JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 4, 2020

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 4, 2020

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Eric Hansen

1:58

I asked Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick about this yesterday when we talked, and he indicated there's quite a bit of clarification the NCAA will need to provide in the coming months. Essentially, the NCAA is not counting this season against your eligibility. So no one on the roster will have expired eligibility at the end of the season. That's true of teams that are playing in the fall and those not playing in the fall, as well as individual players who opt out and those who play on. But it's going to create financial problems and roster management issues in the offseason that will have to be untangled. It actually makes my head hurt thinking about it and the math involved.

skip from Houston

1:53

please help me understand what it means and the implications that 2020 will not count against the four years of eligibility - thanks.

Eric Hansen

1:52

Hi Ken. Tommy Rees will be able to call the plays relatively unimpeded. I think when it comes to going for it on fourth-and-4 or going for two points after a TD, Kelly is going to make those calls or at least have veto power ... as he should.

Ken - Pensacola

1:51

Eric - Hope you all are doing ok and staying safe. Two fold question, will Coach Reeves be able to call all of the plays without Coach Kelly jumping in?. And who will Coach Kelly pick as Captains this year? Thanks mucho - And "GO IRISH' !!!!

Eric Hansen

1:49

Javi, they can cry all they want, but they're the ones who pulled the plug on their own seasons. I would say, when you remove 54 of the 130 teams from competition, there will be plenty of asterisks to go around ... for the national title, for the Heisman, for All-America teams, etc. It'd be still quite an accomplishment to win a title when the entire SEC and Clemson were still in the mix.

Javi from Parkland, Florida

1:46

This season will only have some conferences playing so, if ND is able to reach the CFP and go on to win it all, will there be an asterix in this championship. Will the Big 10 and PAC 12 cry foul? Go Irish!

Eric Hansen

1:46

Kevin, our team of four will rotate covering games in person (one at a time). The rest of us will work from home. All postgame interviews will be done on Zoom, so it'll be the same access whether you're in your home office or the pressbox. Being there in person, though, affords you to pick up on the atmosphere and some of the nuances of the game. I hope you got a chance to read our 28-page special section and all of our daily coverage. It is a challenge to have seen one practice since August of 2019. The eye test helps. That Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree have worked their way into key roles at running back, I think, bodes well for the running game. If the offensive line is as good as I think it will be, the running game won't be elite, but it will be above average to well above average.

Kevin, Tampa Fl

1:37

Eric, will you have access to the home games inside the stadium? If so, will the press coverage be limited? Without much coverage this year it's hard to get a feel for this team and expectations. I do good about this years team as long as Ian is solid and consistent. D I think will continue to meet expectations. I have no feel for the running game at this point. The better it is, the better Book will be in my opinion. What are your thoughts on the team and running game Mr Expert? Thanks again for these chats and be safe.

Eric Hansen

1:36

Hello GB in Alaska. I did vote for Hamilton on the ACC team and for the AP All-America team as well. The ACC has some very good safeties. I think part of the issue with the ACC team — not just for him, but for guys like Liam Eichenberg and Tommy Kraemer — is that there's a lack of familiarity among the media regarding ND's personnel. ... There will be very limited access to the pressbox, one person per media outlet at the most. ... spaced 12 feet apart for safety reasons.

GB from Wasilla, Alaska

1:33

Hello Eric, It looks like it is almost ready to happen. I saw the video of the grounds crew painting the ACC logo on the field. I was surprised that Kyle Hamilton was not named as a pre season All ACC. Were you surprised also? Was it because he is only a sophomore? Will the reporters be able to be in the press box? Thanks.

Eric Hansen

1:32

The network schedules (other than NBC) are coming together slowly and deliberately because of the pandemic. There will be times we won't know what the TV arrangement is until a week before a road game. Yes, the ACC Network is in play. Given the limited inventory available to the networks and ND's high ranking, I don't anticipate too many of those games on the ACCN, however.

Jeff from York, PA

1:27

Hi Eric, I was wondering if you know who will be televising the away games. Have ABC or ESPN made any announcements about the games they plan to carry this year? Also, is the ACC Network - the one channel I do not receive - planning on showing any ND games this season?

