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

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 15, 2021

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Derek from Columbus

1:57

Hi Eric - why does Freeman keep going with 3 down lineman? There is so much more depth and skill on the d-line than at linebacker.

Eric Hansen

1:57

So why the struggles? Reasons, not excuses. The combination of the line's inexperience working TOGETHER and Jack Coan's less-than-average escapability quotient are not an ideal combination. And Coan isn't as proficient as Ian Book was (yet) at getting the line into the right protections and recognizing blitzes. Tyler James is working on an offensive line analysis deep dive that posts Thursday morning. I'd advise reading that. This is a fixable problem. it's not a microwavable problem. We may see some personnel rotations and maybe even a change at some point. The numbers are ugly, I know. I understand the frustration. OK, as you were.

1:51

Now to current line coach Jeff Quinn. When we had Rocco Spindler on our podcast, he said Quinn was the main reason he picked Notre Dame and was sold on how the O-Line coach would develop him. If you're going to blame Quinn for the rough showing to start the season, then he equally deserves credit for honing a line that was a Joe Moore Award finalist last year and sent four players to the NFL.

1:48

First, let me give you some context. I've written a lot of Notre Dame offensive line coach hiring stories. One in particular was really weird. This O-line coach had a good rep, but not at the school he was leaving, Tennessee. If you asked the fan base, they were at best indifferent, at worst celebrating his departure. He was there two years and inherited a tough situation. His final season, Tennessee ranked fifth from the bottom in rushing. The next year (2012) Harry Hiestand was at Notre Dame, a team that played for a national title.

1:38

Now to the other stuff.

1:37

Chris Watt is going to be a star in the coaching business. He was ND's grad assistant last year and is his first year as a full-time O-line coach at Tulane. He would have been an asset an ND had he stayed.

1:34

Peter, I'm going to answer your question directly, and then I'm going to ramble a little bit to address some of the other offensive questions and undertones within those questions. Here goes:

Peter in Provo

1:28

Hi Eric,
I'm curious about your thoughts on the loss of Chris Watt off the staff and if it has anything to do with the o-line play so far this year?

Eric Hansen

1:27

Hi Denis. I hope you were able to ready my story late last week about how the Canadians could access the Toledo game. I had been asking about it since Aug. 4 and wasn't given the into until 22 hours before kickoff. Denis, Drew Pyne's opportunity probably doesn't come without an injury to Jack Coan. Pyne is an easy guy to root for, because he's got a great attitude. But he lacks the experience Coan has and the athletic ability that Buchner has. He did have all spring and all training camp to prove his worth. He received way more reps with the 1s than Buchner did, in fact.

Denis from Niagara Falls, On.

1:21

Hi Eric. If Jordan Botelho plays this week, is he mainly a depth piece or does he offer something that the others don't have? Does he have a special niche? Also, if I may, any chance Drew Pyne gets a chance to prove his worth? I know he's undersized but he must know the entire playbook, and I believe he possesses a mix of run and pass that the other two qb's don't possess at this time ( I may be way off on my assessment here). Thanks very much. Much appreciated. And I was peeved off regarding the NBC Peacock thing unavailable to Canadians.

Eric Hansen

1:20

Jake, I would never rule that out, but I don't see that as the plan. As much as I am smitten with Buchner's talent myself, I know he's not in a position AT THIS TIME to slide protections and identify fronts consistently. And if he were the full-time QB at this point in his career, teams would scout him and try to structure their game plans to force Buchner into becoming a dropback passer. I think this arrangement is best as a tag team for now.

Jake from Saratoga

1:17

Hello Eric, do you see a scenario where Brian Kelly goes exclusively to Tyler Buchner because of the struggles with the offensive line and his ability to help the run game. In my opinion he also has arm talent that Jack Coan does not possess. Thanks.

Eric Hansen

1:17

Hi Denny and thank you. ... The way I see the issues on defense is there have been four really bad plays in two games and many more good ones. But there's been some inconsistency too. I don't see the problems as unfixable. I don't see the scheme as flawed. I still see this evolving into a much better version of what we're seeing now.

Denny from Beaverton

1:13

Hi Eric; Glad you are at the controls in what seems a crazy start to the year. I believe I heard Brian Kelly say that we have to simplify our defense going forward this week. I remember the defense was simplified for the remainder of the year after BVG was fired after the Duke game and the results were better. Notre Dame has smart quality players but the results are not good so far. Has M.Freeman put in too much too soon? Thanks for what you do each week.

