JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 19, 2019

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 19, 2019

Eric Hansen

3:03

I sincerely apologize, but that's going to have to do it for today. I still have more content to produce and can't extend the chat. Thanks for all the great questions, including the many I just couldn't get to. We'll be back to do it all over again next Thursday at noon EDT.

3:01

Now. Now.

Tom from Virginia

3:01

Did Greg move from Oakland and change his name to Jeff?

Eric Hansen

3:01

Jay this is an excellent question I can't possibly get into in this setting. Too much depth. Too many details. I did write about how this trend was starting to change in the big magazine piece I did on Kyle Hamilton for our mag. If you're an NDInsider Premium member, you can read it, and it will answer a lot of our questions. Here's the link:
https://www.ndinsider.com/premium/football/notre-dame-s-elite-freshman...

Jay from Chicago

2:57

Eric, despite consistent top-10 to top-15 recruiting classes, my gut feeling is that ND has trouble recruiting at a level on par with the nation's very elite (i.e. Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, etc.) Can you point to particular roadblocks, other than geography and academic standards, that ND faces on the recruiting trail? I am struggling to understand why the unique benefits of ND, specifically their unmatched national appeal, cannot overcome these difficulties with the nation's top players. Do you think ND can ever return to a level of preeminence that they once held?

Eric Hansen

2:57

Sam, thanks. We usually have a news side reporter do something with that if we do anything. It does conflict with my pregame radio commitment, and generally the games when they show up are so big on their own that the Gameday angle gets kind of lost. ... Might be fun if I could do a behind-the-scenes kind of thing with them at some point. ... Wildcard offense: Avery Davis. Wild card defense: Daelin Hayes.

Sam from Philly

2:49

When ESPN Gameday is at an ND game, do you ever partake in the circus of it all? Or is it all business and game prep on your end? Also, any wildcard players for ND on offense or defense you could see making unexpected impacts? Thanks for all you do to keep us informed!

Eric Hansen

2:49

I want to say Kyle Hamilton, but I'm not sure Edman has that kind of upside. ... But I can't think of another blend of youth, impact,etc.

Mike from St.Louis

2:44

Tommy Edman is to the St.Louis Cardinals....that _____________ is to the Notre Dame football team?

Eric Hansen

2:43

I think journalists tend to root for noon starts, enough outlets in the press box that you can plug in your laptop, great angles for replays, grub that won't give them food poisoning (it happened once), and a great story. There are people you come to admire and respect for who they become and what they overcome. But when the game's on, you're an observer, not a cheerleader. I'm not sure how you'd have credibility otherwise. And I certainly don't want that when I'm reading about my favorite team, the St. Louis Cardinals. I want insight, not gushing.

Don Phoenix

2:39

Irealize as a reporter you need to be objective and not "root' for a team even though you are with them throughout the year. That said do you find yourself rooting for players and if so who on past teams.

Eric Hansen

2:39

Doug nice to hear from you. Absolutely, the Balis hire has made an incredible difference, not just in strength but in the areas of sports science that help with injury prevention and recovery. Drue Tranquill would have missed multiple games last year under the old regime.

Doug, Coeur d Alene Id

2:37

Hey Eric, IN 2017 when the irish played the Bulldogs was that the first game after a full S@C program under Balis. If so do the players now look to be in better condition? ND must win the turn over battle.

Eric Hansen

2:37

Ha. I think Kirby Smart is a really good coach. Not sure there's a lot of room for outsmarting him. Better execution on the field would be the thing BK needs to hope for. Again, start with turnovers. ND HAS to have that advantage.

Rob from Oakville, Canada

2:35

Hi Eric, really appreciate your work! Any chance the Irish will get caught looking ahead to Virginia? Just kidding. I think coaching could make a big difference. How do you think Coach Kelly can outsmart Coach Smart?

Eric Hansen

2:34

We're about to find out. Coming into this season, he had faced one top 50 defense as a starter -- Clemson. That doesn't mean he won't perform well. it's just there is a very small sample size.

ed from palm beach

2:33

Listening to so called experts you would think ND was playing the Patriots this weekend....while GA is a very good team this season's early games are no indication of each team's status this year.....the team that stops the run is the winner...unless ND did not showcase any running diversity in opening games I would be concerned....my question is do you think Book can finally breakout against a top defensive team

Eric Hansen

2:33

A couple of points. Notre Dame under Kelly has played four top 5 teams. Just four. And the Irish are 0-4. Certainly not impressive, but kind of misleading. None of those games have been at Notre Dame Stadium. In fact, until the Irish beat a No. 8 Stanford team by three TDs last September, every top 10 team Kelly faced had been away from Notre Dame Stadium. So there's that. Georgia is 3-6 against the top 5 during the Kelly years. Two of those wins were by the 2017 Bulldogs, who won by a point in South Bend.

Matt-Atlanta

2:24

Eric , I know you are high on Kelly but the talk in Georgia is pointing out that he has never beaten a top 5 team ,has only beaten top 10 teams a very few times in his career and ,contrary to when he was at Cincinnati , has a hard time getting ND to play up - do you disagree? Thank You

Eric Hansen

2:19

Charlie, in ND's dime package Kareem, Okwara and Hayes are on the field at the same time. Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa slides over to nose guard. Jack Lamb is the lone linebacker in that formation. Ther six DBs are Kyle Hamilton. Alohi Gilman, Jalen Elliott, Shaun Crawford, TaRiq Bracy and Troy Pride Jr. Love that look on defense, but you have to get teams in third down for it to be most effective.

Charlie, Dom. Rep.

