Eric Hansen: Welcome to the post-Xmas/pre-New Year's edition of Notre Dame Football Live Chat.
Some quick programming notes:
► If you missed the last episode of our aspiring-to-be-viral Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps, it keeps its shelf life long after the live presentation. We’re back in our normal Monday at 7 ET time this week and next week. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube. We’ll also have two postgame shows Wednesday night/Thursday morning (Jan. 1/Jan. 2) on our YouTube Channel. Former Notre Dame O-lineman Bob Morton and I will team up LIVE shortly after the final whistle of Notre Dame-Georgia for Into The eNDzone, and we’ll take viewer questions live. Then Tyler James and I team up on Postgame Takeaways, which will be available for your Thursday morning viewing.
Related Content
► Notre Dame Football Transfer Tracker for 2024-25 offseason
► Notre Dame's WR run continues as clutch Wisconsin transfer Pauling commits
► Four-star OL Ben Nichols commits to Notre Dame football
► Multitasking Freeman, Notre Dame lure Virginia transfer WR Malachi Fields
► Notre Dame football continues transfer portal haul with TE Ty Washington
► Finally, at WSBT Sports Radio 96.1, we’re rolling toward Notre Dame’s College Football quarterfinal matchup with Georgia on Wednesday night. Darin Pritchett and I are together on Thursday and Friday this week leading up to the game on Weekday SportsBeat (96.1 FM, 960 AM, live streaming at wsbtradio.com). The weekday shows run from 5-6 p.m. ET. I’m also part of the Gameday SportsBeat crew, and the pregame show will run next Wednesday from 5-7:30 p.m. You can download all episodes, including the pregame shows, as podcasts.
As far as this week's chat …
PLEASE include your name and hometown with your question and please don't do it telepathically.
Here are the rules:
Eric Hansen: Rescinding the "no drinking" rule for everyone but me seems to have worked, so let's keep rolling with that.
I am caffeinating today due to car lag.
I hope everyone had a great Holiday. ... Now off we go.
Ken from Steel City, Pa.: Hi Eric, merry Christmas to you and the family! I hope you got to spend some quality time with your grandkids and family. Hopefully Santa was good to ya this year. Three questions this week: 1) Do you know if the team got any gifts for Christmas or what the team did to celebrate since they stayed in South Bend. 2) The Athletic thought that the injury to Mills is a game changer for the playoff run. I thought this about the injury to Morrison as well and we are still going strong. Can his production be replaced? What are your thoughts? Not asking you to comment on their work just the situation overall. 3) How impactful do you think the 3 incoming transfers will be, are they as good of gets as they seem to be?
Eric Hansen: Hi Ken, you gave me a lot to unpack, but I think two of these are on a lot of people's minds, and you asked them so well. So let's start with your question No. 2, about Mills and then work to the others ... and Merry Christmas to you and yours before my brain gets all into football mode. ... As I was walking back to my car after Monday's press conference that included news about Mills, I was chopping it up with The Athletic's Pete Sampson and Irish Illustrated's Tim O'Malley about that very topic. And you're right, I think there have been junctures where we've asked, OK, is THIS instance a bridge too far ... and it turned out not to be.
I am probably more optimistic than some of the others on our beat that there's still enough duct tape to get through this, but let's look at it realistically. It's not so much going from Rylie Mills to Gabe Rubio. It's going from Mills/Rubio to Rubio/Armel Mukam. And where the Irish will miss Mills the most is pass rush. His 7.5 sacks not only lead the team this season, but since ND win a national title in football in 1988, only two interior D-linemen have recorded that many sacks in a season or more for the Irish -- Jerry Tillery (8.0) during an All-America season in 2018 and Bryce Young's dad, All-American Bryant Young (7.5) in 1992. Per Pro Football Focus, Mills is ND's top pass rusher with a grade of 82.4. Rubio is at 57.9. Your also losing volume. Mills leads all Irish D-linemen in snaps with 539. Rubio has 181 and Mukam 60. Rubio's high in snaps this season is 34 vs. Army. So you're likely going to see Donovan Hinish rotate in at both interior positions.
