Chat Transcript: Irish O-Line what-ifs, Hartman's effect on ND's other QBs
Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, Frozen Tundra Edition.
Some quick programming notes:
► Our Inside ND Sports Podcast presented by Dead Soxy records on Thursday this week. So be sure to look for it on our homepage or on your preferred podcast platform including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Podbean and Pocket Casts. If you missed our last episode, Chad Grier, Irish QB Sam Hartman’s former high school coach. discussed Hartman's decision to transfer to Notre Dame rather than enter the NFL Draft, what the Irish are getting in Hartman, what he can get out of the Irish, how he'll adjust to ND's spotlight, how Hartman developed into an elite quarterback, why he was underrated in high school, why Hartman wears No. 10 and more.
► Tyler James and I have introduced our new weekly offseason Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps. In our latest episode, we debate Notre Dame’s top 12 players heading into spring football and break down all the latest news on the recruiting front. When you can’t catch us live, you can watch us anytime during the week, as the show keeps its shelf life going through the entire week.
As for today's chat ... please remember to include your NAME and HOMETOWN along with your question(s). No 17-part questions. No manifestos.
Here come the rules.
I'll suspend the "no bare feet" rule today if you're in a climate that would allow that.
Off we go.
Jeff from Phoenix: Hey Eric, really enjoyed the Football Never Sleeps this week, and I even heard there is a prop bet for your next broadcast as to whether your button-down dress shirt will be blue or white. Ha. But seriously, my question is around 2 OL that are on the top player list, Alt and Fisher. I would give them a 80% and 50% chance, respectively, of leaving after next year, is this reasonable? And if both leave, how would this impact the need to take more OL recruits for this 2024 cycle? By the time Alt and Fisher decide, wouldn’t it be too late for recruits so how might ND navigate this situation? Thanks!
Eric Hansen: Jeff, I'm just relieved the prop bet isn't whether my button-down shirt will feature a spaghetti sauce stain or a BBQ sauce stain. Whew. ... And I think I had a gray shirt on last night... but thanks for the compliment and for watching. ... I think your percentages might be a little high, especially with Blake Fisher, though one great season could change that. One thing to keep in mind, since the NFL Draft opened its doors to underclassmen in 1989, there have been 22 true juniors from ND to take advantage of that -- the latest being TE Michael Mayer. NONE of them so far have been offensive linemen. But let's say both of them do go, it's not about getting a 2024 recruit in to replace them. It's about developing the next great ones over time. So if/when Joe Alt and Fisher leave, the most likely to step up in those spots will be either vets Tosh Baker and Michael Carmody (if they're still around) or rising talents Aamil Wagner and Charles Jagusah. And there's always the portal. I'm willing to bet there are some elite linemen who'd love to get a season in under Harry Hiestand.
Eric from Goodyear, Ariz.: Any word yet on the GA replacement for laryngitis?
Eric Hansen: Eric. I don't know if that was autocorrect or a nice stab at humor, but both work for me.
Marie from Atlanta.: Hi Eric, I hope you’re having a fantastic week. How big of a loss do you think James Laurinaitis is, and what do you think ND will do to replace him? I realize he was only a GA, but he definitely had name recognition and in listening to recruits they definitely were impressed by him. As both Washington and Golden seem to be a little weak on the recruiting side, do you feel his departure Will have a big negative impact on recruiting? Do you think ND tries to bring in another person with name recognition to help fill that void? Thanks so much for keeping the chats going in the off-season. I look forward to your insights and thoughts.
Eric Hansen: Hi Marie. I've got a good furnace, so it is a good week here. James Laurinaitis is headed to his alma mater, Ohio State, for a similar position there. He was an unusual GA, because of his age, his NFL experience and his injection into the recruiting process. There's no question he made an impact in several areas, which allowed Al Golden to focus on the bigger picture with the defense. I had similar questions regarding this move that you have and I ran them by a couple of people in the business I respect. The consensus we came to is that the most important element of the replacement is being a great teacher. Whether that's a big name or someone you've never heard of is secondary to that. A big name with that quality wouldn't hurt, but sometimes that's a gamble. Laurinaitis was. Sometimes elite players aren't the best teachers or even good ones. Laurinaitis turned out to be pretty good and pretty invested. He'll be missed.
Curt Warsaw, Ind.: Eric, am I crazy to be excited about Hartman? My take is he will be around better talent then he has ever been. Our receivers have to be excited about his down field throwing. It should open up the running game.
