JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Oct. 3, 2019

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Oct. 3, 2019

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Eric Hansen

3:05

That's all the time I have for today. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll be back to do this for USC next Thursday at noon EDT.

3:03

Thanks, Dave.

Dave, Kuttawa Ky

3:03

I know you get a lot of questions regarding Ian Book. I think he is the QB Notre Dame needs however, after watching all of the first few games, I think he could use some help when an all out pass rush or a blitz comes, he needs a quick outlet receiver to throw to. It's like the quick outlet receiver and the QB are not on the same page. Eric, I admire your work and thanks for keeping us crazy fans from over reacting.

Eric Hansen

2:59

Speaking of Trevor Lawrence, did you notice Book is 16 spots head of him in passing efficiency currently?

Tim - Pleasant Prairie WI

2:58

Re: stalling development of QBs in year two. I agree 100%. It is rather odd. But I maintain that just as odd is the willingness of say a Dabo to hand the keys to Trevor, or Saban to Tua, yet Kelly can't seem to find the faith to do that with talent that was proclaimed as being almost limitless when Phil J. signed up with ND.

Eric Hansen

2:58

Bill, even though this overlaps some of the questions I've already answered and many incubating in the queue, there's an element here that's a little different that I want to address. I don't buy that it's because he hasn't played in as many games as Rees or Quinn. And I liked that Chip Long challenged Book to throw deep more in the spring and fit the ball into tighter windows. I do buy into the fact that Book has faced an abnormal amount of mediocre to awful defenses as a starter. It's such a stark contrast when you play Clemson, Georgia, Virginia. I'm not shocked or disturbed by growing pains. What's important is the he learn from them and move through them.

Bill-Idaho Falls, Idaho

2:50

Eric: I'm interested in your take on Ian Book. I believe the glass is 1/2 full and firmly believe he will get better as the season roles on. That being said, the better he plays the better the team plays. In my view, he hasn't progressed as rapidly from last year as I thought he would. Do you buy BK's explanation--trust your players, being more decisive? I get the running game is not helping him out, but honestly some of that appears to be related to his wrong reads in the rpo and blocking assignments. His failure to throw the ball down field or at least accurately thereby excluding explosive plays seems to be a major factor. I'm interested in your opinion? Lack of being decisive? Hasn't played enough games similar to when Reese or Quinn played? Thanks a bunch and enjoy your candid analysis.

Eric Hansen

2:50

Thank you. Jim. I will try to comply. I say USC has more talent, but the Michigan game will be tougher.

Jim,Cumberland Md

2:49

Hi Eric.Please continue the great job that You are doing. Question which will be tougher USC OR MICH TO WIN

Eric Hansen

2:49

His primary role is in the dime package, though he spells the starters as well. Since he's already part of the dime, Crawford's absence wouldn't increase his snaps. I love to watch him play, but understand why he doesn't play more. He'll be a starter next season, no question.

Patrick, Fort Wayne, In

2:48

Eric, I don't recall seeing Kyle Hamilton play during the Georgia game and I didn't see him play much during the Virginia game; Although his interception was very noticeable. I think he is a game-changer and plays beyond his freshman status. I am wrong? The coaching staff seems to be bringing him along slowly. Will he play more in dime packages with Shawn Crawford out?

Eric Hansen

2:48

I like their progress. Not yet a finished product, but I like where I think this is headed. I think it's certainly been good enough that Book shouldn't be getting happy feet. What I can't discern is when there are protection errors, is it book not sliding the protection correctly pre-snap or the linemen not executing the protection at times. Either way, I think there's a lot to feel hopeful about when it comes to the future of the line yet this season.

Allen Sturgill

2:45

Hey Eric. Allen From Rock Hill South Carolina. My question is how do you think the offensive line is playing compares to last season. And do you think the line play has been partially the reason that Ian Book seems to be so uncomfortable ? Thanks for all you do covering g the team.

