this to weirdness list for 2020?? Stay safe!

Eric Hansen

2:00

I think at this point, it depends more on their opponents than on Notre Dame. In the most recent outbreak, the players who had COVID theoretically can't be re-infected for the balance of the season (or at least it's highly unlikely). And they've upped their game in terms of protocols, so another outbreak is less likely. If it came from an opponent, ND only had Nov. 21 as an open date. And all 14 other ACC teams play that weekend. So there would have to be multiple games shuffled to make that work. Remember, each month that science keeps giving us more resources to combat the virus, better testing, etc. All of those things help. So I'm going to be cautiously optimistic and say that ND will play all its games, knowing that there is no such thing as an absolute in the COVID Era.

Robert, Evansville, IN

1:53

Sorry, I hit enter before posting my question. What is your gut feeling/guess that N.D. actually plays all of its scheduled games. Stay safe and thanks!

Eric Hansen

1:53

It hasn't come up in any of the interviews. But I think they were pretty focused on their own outbreak and how to fix it, which they did.

Sweet Lou Wilmington, Delaware

1:52

Do all of the University negative happenings (Father Jenkins and masks and Dr. Conley -ND grad and President"s Doctor -bungling communications around President's hospitalization) affect the football players and coaches ?

Eric Hansen

1:52

Off the top of my head, I went to the 2017 season archive. IN the 2017 opener against Temple, Josh Adams, Dexter Williams and Brandon Wimbush all went over 100.

Bill 1000 Oaks Ca

1:50

Know you don’t like math but how long since IRISH had 3 players go over century mark in one game let alone two RB’S? Can’t believe took Kelly 5 years to discoverMcKinley “ no one in the country can cover this kid” seems to me he played well in all his opportunities.Please stay safe & thanks for chats! If Eichenberg represents team’s toughness we’re in great shape! Go Irish!

Eric Hansen

1:47

First, I think Clemson is the best team in the country. But the best team doesn't always win these kinds of showdowns, so what does ND have to do: 1) Quarterback play. Ian Book needs to be at the top of his game. In terms of poise. In terms of patience. In terms of being able to stretch the field enough to make Clemson play honest. 2) The offensive line, touted by some as the best in the country at this point, needs to be the best position group on the field that night. 3) Even the 33 Trucking prolific running attack vanished in big games (Georgia and Miami in 2017). In fact, not being able to run is a coming theme in the six losses in ND's 36-6 run since 2015. 4) Clark Lea liked the potential of this group to be a very good run defense, and it needs to be in November -- not just for Clemson, but for North Carolina as well. 5) The cornerbacks need to keep coming. The buck linebacker play needs to be stellar. 6) Notre Dame needs to play keepaway on offense, so that again stresses the ability to run.

1:41

This question is in the queue many, many times with some different variations on specifics. This one is probably the most open-ended version of it and what you all are trying to get to the bottom of, so here goes:

John from Newhall, Ca.

1:40

Having seen the other top 5 teams in action, including Clemson that has a knack for rising to and usually above the level of their competition. Do you think Notre Dame can improve on both sides of the ball enough in the next 3 1/2 weeks to actually challenge Clemson for 4 quarters?

Eric Hansen

1:38

I think I've enjoyed the changeup of conference play myself, and I think ND, Brian Kelly and the players have too. But in terms of a long-term lifestyle? I don't see it.

Robb from Delaplane, Va

1:33

I've been a Notre Dame subway alum since 1958 and remember the early days when 'Joe the Pro' was coach. In those years, the prospect of going 6-4 was a dream season. Of course, we never got that under Joe, but along came Ara and everything changed. With Ara, we expected to win every game and go 10-0 every season. We also knew the team would be totally prepared and play like it week to week. Along with that, for the past 62 years, I've loved our Independent and non-conference standing. But I must say, after just 3 games, I've come around to the favorable idea that belonging to a conference has benefits, and I can see the potential of the ACC becoming an elite conference with elite programs. Looking at the schedule, I can envision new rivalries that might develop as well. Is it too early to think this way? Does the ND football family see this already as well?

Eric Hansen

1:33

The short answer is year, they'll try to get McKinley, Lenzy and Austin on the field at the same time at times, going forward.

1:32

From Brownsburg, right? ... Yes, I wrote about this earlier this week ... https://www.ndinsider.com/football/analysis-word-salad-or-not-its-time...

Joe vrabec

1:30

Hi Eric, how are you? Can we expect Austin and McKinley to play at the same time? Lenzy in slot, and the other two WR at field and boundary? Thanks. And thanks for all the coverage and the conversation on twitter.

Eric Hansen

1:30

Jack Lamb is coming back from a career-threatening hip injury and will likely impact special teams much more than the defense -- at least in 2020. White and Simon I want to see play when they have a chance to be at their best, which should be this week. Then ask me again.

george king mengert

1:28

George K. Atlanta: Did not see or hear much from Drew White, Shayne Simon, or Jack Lamb in the FSU game. Drew White in particular does not seem to be as effective as he was last year. What are your thoughts on these 3 players.

Eric Hansen

1:28

I think they could play together against certain teams. Or in packages against all teams. But a team that would spread ND's defense out and isolate Bauer in coverage, I'm not sure how that would play out. I'd have to see it to believe that would work. But again, against certain teams and in certain situations, I'm open to seeing what that might look like. I still think the other bucks need to have a chance to show what they could do healthy.

Terry from Cincinnati

1:25

With Bo Bauer playing so well, if Kiser is still out, could Bauer and Drew White handle the Mike and Buck spots?

Eric Hansen

1:25

Phil, thanks. If you haven't tried Pod of Gold, I think you'll enjoy it. Rocky Boiman was our guest this week and Rick Mirer the week before. ... Now when you say water cooler, you mean virtual water cooler. ... I have to tell you, none of us are surprised that Chase is making his mark in the NFL. I expect in time, we'll see impact from Cole Kmet as well.

Phil from Bradenton FL

1:22

Eric, miss you on SportsBeat. I'm willing to give the Irish a pass this past weekend due to the layoff, and not worry so much about the lack of 2nd half offensive production, or the defensive issues. Just glad the boys are safe and back out there. Here's my question: What has the water cooler talk been like between you and your sportswriter brethren in reaction to Chase Claypool's amazing day Sunday? He looked like a man among boys out there. Thanks! Be safe.

Eric Hansen

1:22

He does get compliments. Brian Kelly told me he's the best talent evaluator in the country.

Guest

1:18

Mike from Costa Mesa ca. Eric why isn't Bill Rees getting any compliments for his great work identifying talent that other programs pass on. I remember him at ucla ,he was a big part of Donahues success .It sure seems since he was hired that is when we started to see these 3 * recruits being maximized .

Eric Hansen

1:18

Not all offers are created equal. Some are "committable" offers, where a player can verbally commit. Some are an invitation to come to camp and impress (when there's no pandemic going on). Usually, there's some kind or preference order with prospects. So of theoretically eight offensive linemen, they'll try to get the four they like the most to visit first and then slow-play the other four. So it's not first come, first served. Some prospects, ND is willing to wait forever and hold a spot of make room. Some they'll move on if there's no impending commitment. As far as those two QBs you mentioned, I think they're evaluating both of them to get a better feel for which one should be the priority.

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