JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 20, 2023

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 20, 2023

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Eric Hansen

1:52

Thanks for the feedback Don, and thank you for subscribing. To your first question, experience, leadership and understanding the defense means something. It shows up in their film grades (from Pro Football Focus), especially Kiser. JD's elite play diagnosis skills give him an extra step in speed. But the second part of your question is quite the opposite. Those guys are good and have a chance to be better than the JD/Kiser/Marist group as they gain experience. They are also smart, and they're in general more gifted athletes. Even though all three of the first group you mentioned have sixth-year options, I don't expect most of them back, if any. So your starting 2024 linebacker could very well be Drayk Bowen, Jaylen Sneed and Jaiden Ausberry with some very strong rotational players that would include Nolan Ziegler, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Preston Zinter. (more)

Don in Scottsdale

1:43

Eric, As usual you and the Inside ND team are on the mark. Keep up the great work. 2 questions, JD, Jack and Marist seem like they've been playing a long time and always a lot of snaps per game (I know Kiser is out when a safety or nickel is rover). Is it because they are that good or is it because the guys behind aren't? How long a leash will Spindler have Saturday night and if replaced who will come in?

Eric Hansen

1:42

Wow, what a dream scenario you have, Tom. ...as far as the nightmare part, if ND can't run the ball? I think ND showed in the NC State game it can use the run to open the pass, but also use the pass to open the run -- something ND hasn't been able to do for years. So will it be enough if ND leans more into the pass? It depends what's happening with the Irish defense. I can't answer that question in a vacuum. But Sam Hartman combined with the in-game adjusting OC Gerad Parker has shown in his first four games lends me to believe that at least the Irish have a fighting chance in that scenario.

Tom Kennesaw, GA

1:37

Hi Eric, well this first third of the season has been very encouraging and enjoyable. Now comes the toughest part of the schedule. Depending on HOW we play Saturday the rest of the season should be very exciting. If ND is not able to run the ball as well as they would like, do you think that Sam and the young WR's can be good enough to get us a win??? My dream scenario is a very close game with the Irish converting on a 60 yard FG at the end to win it!!!! Go Irish!!!

Eric Hansen

1:36

Mike? Ryan, are you at Happy hour?

Ryan Mars Pa

1:36

Good afternoon Mike what do you think about The Play of Audric Estime and Sam Hartman go Irish Beat Ohio State what is your score prediction

Eric Hansen

1:35

Hi Bob. Hope you and your family have a great time. I'm including a link to the list of activities on Friday and Saturday. The is NO pep rally, but there's lots of other stuff going on. There's also a couple of luncheons not listed on there, one connected to awards and one connected to NIL that the Golics are hosting. Here the link for all the activities: https://experience.nd.edu/events/page/1/

Bob (Oxnard, CA)

1:26

Is there a pep rally (if so, when/where). I flew out from CA with family and want to take it all in!

Eric Hansen

1:25

With Notre Dame being the underdog, I'm not sure a loss necessarily would be irreversibly damaging. I'm not trying to minimize this, just point out that winning this game, then losing two or three others, or losing this game and then running the table are possible scenarios with longer-term effects. I think why Brian Kelly got such a knock is in his 4-12 mark against Top 10 teams while at ND, the Irish weren't competitive in most of those losses. In Marcus' for Top 10 confrontations, their largest loss was 11 -- to Ohio State in Columbus last year and in a game they had the lead with 18 seconds left in the third quarter. ... and thank you.

1:21

Hi Jim. I do think there's a huge prize as far as perception goes should Notre Dame win the game. But for both Ohio State and ND, this can't be the end-all, be-all. It needs to be the first step in a sequence of big games. The Buckeyes still have two top 10 teams to play, in Penn State and Michigan. The Irish have Duke on the road in prime time next week, a top 5 USC team in three weeks and Clemson on the road in November. So the euphoria or the fallout won't have much time to ferment into big-picture implications.

Jim Tal, Valley Center CA.

1:17

Hello Eric, so appreciate your insightful perspective on all things ND football. In many ways, this OSU game has the feel of a program-defining game for the Irish. Should they lose, the same narrative of ND can't win the big ones will be trotted out and discussed ad nauseum. In your opinion, how pivotal is this game in terms of how Freeman will be perceived, where the program currently sits and just how impactful the fallout from a potential loss might be? Wishing you the best.

Eric Hansen

1:16

He said they're trying to manage his workload, so that he can see some snaps on Saturday. They'll do the same for JD Bertrand and DJ Brown in their recoveries to ensure they're full go Saturday. It'll be easier for them to shake the rust, because it's been a much shorter absence for both of them.