As far as a tackling grade, the gap is smaller, but Mills is better than Rubio. The one thing, though, where Rubio really excels is run defense. Only injured defensive end Jordan Botelho has a higher season grade among Irish D-linemen than Rubio (71.1) Mills is (61.9). Mukam in a small sample size has really struggled. ... Let's go to your question 3 about transfers. I'll be brief here at this point and get into greater detail in some more specific questions. I think WR Malachi Fields would likely start at boundary receiver and Devonta Smith would be the starting nickel. Will Pauling is a guy who will be in the rotation, likely tag-teaming with Jordan Greathouse in the slot, but he could move outside. Ty Washington at tight end is a depth piece. ... As far as Christmas with the team, my reporting is lax there as I barely could keep up with Christmas with my grandkids and other family out of state. I apologize.
NWI_Irish96 from Munster, Ind.: How much can Georgia Tech's success running the ball against Georgia be a blueprint for how Notre Dame will attack that defense?
Eric Hansen: NWI, I wondered the same thing as I went back and looked at the games that Georgia lost or struggled in vs. the game the Bulldogs did not. And there's a lot to like in Ga. Tech's game plan given some similarities in the skill sets of Riley Leonard and Haynes King, Ga. Tech's quarterback. Tech outgained Georgia, 563-405 and outrushed them 260-108. And the games that Georgia lost, they were outrushed. And then ones where they almost lost, they were outrushed. And Marcus Freeman is 28-3 when his teams win the rushing battle and 3-6 when they don't. Now Georgia will learn from the Ga. Tech game and adjust, and I doubt Riley Leonard's rushing attempts will get up into the 20s as King's did in the 8 OT game that was tied at 27-27 after regulation. The RPO game has huge potential for ND. ND's receivers are going to have to step up too to make it work.
Mike from Rochester, N.Y.: Merry Day-after-Christmas, Eric!!!!! I hope it was a great one for you and the family! On FNS you talked about Malichi Fields’s track prowess. Is he fast enough to be a downfield threat at field receiver? Do you see him there or boundary receiver?
Eric Hansen: I think you could play him at either, but I think he helps ND more in the boundary. and keep in mind, ND has had really fast boundary receivers at times (not always) -- but think Miles Boykin and Chase Claypool. But 6-4, 220 with really good speed, I think that's his best spot, with Beaux Collins gone and quite possibly Deion Colzie and Jayden Thomas moving on as well. Micah Gilbert will likely be in the rotation as well. On the field side, Jordan Faison likely is your starter, with KK Smith, Cam Williams, Elijah Burress pushing behind him. Again, I think Pauling probably ends up in the slot with Greathouse and Logan Saldate.
Manny from San Pedro: Eric!!!!!!! Merry Christmas!!!!!!!! I hope you and your family had some quality time! I know mine did as we witnessed ND win their first playoff game in history!! So exciting!!!! I’m sure the chat will have a bunch on Georgia. So my question is the transfer portal. How does ND balance playoff prep and the Portal? Also is any of the qbs on the roster expected to transfer once we win their championship!!
Eric Hansen: Manny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas. We did, but it was quick. Almost felt like I had Christmas at a drive-thru window, but it was fun. ... I actually asked Marcus Freeman that very question on Monday. I'll give you a little more depth than he was able to provide in a press conference situation. ND starts compiling names and scouting reports on every position group way back in the summertime. Matt Jansen, ND's director of scouting, leads that along with GM Chad Bowden. That's not knowing what the needs will be and who will actually be in the portal or not. By the time the portal opened on Dec. 9, the Irish knew exactly who they wanted to target and whether that player was a potential fit in all ways. So the balance is getting your homework done early. You hear that kids, who want to wait ’til the last minute ... like I used to? As far as QBs, yeah there is a chance ND could lose one or more outgoing. The window closes on Saturday, BUT there will be a five-day window after ND's playoff run ends, whether that's in New Orleans, Miami Gardens or Atlanta. There's also a 10-day portal window in April. So, I don't want to speculate, but I would not be surprised if one leaves eventually.