Eric Hansen

2:45

Mark. I think once you have Armstrong back and you're not playing an elite run defense team, that's an easier commitment to make. The current run defense rankings nationally for Georgia and Virginia are 5 and 21. For the remainder of the schedule, they are 117, 93, 89. 104, 55, 14 (Navy), 102 and 44. I do think balance will make the offense better. .. eventually.

Mark from Grand Haven MI

2:43

Eric—Always enjoy your work and thank you for hosting these chats. Were you surprised that the Irish didn’t try to run the ball more in the first half last week? Taking Book’s rushes and sacks out of the equation, it seemed to me as though the offense was moving the ball on the ground, yet the ratio of pass to run in the first half was about 2:1. I think more focus on the run might take some heat off Book and would lead to more success in the passing game via play-action. Your thoughts?

Eric Hansen

2:42

DJ Brown plays some safety. They like the long-term potential of freshman Litchfield Ajavon. Hard hard hitter who needs work in coverage. They need Griffith as CB this year. Him playing safety next year is my idea, not necessarily the ND coaches' idea. But that's how I see it playing out. I like Houston's future at safety. A lot.

Jeremy From Goshen

2:40

It appears that ND is only using Gilman, Elliot, and Hamilton at Safety this year. Do you believe that Houston Griffiths future is at Safety? If so, why is he having a hard time breaking into the rotation at Safety this year?

Eric Hansen

2:40

To answer that in this format is like trying to pour the Atlantic Ocean into a Dixie cup. ... So here's the quick version. I'm open-minded to the outcome this could be a win-win. I do not look forward to all the legal wrangling, but realize it's a necessary evil. I'll have a much more definitive and conclusive opinion once I know what's really going to happen with this and when. There are too many hypothetical doomsday scenarios for my liking right now.

Dan/Vernon Hills, Il

2:37

Eric, Really enjoy the Q. and A. and your podcast work. This may take a whole column, but what are your thoughts on the proposed California law allowing players to profit from their likeness, endorsements, etc. and how it may affect Notre Dame.

Eric Hansen

2:36

Erik. with regard to question one. I go week by week, so everything I do is within context of that particular week. I think about the path of most resistance. Is there an interview I need to line up who's going to have a very limited window to talk to me? I do those things first. I also want to be as timely as I can be. So I don't like to finish a story on Monday that's going to run on Saturday. Too much can change, and it's not fair to the reader. Once I have everything I need for a story, I completely focusing on making that the best version of it I can. The second answer should be never and pretty much is. If the interview stinks, you need to talk to more people. If the interview stinks, maybe I didn't ask the right questions. And if things don't come together during the writing process, that can't happen. And I can't remember that ever being an issue, to be honest.

Erik (Granger, IN)

2:36

Thank you for these chats! My questions are about your process as a writer. 1) How many stories are you working on at any given time, such as waiting for interviews with sources to take place or data to be analyzed? 2) How often do story ideas fizzle out and get scrapped because the interview wasn’t compelling or it just doesn’t come together during the writing process?

Eric Hansen

2:30

Tim, I would have to research the numbers and don't have the time to with an overflow queue of questions, but your point is a fair one. I do know BK's record with first-year starters is stunningly successful. With second-year starters, not so much. I think that's the bigger mystery -- why does the development stall? Now we need to give it the rest of the season to see of that's the case with Book. I think that's only fair.

Tim - Pleasant Prairie WI

2:28

Good afternoon Eric! Please don't take this as Book Bashing. I realize he's only had a little over a dozen starts despite being a senior. But why does Notre Dame not seem to be able to recruit the kind of QBs that can take the reins as freshmen or early sophomores and run the offense effectively for several years going forward? Why is the "development period" for QBs at ND so long when other elite programs seem to be able to get kids that are ready to produce by sophomore year or earlier?

Eric Hansen

2:27

You are free to focus on whatever you'd like. I'm just here to answer questions.

