JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 4, 2020 | 9/4/2020

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Sept. 4, 2020

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Eric Hansen

3:06

That's going to have to do it for today. Thanks for all the great questions and shoe compliance. We'll be back next Wednesday and every Wednesday during the season to do it all again.

3:05

Pete, thanks for the kind words and your questions. ND may be able to make it to the ACC championship game with two losses, but that's certainly not a given. I am picking them to go 10-1. The good thing about the receiver inexperience is ND doesn't play a defense that has elite athletes until October, when Kevin Austin returns. I like the talent and depth amid the inexperience.

Guest

3:01

Pete from Portage, mi. First time, long time! Love your coverage and insight on ND football. Have to say being a ND Usger for visiting team tunnel that I am super excited that as of now there is a season! With that being said, 2c questions. What does it say about this year's team that Urban Meyer is on ND bandwagon this year. We're finally getting pieces in place or above average ACC schedule where we could lose one game, maybe 2, and make three ACC championship game? Two, receiving core talented but playing time/ experience minimal. Will that hurt us this year.? Feel like the team has pieces set at on both sides of ball but WR crew makes me apprehensive cuz no particular go to. Thoughts?

Eric Hansen

3:00

Tim,I think there's only so much of that you can do. It's something I asked Jack Swarbrick yesterday, and he wasn't sure. I hope Brian can get to it on our Monday Zoom. I've been curious about it as well.

Tim in Tucker

what do you know or hear about precautions to keep position groups (i.e.: QBs, RBs, LBs) from getting COVID together simultaneously? It seems to be a logistical nightmare.

2:59

Eric, your to nsight is an island of fact in an ocean of “mythinformation” Keep on keep in’ on!

Eric Hansen

2:58

Hehe, thanks Tom. It's so different from any of the Ty Willingham or Charlie Weis teams ... even the good Kelly teams. Maybe 2018? Yes I think Kelly has evolved as football has evolved. I like this 2020 team a lot. it is not without question marks, but I still think it has a high ceiling.

Tom Kennesaw, GA

2:52

Eric, while we haven't played any games yet, does this 2020 team remind you of any other ND team from the past 20 years? I think BK has done a very good job assembling assistants that can recruit and then coach up those recruits. This has built up a roster filled with very good players and that really comes into play to make practices and scrimmages more competitive and effective. It seems BK and his staff have really improved their evaluation of HS players since he first took over at ND. Your thoughts. Thanks and have a great Labor Day Weekend filled with dogs, brats and beer. Oh, wait that's my weekend!!! Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

2:51

The Athletic recently rated all 76 teams playing this fall from 1 to 76, and South Florida came in at No. 70. I think that's a little low, but they did struggle on both sides of the ball last season. The new coaching staff should at least breathe some new energy into the program.

Victor Money from Vero Beach, FL

2:46

Eric, what kind of team do you expect USF to put on the field this year? Is this a sleeper game for the Irish, or is it safe to put that one in the W column? Thanks very much.

yawn

1

Eric Hansen

2:46

Jeremy, I'm going to have to check. When we get to USF week, I'll be sure to write about it.

Jeremy from Goshen, IN

2:45

Is there another option other than the USA channel to see the USF game on 9/19? Perhaps a streaming option?

Eric Hansen

2:45

Josh, I don't want to comment on someone else's reporting. Unless Kelly confirms it, there's always some skepticism on my part. So let's approach it more hypothetically. ND's best pass defense last year was it's dime package, six DBs, one linebacker, four down linemen. It may be a nickle this year, because do you really want to take Owusu-Koramoah off the field? In the dime, ND played three safeties and three corners. I think you could play McCloud, Bracy, Crawford, Hamilton, Griffith and Pryor together in those packages. ... Ot eliminate either Griffith or Pryor and keep Lamb and Owusu on the field. I like the two additions are running back. They have different skill sets from each other and the other backs.

Josh from Mishawaka

2:40

Kelly mentioned Crawford has been getting a lot of reps at the safety position and the analysis from Prister and O'Malley from Irish Illustrated is that Crawford is likely starting strong safety against pass happy offenses and Isiah Pryor likely getting the nod against more run oriented offenses. Tariq Bracy and Nick McCloud seem to be the likely starting corners. My question is with Crawford at safety who likely will be the starting slot defender than? And what are your thoughts on the two additional players being switched to running back?

Eric Hansen

2:39

Thanks, Bob. You might see an isolated case or two of that, but I don't think it would become a trend.

Bob,Royersford

2:38

Hi Eric, Do you think this current trend of players opting out continues even after the covid virus is history? I would hate to see the the sports top players being convinced by agents to just give up their final year of college. I think it will really hurt college football. Thanks for all your coverage of ND football.

Eric Hansen

2:38

Thanks Bill. I do expect ND's offensive line to be elite this year, and it should be. I don't think Jeff Quinn is as detail-oriented as predecessor Harry Hiestand, but then again, no one is.

Bill 1000 Oaks Ca

2:36

Lots of talk about last week about strengths of O line.Do you think Quinn is a detail oriented coach? False starts,offsides,holding, hands to the face etc, side tracked many drives last year.Do you expect noticeable improvement this year?Please stay safe Eric we need you to keep us sane!Go Irish!,GR8 news in NBC booth,,,

Eric Hansen

2:36

It's not that Austin Peay didn't emphasize the importance of long snapping. They had three of them, and all three were sidelined due to COVID-19.

Tom from Georgia

2:35

The very first game of the 2020 season was decided by long snapper issues. Brian Kelly deserves credit for emphasizing/prioritizing that position, eh?

Eric Hansen

2:35

I missed that comment, but I think I would read it as Option B. There is no way, especially against South Florida, Kelly would go for a full-house backfield, It literally turned him purple in 2011.