Eric Hansen

1:27

Jim, those two questions are two that I had submitted last week during the Kelly Zoom call that never made it out of the queue. From what I understand, I'd expect Jordan Genmark Heath to at least start the season as the No. 1 Buck option, but expect Jack Lamb to perhaps play in the dime packages on third down as he did last season until he got hurt. Shayne Simon is surging, so he could eventually overtake both of them if he can maintain that momentum. Again, given the need for depth this season, you could see all three contributing. I think Crawford cross training at safety is more of a product of only having five safeties at the start of camp and the cornerbacks overachieving in camp; KJ Wallace is also getting some safety reps now to boost the numbers. I fully expect Griffith and Pryor to play a lot. ... Maybe DJ Brown at times. Socks only is a good look and well within the chat rules. Carry on.

Jim-Oregonia OH

1:21

Hey Eric, hope all is well with you and the family and wishing you a great Labor Day weekend. I am close to violating one of the rules of "no bare feet", I do have my socks on though so hoping that passes. Anyway, what is the word regarding the Buck LB? Additionally, what is happening at safety opposite Hamilton? I love me some Crawford, but that is a really under sized safety. Griffith, Pryor, Ajavon etc. not cutting the mustard??? I am really liking that K Williams is coming into his own and I think he and Tyree could be formidable.

Eric Hansen

1:20

The running game hasn't been good in those big games either, admittedly. But if you're an elite quarterback, which is what the question was, you are part of the solution not part of the problem. I think it's reasonable to expect improvement in big games in both areas.

Jeremy from Goshen, IN

1:18

Everyone is very hard on Ian Book about not winning big games and I don't think it's completely fair. It the big games, Notre dames running disappears and put it all on Ian Books shoulders. In order to win the big game, ND needs to be more physical running the ball and putting Book in better situations. What do you think? Is that a fair assessment?

Eric Hansen

1:18

Tom, thanks for the good wishes. I hope you and your family are safely navigating the pandemic as well. I think there are a lot of players cross training to guard against a position group being depleted. For the record, Osita is listed as a running back on the just-released updated roster. Although he may ultimately end up back at linebacker full time at some point next year, C.J. Prosise moved to running back from wide receiver under similar circumstances in 2015 and was such a revelation at the new position, he never moved back. Osita won't be needed at linebacker this year, it would seem. Brian Kelly views C'Bo very similarly to the way you described. He's definitely in the mix at running back for playing time.

Tom Kennesaw, GA

1:11

Good afternoon Eric. I surely hope that all is well with you and your family. My question has to do with some of the position movement we saw this week. I kind of like having a big back in the mix to help pound down an opponent but I think this is more about cross-training in preparation for any quarantines that might hit the team during the season. Your thoughts. Also, I really like the way C'bo runs with the ball. He runs low with good balance and attacks the tackler. How do you think he will be used this year. Thanks again for bringing us all closer to ND football. Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

1:10

They were not good at it last season as evidenced by ND’s No. 106 ranking in Football Outsiders’ power success rate. That’s defined by the percentage of runs on third or fourth down, two yards or less to go, that achieved a first down or touchdown. The Irish achieved that 62 percent of the time. I wrote about this at the start of training camp that there are a lot of factors that are aligning for that ranking to drastically improve. My expectation is that it will indeed happen.

martin orlando

1:07

can our offensive line dominate in the running game? Pass protection seems excellent...bread and butter though is the domination on a 3rd and 2....can they get it done?

Eric Hansen

1:04

He's in the rotation, so that means he'll have an opportunity to prove himself. He's a nice physical presence and an outstanding blocker. His biggest games last season were against Bowling Green and New Mexico, and he didn't play in the final four games of the season. Austin's injury provides him more of a platform to show himself. I think he can be a contributor.

Clancy from Sheboygan

12:55

Hi Eric, thanks for hosting these Q & A's. It's time for my annual question about Javon McKinley. He really shined last year when given the opportunity and there is zero coverage about him this year. What can you tell us about him?

Eric Hansen

12:54

I like Brendon Clark's potential. I just don't like his lack of game experience, but you have to live with it. At least he got into a couple of games last season as the No. 3 QB. You can be careful with Ian Book to a certain extent. If you're too careful, you paralyze your offense. And the Irish need Book's arm and legs to be successful.

Joe H Williams Bay Wi

12:49

Hi Eric Always look forward to your chats I’m wondering how you feel our back up quarterback situation is shaping up I know we don’t have a lot of experience behind Ian and I’m wondering if that will mean that they will be extra careful with him in play calling and how that may affect the offense Thanks and Go Irish

Eric Hansen

12:48

They should release a two-deep chart on Monday. We've got our version of it right now on our website. https://www.ndinsider.com/football/depthchart/

Kevin from South Bend

12:46

When will ND release the depth chart?

