JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 17, 2025

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 17, 2025

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Eric Hansen

1:41

That happened in 2014 when Brian VanGorder and that Irish defense got off to a strong start. The North Carolina spread them out and played tempo and rut-roh. Every team that followed did guess what? Spread ND out and played tempo, even if that wasn't that team's typical mode of doing things.

1:40

Hi Denis. If ND stays healthy and improves, there's a good chance they could win both of those games. They weren't that far removed from winning both of them where they were placed. So if I understand your question, you're not asking me why those were the first two games scheduled, it's more of a what if that didn't have to happen? Let me throw one more log on the fire. The upside of ND playing those first two games where they are is it presented the Irish an early-season opportunity to find out what it's weaknesses were and fix them. The down side is now everyone knows the weaknesses, And if ND doesn't fix those on the defensive side quickly, there's a template on how to attack the Irish defense that most teams can use. (more)

Denis from Niagara Falls, Canada

1:35

Hi Eric. Scheduling matters. I know a lot goes into Notre Dame's schedule and it has obligations, etc. But if it could have scheduled its first two games at the end of the season, do the Irish win none, one or both games. I would like to believe the Irish win both games. Talk about crying over spilt milk. What say you? Thanks very much again. Take care.

Eric Hansen

1:35

Hi David, thank you! I am surprised. I didn't believe the smoke that the only changes were going to be extra subtle. Even when DCs sincerely go into the process thinking that, it rarely turns out that way. The thing about throwing out the changes — maybe there's a happier medium there. What I need to see this week it incremental improvement throughout the defense. Purdue is not the Purdue of last year, but they're not Arkansas either. I'll take a significant step in the right direction ahead of that game.

David - NY

1:20

Hi Eric! Thanks as always for the chats. Are you surprised at to how different the ND defense looks from last year? The scheme difference is much less of a shock to me than is the tentative approach and lack of leadership. Though I’m sure they are related. If you are Coach Freeman, are you already throwing the attempted changes in the trash? And if not, how much longer are you giving it and what do you need to see this week. It feels like the desire to revert back given the results would be a strong impulse.

Eric Hansen

1:19

Now, if you're an opposing defensive coordinator, who are you going to try to take away? Likely Love, but you could also try to attack Carr so that ND is constantly in third-and-longs and thus it mitigates the ways you can use Love. But to force his touches when the defense is giving you mismatches elsewhere is silly. Yes prioritize a game plan featuring him. But if Purdue is giving you single coverage on Malachi Fields with a 5-8 freshman cornerback hypothetically, I'm chucking the ball to him.

1:16

There have been teams in the BVG Era where you had to take chances on offense, because you might not ever see the ball again without the other team scoring. The latter BK teams and the Freeman teams through 2024 have been pretty good at expressing the concept of complementary football. Now let's go to your "touches" question. And let's use the 2025 Irish instead of doing this in general terms. Jeremiyah Love is so dynamic that you want him in a lot of pages in your playbook .. on runs, on receptions, as a decoy, not sold on the direct snap, but that too. (more)

1:12

Hi Shane. Thanks for the hype. Let's tart with your last question first. Do coaches like long, methodical drives? It depends on how you team is constructed and also game situation. If you're milking a double-digit lead in the second half and you're facing a team with a dynamic/quick-strike capability, you want to sit on the ball and take as much time as you can to limit their opportunities. In general, without getting game-specific, you want to play complementary football. For instance, the 2012 defense was so good that Brian Kelly didn't feel like he needed to take chances on offense, because he figured he could punt and the d was going to get him the bal back quickly. (more)

Shane , White Deer Tx

1:08

Hey Eric, I see a lot of posts that talk about certain players needing to get more offensive touches. There are only so many plays available. If it were up to you, which players should be getting the majority of touches? Also , if you score quickly, it reduces the play count. Do coaches like long methodical drives? Thanks for chats. You’re the best. Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

1:06

Him Tom. We have not followed up on it, but that's pretty standard. And it's also pretty standard it will not change a thing.

Tom Rosenberger

1:06

Has ND protested the SEC officials "no call" holding/takedown on the 4th and 11 play that resulted in a TD?

Eric Hansen

1:05

Manny!!!! Way to bring the punctuation even after an 0-2 start. To your question, great head coaches go where they're needed, and so yes Marcus Freeman SHOULD take a more active role in the defense, and I believe he will. I also think he's not going to make the details public. That's not who Marcus Freeman is.

Manny from san pedro

1:00

Eric!!! Not quite the start anyone of us imagined. My question is about Mr Ash. We scored 40 and lost. That’s Van Gorder non sense. Will Marcus be taking a stronger role in the defense and is there a possibility of shuffling roles in season?

