JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 15, 2021

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 15, 2021

Eric Hansen

3:25

That's going to do it for today. Thanks for all the great questions. Hopefully, I can get to a larger percentage of them next week. We'll be back to do it all over again next Wednesday at noon EDT.

3:24

Hi Marie. Brian Kelly seems to think simplifying for now will help the defense become more consistent. I agree with that. I also think getting Jordan Botelho helps. I don't think the WR transfer thing is a big deal. They had a handful in the offseason and landed C.J. Williams, Tobias Merriweather and Amorion Walker and are in on some really good 2023 kids. If they're transferring because of a toxic culture, that's one thing. If they're transferring because they want to play more, I think recruits get that. ... I don't think some empty seats during COVID is going to turn off a recruit. A bunch of people doing the golf clap might.

Marie from Atlantalanta

3:19

Hi Eric, I hope your having a great week. I know growing pains should be expected on defense with the implementation of a new scheme, but given the number of big plays given up in only two games, do you think Freeman should consider simplifying the scheme. I don't think the big plays were bad calls but more often then not errors in execution. Maybe uncomplicate it a bit until the D gets the hang of it better? Do you think the loss of another wide receiver (keys) will effect recruiting? I know maybe none of these guys were good enough to get a lot of playing time, but from an outsider's perception it is not a good look. Also do you think poor crowds at the game effect recruiting? A visiting recruit this weekend might find it a little less exciting than the full and rocking stadiums of the SEC. Thanks for all your great work!

Eric Hansen

3:17

Tom, I'm into overtime here, so let me go through these quickly. I still haven't had a chance to follow up on the FSU call and not sure when I can get to it. ... The players love the defense, but that doesn't mean they're familiar with all the nuances. If we're having this conversation in November, then something's wrong. I don't think you can run two tight ends all the time, without tipping your play calls, but you can rotate that on one down, chip with a back on another, block with Avery Davis on another. Buchner played roughly 25 percent of the snaps. His percentage will go up or down depending on what Purdue is doing defensively.

Tom Kennesaw, GA

3:13

Hi Eric, lots of questions after two subpar performances but I will keep it to a minimum. Did you ever get an answer to why intentional grounding was not called at FSU? Kelly said on Monday that they had to simplify things on both sides of the ball. I thought that was the narrative all spring and fall that Freeman's defense allowed the players to play more free?? What is the reality on the D side? It seems obvious that we need to keep a second TE to help with blocking especially on pass plays. Both Austin and Mayer and even Wilkins have shown that they can win 50-50 balls. Do you think that we will see more two TE sets? I don't know what percentage of plays Buchner ran last week but let's say it was 10%. Do you see him running more plays this week? Thanks. Go Irish!!!

Eric Hansen

3:12

There's a reason cliches are called cliches. ... I think there are instances where it's true about a QB situation and others where it's outright wrong. I've got a story up online about how Jack Coan feels about it, and he said it was easy for him to do.

Jacob, Hobart, IN

3:10

The old cliché is that if you have 2 quarterbacks, you actually have none. I know Coan and Buchner have different strengths and both contributed last week. But do you think changing quarterbacks is an advantage or causing neither to find a rhythm?

Eric Hansen

2:55

Wide receiver David Bell is a handful. They're not going to be able to man up on him, not repeatedly.

Charles, Chicago, IL

2:54

Which Purdue player are you most concerned with and how will ND have to stop them?

Eric Hansen

2:54

If I'm Brian Kelly. I'd like the lead and take my chances with my defense.

Larry, Goshen

2:53

There's 2 minutes left in the game this week. Would you rather have ND's defense on the field up by 4 or the offense on the field down by 4?

Eric Hansen

2:53

I think what's most important for Notre Dame is to consistently improve each week. If the Irish do that, they will have a chance to win games against the better opponents. A 12-0 Irish team would make the playoff. But they have to become that team. They're not close at this point.