KP South Bend: With Rylie Mills now out, what is up with Jason Onye. We could sure use him now!
Eric Hansen: Hi KP, Jason Onye's last game was in September and hasn't been practicing, so his return wouldn't help. For those not following as closely, Onye has been out for the last eight games for personal reasons. But if he opted to return to football and to ND in the spring semester — and he would be welcome — that would be a big boost for 2025.
Kevin from Sleepy Eye, Minn.: Eric Hansen!!!!! Let’s talk about weekly practice time schedules. With the CFP last week, did all schools have finals last week? Did both Indiana and ND have the same amount of practice time?? And now moving forward in playoffs; how is practice time regulated? Go Irish!!
Eric Hansen: Kevin!!!!!!!!!!!! Strong exclamation point game ... but Manny is the king still. ... Not all CFP schools had exams last week, as ND did. IU was scheduled to, but I don't know if their team could take them early. Georgia’s were Dec. 5-11, so they've been done for a while. With school out, the NCAA's 20-hour rule does not apply, but keep in mind more physical practices at this time of year doesn't necessarily mean better. Where ND can take advantage of this is meeting time, film reviews, recovery and less stress and multitasking.
Gus from Lakeside Park, Ky.: Hi Eric and Happy New Year.Why would ND “settle” for a TE like Ty Washington? His production has been minimal and it sounds like there issues in his past that could be disruptive to one of the most stable rooms in the program.Great atmosphere Friday night. Maybe we need a gimmick for the fans at all home games.
Eric Hansen: Hi Gus. It was a GREAT atmosphere. And I think even with the uniqueness of the event feeding into that, there are some lessons that can be learned about what to do and what NOT to do to liven up game days during the regular season. ... Notre Dame wasn't looking at Ty Washington to be the next Mitch Evans, as I understand it, but a depth piece to go along with Eli Raridon, Cooper Flanagan, James Flanigan and Jack Larsen. Kevin Bauman has a sixth-year option, but it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't exercise it, given all he has been through with injuries.
As far as potentially being disruptive, colleague Tyler James notes in his Christmas Day story that the redshirt sophomore tight end was dismissed from Arkansas in late October for what head coach Sam Pittman described as a violation of team rules. In that story, Tyler expands on Washington's side of the story. So I'll let you read that. What I can say is Marcus Freeman's not going to take someone he considers as a risk. And while ND did not recruit Washington out of high school. Mike Denbrock and Gino Guidugli did when both were at Cincinnati. In act, UC was one of the three schools that hosted him on an official visit. So there is a connection there.
Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric, I hope you had a very merry Christmas and got to enjoy some time with your family. Word down here in the South is that Stockton has been splitting first team reps with Rashada . Do you think there’s any chance UGA might start Rashada instead of Stockton? I think he did get some playing time in Arizona State. Which of the two quarterbacks poses a bigger problem for Notre Dame? Assuming it is Stockton who starts, What would be his strengths and weaknesses against Notre Dame? The Mills injury is devastating, of all those that will be filling in. Who do you think needs to step up the most to make the biggest difference? Finally, can you give us a comp for Malachi Fields? What are his strengths, and what does he need to work on? As always, thanks for hosting the chat, especially the day after Christmas and for all your great insights. Hoping you have a fantastic new year capped off by a Fighting Irish victory.
