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

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Oct. 3, 2019

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Matt from St. Louis MO

1:11

It’s about time to work in a short pass to Kyren to see what damage he can do, right? The drop against Louisville was a LONG time ago and if he’s working hard in practice let’s give him another at-bat.

Eric Hansen

1:10

I think both Phil Jurkovec and Brendon Clark see action at QB in relief of Book. I'd put it at better than 50 percent he returns to ND in 2020, but that's on Oct. 3. Things can change. In August, I would have given it about a 15 percent chance he'd come back, maybe lower.

Brian from Detroit

1:09

Will Phil Jurkovec play Saturday ? Do you think Book will return for a fifth year. I'm hoping that he does not!

Eric Hansen

1:08

Kevin, please include your hometown next time. Recruiting has to pick up at cornerback and safety. Cornerback is the most immediate concern, safety more in 2021.

Kevin Sorge

1:06

Looking at 2020-2021 what position group would be of most concern and are we moving in the right direction in the recruiting process?

Eric Hansen

1:05

I picked ND to win 62-3.

Mark, Orange County CA

1:04

Thank you for doing these chats. Your insights are appreciated. No talk of ND playing down to their opponent this coming Saturday. That is a positive for the program compared to previous years. How do you see this game playing out?

Eric Hansen

1:04

Sean Stires asked me that same question on SportsBeat last night, and I think it's evolving. Part of that is because you're getting key pieces back -- first Cole Kmet, then Michael Young and next Jafar Armstrong. Those are three dynamic playmakers. Once they settle in, I think it'll be a more balanced offense, though not perfectly balanced and one that can be pretty dynamic in terms of different personnel groups and formations.

Joe from Georgia

1:02

What is the identity of the ND offense?

Eric Hansen

1:02

I think you have a point. Even if you take out the Kelly Era-high 12 penalties against Georgia, many of which were related to the crowd noise, ND is on the high side this season of what is typical for a Kelly team. With Georgia added in, they're 111th in fewest penalties (out of 130) and 73rd in fewest penalty yards. I don't think I can give you a blanket answer that addresses both the false starts and the intentional grounding penalties. Two, very different issues. I'll address the latter. Book has been inconsistent in dealing with pressure. Georgia pretty good. Virginia not good. Now keep in mind, those are the two best defenses he'll see this regular season, but there should have been a progression from Georgia week to Virginia week, and there was not. He must improve in that area. Must. And he should get the chance to do so.

Bill

12:54

Worthington, OH....I love the Irish and will always be a fan but the thing that I find most disturbing about this years team is what appears to be a lack of discipline. Far too many false starts by an experienced offensive line, Ian Book gets called for two intentional groundings against Va. or is bailing out of the pocket and usually to his right way too early, wasting time outs because of player mis-alignments, and blatant pass interference penalties on third down. If you agree what are your thoughts as to why and if not what do you see that the rest of us don't?

Eric Hansen

12:53

To make the math work of having 7 homes games and 5 on the road (or in some years, 6 home, 1 Shamrock Series and 5 on the road), you've got to schedule a couple of teams that will come to your place without a return game at theirs. And Bowling Green typically is much better than this -- under Dino Babers, under Dave Clawson, under Urban Meyer to name a few.

Mike, King of Prussia, PA

12:51

Quick question, Bowling Green, Really , why?

Eric Hansen

12:51

Paul. Never? Really? How does Notre Dame not have zero interceptions and pass breakups if that's the case?

Paul Latino

12:50

Why do ND’s defensive backs never turn and look for the ball as it approaches the receiver

Eric Hansen

12:50

I hope it doesn't seem like I'm biting on you, but I don't understand the dynamic of that question. Why not just ask why it's a problem, if you indeed still think it is.

12:49

I am going to answer your question. Needed to look it up first. ND converted its first four third-down plays of five yards or fewer against Virginia, then whiffed on a 3rd-and-3 (Book no gain) and got four yards on a pass to Finke on 3rd-and-5. I think that represents improvement from the first two games of the year, dramatic improvement. I'm always fascinated by these questions. It has been asked. Maybe you don't follow every BK media availability. And even if it wasn't asked enough to your satisfaction, does repeatedly asking about it make the problem go away?

12:42

My question to you, do you live on Cape Cod, live on a different cape, wear a cape, or all the above?

CapeIrish

12:41

Why are the short yardage problems the Irish have had for years in the Kelly offense not a topic of conversation at press conferences? Aren't some changes in order there?