2:16

Is our secondary good enough to load the box on almost every 1st and 2nd down and still be safe from Fromm? I don't see any other way to stop the Georgia running attack. Relatedly, are there any defensive formations where we have Kareem, Okwara and Hayes on the field at the same time?

Eric Hansen

2:16

just a quick note, if you're question is about shortcomings on short yardage or Georgia's obvious advantages in run offense/run defense, I think I've answered those two questions — which are very good questions — is thoroughly as I can at this point. So I'm not ignoring you, just trying to provide more of a variety of questions at this point.

2:12

Brent. He played 16 Saturday against New Mexico. With the new redshirt rule, it's easier to do that. I don't think there's a reluctance. If someone like Kyle Hamilton or Jacob Lacey or Kyren Williams warrant it, you'll see them on the field.

Brent

2:11

Elkhart, IN. Thanks Eric for these great chats, and your offerings to ND Football. What are your thoughts on Coach Kelly's reluctance to play more Freshmen? It seems others around the country are utilizing their freshmen class very successfully, yet, here at Notre Dame, they don't get much of a shot, or are red shirted.

Eric Hansen

2:11

Third-down defense with the dime package and passes to Chase Claypool.

Keith from Kalamazoo

2:10

What are a couple areas where you feel confident that ND can have some success against Georgia on Saturday?? I hope this isn’t a repeat of 2017 Miami where the team looked shellshocked in that environment

Eric Hansen

2:10

Bill, I'll have to give that a closer look in reviewing games, but I hadn't noticed that when I watched him in practice. Wish I had a better answer for you.

Bill from St Joe, MI

2:09

Chase Claypool is quite the stud receiver… but I’m wondering if you think he has trouble adjusting to a ball thrown straight over his head on a “fly” pattern, similar to a ball hit directly at a center fielder…I noticed it twice last week and I don’t believe looking back at the sun was a factor. He adjusts very well to the ball on a slant route. Continue to appreciate your expert coverage of ND both in print and the radio!

Eric Hansen

2:09

I think Book and Avery Davis need to be ND's top two rushers in this game to harbor those hopes. ... How's that for an answer Manny??????!!!!!!! I do love your attitude about playing in these types of games is what makes college football great.

Manny from San Pedro

Eric. Who needs to lead the Irish in rushing if they hope to pull the upset. I think it has to be Book but Book because he ran for 150!!!!!!!

2:07

Eric!!!!! I am excited for the game. I know people would rather play ball st 12 times and go undefeated but I believe this is what makes ND special and fun

Eric Hansen

2:06

They should be zeroing in on Ian Book. He's the most pivotal player in the game for Notre Dame. We'll learn something about his ability to cover up — or not — deficiencies elsewhere on the team.

Ken- Pensacola

2:05

Eric- Recent press coverage of the DAWGS, say they are zeroing in on Ian Book. How does ND use GA's apparent defensive strategy to turn the tables and win this game?

Eric Hansen

2:04

Johnathan, I think on the surface, your argument makes sense. What's overlooked is that Georgia has recruited so well, they have more play-and-play players, have more quality depth, have more margin for error. This is a big game for Georgia too. You could argue they've been on a part recruiting with Alabama and Clemson, but don't have the big wins as a payoff yet.

Jonathan in Hideaway, TX

2:02

Last year Georgia went 2-3 against teams finishing in the top 25 (Bama, LSU, Texas, Florida, Kentucky). ND 3-1 (Clemson, Michigan, Syracuse, Northwestern). Georgia lost 7 players to the NFL draft this summer. ND 6. Georgia returns 6 starters on defense. ND 7 (counting 2017 starter Shaun Crawford). Georgia’s top receiver is a 6-3, 190 lb true freshman with 9 catches and a TD in 3 games. ND's a 6-4, 229 lb senior with the same numbers in just 2. Is there any objective measure that suggests advantage Georgia here? Because I think we're mostly hearing a bunch of unjustified, SEC-style hype.

Eric Hansen

2:00

I don't expect them to, but I do think those kind of scenarios exist. if it's going to happen, the Irish have to have an advantage in turnovers. Start from there and then you can build some possibilities. But I am not predicting an ND victory.

Dwight from central Arkansas

1:59

I listened to thePot of Gold audio on Tuesday with guest Gary Danielsen. His summary, "Jake Fromm (UGA QB) could play at "B" level and Georgia wins. Listening to DawgNation (Georgia football), "Bulldogs open as a 2 td winner, but it will be much greater than that." ESPN analyst, Greg McElroy, "Georgia will win decisively. Given the rushing yardage allowed by ND's defense in the first 2 games, Georgia could rush for over 300 yards which only opens things up for Fromm." He went on to say that ND doesn't really have a running game. (Georgia's o-line averages 6-5 & 328.) ND is a decided underdog just about anywhere you look/listen. Is there any scenario where you could see the Irish shocking the football world?

Eric Hansen

1:58

Sue, you are awesome. Yes, I think especially with some of ND's best playmakers on the sideline, Chip Long has to be creative, You can't depend solely on offensive wrinkles, though, but I think they need to be sprinkled in to help level the playing field. Now the important thing is executing them.

Sue Kovensky

1:56

“The Game” is finally here on Saturday night! Do you expect Chip Long to finally open the ND offensive playbook in the hopes of keeping Georgia on its collective toes? As a longtime fan in central Pennsylvania, I have not been impressed with the play calling thus far in ‘19. By the way, kudos to you for your exemplary sports journalism skills!

Eric Hansen

1:56

Not from an atmosphere standpoint, though that facet isn't going to be easy either. But 2019 Georgia is a better team and a tougher matchup than 2017 Miami.

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