JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 7, 2022

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 7, 2022

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Eric Hansen

2:10

Who decides when a freshman is ready to play starts with the position coach and works its way up the chain of command. ... ND played four freshmen Saturday, and Marcus Freeman hinted that he'd be conservative in that regard for the OSU game. I think you'll start to see more, beginning this week. The four who did play were Morrison, Mickey, Tuihalamaka and Yoakam. The OPPORTUNITY to play early is attractive to recruits. But it wouldn't be best for the team or fair is say Jaylen Sneed was playing instead of Jack Kiser or Gi'Bran Payne over Logan Diggs.

2:05

Marie, thanks for the great questions. I would give the O-Line a C-minus and send a note home to their parents. Having said that, I still think this is a line that's going to evolve into something special. If Patteson comes back this week, I think they have a chance to look pretty good by the end of the month, with steady improvement after that. If I'm wrong, you all can give me a C-minus. I think a big handbrake for Merriweather not getting on the field had to do with some nagging injuries he was dealing with late in camp and during game prep week. Too much missed practice time affected his execution when it mattered in practice. (more)

Marie from Atlanta

1:55

Hi Eric,

I hope you enjoyed your return to Columbus. Disappointed with the outcome but very glad Freeman realizes there are no moral victories.
Multi part question today.What grade would you give the offensive line? I was disappointed in their play especially the interior. How good do you think this line can be and how long do you think it will take to get there? I know The staff is hesitant to play freshmen but when everyone was talking about how talented Merriweather is, Why couldn’t they get him up to speed on one or two simple plays and get him into the game. Just his size advantage seems like it would’ve been helpful. Who decides when these freshman are ready to play, the position coach, the head coordinator, or the head coach? Finally, do you think the fact that Mickey and Morrison played a lot will help recruiting? It would seem talented kids don’t want to come to school to sit on the bench. As always, thanks for the great insights.

Eric Hansen

1:55

Patterson, healthy, can make a huge difference. You're talking about one of the best interior offensive linemen in college football replacing a player who's trying to hold his own. As Corey Robinson said on our podcast, it's not just his physical presence and knowledge of fronts and pressures that would be helpful, but the mental lift -- he is a connection to the vintage O-line culture at ND, That matters. As far as Merriweather goes, I would imagine you'll get to see some of him in person when you come up to the Cal game.

1:52

Hi Tom, as I watched the game live, most of the problems seemed to be coming from the interior part of the line. And when I discussed it with the former ND O-lineman, he was able to get into the nuances of why that was happening. Center Zeke Correll (and it's not all on him) couldn't have been happy with his performance. Even with his size and strength gains, he looked overmatched physically. And mentially/assignment-wise, it was a big step back. So if you're looking for a solution, Correll regaining the momentum he built in the spring and in fall camp would be a big first step. (more)

Tom Kennesaw, GA

1:46

Hi Eric, I hope that you were able to get back to SB easier than the team. Our OL continues to struggle in games with tough opponents whether it is bowl games, playoff games or Top 10 opponents. The reasons/excuses are basically the same: lack of passing attack, scheme, communication, bigger, better DLines. How would you rate the reasons for Saturday's performance? It looked like a lot of the problems were coming up the middle. Can Patterson make that much of a difference? I was really looking forward to seeing Merriweather play and was disappointed that he did not get on the field. Sounded like the coaches were saying he wasn't ready and they did not have confidence in him yet. But, with the WR group being so thin you would think that he could have spelled somebody for a few plays. Do you think that we are expecting too much from him too soon?? Looking forward to coming to the Cal game for my first game back in several years. Can't beat a game day SAturday back at ND. Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

1:46

Jim, thanks for the kind words. I have to admit, you had me running for the dictionary, but indeed "schadenfreude" was the perfect word there. I got it mixed up with an indulgence of Frusen Glädjé, which is an ice cream company that I'm pretty sure went out of business a long time ago. .. I would imagine Brian Kelly could have used some Frusen Glädjé after that 24-23 loss to Florida State. ... ND was pretty aggressive in pressuring the punter, and maybe Brandon Joseph just didn't have the confidence to try to return it, knowing that. Marcus Freeman was adamant that ND needed to be better schematically on the kickoff returns (execution too with some missed blocks), and I'd imagine the same goes on punt returns. This is not Freeman's or special teams coordinator Brian Mason's philosophy to be so conservative. So I would not expect this to become a trend.

