JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat

Notre Dame Football Live Chat

Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page

Rick Dierolf Sinking spring PA

1:31

Eric so glad the chats are back, you do an amazing job covering ND football so thank you. My question is do you think this team is finally ready to handle the big stage they will see in Athens against the Bulldogs or will it be more of the same like against Miami and Clemson?

Eric Hansen

1:29

Jacob, I think you make some really good points about the affordability and logistical aspects of forcing a three-game commitment just to get inside the stadium for USC. There is already tiered pricing, so this seems to be heavy-handed.

Jacob from Versailles, OH

1:22

Eric, how do you feel about how ND handled single game tickets for the USC game this year? They forced fans into buying tickets to 2 extra home games and into buying a $100 “donation” (being forced to donate doesn’t seem very charitable) to the Rockne heritage Fund in order to purchase a single game USC ticket. Even the cheapest tier of tickets came out over $400, making it impossible for the common fan to go to the USC game. Also, it makes it hard for fans who don’t live in South Bend because they don’t plan on making the trip there 3 times instead of 1.

Eric Hansen

1:21

GB, His plan was to meet with them but not to the depths he did in 2016. Doing so on an annual basis helps keep another 2016 from happening.

GB from Wasilla, Alaska

1:21

Eric, I hope you have a rejuvenating vacation. Did Kelly meet with individual players this off season like he did 2 years ago after his renaissance"

Eric Hansen

1:19

The depth and athleticism of the linebacker corps is the reasons there is hope for the position long term. How that plays out in the short term is going to make a difference in ND's win total this season. If they struggle through October, this is probably not a playoff team. If they surge during training camp, it gives a projected 9-3 team the chance to better than that. There are certainly other factors, but the linebacker position may be the most impacting among the preseason question marks.

Vince....NJ

1:15

Do you see the depth/athletic nature of lbs reason to feel positive about 2019 even with the two skilled guys gone.... And can ND reach CFP again.? Thanks.

Eric Hansen

1:15

I'll go with Ian Book.

Kyle from Orlando FL

1:14

Eric - who has the third most rushing yards this year. Assuming Armstrong and jones have first and second. Thanks!

Eric Hansen

1:13

I think what Clemson did to Alabama on the championship game changed the perception of ND-Clemson for a lot of people, both inside and outside the program. I know Brian Kelly is convinced the Clemson score wasn't indicative of the gap between the two programs, that he believes the Irish are much closer. He also believes the Alabama game in 2012/13 absolutely exposed how big the gap was back then. ... What I think the Clemson game showed foremost was ND's need to get elite speed at RB and WR, and the importance of depth at key defensive positions.

Jeff B from Oklahoma City

1:10

After a great regular season last year, do you think the team has put the disappointment of another poor showing on the biggest stage against Clemson past them? Was there a difference in that shellacking versus the one they took against Alabama as far as how they looked? The result was the same. Is it a mental thing in these games more at this point or just still overmatched from a talent standpoint?

Eric Hansen

1:10

We should know the identity of the captains by Sunday, if not sooner. Brian Kelly initially wanted four, and he could have changed his mind over the summer. Jalen Elliott, Alohi Gilman, Julian Okwara and Khalid Kareem all seem viable from the defense. Ian Book, Robert Hainsey and Chris Finke are good candidates on offense. A possible surprise from the offense -- Chase Claypool. ... As to the overall chemistry, I think it's hard to know how good it is until they have to handle adversity.

John from Glenview, Illinois

1:06

Hi Eric, Although captains have not yet been named, do you like the leadership and team chemistry on this team? It always seems when we have good leadership, we have a good football team. Also, who are you predicting to be team captains?

Eric Hansen

1:06

I think the depth looked surprisingly good in the spring. All five may contribute, with Tony Jones Jr., the clear No. 2 right now, Jahmir Smith surging and Kyren Williams someone who could surge during training camp.

is another running back on the roster than can do what he does at this stage of their career.

1:04

I think the concern would be if Jafar Armstrong was out with an injury for a significant stretch of the season. I don't think there

Mike from Saratoga

1:03

Is there concern about the running back position? I think Jafar is the clear number one but who do you think is the number two back? I am worried about the lack of explosiveness there following a year where the stuff rate percentage on run plays was abysmal.

Eric Hansen

1:03

I think penalties are harder to predict, but teams do tend to show long-term patterns in those areas. Navy, for instance, is typically one of the least-penalized teams in the nation. USC typically is one of the most-penalized. As far as turnovers, a new offense line or a new quarterback could lead you to believe the team could be turnover-prone on offense. A team with a strong pass rush and elite cornerbacks on defense tends to create trunovers. So you could certainly factor those things into the preseason educated-guess process. I have until Monday to turn in my AP preseason ballot, even though the AP poll won't be released until two weeks after our ballots are in.