Eric Hansen: Merry Christmas, Marie. You're pretty plugged in, but former Arizona State QB Jaden Rashada hasn't played a down this season and is now in Georgia's depth, with Carson Beck's season-ending injury, so it makes sense for him as the No. 2 to get some No. 1 reps in case something happens to Gunner Stockton. I would expect Stockton to start and I think playing a QB over him who hasn't had a game snap in 2024 wouldn't be a smart move. Stockton, prior to the SEC Championship Game, has played about as much for Georgia as Angeli has for ND. And I think what he did against Texas probably is the most telling. He was considered a dual-threat QB coming out of high school and I think ND is going to see more of that aspect than what Georgia has shown with him.
The gap in PFF rating is staggering and probably distorted between Beck (81.2) and Stockton (57.6). For comparison's sake for ND it's Riley Leonard 85.6 and Angeli 82.9. Georgia has an advantage in that it can run some stuff it hasn't all year with Stockton and has had the time to get good at it. ND has the advantage of game-planning for Stockton, where Texas didn't necessarily spend much time on him. ... I touched on the Mills situation off the top, but it's going to take a village so to speak ... More Cross, more Hinish, more Rubio, perhaps a vyper kicking inside on passing downs and a linebacker playing vyper on those same downs. ... As far as Fields, I want to see more of him over the next few days, but there are some similarities to Miles Boykin in terms of size, speed, physicality. Happy Holidays, Marie.
Mike K from Costa Mesa, Calif.: Will SEAN SEVELLANO play ? . Is R. SPINDLER hurt ? . Is ONYE coming back in the spring ? . Thank You & HAPPY NEW YEAR !
Eric Hansen: Happy New Year, Mike. It's hard to keep up with all our content during the holidays ... but Rocco Spindler right now is listed as questionable (ankle). Sam Pendleton would start if he's unable to go. I don't know whether even Jason Onye knows right now what he'll be doing in the spring, but he is welcome back. Freshman Sean Sevillano Jr. plays nose and not DT, but with Hinish maybe doing double duty, maybe he elevates and gets a few snaps, but my sense is that rotation is going to be pretty tight in the interior. Look for him to make a move in 2025 ... up the depth chart that is, not moving elsewhere.
Jack from Strongsville, Ohio: Hi Eric. On FNS you and Tyler both thought that the Carson Beck absence would be more significant than Rylie Mills. I have to respectfully disagree because I believe the next man up for Georgia is better than the next man or group up for Mills. My questions. Based on your 5 key metrics, how does Notre Dame and Georgia match up. Second, how much home field advantage will Georgia have in playing in the Sugar Bowl. Have a great New Year.
Eric Hansen: Hi Jack. You can respectfully disagree, and you may be right. That question hurt my head, so it wasn't an easy choice for me. ... So, I am using the numbers as they looked on Selection Sunday, Dec. 8, and not the reshuffled version with the four playoff games and several bowl games figured in. Now keep in mind how tough Georgia's schedule is ... but ...
Rush offense: ND 10, Ga 98 (not a typo)
Pass efficiency: ND 38, Ga 30
Run defense: ND 51, Ga 36
Total defense: ND 9, Ga 35
Turnover margin: ND 2, Ga 62
In the BCS/Playoff Era (1998-present), no team has won a title without being in the top 25 in at least three of those categories. Georgia hits zero of them.
Just for comparison, here's Georgia's 2021 and 2022 national champs, respectively, in rush offense, pass efficiency, run defense, total defense, TOM:2022: 19-6-1-10-66; 2021: 36-4-2-2-49
Bill from St Joe, MI: Eric, where can we find your 5 metrics which compare Georgia to ND…and perhaps all the remaining teams in the playoffs?
Eric Hansen: I'll give you all 12 teams in a bunch of significant offensive/defensive categories as the playoff began on Dec. 20. This also includes 2023 national champ Michigan's numbers:
Don from Scottsdale, Ariz.: Eric, hope Christmas was great for you and your family. Hoping the New Year starts with ND keeping the season alive. What's been the biggest surprise with this year's team? The biggest miss? Thanks for all the content. You and Tyler keep us well informed.