Michael from Chicago

2:33

Coach said in his last presser "Maybe we'll show you a play or two that reminds you of what it sounds like and I think our students will feed off of that". Any chance we could see a "full house" backfield with O. Ekwonu, J. Smith or B. Wright in that lead FB spot with two of the tailbacks? Or was he more referring to exciting/explosive plays in general?

Eric Hansen

2:32

I think we'll see more tangible evidence in the weeks and months ahead that the teams not playing in the fall are at a disadvantage, in part because of what trying to play in the spring could do to their 2021 fall seasons and in part because you don't get to watch those teams and plug yourself (as a recruit) into what you're seeing on TV. I think we've already seen some anecdotal evidence in these areas.

Pat from St Paul

2:30

Hello Eric, hope you are gearing up for a great Labor Day weekend with family! Curious to get your perspective on any potential advantages in national standing ND might have this year, related to recruiting, based solely on the fact they are going to play? I wonder if head to head battles against Pac10 or Big Ten teams might shift ND's way, any insight from Carter or the team?

Eric Hansen

2:29

As ready as Carter Karels is for Papa John's pizza (seriously, it's his favorite).

Jack from Oak Park IL

2:28

I have one highly technical question: Are you ready for some FOOTBALL ?!!! Go Irish

Eric Hansen

2:28

I wrote a story about that very thing right here:
Inside Kyren Williams' journey to the top of the Notre Dame running back depth chart
https://www.ndinsider.com/football/inside-kyren-williams-journey-to-th...

Frank from st louis

2:27

We here are excited for Kyren Williams starting at running back. But it does seem odd that he was redshirted last year to work on his game and now is the #1 RB. Are the other backs who were ahead of him not progressing to satisfy Coach Kelly’s expectations or has KW just made a giant leap?

Eric Hansen

As far as the bare feet, we'll let it slide today.

2:26

I had a chance to ask Brian Kelly about it in a Zoom earlier this week (one of the questions I did get in) and here is what he said re Mickens:

"I really like Mike. I like the way he teaches. He’s got a great style that’s unique in that he’s a really good communicator in terms of what he wants from you every snap. And when I say every snap, I don’t necessarily mean every scrimmage snap, I mean every rep. Every single practice rep there is some form of communication as to what he wants from you.
There is a lot of dialogue. There’s a lot of teaching, but we’re moving as well. This is not a situation where we’re talking and slowing things down. We’re getting a lot of intensity through repetition, but there is communication always and I really like that about Mike."

2:24

You recall correctly. There were a lot of questions. There still are, but there are more answers, and I big reason is new cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens. He has a track record of getting young cornerbacks to play at a high level, and he's starting to show that at ND.

Alex from Jackson, Missouri

2:20

Currently violating the bare feet rules from sunny Destin, Florida! There may be no answer to this since you haven’t seen practices, but are you more or less comfortable with the corner back situation that you were after last season? I recall you saying that was more than likely one of the weak points of this team.

Eric Hansen

2:19

Jim, thanks and blessing to you all as well. ... I definitely will be listening to more NBC broadcasts this year because of our rotation. I am excited about Tony Dungy's addition to the broadcast team, because I respect his football knowledge and respect him as a man. My constructive criticism of Doug Flutie is that he seemed to rely too much on being Doug Flutie. If he was doing deep research, it wasn't apparent in the few broadcast I did hear. I think he owes that to his viewers.

Jim, Oakwood,OH

2:19

Peace and blessings to you and your family for continued good health. I know you don’t normally “listen” to the NBC broadcasts while you report on the games - 1) will this year be different since you will rotate in & out of the press box... and 2) it seems like the addition of Coach Dungy to the broadcast crew is a big and welcome upgrade from his predecessor, your thoughts? Be well.

Eric Hansen

2:10

Thanks, Gabby. I didn't go down that road with him. And the Sept. 19 game actually has to be played for the other games in the series to become a reality. When we get to USF week, it'll be a good time to address that with him. Thanks for the reminder.

Gabby - Dover, Del

2:09

Thanks for all of your hard work, especially this year. Did you get a chance to ask the AD about how South Florida ended up being the school added to the schedule this year and when he thinks ND would play the road game in this series?

Eric Hansen

2:08

Rocco Spindler is as intelligent as he is talented. These are his honest impressions, and they could happen. But football is filled with surprises, and you just never know. He did his homework and is happy with his decision for a lot of good reasons.

Michael from Chicago

2:06

Apologies if you already covered this but I took note of some interesting quotes from a Rocco Spindler interview about his committment: "Some people say that coach Quinn hasn't developed guys, but if you look, he has developed two and three-star guys at small schools and he really hasn't got his own guys until now." "For how young he is, I don't believe he's going to go anywhere soon. I believe he's going to be at Notre Dame for the next five to eight years." (about Rees). "Coach Kelly, I believe, will have a five-year extension. No word is out yet, but I believe that is going to happen." Is this company line or do you believe/know there is more to those stories?

Eric Hansen

2:05

The NCAA Football Oversight Committee came out with some guidelines for winter/spring football yesterday in terms of max number of games played (8) and when the season had to be concluded (April 17). The Division I council will vote on those recommendations in less than two weeks. Unless the Big Ten and Pac-12 started in October and finished in December -- which doesn't appear to be in the cards -- there's no way for them to be included in the College Football Playoff mix.

Denny from Liberty Hill

1:58

There seems to be some talk of the Pac 12 and Big 10 trying to get seasons underway earlier than 2021. These were some of the biggest crybabies to exclude Notre dame from the playoffs recently because we didn't have the "Thirteenth Datapoint"! Your thoughts on including them if they get in a 6 or 8 game season ending inline with current active schools? I say the shoe is on the other foot.

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