Eric Hansen: Hey Curt. If being crazy is an issue for you, excitement over Sam Hartman is not a symptom of that. I think there's good reason to be optimistic about what he can do to boost the Notre Dame offense. We're going to have a chance to interview him Friday, so stay tuned.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hello Eric, For the 1988 Notre Dame National Champion team there was a need on D to find a pass rush and be strong against the run. Enter LB's Michael Stonebreaker and Frank Stams (converted fullback often a down end) Chris Zorich, Boo Williams and Jeff Alm. None of whom were all season starters in 1987. This 2023 team needs to do the same. There is enough talent to do something similar with the defense. The 2023 offense should be even more talented. This team in 2023 should and needs to play well from from the start. There are several heavyweights and ultra talented teams on the schedule along with many quality opponents. Two questions, you have stated that this year will be a test for the Freeman development model and show how well this staff can develop a group of talented players. Do you think the staff is capable of doing what the 1988 staff did? Even with all going well a very good ND 2023 team could still lose 2 - 3 games. Do you agree that the sched is that tough?
Eric Hansen: Hi Len. Football has changed a lot since 1988, so while the concept of engineering a big leap in performance is very much alive, the methodology is different. So to your questions. I think the strength of ND's defense is going to be its cornerbacks and maybe the entire defensive backfield. Linebackers could surge. So it really comes down to defensive line development and I think there is something to prove there for the coaching staff if that can be done. But in fairness, let's see some spring practice first before making any conclusions. Perhaps year 2 in the same defensive system will coax some surprises and surges. As far as the schedule, ND lost to Marshall and Stanford last year and spanked Clemson. I think this team has a ceiling to be in the playoff discussion in spite of the schedule, but I would like to see some spring practices and see what the unknowns look like before I go out and make a W-L prediction.
Dan, Grand Rapids Mi.: Hi Eric, Hope all is well with you. Do you think there will be any disruption in the QB room now that Hartman is here? If he is indeed the starter, will Buchner be ok with it? What about the other qb's, and who are the best WRs for him to throw to? I tried to keep it under 17 ?????! Math was never my strong-point! Thanks as always for doing these chats!
Eric Hansen: Hi Dan. All good here, thanks. All the quarterbacks knew ND was going to be looking in the portal for a potential starter. The one who had a problem with it is at Arizona State. Sam Hartman is one and done, so he wouldn't affect the timetable for Steve Angeli and Kenny Minchey to compete to be the starter -- or CJ Carr for that matter. He does affect Buchner's timeline. But I think Hartman will be very good for Buchner's development long term. And if Buchner sees it that way, he'll stick around and be in a good position to be the starter in 2024. Best WRs to throw to, that's a storyline that will unfold in spring. I think this is a deep group, but I think Jayden Thomas is WR 1 right now, with Tobias Merriweather the big ascender in spring, transfer Kaleb Smith a surprise and Jaden Greathouse the best of the freshmen.
Frank from Royse City Texas: Eric, thank you for doing these chats!! My question is do you think ND will seek another Receiver in the portal? I feel ND needs a Safety, DT and a proven transfer WR.
Eric Hansen: Frank, thanks for being a part of the chats! Barring injuries, I think the likelihood of an addition from the position groups you mentioned when the May portal window opens would be 1 Defensive Tackle, 2 Safety, 3 Wide receiver. ND has 10 receivers, so to add an 11th would mean one of these scenarios: 1. You'd be adding a sure-fire starter with elite skills. 2. You lost someone contending for a starting spot to injury or transfer. 3. The five new additions (four of whom are here this spring) are developing slower than expected. 4. Some combination of the above.
That's an astute observation regarding the safeties, especially if there's an injury. Xavier Watts, DJ Brown and Ramon Henderson make up a solid top of the depth chart. But transfer Thomas Harper profiles more of a nickel defender than an every-down safety. And leaves your depth as freshmen and/or players who may move from another position group.
Aaron, Washington DC: Hey Eric, I hope this finds you and your family well. Why do you think ND came up so short on the transfer portal for d-line? I thought Anthony Lucas would be a slam dunk as well as the guy from Western Michigan. I assume ND wanted more than just the one defensive line transfer from Ohio State. If academic credits are the issue, I would expect Coach Freeman to be incredibly frustrated. His hands are tied. The position group was such a strength with Elston and now it seems very fragile and perhaps becoming a concern.
D-line has obviously had huge disappointments in recruiting also -- Keeley's defection and now the Scott delay doesn't look good. Coach Freeman rightly says that this is a o-line and d-line driven program but that looks shaky on the defensive side (both in personnel and player development). Why is ND struggling so much with transfers and recruiting? What do you think the corrective action should be? Is it an institutional ND issue? As always, thank you for your time
Eric Hansen: Hi Aaron. Thank you for your question. There's a lot to unpack here, so I'll try to simplify. The pool is smaller at ND for portal pickups, notably smaller than it is proportionally in high school recruiting. How to expand that and still keep the academic folks happy is an ongoing discussion. But at least it's being discussed. There's not a closed door there. NIL also plays a role in some transfers. Both legit NIL opportunities and non-legit acquisition frees. I don't know why Anthony Lucas would be considered a slam dunk. ND was a finalist out of high school, but not his second choice. Recruiting elite defensive linemen is tough. I don't think there's a corrective action other than doing a great job of developing the ones ND already has and showing those recruits that development.