Jim, Oakwood, OH

1:35

Hi Eric, I admit to an indulgence of schadenfreude as the LSU game ended Sunday night - especially after watching the 4 major special teams blunders by the LSU personnel under the guidance of Polian. Perhaps I am a lesser person for that but it seemed appropriate. My question concerns the ND special teams performance which was excellent considering that a walk - on was prepared to step in for kickoffs then excelled, the punting was excellent and so was the field goal team. Why do you think that the punt return game was so conservative (I'm thinking of the instance where the returner BJ joined the expanding membership of the Fair Catch U. Club even though he had room to attempt a return) which the announcers also acknowledged. Too much emphasis on avoiding turnovers ... too much emphasis on the conservative game plan? Your thoughts please. I know that that phase of the game did not affect the outcome and I thought the articles by you and Tyler covered the key issues very, very well. Thank you and be well.

Eric Hansen

1:35

With a first-time starter at quarterback and extra possessions for C.J. Stroud and the Ohio State offense to figure things out -- yes I do think the Buckeyes would have won by more than 11.

Kevin from St. Louis

1:34

Hi Eric, I know sticking mostly to conservative offensive play calling seems to have been a (largely successful?) attempt to shorten the game. If instead we played the whole game aggressively, do you think we lose by more than 11?

Eric Hansen

1:34

Adam, my return to The Shoe was probably boring for most of you, so I'll keep it short. I've been to more than 50 games in that stadium, mostly in the '70s and early '80s, before I got into the business. I hadn't been there in 27 years -- the last ND-OSU game played in Columbus. A lot has changed. Stadium feels newer and modernized. And there were no couch burnings that I am aware of after the game this time ... I'll let your comments stand on their own and simply answer your question. No, I do not think the ND offense will hold this team back. It will have to win the Clemson game, and I wouldn't rule that out at this point.

Adam (Dayton, OH)

1:29

Hello Eric, so how was your return to The Shoe?? I find myself super impressed by the Irish (defense) and disappointed by the result at the same time. These games bring emotional overreactions, and I've head them all. Harry Hiestand stinks. Tommy Stinks. ND has no playmakers. What, in your opinion, IS a valid criticism and a true worry for the season? For as revered as Harry is, even in his first stint, his lines were only okay against elite competition, and even worked over by the Clemson/Georgia/Ohio St.-type teams. I think Tommy is good, but his offenses have been anemic against great competition, minus Clemson when they were missing a bunch of guys. Is the offense going to continue to hold ND back in big games?

Eric Hansen

1:28

ND is recruiting CBs at a higher level. And it's showing up with Morrison and Mickey two of only four freshmen who saw the field for ND in a game of that magnitude and a season opener. Christian Gray and Micah Bell may be in similar positions to help as freshmen next year. Safety Peyton Bowen is probably ND's most talented recruit overall at this point. So yes, I would say the floor and the ceiling is higher for this group, especially if the defensive line can turn up the heat with the pass rush.

1:25

Hi Kevin, there's some hidden math in your question -- and some really good observations. There's no question Jaxon Smith-Njigba's injury took some pressure off the ND defense, but the irish played him well when he was in the game and the DBs played well for the most part against a deep WR group for Ohio State. TaRiq Bracy and Benjamin Morrison need to take a bow. Clarence Lewis held his own. Mickey had some good moments and one regrettable one on a bad defensive call. Cam Hart recovered from getting torched early. Brandon Joseph and Ramon Henderson graded out the best among the five safeties who saw action. (more)

Kevin from St. Louis

1:18

How much of our secondary defensive success should be attributed to Ohio State's early loss of JSN and a subsequent lack of sync on their part vs a significant improvement in the play of our DBs (or an excellent game plan against a specific offense?)? Feels like either CB top-end talent or quality depth has been one of our major achilles heels for many years in recent memory (flashback to Julian Love's injury in 2018 Cotton Bowl). Would be delightful to hear that our floor and ceiling at that position are suddenly much higher than they've been.

Eric Hansen

1:18

Thanks, Chris!

Chris in Albuquerque

1:18

Hey Eric appreciate that chats and a chance to let us vent! You are the man!

Eric Hansen

1:18

Hi Bill. It was stunning actually. It reminded me a bit of the ND-Oklahoma game in 2012, except in that one, it was Notre Dame pounidng and pushing its way down the field to seal the victory.

Bill from St Joe’ MI

1:17

Eric, with all the beefs we all have, I’ll bet that every ND fan would have signed up to holding OSU to 21 points before the game. Having said that, it was still disappointing to see how OSU ran out the clock late in the 4th Qtr.

