JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat May 8, 2024

Notre Dame Football Live Chat May 8, 2024

Eric Hansen

2:40

OK, that's going to do it for this week and likely until June unless we have major breaking news. Thanks again for all the great questions. If you are a subscriber and you have a question, you can always hit me up on The Insider Lounge between chats ... or ask a question on our podcasts or our Football Never Sleeps show on YouTube.

2:38

Hi Mike. Thanks for the compliments. If there was a question there, I'm sorry it didn't make it through.

Guest

2:38

Mike from Santa Barbara: Eric, thanks so much for the superb work that you and Tyler do throughout the year. Your objective and dispassionate commentary are a refuge for all ND fans. Your podcast and the chats are a hih

Eric Hansen

2:37

Wow, what a zinger at the end. Beave, thanks ... but I'm not sure I'm understanding the time frame you are asking about ... like preseason looks at opponents or the week of the game? In either case, I start with the metrics. That helps me ask the right questions. I ask people who cover the team for their insights. And if I've seen the team play, that factors in too. You get insights too from the ND players and coaches. But for me watching multiple game tapes would not be a good use of my time, given how little I would extract out of that beyond what I already have done in other ways and how full my weeks already are.

The Beave. Grand Rapids MI

2:34

Eric: You and your staff have great (and increased ) access to ND football. You watch practices and interview the coaches and the players to help those outside of the program with your analysis. Those on this chat appreciate the depth of knowledge you possess and convey to us daily. Curious as to your process for your “deep dives” of ND opponents. Without coach and player access until after the games, where do you get your best information? Are the statistical metrics you cite your go to? Do you get and watch the “coaches film”? Do you change you sunglasses and stand on the opposing team’s sideline? (Sorry Michigan fans).

Eric Hansen

2:33

Hi John. I'm not sure where you're suggesting we put that, but we would want to be complete if we did undertake that. And that's more of the issue. Some players are open about their GPA, they academic progress and their majors, and some are less forthcoming.

John P from Redding, CA

2:31

Thank you for your knowledge and insight surrounding everything ND football. As an alumni, I feel like we have so much focus on football statistics and we neglect academics nowadays; moreso than in years past. Do you think Tyler or Charleston could add a couple of columns to your spreadsheets, to list each player’s major, progress toward completion, and their GPA?

Eric Hansen

2:31

Hi John. Yes and no. No, because I think ND is a team that will grow into its potential. especially offensively, as the season progresses. So there's a chance ND would lose that game and run the table and make the playoff. Yes, because ND needs to be a better road team and winning that game gives it a margin for error to drop a November game and still make the playoff. Losing to A&M and in November (to Fla St. or USC) makes that a tougher task. If the ND O-line holds its own against Texas A&M's front seven, that will be a very good sign.

John Walled Lake

2:24

Hi Eric, how are you doing. Do you think that the Texas AM game will set the tone for the season in a positive or negative way depending on a win or a loss?

Eric Hansen

2:24

Hi John. It's not on the front burner at the moment, but I like to keep in touch with him. He has settled in a Brown as the safeties coach there.

John - Elkhorn, Ne.

2:22

Hey Eric - are you still planning to do an up- dated story on Zibby? Thanks!

Eric Hansen

2:20

As for Loren Landow, now that there's a body of work out there, especially how different spring practices were formatted, I'd like to get a feel for his first months on campus and what he's learned and how he thought those spring practice changes worked out. I think your idea about how Denbrock/Golden interact work together is a very good one and I play to pursue that line of questioning at your suggestion.

2:18

Hi Tom. Let me address the chat frequency. After this week, I think I'll do the next one in June, since the players will be on break until then and we should start to get a flurry of news and access that month. I'll probably do at least a couple in July, and then go back to weekly mode in August. Thanks for being a part of these. ... I've got several coaches and players I'd like to meet with but will keep them close to the vest for now as not to put too much out there for my competition. Rest assured, I think you'll like who we're lining up. (more)

Tom Kennesaw, GA

2:11

Hi Eric, hope you are having as good a week as WBB and MLAX!! Go Irish!!! With summer sessions approaching will you have a chance to visit with the new Strength coach (since I think he is the only coach who can be with the players then) and if so what are some questions you want to ask?? Also, you usually have a long sit down with MF or some other coach/administrator during the summer. Who do you want to meet with this summer?? Denbrock?? Golden?? My question is how do the two of them mesh together and compliment what each is trying to accomplish?? Thanks for everything you do for us fans. Please find time for more Chats. Go Irish!!!