Eric Hansen

12:46

Just a point I want to make here, and not whining about it. As a reporter, you did miss a lot not seeing any practices and having to do the press conferences via Zoom. It's not anyone's fault but COVID'S, but you can't prioritize questions or necessarily get one to be asked to Kelly. They're selected from a queue, not asked directly. Again, it's my job to overcome that, but I want you to know I would have drilled down on some of these issues if we had our normal channels of confirming information. I'll continue to be persistent and rely on sources, but it's always best to get it on the record from the head coach.

12:43

Jeff, it's time to get excited. We're on the runway. ... Third and 15? Kevin Austin when he's healthy, which should be around the Florida State game on Oct. 10. Until then, I'd say Braden Lenzy or Tommy Tremble. ... Lawrence Keys had the inside track on returning punts. I'd say Tyree is a more likely candidate on kickoffs but I wouldn't rule him out of the mix for either.

Jeff from Phoenix

12:39

Hey Eric, am finally allowing myself to get excited about football. But for ND this season, which receiver do you see as the favorite target of Book/Rees on a 3rd and 15? Who do you think will return punts, any chance it will be Tyree?

Eric Hansen

12:35

Stan, thanks for the kind words. Notre Dame emphasized safety/conditioning/fundamentals over playbook nuances this summer and in training camp. Not every team did that. For those players who were able to avoid isolation and quarantine on ND's team, I think they were not compromised. For those that were sidelines, it's a bit more iffy. I think throughout college football you may see more nagging-type injuries because of the uneven nature of the prep work leading up to the season. ND was fortunate in not needing or wanting to make wholesale changes in its playbook. That'll help. I still think there will be some wonkiness with ND and other teams when it comes to timing (on pass plays) and tackling. Execution may not be as crisp in September as it typically is. Having a veteran team with good leaders does help in a lot of ways, though.

Stancakes from Chester VA

12:29

Hello Eric, I bring warm greetings and heartfelt prayers for your good health from beautiful downtown Chester. My question concerns the team's overall preparedness for the upcoming season. I seem to recall some timeline projections earlier this year about how much time it would take for the football team to be safely ready to compete this season. It seems, what with a later start to training camp and Covid stoppages during camp, that that time frame has been compromised. Were the original figures just speculation or should we be concerned about a bevy of injuries this year? Be well and thanks for your very fine work. Still the easiest to follow, and the most interesting.

Eric Hansen

12:28

Mike, thanks for the questions, What's sooner rather than later? In time to compete in the College Football Playoff in January? In that case, the answer is no. No, bowl games don't have to be pushed back, but there can certainly be some spring bowl games for those conference teams and those from the Mountain West and MAC if those four conferences do indeed play in the winter/spring. ... If Ian Book is going to be regarded as an elite quarterback, two things have to happen. He was No. 24 in passing efficiency last year with a rating of 149.14. He would need to move into the top 10 if all schools were playing and top 6 or 7 since only 76 of the 130 are. He also needs to play big in big games. His rating in his three losses as a starter: 83,65 vs. Clemson 2018, 116.35 vs. Georgia in 2019, 69.73 vs. Michigan in 2019. I think Ian Book will be a better version of himself in 2020 than he was in 2019. How much better we'll start to learn in October.

Mike-quakertown PA

12:12

Hi Eric! I hope all is well. Do you envision the big 10 or PAC 12 coming back sooner rather than later? Do you think certain bowl games might be pushed back to accommodate those two conferences? Do you think Ian book can enter the national conversation this year in terms of being mentioned as an elite quarterback? I think he deserves more respect than he gets. Thanks!

Eric Hansen

12:11

I wouldn't write him off, but injuries have been a constant with him. He's played very few games at ND at a full 100 percent. Depth is even more important this year, because of the possibility of isolation or quarantine due to COVID-19. If he can answer the durability question and bump up his productivity, he can get back in the mix.

Ron Dover, de

12:08

Glad to see k Williams doing so well, but don’t understand what has happened to Armstrong. Any opinion why has not seem to regain his performance from 2 years ago. Thanks

Eric Hansen

12:08

Off we go.

Please, please remember to include your name and hometown with your question.

12:07

These are the rules.