JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 3, 2025

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 3, 2025

Eric Hansen

3:07

Ok, great questions today and the amount of whining that I think was fair, so I appreciate nothing nuclear. I'm still glad Suzanne from Miami was mad at the TV guys and not me. I have a hard out today or I would have gone deeper into overtime. We'll do it all again next Wednesday at noon ET. See you then.

3:05

Beav, thanks Sean Sevillano and Davion Dixon are more the body profile of Louis Nix and guys who down the road will be a factor. I think scheme and not size was the biggest problem. If those two had played they would have been pushed back as well, I believe.

Beav from Va Beac VA

3:04

Different Beav I missed that switch and thanks. I appreciate the response. I'll assume we don't have bigger/better linemen than the ones that appeared to be on skates Monday night.

Eric Hansen

3:04

I think KVA has the highest ceiling of four linebackers with very high ceilings. Bowen had the better year last year by far when you look at film grades. The snaps in this game broke down among the rotation as Bowen 58, KVA 37, Sneed 35, Ausberry 30. As a group, I don't think their talents were anywhere close to being maximized in this game. Could you make a case for more reps for KVA, sure, though not necessarily instead of Bowen but perhaps more wiht him at the same time.

Kevin from Alpharetta, Ga

2:58

Hi Eric. KVA is the best LB on the team. Why doesn’t he start and play more than Bowen? Thanks.

Eric Hansen

2:58

What?

Tom from Sister Lakes MI

2:58

Hi Eric, Everyone knows that 2nd + 2 = 4. Believing that MF told Denbrock to remove the option and just hand the ball to J-Love, do you know if Carr was told that and he ignored their instructions, or, was Carr never told that by Denbrock?

Eric Hansen

2:58

Kevin !!!! Surprise is a better word than disappointment for me with these players. I don't think there was a lack of effort. But what you laid out is a pretty good case of what I would have come up with on my own. If I need a pinch hitter one week, you're on my phone-a-friend list.

Kevin-Sleepy Eye, MN

2:56

Eric!!!!!! No urgency, no chip on our shoulder vs Miami. So how we respond we're all anxious to see. I wish we had Jagusah when we played these elite teams. 1) Which player's performance disappointed you the most? My pick is Shuler. An offensive linemen was my second thought. 2) It appeared that Ash was more concerned about confusing Beck with coverages vs blitz packages. Agree? I feel it affected how aggressive we played.

Eric Hansen

2:56

Hi Dave. I hit the wrong button all the time. Welcome to the club. It's not more conservative, but it is set up differently from Golden's in terms of how the front seven plays. In concept, I like it. In practice, I need to see a big improvement in game 2. Again, Marcus struggled a little out of the gate as ND's DC and had to make some early-season adjustments. I am eager to see if those play out next game.

Dave-Ponte Vedra, FL

sorry, I hit the wrong button. My thought is that the defense didn’t display the speed or aggressiveness that we saw last year. Is the scheme by Ash more conservative? Golden got after teams. We didn’t get after anyone Sunday night.

2:53

I took the off-season off, but we have actual football to discuss now. Like everyone else, very disappointed in opening night. It seemed to me that the defense didn’t display the speed or aggressiveness that

Eric Hansen

2:49

Jeff. Thank you. I like the bye here, and now it even looked better placed, given the two opponents, avoiding what would have been a short prep week. Even if it were an FCS cupcake, there are things you can do with regard to meaningful changes during a bye week that you can't get done in any game week, especially one with one day sawed off it. Given how important this next game is, I like the bye now.

Jeff from Schererville, IN

2:47

Thanks for having the chats, Eric. Knowing all the possible outcomes on Sunday night (big win on the road like A&M last year, close loss with a lot to work on like Miami this year) and knowing what happened with NIU after the season opener last year, would ND have been better off scheduling a Tennessee State-like opponent this week and saving the first of two bye weeks for later in the season, or is now the right time for a bye for this particular team no matter what happened Sunday night? Love reading you and your BGI crew online and in print!

Eric Hansen

2:46

What a tick. Is this the Beav, who's normally from Grand Rapids or a completely different Beav? Irish Chocolate, Louis Nix III, I miss him a lot. One of my all time favorites. Glad I can type and don't have to talk. It's still hard thinking about him passing. I think maybe the number switch in the offseason to 95 threw off some people. Bryce Young played 32 snaps and had three tackles and a QB hurry. He also had 10 plays on special teams.

Beav from Va Beac VA

2:42

Did I miss an injury report, where was B Young? Also, do we not have anyone bigger for the interior d line? Thinking Irish Chocolate. Miss that dude for more than just his FB talent. RIP. Thanks,I enjoy these chats.