1:14

Jim!!!!!!!! If you're going to do exclamation points, this is the week for them. Thank you for the kind words, but Tyler did the Obi story. I just reference him in my game column. As far as the eight impact players, I feel pretty good about seven rising to the occasion, but I feel like No. 8 is going to have his day. Just not sure if it will arrive this week. ... I had a chance to chat with DC Al Golden last night. He said Gabe Rubio's first practice since suffering a knee injury vs. Navy on Aug. 26 went well. (more)

Jim, Oakwood, OH

1:10

Hi Eric!!!!!! I am not normally a !! person but I am fired up for Saturday’s game! I loved your Obi column and nominate him for The ND Fan HOF! I also loved your recent column about the Eight Impact Players for the game: Great analysis, insight and writing! My question is: how many of those 8 players do you believe, more probably than not, will rise to the occasion in a meaningful way? If there are some “no’s” I am not asking you to publicly name them…just wondered on a general basis. Did Gabe’s Tues practice go ok … expected to play Sat? Even though you are working, I hope you find time to enjoy the game! Be well and Go Irish!!!

Eric Hansen

1:08

Manny!!!!!!! I love it. I suggested, when asked, a couple of times this week that Taylor Swift should be the guest picker on College GameDay. And you have a good memory about the tacos during my 33+ years at the Trib. I'm at Inside ND Sports now, but Taco bars still seem like the right thing to do. .... I would say a higher-scoring game would favor ND, because the Irish, going in, have the better quarterback.

Manny from San Pedro

1:04

Eric!!!!!! This is why we love college football!!!!! I’ll be eating tacos and listening to Taylor swift to hype up for the game Tribune style! What kind of game favors us? 55 is the over under. Would a low scoring game or a game that goes over?

Eric Hansen

1:04

Hi Bob. I certainly didn't notice that live, but what I can tell you is Sam Hartman had a 15-minute press conference on Monday and was asked if he was injured. He said he was not, he was fine. His concern that he expressed to the official was whether the defender deliberately was trying to injure him. He then said after watching the film, it was clear that the defender didn't do that, that it was just kind of a pile-up and he fell into Hartman.

Bob from Manchester, TN

12:57

Eric, I noticed after Hartman's knee got tweaked that he uncharacteristically had a couple of inaccurate passes in a row. Do you have any idea whether that was just a coincidence, or was there possibly some correlation between temporary gimpiness and off-target throws?

Eric Hansen

12:57

I appreciate it, Lorne. Hope you have a blast.

Lorne

12:57

Lorne from Reno. Heading back for the game this week and I couldn't be more excited. I am glad that ND didn't play that well against Central - you don't want to have your best game against a bad team, you want to have it against, say, tOSU. This reminds me of 1988, when we struggled to beat Pitt the week before the big home game against Miami. Let's hope this year we can replicate the giant-slaying of that year and, while we're at it, the other thing that team did. No question, just the usual appreciation for the chats and, of course, GO IRISH!

Eric Hansen

12:56

Pass-efficiency defense does matter. It matters a lot. It reflect rushed passes, great coverage, turnovers. Some really good teams that play good or great defense are in ND's statistical neighborhood in sacks at this juncture. The Irish are 104th. Washington and Ohio State are tied for 91st. Clemson and Georgia are tied for 106th. ... Who are the top five teams in sacks? Wake Forest, Louisiana, Marshall, Nebraska and Texas State. None of those teams are going to the playoff. But again, this week QB pressure is HUGE.

12:53

Tim, I think hidden in your question is: Do sacks matter? I think you could make a case in the first four games for the Irish, they didn't matter as much, given the overall objectives of the defense against dual-threat QBs and the structure of those offenses. I think it means more this week, with a still relatively inexperienced QB, in Kyle McCord, and two offensive tackles that have gone through some growing pains in replacing the two studs they had last year. McCord is not a dual threat. OSU receivers are more dangerous. And so sacks will matter in terms of getting the Buckeyes into 2nd-and-17 or 3rd-and-16. Now can ND get a great rush with its front four, or does it need to mix in linebackers (as it has done this season)? Probably the latter, which can leave you exposed if you don't disguise it well. Is McCord savvy enough to take advantage of that? We're going to find out Saturday night (more).

Tim from Kansas City

12:43

Coach Freeman stated in his press conference that defensive pass efficiency numbers are the overall goal rather than sacks. With the receiver talent and relative inexperience at QB, what strategy do you see translating into desired results against Ohio State?

Eric Hansen

12:41

Both schools were ranked high to start the season and ND has moved up from 13th. The Irish also finished a 9-4 season well with a win over an SEC team in a bowl game. Notre Dame did not sell tickets to the public for this. I had someone on Twitter bashing them for that strategy, and it's hard to get into a meaningful conversation 280 characters at a time. His point was that season ticket holders, he claimed, could buy up to 12 tickets. I still don't understand why that was looked upon as a flawed strategy. Obviously, none of them are air-tight.