Eric Hansen

2:11

You are very unclear. The NCAA is involved in a lot of lawsuits and doesn't do well in court with most of them. I can't answer your question succinctly any more than I can explain the meaning of life in this format. But I've done many many many articles about ND's independence and what it would take to force its hand to join a conference. And none of those factors are currently in play.

Guest

2:08

I have read that the ncaa is being sued and this threatens ND’s independence. I am unclear about this, any insights?

Guest

2:08

Adam, FL,

Eric Hansen

2:08

At least baseball and lacrosse don't overlap as much as basketball.

2:07

Hi Andy. Thanks for the feedback. There is no NCAA rule or even an internal rule at ND that would keep that from happening. I think John Carlson was the last player to do so and actually play in games and that was 20 years ago. And he really didn't make an impact. I think with the year-round commitment to football and how deep the season goes with the playoff, it's a very difficult double to pull off. Marcus Freeman is open to two-sport athletes -- Jordan Faison (lacrosse) and Drayk Bowen (baseball), but it is really difficult to be good at both.

Guest

2:03

Andy from Wilmette: Thanks for conducting these chats. There is a great value in what you are doing for us. In the past, football players have been able to participate in basketball. You mentioned that one of the linemen was a good basketball player, and I said to myself, ND basketball should have taken him last year. Is there a rule these days that they cannot cross over to certain sports?

Eric Hansen

That feels like a sloppy answer. I hope I did your question justice in trying to boil things down.

2:03

Hi The Beave. Excellent question and one that might evolve quite a bit now that unlimited transfers just became legal. My sense is the dynamic will be different, to a point. In men's and women's BB, it's easier to cluster the talent on the elite teams, because one or two players can make a huge difference. Liatu King and Liza Karlen will for Notre Dame. But you need more bodies to do that with football, and the best teams are still leaning heavily into recruiting and developing HS players and supplementing with transfers. What is the net effect? Mid-Majors will have trouble breaking through as Cincinnati did a couple of years ago when the Bearcats hadn't yet made the move to the Big 12. I think at the Power 4 level, recruiting and developing high school talent still is a huge factor in who gets to the playoff and win games there, but the portal can't be ignored. What may create an additional gap SEC/Big Ten/ND vs. everyone else is if the revenue gap continues to expand.

The Beave. Grand Rapids MI

1:55

Eric: The recent articles highlighting the transfer portal additions to ND WBB show that in that arena, the transfer portal is allowing several elite teams to stockpile talent and distance themselves from the pack. It’s tough to be a mid-major in MBB and WBB and keep your elite players. What are your thoughts on whether the transfer portal is having that effect in college football? Or whether immediate eligibility and unlimited transfers is spreading out the talent as many players are unwilling to wait their turn to start on talented teams? Thanks as always for your thoughts and the chat.

Eric Hansen

1:54

Hi Barry. I think South Carolina provides a model for coaches to point to -- a deep team that did everything well (except shoot free throws) and could morph into whatever it needed to be -- guard-heavy, match up with size. There is an attraction for some players that being on a team with Final Four potential trumps guaranteed playing time. There is a culture of unselfishness on this team, and I give Maddy Westbeld credit for being one of the leaders who fosters that. By the way, Maddy will be our guest Thursday on the Inside ND Sports Podcast. We'll also be talking football later in the pod. So, if everyone is healthy, KK's minutes won't be what they were this past season. But her versatility -- ability to defend four positions -- will keep her in the rotation.

Barry

1:49

From the Bay Area. Hoping I can toss in a WBB question. Niele Ivey had quite the week bringing in a phenom HS recruit and two high profile transfers. Also got KK to return from portal, which is the crux of my question. Coach was assuredly honest with KK, but that is a deep team and minutes will be a premium. How does Ivey manage that locker room and keep players like KK happy with so much talent and only 40 mins per game?

Eric Hansen

1:48

Thanks Ed for the feedback on that story. I don't have a lot of detail on your question, but I know ND is very proactive in these areas. Usually the first week back in summer school, all kinds of speakers are brought in for different topics, including the one your mentioned.