Eric Hansen: Northern Illinois has been the biggest surprise. As far as good surprises ... not counting Anthonie Knapp winning the left tackle job, I'll pick something in season ... and that's what Leonard Moore has done replacing Benjamin Morrison. I knew he'd be good. He's been WAY more than good. Biggest miss ... I assume you're asking in the context of my expectations? I thought the wide receivers would be more dynamic and consistent. As far as a miss not of my expectations, I think ND thought they'd get more mileage out of the RJ Oben transfer. And thanks for the compliment.
Chris in Albuquerque: Happy New Years to you all!
Eric Hansen: Happy New Year, Chris. Thanks, easiest question of the day.
JoeP from Los Angeles: Merry Christmas to you and your family, Eric. Blessings and best wishes to you in 2025. I'm sure everyone is asking about the absence of Mills. Really heartbreaking for the team, but especially for that young man. My question is, with you now serving as ND's defensive coordinator, do you load the box with 8 to stop the run, leave one deep safety and rely on your young CBs to shut down GA's average-at-best receivers?
Eric Hansen: Joe, Al Golden differs from a lot of defensive coordinators, because he doesn't like to sit in that look, and to his credit. He'll mix it up. And Georgia is the most imbalanced, as far as pass heavy vs. run, in the 12-team field. But who will they be with a healthy Trevor Etienne and a QB with some running skills? I would test that young QB to see if he can carry the offense with his arm, but not at the risk of giving up explosive plays. So for me, it's about giving him lot of looks and different pressures to confuse him, rather than loading the box. But I like the way you thought that out. And Merry Christmas.
If I forgot to wish Happy Holidays to anyone, it's that sometimes my football brain takes over my manners brain ... so here's to all if I missed you.
Dennis2forus: HI Eric Im from Wilkes Barre, Pa. I'm 77 yrs old and I enjoy everything you write and the information you give us. I've been a Notre Dame fan since I was 10 yrs old. I just want to thank you and wish you and your family a great Christmas and New Year. God bless you and your family and Notre Dame. Go Irish. Dennis
Eric Hansen: Well Cheers to you, Dennis. You made my day. Good bless and happy holidays!
Tom from Toronto: Hi Eric, I hope that Santa was good to you. Presuming that ND is successful in taking care of Georgia, the game will probably not end until around 1:00 am. If they take a flight home early that morning ND could be looking at another low energy day against their next opponent al la NIU. Would you ask Coach Freeman whether the team could afford to stay another night in New Orleans? The players/staff might enjoy a late morning/early afternoon stroll around the City, eat a few beignets and then fly home. What do you think? A good idea, or one whose time has not yet come?
Eric Hansen: Hey Tom. There's nothing I value more than family and friends ... and good health. And so, I'm very grateful I hit that trifecta with Santa. ... There is more flexibility in the travel schedule, because there are no classes to rush back for, and yet it's "only" eight days between games. If Marcus asks my opinion, I will fall over. But I would vote with you if he did. He does have a sports science team and they go over all of that, and I'm sure they've already got that figured out.
Mike from Rochester, Minn.: Hi Eric. I would like to know your thoughts on why Mitchell Evans has not played a greater role in the Irish offense this season. Is he still not fully recovered from his injury? Thank you.
Eric Hansen: Hi Mike. There are layers to that answer. ... A lot of players don't come back from an ACL tear before the one-year mark. Evans hit the one-year mark in late October. So he has played eight games by then and had some physical and mental hurdles to overcome early in the season. There was also the issue of little chemistry with Riley Leonard. They didn't have spring ball together — and only Riley was healthy in the summer, so that took some time to develop. You also had an offense that was trying to develop more dimensions to it, including a QB running game and involving the wide receivers more. Evans did not have a good game against Indiana, but he still is ND's second-leading receiver this season, with 31 catches, and he still could turn out to be a key player in the Playoff games moving forward.
