JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Oct. 24, 2019

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Oct. 24, 2019

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Chuck /Brigantine, NJ

2:04

Penn State beat Michigan on long routes at will on Saturday. In your educated opinion, is Chip EVER going to open it up, on a consistent basis -- i.e esp, 3rd quarter? Seems to me that Lenzy and others would have to be frustrated watching week by week of somewhat daring call playing in the first half and then sitting on the ball in Q3 & Q4 with very little stretching the field activity. We are fortunate to have you, and I always look forward to YOUR articles! ND 24-20

Eric Hansen

2:04

No. I think you'll see the Irish back in their base defense and in the dime package on third down.

Michael from Chicago

2:03

Will ND employ a comparable defensive strategy against UM as they did vs. USC in focusing on shutting down Bell as they did Pittman?

Eric Hansen

2:03

Turnover margin and special teams are the most notable upgrades. Last year's defense was better across the board, but this one has improved a lot.

Jacob, Hobart

2:01

What's the biggest positive difference and negative difference between this year's team so far and last year's?

Tim - Pleasant Prairie WI

2:00

Thanks! Honored you chose to publish it!

Eric Hansen

2:00

The longest pass play, including yards after the catch, this season is 65 yards involving Book. The longest by an opponent is 43 yards -- Bryce Perkins to Joe Reed in the Virginia game.

Bentley

1:58

What is the longest pass that Book has completed?

Eric Hansen

1:57

Dick, that is awesome to hear. Thanks for sharing that. Beyond Michigan, I think remaining opponent that is playing the best football right now is Navy.

Dick Levittown NY

1:55

Hi Eric, really enjoy these chats. I too am a long time ND fan, listened to my first USC-ND game in 1939. Of the remaining games which do you think is most likely to be a challenge?

Eric Hansen

1:55

Good answer, Tim.

Tim - Pleasant Prairie WI

1:55

If I can help answer Jim, Morgantown's question: NBC tries to operate their broadcasts with personalities who are journalists, not fans. Impartiality should be a part of a sports broadcast that is shown on a national network to a national audience. ND has taken enough heat for their NBC deal without NBC being perceived as stacking the broadcast team with pro-ND announcers. Further, ND has gone to great pains to NOT interfere with NBS on-air decisions and this is part of that thinking.

Eric Hansen

1:54

Jeff, I think you've got some sound thinking there, and if Brian Kelly reads the chat, he can see what you have suggested.

Jeff B from Oklahoma City

1:54

Eric, although they do not have a RB the quality of Jonathan Taylor, with a 2 TE set can Notre Dame have similar success running the ball Saturday Night against Michigan? I think this how they can best win. I see there will be a 90% chance of rain during the game and I think they need to be able to run.

Eric Hansen

1:53

Ken, I need to say that I don't agree with your entire premise leading up to your question. It's almost as if you are writing this AFTER an ND loss to Michigan. Let me focus on how can this offense be better this year? Getting Armstrong back helps. I believe the offensive line is improving and needs to continue to do so. The biggest piece is Book finding consistency.

Ken - South Bend

1:51

For years I have felt that the Irish have under performed relative to the talent level. I feel that way about this year's offense. I think we continue to struggle with leaving points on the field. In the USC game, there were really only three good drives. I believe this under performing is why we can't quite get to the next level. We continue to not win the big games and bowls. What do you think Kelly needs to change to take the next step?

Eric Hansen

1:50

If it's a downpour, I think ND is the better running team and it would favor the Irish.

Ken, from Morrisville, IN

1:49

Hi Eric, great job on these chats! With the weather expected to be wet and rainy on Saturday night, do you feel this would favor either team?

Eric Hansen

1:49

Now remember the rain Saturday night could make passing to anyone difficult depending on whether it's a sprinkle or a monsoon. Assuming the former, I'd want to play a lot of three wideouts, and that would allow at least one of those guys you asked about to be on the field a lot. Lenzy is the fastest of those guys. McKinley is the slowest, but most physical and the best blocker. Young is a really good route runner with speed. Armstrong gives you flexibility with play calls and formations and potentially puts the defense in tough dilemmas and mismatches. If I can play only one of those four, I'm playing Armstrong.

John from Norfolk

1:45

Eric, I believe Claypool and Kmet will be trusty guys for Book against Coach Brown's blitz packages, but PSU was able to exploit KJ Hamler's speed because he is on the field a lot. Does ND adjust its WR packages to have more of their fastest players on the field more often? Of these four, who has more explosive plays in the passing game Lenzy, Young, Keys, McKinley, or is it Armstrong, and why?

Eric Hansen

1:44

He has the speed and physicality to do it. He needs to play smart. And the d-line with a great pass rush could certainly help him out.

Jim Cumberland Md

1:44

Hi Eric ,Please keep up the great job. How much confidence do You have in Troy Pride in covering Mich big receivers.

Eric Hansen

1:43

Erik. Keys, we are told, is healthy. That means a rotation with Chris Finke in the slot. Why Darin mentioned Lenzy in the slot possibly was him exploring a specific matchup with Michigan, which tends to take some risks with safeties covering the slot 1-on-1. That happened in the Penn State game and the Wolverines got burned badly, Lenzy is an outside receiver, but putting him in the slot for a few plays may be worth a look.