Eric Hansen

2:42

Hi Brian, and thank YOU. I am no longer doing the weekday shows. Just the extended pregame shows on Saturdays with Tim Grauel, Jim Irizarry and my Blue & Gold teammate, Tyler Horka. ... As for TV with Pete Byrne, we did not do one this week, because of the bye, but they're on Monday nights during the news. Thanks for asking. Now to your football question, the offensive line play WAS the biggest and most unpleasant surprise of the night for me, because it never got better.

Brian K, South Bend

2:39

Eric! I have not heard you on WSBT Weekday Sportsbeat in the last couple weeks. Have you moved on from that show now that Darin is gone and you were inserted into the new format with competitors on the ND beat? Also what day(s) are your WSBT TV spots with Pete Byrne? Now onto my football question...what surprised you most at Miami? Was it OL poor play, lack of DL /pass rush or something else? Thanks for your input and for hosting weekly chats, your legion of fans greatly appreciate your dedication!!

Eric Hansen

2:39

Suzanne, I don't see a question in there, but you seem mad and apparently not at me, so I am relieved.

Suzanne - Miami

2:38

Hi Eric, I would like to comment on the horrendous tv coverage. Seemed like all commercials with a little football thrown in. instant reply was either non existent or delayed. Going back in after long commercial, play would have sometimes started. Lots of chit chat rather than calling the on field action. Disappointed in the loss, really wanted to win this one!

Eric Hansen

2:38

Hi Mike/Mo. The positive side of having those RPO decisions put in his lap, theoretically, is that Carr is a fast learner and now he'll make better decisions on those in each successive game moving forward. With a new QB, there are short-term and long-term investments made. So I don't think the answer is more structure. The answer is more film work during the bye to make sure he maximizes the lessons from Miami.

Mike AKA Mo from Maumee OH

2:36

Hi Eric- was Carr given too much free reign with the RPO's? Given the low number of offensive plays run, he seemed to be slightly pass-happy. And Carr having more rushes at 11 than either Love or Price.....does Denbrock need to structure the offensive plays more for Carr against A & M? Having said all that, I was incredibly impressed with Carr's talent & poise in his first game- I was expecting more of a Jimmy Clausen-like first game.

Eric Hansen

2:35

Mike, the best guesstimate on Jagusah is October. The track record with him has been quicker than expected recoveries.

Mike, Phoenix

2:35

Eric, Do you know the only person that can hold Michael Jordan under 30 points? Dean Smith. The only guy that is holding Love and Price down is Denbrock. Both guys most likely going pro after this year. Maybe use them appropriately. Price doesn’t touch the ball in 2nd half. Love didn’t touch the ball after TD vs NIU! What are we doing? Ok, mini rant over. When is Jagaush due back? Go Irish ☘️

Eric Hansen

2:33

You know it just struck me, I didn't answer one of Bob Gorman's questions. He asked me about maybe 2026 was the year for optimism? I wouldn't give up on this year. As for future years, it used to be easier to project, but now with the portal — incoming and outgoing — and players who might leave early, it does make that more of a challenge. I think 2026 does look good on paper, but I still like the potential of this team.

2:31

Hi Bill. Thanks, I think LOL. First the email thing. I kept my old email, but here's a warning. When ND loses, the volume is off the charts. I have 149 from today alone I haven't had a chance to open yet and I don't think any of them are offers to share $1 million if I am willing to share my bank account info. The texts and missed calls add up too. As to how to ask Bob a question on the postgame shows or his new weekly Tuesday night show, send me an email and I'll give you step-by-step instructions. I'll put you at the top of the list. Your question about the silent count is one I'd like to ask Marcus when we get him on Monday.

Bill from St Joe, MI

2:27

Hi Eric! Congrats on taking the under on ND procedure penalties Sunday night. Surprisingly, at least to me, ND had zero false start penalties in that environment. I would have liked to have asked Bob Morton on the post game show if the “silent count” at least partially contributed to ND’s O-Line’s poor performance but I don’t have a clue as to how to do it. I also can’t figure out how to send you an email at your new gig. However ,, say you regarding the necessity to go to the silent count?

Eric Hansen

2:26

Ciao Paul. Styles Prescod came in for LT Anthony Knapp late because of an injury. Guerby Lambert and Sullivan Absher rotated at RG, Lambert played 33 snaps and Absher 27. Lambert had the slightly higher PFF score, though both struggled mightily in pass protection. And I don't think the rotation helped at all.

Paul from Knoxville, TN

2:24

Ciao Eric: I'm just jumping on the chat, so my apologies if you have already addressed this question. I'm curious why several different O lineman reportedly played, as I recall your stating that O line is a unit where mixing and matching is not usually beneficial. I recognize there may have been an injury or dehydration issue for one of the lineman later in the game, but it seemed like 2-3 came in off the bench. Do you assess this may have had an effect on line play? Thank you for hosting the chat!