Eric Hansen

1:12

Jim, thanks. Actually I am in need of a more forgiving deadline for the "instant observations" pieces I do. It's hard to be analytical when you don't know who's going to win. ... Thanks for the heads-up on the Tommy Smith story. I had missed that. As far as Milk and the scholarship thing, it hasn't happened yet, but the numbers and circumstances add up for it to happen eventually.

Jim, Oakwood, OH

1:09

Hi Eric, Are you in need of a pacemaker after watching and reporting on the two ND games? Lord have mercy. I saw a great story in the Washington Post about a former ND walk-on (Tommy Smith, who played safety while enrolled in NROTC) from 13 or so years ago. He now is a Naval officer with a family of 4 attending Vanderbilt's 2 year grad program in management. Smith had some "free time" so he asked Clark Lea if he could walk-on since he had at least 2 years of eligibility. Lea said yes so Smith is a 32 year old TE and Lea says that his presence and leadership in the locker room is fantastic. Sounds like the innovative thinking by Lea that we saw during his 3 years at ND. That got me thinking ... did "Milk" receive a scholarship - especially since he earned one by winning the long-snapper job on merit? I loved Tyler's story about him, his attitude and great work ethic. I don't recall seeing an announcement or a follow-up about Milk's reaction if one was awarded. Be well and take good care of yourself. Jim

Eric Hansen

1:04

Michael, I am tickled you think Brian Kelly would listen to my coaching advice -- or yours. ... As far as the why not more screens? There have been times over the years in which I was thinking the same thing during games, but keep in mind for screens to work, they have to be unexpected to a large extent. You have to get the defensive linemen flowing upfield. If you go to it too much, they're not going to bite and the screens will be ineffective.

Michael from Elkview, West Virginia

1:00

Good afternoon, I am just really puzzled why the offensive coordinator does not call more screen passes. Against Florida State one was called and went for a huge gain. Against Bama last year one went for another big gain. Could you ask coach Kelly if we could get one or two a quarter? What is your take as to why they do not run them more often. Also, how about some tunnel screens to the receivers?

Eric Hansen

12:59

Underwhelming with certainly the potential to improve.

Brendan

12:59

Hi Eric - I forgot one question - how would you grade Cain Madden's performance so far? Thanks - Brendan (Raleigh)

Eric Hansen

12:59

Freshman Logan Diggs was ahead of Estime in August, but missed the opener, presumably with COVID-19. Working his way back from that isn't a necessarily quick process. ... The issue with the offensive line isn't numbers or talent, it's continuity and chemistry. So moving a defensive lineman over to the offense ... in the flow of a season, no less .. would only add to the problems, not solve them. Now you can say, "Well they moved Xavier Watts to defense." That WAS a numbers problem.

12:55

Hi Brendan. I'm doing great, loving that football season is (more) normal. All good questions with logical answers. Freshman RB Audric Estime is playing on special teams. Perhaps he could become a short-yardage back in time. He has the body for it. Right now C'Bo Flemister has the role .. that is when he's available, which he won't be for a third week in a row. So why not Estime pass-blocking over Kyren Williams? Because Kyren Williams is an elite pass blocker. He's also way more advanced at this point at every other aspect of the offense (running and catching). I don't think staying fresh is an issue for Kyren of Chris Tyree (more).

Brendan

12:52

Hi Eric - I hope you are well!! Any idea why ND is sitting on someone like Audric Estime? Can he not yet pass block? I think he is bigger as a freshman than Jerome Bettis was when he arrived. Couldn't he could be laying the lumber on pass rushers and would be tacklers while keeping Williams/Tyree's legs fresh? Logan Diggs seems to be missing too. Maybe they are still getting acclimated to the ND playbook? Lastly, has there been any rumblings about moving one of the members of the deep D-line over to the O-line to help with thin numbers? Thanks - Brendan (Raleigh).

Eric Hansen

12:51

Patrick, we'll find out for sure Thursday, but Kelly seemed confident Monday Botelho would play. Yes, Botelho and Foskey can and will play at the same time, at times. We saw those packages in the August practices. Botelho is one of my purely platonic football crushes. Kevin Austin is the other. I expect both to have significant impact on Notre Dame's bottom line in 2021.