Bob from Oxnard, Calif.: Merry Christmas season, Eric. Do you think UGA’s front 7 is the best we will have seen this year? I thought A&M and even Indiana’s front 7 was actually pretty impressive.
Eric Hansen: Hi Bob. Athletically, I would take Georgia's front seven. But there are elements of other teams -- A&M's edge players, for instance, I like better. And certainly Georgia's defense didn't function as well as some teams ranked well above them in defensive categories that admittedly didn't play the same level of competition -- IU, NIU, Army, Miami (Ohio). I thought Indiana's front seven functioned pretty well. But I think there are fault lines in this Georgia defense that the last three Ga team did not have. So we'll see if ND can take advantage. And Merry Christmas.
Joe from KC: Hey Eric, hope you had a Merry Christmas. Where would you say the biggest area of concern is for ND going against UGA? This certainly feels winnable at many levels but won’t be easy.
Eric Hansen: Hi Joe. ND has played better elements of what Georgia has on its roster at various times this season. But not all on the same roster. And that's what you start to see in these playoff teams, just more complete teams, less flawed, better athletes, but maybe in some cases not as cohesive. Even if Georgia beats ND, I do not think it is a team that will win the national title. I think the teams that are most difficult for ND to match up with are in the other side of the bracket.
Bob D from Cordillera, Colo.: I thought the Indiana coach acted strangely on Friday- overconfident bravado on Game Day, overly conservative on Kickoffs and punts with fair catches and a “ deer in headlights “ pacing on the sideline. Was he this overmatched by the occasion?
Eric Hansen: Hi Bob. I do not think he handled the big stage very well. I think ND was the better team, but the coach didn't help matters. And in my opinion, Curt Cignetti does have a lot going for him for the future at IU, but he can get in his own way with the grating smack-talking.
Robert from Dunedin, Fla.: Eric- Merry Christmas from Florida's west coast!! I am interested on your opinion regarding establishing a Commissioner for College Football. NIL/Pay for play is here to stay, but would some semblance/limits in what teams are/can spend perhaps a prudent consideration for the overall competitive trajectory of college football? While spending the most may not always equate to titles, I think statistically those who do will be playing for one than those who don't. What do you feel should happen to help promote the competitive health of college football in the future?
Eric Hansen: Hi Robert. Can we pick up this conversation after April 7 when we SHOULD have more clarity about exactly what the next stage of this will look like? This is a GREAT topic, but pretty broad, and you deserve much better than an off-the-top-of-my head answer. And I deserve to see more info ... but let me try to give you a stocking stuffer or two and not just a lump of coal or and ugly sweater that's itchy as all get-out. It does look like teams will have caps in terms of direct school payments. That's a good thing. I think a commissioner is a good idea that won't be picked up on. And I think it would matter WHO that commissioner is. But I think the SEC and the Big Ten have so much power now there's not a lot of incentive for them to embrace that concept. There's also some antitrust advantages, as they've been explained to me and my tiny brain, that make decentralized decisions a better option. o thanks for letting me kick off and take the ball in the second half. And Merry Christmas for Indiana's non-coast.
Tom from Evanston, Ill.: Hi Eric. I am curious how Rocco's replacement graded out in the Indiana game. I certainly understand the difficulty in coming in cold, but it sure seemed like things went backwards (literally and figuratively). Also, do you think Denbrock did enough schematically to account for the changed dynamics?
Eric Hansen: Hi Tom. It was almost a push. Very similar grades for Rocco and Sam Pendleton. Rocco had the better day run blocking, Sam with pass blocking. I would prefer a healthy Rocco Spindler, but I like the fact that Sam Pendleton has started seven games, even if they came on the left side. And I don't think Mike Denbrock altered the game plan.