Bill

12:58

In the offseason everyone makes prediction based on talent and coaching, but often games are decided by turnovers and penalties. Is it possible to get a sense as to how ND will perform in these two areas before the season or is that something that becomes apparent only when they start playing games?

Eric Hansen

12:58

I think there's a miscalculation that the Ball State game plan was the result of ND holding back elements of its offense for ... Vanderbilt and Wake Forest. It was just a bad game plan. The thought was to see if Wimbush could execute as a pocket passer, against an admittedly bad defense. His inability to do so helped push the concept that Book might be the better QB option. I also think ND went in way, way too overconfident as a team. So while I think there will be some surprises from ND for Georgia in game 3 on Sept. 21, I don't think you'll see an anemic version of the offense the first couple of games.

Steve from St Louis

12:51

With the first two games expected to be easier wins for ND is there any concern they implement the Ball State game plan and try and do just enough to get by (hate this idea) and try not to show Georgia everything or do they put the hammer down?

Eric Hansen

12:51

Hi Matt, I'm glad this new format incorporates the best of both worlds -- the live chat and the mailbag. ... To your questions. ... The soundbite from Kelly came from the 2016 season, when the NCAA announced it was denying ND's appeal re vacated victories. It happened to be right as Kelly's Tuesday press conference was starting for USC week. He wanted to do the USC stuff first, then address the NCAA action (or inaction as it were). There were not many takers ... As far as who needs to bring it, the best version of Book and the best version of Okwara would help the Irish against Georgia and the other really good teams on their schedule.

Matt from St. Louis

12:48

I have two questions. When did the sound bite from Brian Kelly used before the questions section of the Pot of Gold podcast come from and what is its full context? (It sounds fun and I am curious). And which players on both sides of the ball have to show up like never before for ND to beat Georgia?

12:47

Hi Eric. Thank you for doing these. I like the new format. I always read the chat transcripts in the evening or the next day but was never able to submit questions because of work.

Eric Hansen

12:40

Given the competition level of Louisville and New Mexico, it makes sense that we would see Phil Jurkovec in both of those games, which would be ideal in building his confidence and evolving his game.

Scott from Muskegon Mi

12:37

Will there be a Jerkovic sighting in the 1st two games?

Eric Hansen

12:37

Mark, thanks for being a part of it. I do NOT see the offensive line as a weakness. My expectation is it will be better than last year's and maybe markedly so. ... The areas of concern heading into training camp, which starts Sunday, are linebacker, field cornerback/nickel and special teams specialists.

Mark Montrose MI

12:35

Eric, glad to see the chats are back, hope all is well. Do you see the offensive line as the weak spot on this years team? If not the offensive line than what is teams biggest are of concern?

Eric Hansen

12:35

Sorry about the hiccup there. We've got the technical issues worked out. I wasn't in deep thought THAT long.

12:34

Connor if you get a chance to read our preview magazine, I wrote about why I think Chase Claypool would emerge as that guy. There's certainly been an evolution in his approach. And he's sustained it for months. He did have a minor surgical procedure on his ankle in early June, but that's not expected to be a factor in training camp other than the coaching stuff easing him in. If you asked me where I'd rank Claypool among ND's top player regardless of position, I'd put him at No. 3, behind only Julian Okwara and Ian Book and just ahead of Khalid Kareem. I'd also put WR Chris Finke in the top 10 (at No. 8).

Connor from Kalamazoo

12:19

Who is going to emerge as the top receiver this year? I feel like we have a lot of really solid receivers but we don’t have that number one guy yet.

Eric Hansen

12:19

The hope is it won't take until actual game action to make that determination. I like Leonard's mental approach and how he got himself ready for the Notre Dame experience. And yeah. I'd be concerned that two unknowns are competing to replace the most accurate kicker and leading scorer in school history.

12:17

Ed, full disclosure, the media isn't allowed to view summer workouts, and frankly until the kickers have to kick under duress, you really won't get a sense of who's the better option between junior Johnathan Doerer and freshman Harrison Leonard.

Ed Duluth Ga

12:14

Are you at all concerned about the place kicking in the coming season? Has it showed any improvement during summer workouts?

Eric Hansen

Without further blather, off we go. ...

So check the transcript later today, and I'll have the names listed. You'll need to email me (ehansen@sbtinfo.com) so I can get your address.

12:13

At the end of the chat, I'll draw five names, and those five people will receiver a free copy of our 2019 ND Insider Notre Dame Football Preview.

12:12

PLEASE, please include your name and hometown with your question.

A reminder, no spitting, swearing, fighting, biting, bare feet, 17-part questions or manifestos.

12:11

The live chat will run from noon to around 2:30 or 3 ET each week, but I'll post a link on my Twitter account (@EHansenNDI) every Wednesday so you can submit questions early if you'd like.

Connecting…

Message History

On Off

Your current subscriptions

None

E-mail Address	Chat Owner	Status	Remove

Enter your email address to be notified when Eric Hansen hosts a chat