Patrick, Fort Wayne, IN

12:45

Good afternoon Eric, with the ghost of Brian Van Gorder stalking the sideline, I am not going to pile on the defense as I am sure there are many questions n the queue regarding big play short-comings. However, I am interested in Jordan Botelho's return. I think Marcus Freeman should get as many difference makers on the field at one time and wondered if you see a scenario where Botelho and Foskey play at the same time? Also, I think Kevin Austin is key to breaking out the offense. Do you agree?

Eric Hansen

12:45

Chad, thank you. Here are you answers: 1. Definitely not hanging out with Manny. 2. Manny and his exclamation points showed up last week. Always such a positive vibe. He has missed some chats, because he's hanging with his grandkids, he said. 3. I do think that 2015 makes the playoff with Clark Lea/Mike Elko. Two bad halves of defensive football ... the first half at Clemson, the second half at Stanford kept the Irish from an unbeaten regular season. Surely, they would have gotten in over an Oklahoma team that lost to a Texas squad the Irish obliterated in the 2015 opener.

Chad, From Denver

And here they are.....(I hate unintentional sends) What is your best guess as to what Greg from Oakland is doing? My guess is kicking a puppy or taking ice cream from a child. Will we see Manny and his exclamation points again? IF BK gets the right DC hire in 2013 do the Irish make the playoff in 2015? I hope you and the rest of the South Bend Tribune folks are healthy and doing well. Thank you for all of the great work you do day in and day out.

12:36

Eric I have a lot of questions so take your pick or skip them all together.

Eric Hansen

12:36

Before Keys decided to leave the roster (he's not in the portal yet), Notre Dame would have been happy with 3 receivers in the 2022 class, but would have considered four. Now, I think they have to take four, especially if Xavier Watts is going to stick on defense.

cederickwalker

12:35

ced walker saginaw michigan with lawrence keys might transfer do we take another wr in recruiting glad nd vs purdue back on nbc nd 27 purdue 20

Eric Hansen

12:34

To your question, I don't think it'll be 50-50 for the rest of the season, and it wasn't Saturday (62 plays for Coan, 19 for Buchner). I also don't think it'll be scripted. It'll be flow of the game type of thing.

12:32

Tom, let me address your comment first, before your question. There is a price to pay for playing a Sunday night game, which brings your program exposure. You get home at 4:30 a.m. Monday with your players expected to go to class that day. You lose your day off and you have to ratchet down the length of intensity of your practices. Having said that. it's something a program like Notre Dame is expected to overcome. And following Purdue, the Irish will face five straight opponents who have a bye week immediately before playing ND. (and Virginia too in November). In 2019, ND went 7-0 under those scenarios, so it can be done. (more)

Tom from Springfield Illinois

12:20

I was at the game last weekend and my take away was they ( the line) appeared worn out from the beginning. I wonder if the short week of practice and the long game in Florida contributed? My question is do you expect to a 50/ 50 split at Qb as season goes on ? This situation is almost setting up like what Kelly had in Cincinnati with Tony Pike and the other more mobile QB.

Eric Hansen

12:18

Pat, I'm going to strike this question up to being rhetorical. Why wouldn't you put your best options on the field? And as far as "older guys," Notre Dame's offensive tackle stash comprised a grad senior (Josh Lugg), who's playing right tackle, two redshirt freshmen (Carmody and Tosh Baker), both of whom played against Toledo, and two true freshmen (Caleb Johnson and Blake Fisher), the latter of whom is out for eight weeks. The older guys are earning paychecks in the NFL.

Pat from Orlando

12:08

Is Carmody really the best option at LT? He was getting worked over in the FSU game. What about some of the older guys?

Eric Hansen

12:08

I think you certainly blend that in. But if that's all you do, then you're not fully using the talents of your wide receiver corps and tight end Michael Mayer.

Frank from Rockwall Texas

12:05

Do you think ND will throw a lot of quick passes to move the ball because of the weak frontline?

Eric Hansen

12:05

I'm fully caffeinated, and the queue is teeming with questions, so off we go.

12:04

I'll ease off on the unwritten "no whining" rule this week, but please, if you're going to whine, be creative and concise.

12:03

Here are the rules.