Erik (Granger, IN)

1:40

Thanks for being here! Is Lawrence Keys finally healthy? If so, do you think he’ll be able to impact the offense from the slot? Darrin thought Lenzy from the slot makes sense, but doesn’t he play the field receiver? Did they move him to the slot over the bye week?

Eric Hansen

1:37

If the Irish end up with safety Isaiah Pryor, it could be a big positive. I think it affects ND far less -- positively or negatively -- than a lot of other teams.

Ken Pensacola

1:36

Has the transfer portal had a positive or negative effect on ND? Thanks & GO IRISH!!!!

Eric Hansen

1:36

Robb, I can't disagree with you. As I look at the matchup with Michigan, the most difficult thing for me to factor into a score prediction is how Ian Book will play. Having seen him play so well in the spring and in August, it leads me to believe the ups and downs we see are mostly mental. I do not believe those problems are terminal, however. Michigan could be the game that either cures all of this ... or perpetuates this pattern for the rest of the season.

Robb, Delaplane, Va

1:33

Stats aside, it's clear that Book is not as comfortable nor is playing with the same smoothness as he did last year. I understand he's taken off for some good runs but we need a QB who is a threat to throw downfield sharply on any given down. My question: is it mental? Is it Physical? (his body weight is noticeably different this year). What is it exactly that's been missing from Book this year?

Eric Hansen

1:32

I think the worst-case scenario for the Irish defense is if Michigan plays clean (no turnovers, few penalties) and it balances its offense, equally adept pass and run. Notre Dame's defensive line needs to be the best unit on the field. If that's the case, it sets the table for making Michigan one-dimensional, pressuring QB Shea Patterson and perhaps coaxing some turnovers. Thanks Fred for the compliment. Believe me, that chat is one of my favorite things to do all week.

Fred K from Richmond Va.

1:30

Eric, Love your chats, it's the highlight for me every week preparing for an upcoming game. How do you think our defense stacks up against the offense that Michigan will put on the field. Their offensive line looks talented on paper, but obviously they have had some issues this season.

Eric Hansen

1:29

Charles, thanks. Spread offenses really made traditional fullbacks obsolete and they were moving in that direction anyway. You're right about the tight ends. You can accomplish the fullback function with a tight end, who can do so many other things in the spread that a fullback can't.

Charles from South Bend

1:28

Hi Eric I really appreciate your volume of work as the definitive source of Fighting Irish football! Quick one for you...Whatever happened to the fullback as we used to know him? It seems as if the triple-option teams are the only ones using the position as a means of gaining rushing yardage. If you do see a fullback lining up its usually a hybrid tight end player inserted to block or maybe catch a screen pass. Oh for the days of Bullock, Edwards, and Bettis...guess I'm getting old. Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

1:28

Gordon. Thanks. The columnist question is hard, because it's not something that's easy to come off the top of my head. I'll mention two who come to mind who are currently writing. I think Dan Wetzel of Yahoo is as good at anyone out there right now and can write about anything and so an amazing job. I like Bernie Miklasz, formerly of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. He does radio now and some writing for The Athletic. I love how he incorporates deep research into his columns. I really respect his baseball knowledge. There are so many more, but those two jump out at me. .. to your second question. I did a big piece on that last spring when Jaylon Smith, Josh Adams and Troy Niklas all came back to school. ND did pick up the tab for that.

Gordon, Byron Bay NSW AU

1:21

Hi Eric, I’ve enjoyed reading your articles over the years. You write really well. Who are your favorite, living or absent, top three sports columnists? If prior to graduating a ND student athlete leaves to join a professional league does ND honor their scholarship if they later choose to complete their degree

Eric Hansen

1:21

Brian thanks. I'm not sure if struggled is the right word, but I wouldn't say he's consistently thriving either. I think he's a better fit at the field corner, but with Julian Love gone, he's the best option at the boundary corner and that is a high priority. It's definitely not speed, so it comes down to technique, which is fixable. ... I like Davis and Lenzy a lot. I have a hard time seeing the path to consistent playing time ... but maybe a little of them goes a long way?

Brian Sontchi

1:18

Hi Eric: Brian from Batavia, IL. Can you provide your professional opinion as to why Troy Pride has struggled during the first half of the 2019 season? Will Davis and Lenzy get more chances to take the rock to the house during 2nd half of this season?Thank you for your outstanding articles covering Fighting Irish football.

Eric Hansen

1:18

Not having a press conference with Kelly anymore on Thursday makes him a harder read when it comes to what you're asking me. On Monday, he's much more measured. Plus, they really haven't practiced at all. As far as play operation, I'm assuming you're talking about using the silent counts. It's never easy no matter how much you practice it, but my sense it will be smoother than it was at Georgia.

Joe from Georgia

1:15

Do you have a sense as to whether Kelly and the staff are more/less/equally confident going into this game as they were for USC? What is your own personal sense in this regard? For me, it all comes down to play operation, which all insist has been fixed. If it has, ND wins. However, I don't trust the narrative being put out there.

Eric Hansen

1:15

I don't see a question here, so I'll leave that right there.

Rick Dierolf

1:14

Rick Dierolf, Sinking Spring Pa. Hey Eric. I really believe this is make or break game for Ian Book to see if he can take advantage of the one on one matchups he will have on the outside with his receivers. If he can’t get it done I think we lose and if he can I think we roll Michigan. If they didn’t trust him last year against this defense should we have any faith that he can get it done. I’m sensing a bad game from him

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