Eric Hansen

2:23

Some can be attributed to unfamiliarity with Miami first=year DC Corey Hetherman's scheme and how that was modified to fit Miami's players, and yet maybe only initially. Miam didn't have the same issue for long with ND's first-year DC. I do think Riley Leonard ran ND out of some O-line mistakes last year. The tackle play, though, was shocking. Schrauth was OK, second among OL and sixth among ND offensive players. But he's better than that. A lot to clean up during the bye week.

Sam from Charlotte

2:20

Eric, always appreciate your excellent insights. Why do you think Wagner, Schrauth and Knapp were much less effective against Miami than they were late last season and in the playoffs? Miami’s line is that much better than OSU’s? They miss Rocco? Thanks for your thoughts

Eric Hansen

2:19

Ryan you picked two of the strongest performers by the Irish in that game. I think there's a lot to build on from both of them.

Ryan Frankfort Illinois

2:19

g afternoon Eric what do you think about the play of CJ Carr and Jalen Stroman GO IRISH ☘️☘️☘️🏈🏈🏈

Eric Hansen

2:19

Hi Tom, the rule is clear that the ball is to be blown dead when the ball carrier is no longer advancing. So then it becomes a matter of gray area. How long does that take? But I agree, there were a couple of times I thought the whistle should have blown, and then it was tush-push and a first down.

Tom F, Kennesaw, GA

2:15

Hi Eric, like all Irish fans I was disappointed about the Miami game, especially how soft the defense's pass coverage and the lack of aggression on the OL. I said it when he entered the portal that I was concerned about the lack of leadership when Pat Coogan left. He seemed to be the one who lit the fire in that group. I feel like the A&M game is an extremely important game for this team and this season!!!!!!!! Now to my question, which really was frustrating for me: when is a runner's forward progress considered stopped??? There seemed to be several plays where we had the runner stood up and stopped. No forward movement. Then the Miami OL was allowed to get up, circle back behind the runner and push him 4-5 more yards. I applaud second effort by a player but many of these plays seemed to go beyond just a player fighting for more yards. What is the rule? Or, is it a judgement by the officiating crew?? Go Irish!!!!

Eric Hansen

2:13

I think the biggest problem is scheme and the players becoming hesitant in that scheme when it wasn't working. The d-line plays with a different philosophy. Texas A&M's line is very good too and the Aggies also have a preseason All-American, so this will be a good measuring stick of how much the Irish coaches were able to fix over the bye week. But remember a lot of you all (not you specifically) were ready to put Al Golden in crate and return to sender after his first two or three games.

Irish Rob, Scranton PA

2:11

Eric, another season of Irish football is upon us, and it was not the start we had hoped for. Rather than try and parse every little thing that went wrong, I would like to focus on one area that I was disappointed in: defensive line. It seemed that Coach Freeman, who I have supreme confidence in to turn this thing around, was very complimentary of the Irish DL in the offseason, yet we didn't see the performance on the field. The DL got pushed around, quite frankly, in the running game, and there was almost no pass rush from what I assumed would be improved edge players. I know that Miami has a fantastic OT Francis Mauigoa, but I guess I just expected a better effort from the group. To what do you attribute this? Do we have a shortage of talent there after graduating fine players like Rylei Mills? It is a coaching or recruiting issue? That group has to be better for the Irish to run the table and have a shot at the playoffs. Thanks for your time!

Eric Hansen

2:10

Ron, I hope we can catch up at the Purdue game. Shoot me an email and we'll see if we can make it happen. The questions about why I specific play was or wasn't run usually can be answered by what the defense was doing and trying to maximize it. In this case, there were some other factors that came into play. You are starting a QB with four snaps and zero pass attempts against a top 10 team with two future NFL defensive ends and a defensive coordinator who's a blind date. Being predictable, at least early, is kind of baked into that formula. I am confident Denvrock's track record of growing offenses will show itself over the next few games.

Ron Dover

2:05

Hi Eric hope all is well despite Sundays ND performance. I was wondering what your thoughts if Al Golden was still DC would we would have adjusted our defense scheme quicker and adjusted to that little receiver who was burning the secondary. Also price ran outside the tight end for some good yardage and it didn't appear we tried to do that again any sense why they didn't try to do that more often? Seems MD was way too predictable and line wasn't opening wholes inside. I will be at the Purdue game maybe we can catch up if you are there.

Eric Hansen

2:03

Tony, you are in a large club. I did think Mike Denbrock made changes after the first quarter. I do think getting out of survey/spar mode into attack mode took longer than I thought. Perhaps the O-line woes delayed it a bit. But ND outgained Miami in the second half, 199-136 and yards per play 6.2-4.3. Most of their yardage (199 out of 314) and points (17 out of 24) came in the second half. To your point about Spindler and Coogan, Coogan got the team fired up, no question. But the No. 2 highest rated player in that game and best pass blocker by far as Ashton Craig.

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