Ed from Sayville

1:45

Hi Eric. I really enjoyed the story on the players that were able to utilize the summer to better position themselves for the upcoming season. Thanks for bringing that one to us. Quick question. Do you have any insight as to if the program is being proactive with respect to the many temptations surrounding the betting sites and the vulnerability of young people to get caught up in it? Thank you.

Eric Hansen

1:45

Hi Ced, Good question, and the number is probably lower than you might expect. But the transfer portal tamps down the need to play freshmen before they're ready or needed. Last season, there were eight who played beyond the redshirt threshold (four games plus the bowl game). Two of those players came to ND as walk-ons, Jordan Faison and Luke Talich. If there are no significant injuries, I would say that number would be similar -- both running backs, Micah Gilbert at WR, Bryce Young at DE, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa at LB, and at least one of the safeties as a special-teamer. So that's six. We're counting P James Brendell as a non-freshman unless we hear otherwise, given he is only guaranteed one year and no more than three. I would count on one surprise and one more player, like Drayk Bowen did in 2023, who gets a lot of experience on special teams.

cederickwalker

1:28

ced Walker saginaw michigan aka sagnasty Saginaw pride how many true freshmen do you see playing this season the here come the irish trust the process the golden standard rally we are nd god country go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us

Eric Hansen

1:28

HI Bob. I don't remember that being a concern that was going to linger. I will check on that, but it must have been very minor, I believe.

Bob (Oxnard, CA)

1:27

Any word on whether J. Greathouse was injured on the last play of the Blue Gold game?

Eric Hansen

1:27

Hi Patrick. I think the safety position outside of Xavier Watts was an area going into spring that was a concern and come out of it in really good shape. For me the three main areas beyond the O-line to watch in August are:
Can the Irish get elite quarterback play? Whether it's Leonard or Angeli, that's a big box to check off.
Can the wide receiver group continue their spring momentum? The Irish need a difference-maker at the field receiver position. Is Kris Mitchell that guy?
Can the Irish improve their run defense? They were a respectable 26th nationally in that category last year, but bent in big games and can and need to be better.

Patrick from Los Angeles

1:18

Eric, In addition to the offensive line coming together what other areas of the team need to exceed expectations for the Irish to make and advance in the playoffs this fall? Thank you for doing these chats.

Eric Hansen

1:18

Hi Jay. I think Chad Bowden's new role replaces what Butler Benton was doing and then some. So it's an expanded role with more responsibility of being a general manager -- even though it's not called that. I do not believe Dre Brown's position as director of recruiting has been filled as of yet.

Jay Dania Beach FL

1:16

ND recruiting seems to continue to move right along even with the departure of a few folks on staff (Benton and Brown?). Are those positions now filled or what additional resources does the player personnel/recruiting dept need to continue to thrive.

Eric Hansen

1:16

I think if/when Mark Zackery announced for ND, which is expected, the Irish will be done with cornerbacks for the 2025 class with three ... adding to Cree Thomas and recently committed Dallas Golden. I know they're still trying to add one more safety in the 2025 class to Ivan Taylor and Ethan Long, and the priority target there is JaDon Blair.

Adam, FL

1:10

Do you think we will be done in the secondary if/ when Zachery announces?

Eric Hansen

1:06

Hi Tim. I think it's great to think outside the box so kudos, In this case, I think you might have ventured a little too far out of it. With Rod Heard II joining the roster in June and sophomores Adon Shuler and Luke Talich having transcendent springs, you're asking Mickey to go from being cornerback No. 2 or No. 3 to safety No. 5. And safety overall is the deeper position. CB needs bodies. I would keep Mickey at CB.

Tim Ozark, MO

1:03

Sorry if this has come up before. Why is Jaden Mickey not moved to safety? I know neither position is very deep (as far a ready right now guys) but everything I hear about him says safety. He's a downhill player, he's aggressive, etc. Those seem like traits that would make him a prime candidate. Get him, Morrison, Watts and Gray on the field together.... look out. With that group you have room for 3 backers and 4 line. Best 11. Thoughts?

Eric Hansen

1:02

My other reason for optimism is these are talented players who were coveted by many top programs. The people with an eye for O-line talent -- Ryan Harris, Bob Morton,. Mike Golic Jr., Tom Lemming are all impressed with the individual skills. Now it's a matter of how good can they be TOGETHER. And how soon? If Alt and Fisher or even just Fisher were back, I'd feel more confident.

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