Eric Hansen

As ND puts together stronger recruiting classes, the talent quotient will begin to show up in these big-stage games.

1:16

Chris if you're rambling, then you'll fit right in with the rest of us. To be fair, the passes to Matt Salerno and Braden Lenzy were over 30 yards in the air, at to Kevin Bauman 17 ... and there were only 10 completions total. ... Here's my take, as I read between the lines of your comments and question ... when you play Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State and Alabama, you're still at a talent deficit if you're ND. We had Corey Robinson on our podcast Tuesday, and he felt the gap is narrowing, but it's still there. Until it's smaller or gone, ND has to play left-handed to some extent. Against Ohio State, that meant shortening the game -- especially with a first-time starter at QB. The objective is to impress the five-star recruits by winning those games, not by style points. However, yes, it's reasonable to do both against ND's schedule moving forward -- especially as Buchner learns to handle more and more of the playbook.

Chris in Albuquerque

1:06

Hey Eric and good morning! I may be rambling a bit but here we go. Does our offense and Rees not feel like we can throw a pass over 20 yards against good competition. I look at that game plan and if I am a 5star wr, why would I come to his offense. That's the time to shine, not disappear until Marshall comes to town. Stetson Bennet owned a good Oregon defense and a good Bama defense last year. We kept hearing the handcuffs were off Rees, but it was the same limited conservative offense from the past couple years vs a top ranked opponent. Spread it out and let it eat! I love our defense and Go Irish!

Eric Hansen

1:06

Haha. Thanks for the confirmation. I think we have a question coming up on that play a little later.

CHUCK FROM CLEVELAND "THE LAND"

1:05

One more thing ...you mentioned on YOU TUBE that the 2 Safety Blitzers were lined up in Cleveland. I want to confirm that when I looked out my window before the play, I saw 4 Deer and 2 ND Safeties!

Eric Hansen

1:05

Way out of my purview, but you get an 'A' for originality.

Guest

1:04

why didn't the band perform at half time?

Eric Hansen

1:04

C.J. Stroud's elusiveness and savvy tempered the results of the D-Line as a whole. I still think this is ND's best and deepest position group. I still think at the end of the year,we'll consider it elite.

1:02

Hi Bob. Notre Dame rotated eight .. two at each position Saturday night, as you noted. I was surprised we didn't see Gabe Rubio or Jordan Botelho. I would expect those two will be this week. For three quarters, Notre Dame's D-Line played up to my expectations, then got mauled in the long fourth-quarter drive. When I asked DE Rylie Mills about it last night, he termed it "execution issues" and was fully confident they are fixable. Mills, incidentally, was ND's highest-graded defensive player at any position, while Chris Smith was second. Jayson Ademilola garnered the lowest grade of anyone who played offensively or defensively for the Irish. (more)

Bob Gorman Oak Park IL

12:46

Hi Eric...curious how you evaluate the defensive line play which was anticipated to be an advantage for ND Saturday evening. How does our DL stack up? Is it elite? Do we have enough guys rotating into play to stay fresh? My impression, apparently false, was that we would have 3 players at NG and DT rotating. Surprised Botelho still not getting time?

Eric Hansen

12:45

Hi Tim, and thank you. I agree with your assessment of Buchner's poise. His teammates had similar remarks last night at the player/media availability. I chatted with a former Notre Dame interior offensive lineman last night about just what you asked me and some other things related to the O-line play in that game and what we might be able to expect moving forward. There's only so much you can simulate in practice in training the O-line. So much learning takes place in the games. And lines that are cohesive and smart learn faster. Patterson's return would accelerate that process. By and large the offensive lines that win the Joe Moore Award -- including ND's in 2017 -- don't show that form out of the gate, at least not against elite athletes. Having said that. I did expect a better running game Saturday night. The conservative/predictability of the play calls did not help.

Tim from East Liverpool Ohio

12:39

Hey Eric, was at the game in Columbus on Saturday. The shoe was a snake pit and I was impressed with Buchner's poise in that atmosphere. However, another big game and another game with NO running game. Is it the lineman(all highly rated), the scheme, Rees, Heisman? I'm at a loss as to why we can never establish a solid ground game in big games. I sure miss the days of imposing our will on the opponent. Thanks for the chats. You do a phenomenal job.