Eric Hansen

12:59

My thought process is more on how to fix things at this juncture than what went wrong, because this is still not yet a lost season. But I do think there's some value in me and the coaches digging into the question at some point.

12:58

You know Jim, I hadn't processed it like that. And my best answer without doing some digging is maybe a little. Here's what I do know: There is a flaw in the preseason structure that masked too many of the problems before the team had them exposed in games. I think that's baked in to some degree, but to the magnitude it happened and in so many places leads me to believe that will be a huge offseason priority when Marcus Freeman goes through his "question everything" process in search of improvement. (more)

Jim from Shelburne, Vermont

12:55

Hi Eric , always enjoy your written work and your Podcasts a great deal. Did you think the length of the quarterback competition hid the deficiencies in the defense and contributed to what we’re seeing now as far as issues with player understanding?

Eric Hansen

12:54

Thanks Tom, much appreciate the nice comments. My colleague, Jack Soble, and I are doing a point/counterpoint for the Blue & Gold print product on "What is Notre Dame's biggest issue on defense?" Even though, ND has fallen from No. 1 to 103 among the 134 charted FBS schools in pass-efficiency defense, ND's No. 131 defense in sacks per game is greatly affecting that fall. Even elite DBs can only cover for so long if the quarterback has enough time to make a sandwich and throw for a first down. The 2012 team was VERY inexperienced in the back end and yet their front seven was able to mitigate and camouflage it under the title game. But I also think there's been regression with some of the DBs, and I think maybe that comes from lack of confidence in the system. Mickens' track record is too long and too good to think he's lost a step.

Tom F, Kennesaw, GA

12:47

Eric, man you have some very knowledgeable Chatters. The first group of questions today were to the point and hit a lot of issues. I don't think we would be able to ask some of the questions we do without your insight into the program and helping us understand what is going on behind the scenes. One question about player familiarity and the disorganization among the DB's: Mickens is still their coach and a very good one. Are things so different between what Ash is asking the players to do that even Mickens is having trouble getting everyone on the same page. Let's concentrate on Purdue and get a win!!! Go Irish!!!!

Eric Hansen

12:47

Joe, thank you. And those are two players most of us expected early and instant impact from. The weird thing about Young is when you look at the film grades from Pro Football Focus — not the end-all, be-all, but an interesting and useful tool — Young is ND's third-highest-rated defensive player to date and No. 1 in terms of pass rush. Which doesn't sync up with the eye test. Sneed had a interesting and productive, multi-faceted role under Golden that seems muted under Ash. His PFF grades aren't bad, but they're not what you'd expect from a guy with his kind of athletic ability. KVA is the only linebacker who so far is really thriving in this scheme.

Joe Howard Williams Bay Wi

12:39

Hi Eric Thanks for providing some clarity during these difficult first two weeks My question concerns the play of two players who I thought would be having break out seasons and instead have been almost invisible so far Brice Young and Jaylon Sneed I know that Brice added quite a bit of weight since last season and I’m wondering whether that has effected his performance And has Sneed even been utilized as a pass rusher or blitzer which I felt he would excel at. Thanks

Eric Hansen

12:39

Don, I am flattered that you would put me in the category of being hard to cover. At my age. Wait'll I tell my grandkids. The thing is even though Ash was not familiar, he is surrounded by staff members who are familiar. That should have been a tremendous advantage. He also had about a month longer runway that Al Golden did (and Al admitted year 1 transition back from the NFL was difficult). He also was not burdened with a lot of travel for recruiting. So this seemed to line up well. I think the good news is there is talent and depth on this defense. And the offense is only going to get better. But this is a week Marcus Freeman needs to impact the defense, because Arkansas is after Purdue and their QB is 6-6, 235 and leads the nation in total offense.

Guest

12:34

Don from Cincinnati : Eric thanks for the chats. As always you do a great job. What are your thoughts on Ash over Mickens as DC. It seems there is a lack of familiarity with personnel and their strengths and weaknesses. I feel continuity would have been a better move , unless you could have gotten a stud DC(eg Knowles) which Ash is not. Lbs aren’t filling holes , DBs look confused. Given the soft coverage, they would have trouble covering you or me. Would appreciate your comments.

Eric Hansen

12:34

Hi Jack. Really sorry for you loss and happy for you that you got to have a great mom for so many years. My mom is in the same age group, and she has become a Notre Dame fan. Her motive, though, is she thinks if the Irish win, people will be nicer to me. I think someone with no dog in the fight would say Clemson, given that Cade Klubnik was the most popular choice for preseason All-America QB and all that D-line talent they have and I think people with no dog in the right see a clearer path for redemption for ND than they do for the Tigers.

Jack, Strongsville, Oh

12:30

Hi Eric. It was a terrible loss on Saturday night. But to put it in perspective, my mom who was 94 years old and a Notre Dame fan for 76 years passed away early on Saturday morning. It was a long day. Thanks for allowing me a personal moment. Now. Which team has had the most disappointing /surprising start? Clemson or Notre Dame. Thanks as always for your great work.