Eric Hansen

12:39

Hi Denis. Mike Elko has experience and is the more flashy recruiter. Philosophically, they're so similar and remain in touch and are resources for each other. I think I'd pick Clark, because I think I can count on him to stay a while and because I think he's getting better every day. ... Why Kyren isn't getting more opportunities in the running game, I think, is because it's extremely competitive and I think Kyren helps you more in the passing game at this stage of his career than he does as someone who can run between the tackles.

denis

12:36

denis from Niagara falls, Ontario: hi eric, you have just started up the Hansen culinary institute. for your new football team, you have 2 choices as your dc. are you going to take mike elko or clark lea? also, whatever happened to kyren at running back? is he in the doghouse? thanks and good luck with the new team at the institute.

Eric Hansen

12:36

Andy, I forgot about your question about Kyren ... He's actually played in four games, either as a RB, kickoff return guy or both. So if he plays Saturday, which I expect him to, that'll be the end of the redshirt possibility with him.

12:33

Rick, not sure what position you played, whether surgery was involved, the extent to which you dislocated it, so we're probably not looking at an apples-to-apples comparison. The ambitious side of the prognosis would get him back from Michigan. Given that he decommitted from that program to come to ND, I think if he's cleared, you won't be able to keep him off the field.

Rick from the OC

12:31

I dislocated my left elbow playing back in the day and the pain we incredible, but I only missed one game. I did not have full range of motion but missing 3-4 weeks seems like a long recovery period for Shaun. Do you see him back for Michigan? I love his grit and determination he's a baller!

Eric Hansen

12:31

Andy, I think San Antonio should adopt the Taco Bar every day as its official tourism slogan (Beats the heck out of Pure Michigan). ... to your question, it certainly wasn't the case in the opener with Louisville, but I think ND has improved in that area with each game since. It's hard to say they're better than last year, because ND lost four incredibly gifted tacklers in Love, Tillery, Tranquill and Coney. Better to say they're moving toward that high standard set by that group.

Andy from San Antonio, TX

12:28

Happy Thursday Eric, and greetings from South Texas where it's Taco Bar everyday!! I was looking at some stats through game 4, and JOK is the leading tackler with 20 (ua & a). It seems statistically and from my armchair on Saturday's the Irish are a better tackling team vs. 2018. Is there a way to make a comparison to last year to confirm my assumption? On the offensive side, it looks like Kyren Williams did not play the last 2 games. Do you think he will redshirt this year? Thank you for the great reporting!

Eric Hansen

12:27

Other than Daelin Hayes, I don't think there's anyone on that track intentionally that would redshirt. A quick scan of the roster and the only one we've discussed previously as a possibility is CB Donte Vaughn. But he's played in the past three games and with Crawford out 3-4 weeks, I can't see that as an option -- if it ever was.

Michael from Chicago

12:22

Are there any other non-first year players that are being considered for the 4 game redshirt option?

Eric Hansen

12:22

Jurkovec redshirted in 2018, so he has eligibility through 2022. If Brendon Clark redshirts this year, he'll have eligibility through 2023. The dynamic to watch then would be: Does Jurkovec get itchy if he doesn't have a chance to compete with Book and Clark for the starting spot next season. Again, this is all steeped in the hypothetical and may never happen.

12:15

Ha. Love your take on the ledge, but you shouldn't have been out there in the first place. Really interesting question. Keep it mind, it's not a slam dunk Book comes back to college, or necessarily ND. But a third of the way into the season, this is the advice he would get from NFL types. That can change over the course of 8 or 9 games, but I don't think it will change dramatically.

At the end of the year, he'll have three options. Head to the NFL with his degree in hand. Come back to ND to be a fifth-year starter or grad transfer a la Golson, Zaire, Wimbush, Crist, Hendrix.

So let's look at your scenario specifically ... Book coming back to Notre Dame. I don't think having four QBs is a bad thing. It allows Pyne to be the scout team guy and allows the two other to compete to be the backup in 2020 and the starter in 2021.

Jeff from Phoenix

12:08

Hi Eric. Good win for ND over UVA, and I talked myself off the ledge- turns out the ledge is overrated as wifi is limited and no access to beer. But I digress. First, just a comment, I wish D Hayes a full recovery and professional success comparable to D Tranquill and Jaylon Smith, he can do it. Second, a question, if Book stays for 2020, ND will have 4 QBs with Pyne coming in next year, and that seems like too many, what do you see as a resolution?

Eric Hansen

12:07

So far, so good. That is the trajectory at the moment. I'll check on that again on Sunday when the media meets with Brian Kelly for the first look at USC.

Frank from Canton

12:06

How is j. Armstrong doing? Will he play against USC?

Eric Hansen

12:06

Let's get to it.

Here are the rules.