Joe from Reno

2:27

I sometimes tire of the repetitive playoff possibility talk for this team. I do want the Irish to “win ‘em all” but now that is impossible. Can we just focus on the next game and not just be focused on The College Football Playoff?

Eric Hansen

2:27

There are five who have played in four games ... Bramblett, Hamilton, Kiser, Lacey and Kyren Williams. I'd say the three who might eventually play in more than four are Marist Liufau and KJ Wallace with Wallace being the most likely.

Michael from Mishawaka

2:20

How many more freshman do you see getting in at least 4 games the rest of the year?

Eric Hansen

2:20

Only if A) Brian Kelly believes Book was unfixable, which I don't think is the case. B) Phil was executing at a much higher level in practice, which was not the case in August.

JL from Saratoga Springs

2:19

Good morning, if Ian Book continues to struggle within the pocket, recognizing downfield opportunities and completing them do you see a scenerio where Brian Kelly goes with Phil Jurkovec.

Eric Hansen

2:17

Thanks, Bill. Book's future has nothing to do with Clausen or Kizer. Each QB is different. Each set of circumstances are different. Right now, there's no advantage for him to come out early. Jafar Armstrong is projected to be back for USC and Michigan. Will know more Sunday. Bob Davie is the most recent ND coach to beat USC three times in a row (1999-2000-2001).

Bill 1000 Oaks Ca

2:13

Bill 1000 Oaks CA Based on the Careers of Clausen& Kizer do you think Book should leave after this year? Appears to be lots of room for growth.Without Jafar do you think we are too limited going against USC & Michigan? How long since an ND coach has beaten USC three years in a row? GR8 chats your ability to analyze & stratize makes you standout from the rest of the wannabes.Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

2:12

GB, good question with a lot of layers. I'm going to answer this as succinctly as possible. The class won't be rated as high because of quantity, not quality. It's going to be a smaller class, because ND does not have the scholarship numbers. Other than CB and S (and skipping linebackers), ND really did well in terms of getting their top targets. ... To compete for national titles, you've got to have depth and elite talent/development on your offensive and defensive lines. Check those boxes. ND needs elite QB play. We'll see if that's true. ND needed more elite speed at WR and RB. Check and check. Now they need to follow that up in the 2021 with more of the same.

GB from Wasilla. Alaska

2:08

Eric, I enjoyed the podcast with Andy Staples. ND had a great year last year. However, the 2020 recruiting class appears that it will be around #10 or here Kelly's recruiting classes usually end up. The last time the Irish went undefeated during the regular season in 2012, the class was top in the nation or close to it depending on the service and her factors. The ranking is not the only measure of a recruiting class but it is the best objective one available. It does not seem to me that they will be knocking on the NC door without a step into at least the top five in recruiting. Why isn't ND getting a boost from winning more these past 3 years and especially last year? What are they doing about it? What do you think they need to do to be in the elite recruiting with Alabama and Clemson, etc.?

Eric Hansen

2:08

That's the plan.

Len from the Jersey Shore

2:08

Can Notre Dame get all aspects on offense, defense and special teams working at the same time?

Eric Hansen

2:07

They are still promoting the sell-out streak and perhaps fostering it as well.

Patrick from Indy

2:03

Has Notre Dame stopped with the "consecutive sellout streak" yet? (With due respect to ND, in 2009 there were games with thousands of empty seats.) Seems like we are facing a glut of tickets at some games. I'd like to see the "market" rear its head and start forcing some even cheaper prices (beyond just the tiered pricing we have now).

Eric Hansen

2:03

I think he wants to keep his options open. I think he's be amazing int he NFL.

Coach from Reading, PA.

2:02

Eric. Will Cole Kmet play in the NFL or MLB?

Eric Hansen

2:02

I think it's a fair expectation, and I think Jafar Armstrong's return will make it easier for them to do so and easier for Chip Long to commit to that.

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