Eric Hansen

12:30

Rick, your point is a good one, and yet that is the nature of college football. Players cycle in and cycle out. And you rely on the program's culture and the legacy those players left in terms of their leadership and work ethic to catalyze the next group to meet that standard. The problem is there are players on the defense who were very good in 2024 and who did return and are not playing at that level. Which begs the question. Even if you lost all four BUT returned Al Golden as DC, what would ND's record be heading into the Purdue game?

Rick from Ohio

12:27

Do you think the losses of Watts, Kiser, Mills, and Cross are major factors in the play of this year’s defense? Not only were they great players but also great leaders.

Eric Hansen

12:27

The coach with the best four-game start? Brian VanGorder, who is Coach C. A is Bob Diaco in 2010, B is Marcus Freeman in 2021 and D is Al Golden in 2022. ... I do think an in-season firing would lead to more problems. You'd be one coach down in everything you do. I think the right answer is Marcus Freeman being more involved. Great coaches are great fixers. And as far as whether Ash should return for a second year, let's see how year 1 plays out in full. If games 3-12 are as unpromising as games 1 and 2, I don't think one year is unfair when it comes to making a change. I think there was sentiment among many in the fan base and in the media that holding onto Gerad Parker as OC after one year would have been a mistake. He found a head coaching job, so Marcus Freeman wasn't faced with that decision.

12:22

The first four games of Coach A, the Irish gave up 12 points, then 28, 34 and 37.
Coach B: 38-29-13-13
Coach C: 17-0-14-16
Coach D: 21-26-17-32

12:18

John!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your strong punctuation game helped you into the leadoff spot. And it's a question worth addressing. Based on your follow-up question, I'm assuming you believe an in-season purge isn't in the cards. And I agree, nor should it be. For any assistant short of off-field misconduct or something in that lane. Let me start with, I am not impressed with Chris Ash either two games in. But are early impressions always indicative of what's to come? Let's play that game: (more)

John from Scottsdale

12:11

Eric!!!!!!! Based on the defenses downward trajectory between games 1 and 2 only one question today. When does Ash get fired? If you think he keeps his job and is DC for game 1 next year, please explain your logic. Thanks for your insight and keep up the great insightful articles.

Eric Hansen

OK let's get started!

12:10

Here are the rules, except the "no drinking" restriction, which continues to be rescinded.

12:09

12:07

PLEASE no manifestos. Save those for your uncle's Facebook page. I'll put up with some frustrations and a little whining, but let's try to have a productive chat that's fun and informative.

12:06

PLEASE include your name and hometown along with your question(s). I don't need your 40 time unless you can rush the passer and have college eligibility still remaining.

12:05

As far as this week's chat ...

► Finally at WSBT Sports Radio 960, I’m part of the Notre Dame Football pregame shows with Tim Grauel, Jim Irizarry and Blue & Gold teammate Tyler Horka. The new expanded show kicks off with 3 ½ hours of news, analysis and special guests live from the iconic Linebacker Lounge in South Bend on Saturday ahead of the Purdue game. We’ll start our coverage at 11 a.m. ET. You can listen locally at WSBT-AM 960, Sunny 101.5 FM and 106.1 FM in Southwest Michigan. And it will be live streaming on wsbtradio.com.

12:04

► The Inside ND Sports Podcast has been rebranded as the Third & Gold Podcast. Going forward the pod will be available on all the podcast places you found us before as well as our YouTube Channel. On our most recent episode we caught up with former Irish linebacker and current college football analyst Rocky Boiman, who broke down the problems and potential fixes for the Notre Dame defense. This week’s podcast drops Thursday with special guest and former ND wide receiver Bobby Brown.

► If you missed the last episode of our aspiring-to-be-viral Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps, what are you doing with your life? Seriously, the show keeps its shelf life long after the live presentation, so you can catch up now or later on our YouTube channel. We’ll be back next week and every week, Monday at 7 p.m. ET, for another presentation of Football Never Sleeps with Tyler James co-hosting with me. We’ll also have our Postgame Takeaways show for you to have with your Sunday morning coffee. And check out some great shows on the Blue & Gold YouTube channel as well.

12:03

► On July 1, Tyler James and I made the move to the On3 network and blueandgold.com and joined some amazing teammates. It’s proven to be a great move for us and, I believe, for our subscribers as well. And we’ve got a special limited-time offer for new subscribers. Sign up for blueandgold.com now for a year and get it for $1 a week. That’s $52 for an entire year of our Notre Dame sports coverage, plus all the value you get from a national team of writers and content creators, as well as access to every team site in the On3 network.

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