Roger from Peoria: Eric: Just 364 days until Christmas, but who's counting? Hope your last one (yesterday) was special. The teams which recruit the better athletes typically populate the postseason. Starting with the 2020 classes, Georgia has ranked #1, #5, #3, and #2. The Irish #22, #9, #6, and #11. Indiana #48, #62, #17 and #69. Indiana may have made up some of the difference with a #19 2023 Portal Class compared to the Irish at #38 and Georgia at #56. These rankings suggest why the Irish downed the Hoosiers, but also suggest the Irish will be at an athlete disadvantage against the Bulldogs. If the Irish win, what do you think will enable them to bridge the gap? Superior analysis of recruits? Better coaching? Better team chemistry? Pure luck? Thank you for your chats and let's hope when the calendar moves to January 2, 2025, the Irish will be undefeated for the year!! Go Irish!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Roger and thanks for doing all that math. And recruiting does matter and so does the portal. But it's not the whole picture. I'll answer your question, but let me preface it with ... the 2020-23 class rankings for Michigan 18-9-10-11 don't scream national champion, and those rankings or runner-up Washington even less so (24-89-42-19). Yes, the transfer portal matters a lot, and not in sheer volume necessarily, but fit and need. Thirteen of IU's transfers were from James Madison, for instance, so they knew Curt Cignett's systems. Look at ND, not high volume, but look at the impact the transfers have made, including Jordan Clark at nickel, who's kind of overlooked. Another factor is retention. It's one thing to get the No. 1 class. It's quite another to keep them. And Marcus Freeman has done a good job of keeping the players on the roster who can help the team to a playoff and in a playoff, including players who deferred their NFL dream, like Cross, Mills, Watts, Kiser, etc.
So yes, what can overcome overall talent differentials? Generically speaking, strategy, culture, cohesiveness, taking advantage of where you do have matchup, being mentally prepared for the big stages. Georgia's turnover margin has bitten it this season at times and at times they played a clean game. ND winning that category will be huge if the Irish can.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hello Eric!!!!! A quick three questions. Before the season started I thought the ND D-line had the best mix of proven talent and depth. The list of players who have missed games from that group is too long for this forum, and that's scary. IMO besides the normal things like win the turnover battle, ND offense needs to finish. Georgia gives up yards but seems to win despite that. Second, when Georgia lost, or in their close game against Kentucky, their O was one dimensional. They could not run on Alabama or Ole Miss and just cleared 100 yards against Kentucky. Can our depleted D line, against a GA QB who can run, be able to control the run? Third, in addition Georgia seems to have difficulty stopping a running QB especially in the Alabama loss. How many times will Riley run in the Sugar Bowl? Hope you Christmas was great and thanks for hosting.
Eric Hansen: Len!!!!! Happy Holidays and thanks for finding me on a Thursday. One of my sisters last night made the best stuffed shells I've had in a long, long time. Yum. ... And maybe I am having some kind of Xmas hangover, because I am seeing two and not three questions, so let me answer the two I do see and I apologize for missing the third. ... I wrote in my column after the IU game about Marcus Freeman's vision three years ago about wanting to be an O-line/D-line-driven program and that that team showed up in his biggest game. And if next Thursday we're chatting about ND's playoff semifinal matchup Jan. 9 in Florida, we're going to be having a similar conversation. Can they win the rushing battle? I am predicting they will, not confidently, but I am predicting that Al Golden will cobble things together. How many times will Riley run? His season high is 13 vs. Louisville. His career high is 18 against ... Notre Dame in 2023. My sense is 11 or 12.
Mike from Columbus, Ohio (yes, a stranger in a strange land). Long time reader, very rare poster. Appreciate you, Tyler, and the team. Many sites to subscribe to – but chose only this one. Best journalism (analysis, objectivity, and writing). Keep up the good work. An important program measurement coming up. How do we stack up now? What are your best reasons (1-3) for hope and what are your reasons (1-3) for worry? Thanks.