12:38

Hi Jon. Of those three choices, I'd say Cincinnati in 2021, another top 10 matchup. And those people were LOUD. It really comes down to people wanting to make money. Now with Nebraska, I don't think ND fans were expecting a competitive game against the No. 1 team at the time. Remember, it was only game 2 of that season, and Notre Dame was coming off a 5-7 season. That same might have worked into the ND/Georgia game. Those teams both ended up being much better than they were rated coming into that game. The Irish were 24 and Georgia 15th. And ND was coming off a 4-8 season, with ND-Georgia being game 2 of the 2017 season. Will this year be different? (more)

Jon - Bellaire,Oh

12:32

Hi Eric - enter button gets me every.single.time… As far as opposing fans in the stadium go, do you see this one being closer to Cincinnati, Georgia, or Nebraska? Any reason this seems to be an ND problem? We have the second largest fanbase and a ton of wealthy alums. What gives? I don’t see this happening in Columbus or Tuscaloosa.

Eric Hansen

12:31

I should point out that the Clemson game of 2020 may not have felt big, because there was no one on campus during the week, no one tailgating and only 11,000 people in the stadium, and like nine of us in the press box. It was surreal but still significant. ... I'm not sure how to gauge how much red will be in the stadium Saturday night (actually scarlet). I know a lot of Ohio State people who generally come to games like this could not get tickets. But I think the atmosphere either way is going to be amazing. ... I don't know for sure, but I would expect superfan Obi to work his way onto the video board Saturday night ... and thanks for the compliments. Tyler James did a great job with it, I agree.

12:27

For me, the Notre Dame upending of No. 1 Clemson is sitting on top of that list. It got the Irish into a playoff for the second time in a three-year span and made them attractive enough to attract a rising defensive coordinator in Marcus Freeman when DC Clark Lea left after that season. Could this game be bigger? In time, if it leads to Notre Dame winning more recruiting battles and making the playoff this season and winning a game there. (more)

12:24

Hi Ken. So you gave me a 20-year reference window ... I started with the Bush Push game of 2005, It was No. 9 vs. No. 1 USC in Charlie Weis' first year. In the moment, it felt like one of the most significant college games I had covered in now more than four decades of covering college football. Even with ND losing, 34-31, it felt like Notre Dame football was back for good. ... in part because of that game. But the shelf life was shorter than expected. ND went 3-9 two years later. And two years after that, Charlie Weis was out of a job. There have been only five games in which top 10 teams have visited Notre Dame Stadium, kind of a weird anomaly given how many have happened away from South Bend. In only three of them were both teams ranked in the top 10. (more)

Ken - Steel City PA

12:12

Hi Eric, thanks again for all you do for us fans across the nation. A few comments (you can add additional commentary if you'd like) and a few questions. Commentary- I have been pleased with Gerad Parker as OC this season and feel the offense has looked much better than what is being ran down in Tuscaloosa. Questions- 1) is this the biggest game ND has hosted in the last 20 years, 2) are you concerned about a sea of red overtaking the green out? I am. Has the school done anything to prevent this? 3) great article by your team on Obi. Will ND use him to fire up the crowd early in the game this week? I am pumped and cannot wait to be rowdy Saturday night!

Eric Hansen

Off we go.

12:09

You know the rules and the one that's been rescinded.

Please remember to include your name and hometown along with your question(s).

On to this week's chat ...

12:07

► And, finally, thanks to all who have been listening to WSBT radio this season, as I have rejoined Darin Pritchett as a co-host on Weekday SportsBeat (960 AM, live streaming at wsbtradio.com) on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the 2023 Notre Dame Football season. I'm also co-hosting the pregame shows with Darin and Tyler Horka (which is not a clever stage name for Tyler James). The weekday shows run from 5-6 p.m. ET. This week’s pregame show starts at 9 a.m. ET. You can download episodes as podcasts.

12:06

► On this week’s Inside ND Sports Podcast, we caught up with Doug Lesmerises, longtime Ohio State beat writer and columnist. Lesmerises, who hosts the Kings of Columbus show on THE Podcast YouTube channel and podcast feeds, discussed if this year's Notre Dame-OSU game feels bigger than last year, the defensive improvement for OSU since losing to Michigan, OSU's pass rush, what the Buckeyes have on offense with their running game, QB Kyle McCord and big-play receivers, what's happened with former ND wide receiver Lorenzo Styles, the perception of head coach Ryan Day and more. The podcast can be listened to via SoundCloud or on your preferred podcast platform including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podbean and Pocket Casts.

► If you missed the last episode of our aspiring-to-be-viral Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps, it keeps its shelf life long after the live presentation. We’ve settled into our Monday night 7 ET time slot. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube. Tyler James and I are also doing a live postgame show of our takeaways after every game. Here’s what last week’s show looked like. We’re also partnering with WSBT-TV this season, including collaborating on highlights and analysis. Here’s sports director Pete Byrne and me doing a quick run-through of this week’s game.

12:05

Some quick programming notes:

12:04

It's Ohio State week. It's also a week where the "no bare feet" rule for chat has been suspended as long as Notre Dame has is undefeated.

12:03

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