Jay, Elkhart

2:51

I know it's early, but it looks like most of ND's opponents are struggling and ND hasn't looked impressive so far. Does ND need a signature win or is avoiding a loss good enough for the playoff committee? Is there any scenario where an undefeated Irish team gets left out of the playoff?

Eric Hansen

2:51

Is this a trick question?

Jeremy LaPorte, Indiana

2:51

Which player or position group needs to step up the most and what do they have to do to improve?

Eric Hansen

2:50

As long as you don't utter the words, "Pull my finger," because I know what comes next. I am impressed it was that easy actually. When I was in college, I dislocated my thumb playing hoops and they had to break it to put it back. Had to wear a splint for a few weeks. Jack Coan is good to go. Said he's feeling great.

Sean, Greensboro

2:45

Eric, I popped my finger out, can you help?

Eric Hansen

2:45

I think Rees and Buchner did a tremendous job of getting Buchner ready. For a kid who played one year of high school football, his growth curve is impressive.

Al from Philly

2:44

I've only seen Buchner play twice, in the spring game and against Toledo. Each time he moved the team better than the other QBs. Should Rees have done more to get him ready to run the ND offense?

Eric Hansen

2:41

Hi Bill. My thoughts are exactly what I thought after the Blue-Gold Game, that a niche role for Buchner — if he could improve over the summer — made sense. He did, and it's here. The O-line's evolution (or lack of it) will play a role in which QB makes sense more of the time.

Bill from Toronto

2:39

Eric - I loved Ian Book, and I really like Jack Coan, but I'm concerned about him behind this line. I think Coan could have been a huge difference maker last year, but I can't see not playing Buchner more. What are your thoughts on the QB situation?

Eric Hansen

2:38

Thanks Joe. It is safe to assume, and Kollie's has been reported as COVID. C'Bo's has only been speculation.

Joe from Valparaiso, IN

2:37

Hello Eric, love your measured, balanced, insightful writing. Perhaps this is a naïve question but is it safe to surmise the "unavailability" of Flemister and Kollie are either Covid or discipline issues?

Eric Hansen

2:37

All of the above. There needs to be tangible progress this week. And it'll be interesting to see how the Buchner niche role plays into that.

Mike from Rochester

2:36

Hi, Eric, hope you and your family are all well. I remember how many people really questioned why Jonathon Doerr was coming back for another year. I for one am really happy he did, he’s been the Jonathon Doerr of old. My question: is the O line’s problem still a chemistry problem? Or the churn at LT? Or something else?

Eric Hansen

2:35

Mark, I was more impressed with Purdue's season-opening win over Oregon State than I was their shutout of the 130th-rated team in the 130-team FBS per The Athletic (UConn). I think the home win streak lives on.

Mark from Orange County, CA

2:32

Hi Eric, Thank you for hosting these chats. Purdue was able to shut out their last opponent and put up 49 points in the process. Is this the week ND's home winning streak comes to an end? Your thoughts

Eric Hansen

2:31

Denny, that Florida State lost to Jacksonville State the next week is probably the hardest thing for ND fans to process. All four of Kelly's best teams (2012, 2015, 2018, 2020) had an early hiccup or two. I do think it's an overreaction. I do think the Purdue game, how ever it turns out, will be more telling about the season ahead.

Denny from Liberty Hill, TX

2:24

Hi Eric! I seem to remember that Marcus Freeman had a average at best first year with his defense. So maybe we are overreacting wanting the full success immediately. I am hoping this team can be patient and keep focused. Do you agree that us fans might be way overreacting and should actually expect reasonable improvement? I still think every game is winnable. Probably will rely on the offense more than usual.