Eric Hansen: Mike, thank you. Can we adopt you, as an agent or even a relative? Let's start with the biggest reasons for worry ... 1. Georgia's talent level/athleticism. 2. Georgia's coaching and experience in big games this season and in postseasons -- they are battle tested even if they have a couple of scars. 3. Rylie Mills' injury. Reasons for optimism? 1. ND has coordinators on both sides of the ball who can play chess at the line of scrimmage and make in-game adjustments at a high level. 2. Marcus Freeman has this team wired the right way mentally for playing at their best on a big stage, not tiptoeing there. 3. There are some matchups where ND aligns well with Georgia.
Don from Scottsdale, Ariz.: Thanks for answering my question. Interesting with NIU as the biggest surprise, and it was. Even though Coach used it as a reminder, each win diminished the loss. Prior to the season I thought it would be 11-1 with a loss to USC. The 11-1 with the NUI loss early on was a significantly better outcome for the year.
John from Scottsdale, Ariz.: Eric, thanks for hosting this chat on the day after Christmas and here’s hoping you host three more before the Irish are done playing this year. On a scale of 1 to 10 how good a job has D Line Coach Washington done this year? Has he met your expectations?
Eric Hansen: Thanks for the follow-up, Don ... now to John, ... Are you guys hanging out together?
Eric Hansen: John that's tough. I am not going to include recruiting in my numerical grade. But given all the injuries and shuffling and Bryce Young's rise, I'll give him an 8 on your scale.
Matt from Kansas City: Happy Holidays. Everyone is asking about the playoffs and injuries I am sure, but I will do my quick five looking ahead to the draft and next year just to change things up. 1. Next year who is going to lead our LB core? (they are so good this year). 2. Is it possible Jadarian Price is actually a better NFL prospect than J. Love? (both are amazing). 3. Next year's O-line, do you think it will be just dominant if we are healthy and does Knapp or Jagusah play LT? 4. OK, Bryce Young, where do you see him next year and in the future? He seems like an absolute physical freak with a high end motor. 5. Super Bowl pick this year, which two teams?
Eric Hansen: Happy Holidays, Matt. I will do this lightning-round style, since I am way into overtime. 1. I think it will be similar to this year, with a deep rotation and if you had to ID a leader, I'd give that to Drayk Bowen, but I think KVA is going to be electric. 2. Nope, nope, nope but yet both are amazing. 3. Elite O-line next year if they can avoid injuries or being abducted by aliens. Not sure yet who the best LT would be. I want to run that by some people who are way smarter than me about O-line play. 4. I see him as the starting field end next year who may be an inside player down the road, but I like him on the edge. 5. My tunnel vision until college season is over is going to make me look like I live on another planet, this is an awful guess . ... so go bet on whatever I don't say. but ... I'll be boring on one side and not boring on the other KC vs. Washington.
Eddie from Honolulu: Aloha Kalikimaka Eric!!! Longtime admirer of your approach and analysis over the years. I admire your ability to sort through the chaos, keep your feet on the ground, and head cool. One of my favorite metrics you previously used to put context around disparate statistical performances was when you compared the performance of ND’s recent OC’s and DC’s relative to how they stacked up against their opponents’ season averages. (I believe you did this to compare defenses called by Diaco, BVG, Elko, Lea, Freeman and for offenses called by Kelly, Denbrock, Long, Rees, and Parker). Although maybe not a small lift, but could you do similar analysis how this year’s playoff teams have performed against opponents relative to averages that those opponents have allowed over the season (or at least those on ND’s side of the bracket)?
Eric Hansen: Eddie, thanks for the question, and you're right 39 minutes into overtime, that's a life that's going to take quite a while ... But I love that idea and will try to put it in a story as we lead up to the game. Thank you for the great idea and I hope you'll come back another week and ask me another good one.
Eric Hansen: And on that note, I do need to end it here. Tons of great questions, including some I couldn't get to. I'm going to pencil in a chat for next Thursday at noon ET, but I'll alert you via social media and insideNDsports.com once I work through the logistics. Happy Holidays, everybody.
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