Eric Hansen

12:38

This seems like a scolding more than a question, but I'll try to chime in here, John. ... As far as the conservative gameplan in the first half, I think it was justified. You can prepare all yoju want for 11 months, but a Jim Knowles defense with Ohio State's personnel was going to be different from Oklahoma State film. I talked to TE Kevin Bauman about that Tuesday night, and he confirmed that. Now once ND got it to halftime with a 10-7 lead, I think ND got too conservative at that point. They made the in-game adjustments in the first half. If they wanted to win the game -- as opposed to not losing it -- the Irish needed to take some chances and some shots. ... If Merriweather was ready and ND felt he could help win the game, he would have played. Simple as that. I'd expect you'll see him and the freshman tight ends in games as ND moves forward this month.

John - Palmyra, PA

12:31

VERY disappointed in Tommy (and subsequently Marcus). Running plays were ineffective and not creative. They only had 11+ months to prepare……. Not going back to Braedan and Lorenzo also inexcusable. D played PLENTY well enough to win. It’s a shame for them. How can Marcus justify playing Morrison on D against the #1 offense in the nation, but not give Merriweather a snap? The freshman tight ends?? (Oh, I know, they wouldn’t have thrown it to them anyway). This game should have been won!! A for the D, and D- for the O. Not good, Tommy. Not good.

Eric Hansen

12:31

Manny, I can see your disappointment. That's the fewest exclamation points that you've put after my name in a while. To your question, as Tyler Buchner grows into the rol each week, I do think he has the capacity to take on more of the playbook. Also ND isn't facing the caliber of athletes on defense or the schematic soundness that Ohio State brought until the Syracuse/Clemson stretch Oct. 29/Nov. 5. Again, there's no reason to try to shorten the game against the rest of the September schedule.

Manny from San Pedro

12:26

Eric!!!! Thanks for these chats. It’s like therapy!!!! Disappointing finish last week but the way the defense played gives me hope for the rest of the year. Do you think Tommy opens up the playbook this week or will QB draw still be the go to play?

Eric Hansen

12:26

1) I think the player who embodies those qualities the most is freshman Billy Schrauth. And after missing this spring because of foot surgery, he'll be in play next spring fighting his way up the depth chart. Again, I'd withhold judgment abotu the other O-Line personalities for a few weeks. I think there's plenty of nasty there ... eventually. 2) I think there is for both of them, and I think Botelho this season more so than Rocco. With Foskey and Justin Ademilola gone after this year, Botelho will have a clear path to compete for a starting berth. This year, I think you'll see him on the field more when ND isn't committed to playing so much nickel, as the Irish were in the Ohio State game. I like Rocco's future a lot, but not sure he fits in the present without injuries.

12:21

Chuck, thanks for watching Monday Night Live and for the encouraging feedback. Let me preface the O-Line comments with my assessment that what you saw Saturday night in terms of underwhelming and inconsistent play will evolve away from that through the month of September -- even more so as Jarrett Patterson gets plugged back in (which we still don't know yet whether that will be this weekend). So now let me address your specific questions (more).

CHUCK FROM CLEVELAND "THE LAND"

12:16

Eric, great job on the YOU TUBE yesterday -- so informative! Very proud of the Irish --- no T/O's in a hostile environment and battling the entire game. Knowing that you will be inundated with questions about why Correll is starting and why the O Game Plan was so boring in a game where we needed to be unpredictable, I will go elsewhere. I am not going to challenge Coaches Rees & Freeman decision making this early in the season. Two questions: 1) Do we have anyone on the O-Line who is similar to Quentin Nelson -- vicious, aggressive and nasty? The O-Line personalities seem too passive and soft to me. They are big but not nasty, my opinion. 2) is there a future for Botelho & Spindler? These guys seem to have that nasty side but are getting little to no exposure. Thanks Eric, 11-1 is NOT impossible!

Eric Hansen

12:15

Frank, yes, and I think it's a natural evolution of two things ... QB Tyler Buchner having his first start under his belt, and ND not employing a game plan that's meant to shorten the game. Keep in mind, the more effectively ND can run the ball against Marshall, the better its passing game will be. The Thundering Herd was actually quite good against the pass last season -- 12th in pass-efficiency defense vs. 104th vs. the run. This is a team, though, that might not resemble its 2021 tendencies so much as more than half the roster is now -- thanks to a heavy dip into the transfer portal.

Frank from Royse City, Texas

12:12

Do you think ND will throw the ball more against Marshall to get their Receivers more involved in the offense?

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