Eric Hansen

2:22

Tim, I think offensive lines with big personnel turnover are at a bigger disadvantage then usual this year. because of COVID in 2020. What time you did have together (and there was no spring and very limited summer) had to be used primarily to get the 2020 team ready to play, not to develop the younger players. Jarrett Patterson's injury didn't help, as he was unable to participate in spring. He makes a big difference, his presence, and he'll continue to have that effect. Now Tim, I think the world of Chris Watt, but if he was more responsible for last year's line success than Jeff Quinn, then Tulane was not a big enough step up for him. Come on.

Tim - Pleasant Prairie WI

2:19

Eric, saw your reply to Peter in Provo....I would then ask: Did he truly "hone" last year's line, or was that more of Watt's doing? And if he was there "honing" that line, weren't some of the current line also there last year - even if not starters - to be coached up and more ready to go this year than they appear to be?

Eric Hansen

2:18

Billy, it seems pretty prevalent throughout college football that stadiums were less than capacity. I think there's definitely some COVID hesitancy, and I've heard from those folks. I have a request in to talk with Irish athletic director Jack Swarbrick, so I can get a little deeper with my answers after I speak with him. ... For now, I have not heard one positive comment about Peacock.

Billy from Oakland

2:15

Eric, do you think the ND Administration was surprised by the sparse crowd at the Toledo game? I have read snippets on the internet that some of ND's most loyal and oldest supporters are bumfoozled by electronic ticketing and are walking away from ND. Also, from the internet I'm reading that the Peacock laid an egg. What will its future be in ND football? Lots of bad vibes surfacing from ND admin's latest decisions. What's your take?

Eric Hansen

2:14

I like your theory about the Super Seniors and parity. Toledo, for instance, had 22 players who were fifth, sixth and seventh-year seniors. Notre Dame has nine, and only two who used the COVID exemption for a fifth year. Toledo had 22 starters returning, and the Irish had nine. Now, I think that will result in more upsets and maybe some new teams from Nos. 5-25, but as far as 1-4, it still could end up Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Oklahoma in some order.

Brian from Mishawaka

2:10

Hi Eric. Outside of Alabama dominating everyone they've played, I feel like there's a lot more parity in college football this year (granted it's a bit early to tell probably). My theory is that teams with NFL caliber players lost talent to the draft, but most other teams were largely able to keep their rosters intact due to the extra year of eligibility granted to everyone due to COVID. Would you agree with that observation, and do you think that trend will continue throughout the season? Will we finally see some new teams in the college football playoff?

Eric Hansen

2:10

I think those plays generally gain approval when they work and look stupid when they don't. I didn't have a problem with it. Notre Dame should have been able to get a yard in that situation, and the defense was able to hold Toledo to a field goal. Last year, the Irish were 63% on fourth down conversions. That's what they need to be this year. So far, 1-of-3.

Guest

2:02

Bert from Windermere: Eric thank you for your chats and for the answer to my question last week. I had never heard That comment from Brian. I has really helped me. My question is what was your reaction to the decision to go for it on fourth and one near mid field. My reaction was that It was too risky in a close game in which the line was not helping the running game. I thought it was going back to the early Kelly years.

Eric Hansen

2:01

Hi Jeff. Kollie reportedly had COVID and is easing his way back into practice/conditioning. He won't be available this Saturday. I'm convinced Rocco Spindler will be a star. I'm also convinced it likely won't be in 2021. if he

Jeff from Phoenix

1:59

Hey Eric, I listened to Kelly's presser on monday and he said they need to work in more fresh players, so to rotate more. Two of the areas that are depleted due to injuries are Oline and linebacker/rover. Is there some reason why Kollie and Spindler are not seeing action as they generally fit those areas (I realize tackle and guard are not fully interchangeable)? Both are at the top of the freshman talent and would seem to plug in fairly easily. Is Kollie fully available as Kelly seemed to hem and haw a little last week when asked if he could fill in. As an aside

Eric Hansen

1:58

He likes to show the opposing offenses different looks, something he had great success with at Cincinnati. And some of those D-linemen are playing linebacker roles situationally.

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