Tom Kennesaw, GA: Hi Eric, thank you for expanding your media to give us even more great coverage of ND Football. Now that the NFL coaching carousel is in full swing do you think the NFL still has any interest in TR as an OC?? Are you aware of any other attractive college OC openings that he might be a candidate?? What grade would you give him for 2022?? I'm thinking a B-. While there were certainly some D or F performances, the Offense did do enough to win 8 games with what I would rate a below average QB (sorry but he had a lot of weaknesses). How he develops TB remains to be seen but that must be considered too. Thanks and hope the rest of the winter is better than what you have had so far. Go Irish!!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Tom, and thank you. Sorry to hear about the passing of Tom Schoen, who was at ND, I believe, when you were. ... Tommy Rees has NFL connections and yeah, I think, he'd generate some interest. Not sure at this time if it would be as a coordinator. More realistically a position coach. I don't think he's going anywhere with Sam Hartman here for 2023. At the college level, you'd think if he stayed in the college ranks, he'd be looking to be a head coach rather than a lateral move. I think your B- is fair. I think getting Kenny Minchey late in the recruiting cycle and adding Sam Hartman through the transfer portal, probably boosts his final grade. There's a real opportunity for Tommy to raise his profile in 2023, given the talent he has one offense this season.
Tom from Sister Lakes: Hi Eric, Here's a topic for a slow period: player safety. I've been concerned for a few years now that head injuries could eventually change the game of football as we know it. Now, thanks to a rule change a few years ago, the Bush-push is legal and players can push their teammates forward from behind. This has led to the latest version of the qb sneak that looks like a rugby scrum. And then we have downfield ball carriers being stopped by a db but simultaneously pushed by his linemen. I'm waiting for a db to get seriously hurt when the mass of humanity bends him backwards. I know fans get a kick out of this but I believe it's also dangerous for player safety. Your take on it?
Eric Hansen: Tom, it's not something I've given a lot of thought to -- that scenario specifically -- when it comes to player safety. I do think college football is making significant strides overall in that area when it comes to the rulebook and with equipment such as the new guardian caps on practice helmets. I'm sure if the powers-that-be study that and deem that there is an injury trend, they'll take a harder look at the rule.
Ced Walker from Saginaw, Mich.: Can't wait for spring practice winter workouts going great with matt balis we need a great spring practice from phillip riley, ryan bo barnes, chance tucker and justin walters god bless the golden standard rally we are nd go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us
Eric Hansen: Ced, all four of the players you mentioned have tough paths to find significant playing time. The one of those who's probably best positioned and had a good December was Chance Tucker.
Neil Hiemstra: why not try Spindler at DT. He is third on OT and I belive he could become another J. Tillery at DT
Eric Hansen: I feel like I've been asked this question by many people over and over ... or could it be the same person "Neil"? My answer remains the same. Rocco Spindler will be a junior in 2023 with sophomore eligibility. He is much closer to being a starter at offensive guard than he would be at defensive tackle in 2023. The defensive line needs a proven, experienced addition, not a project. On top of all that, it's not a move I see Spindler being enthusiastic about.
Guest: Is CJ Carr good enough to start as a freshman. Will that cause a quarterback problem for Minchey and Buchner?
Eric Hansen: I rarely take a question that lacks a name and hometown. In part, I did so I can plug the story I did on CJ Carr recently: Feeding the fire that fuels QB CJ Carr's big talent and bigger dreams ... I think it'd be more realistic that Carr competes to be the starter in 2025 than as a true freshman in 2024, given the alternatives.
Clint from Winnipeg: Can you explain the James Laurinaitis move to essentially a lateral position? I recognize OSU is his alma mater, but he also is stiffing his good friend who gave him the opportunity to get into coaching. I would understand the move more if it had been to a full-time coaching position, as was discussed with Wisconsin.
Eric Hansen: There are a lot of people who see this your way, but going home is a huge pull for many coaches.
Dave from DC: During Brian Kelly's tenure, he often brought in guest/motivational speakers during the Spring and Fall camps to talk to players about various topics. Do you know if this is something Coach Freeman and the football office will continue?
Eric Hansen: Dave, he's already done that. And he's really kind of one-upped the concept with having the football alumni return for the week of the Blue-Gold Game. There were nearly 300 of them and it wasn't just to take in the spring game but to mingle and mix with the players.
Jason from Grand Rapids, Mi: Eric, I read on message boards that Freeman was telling players like Aidan Keanaaina there would be no playing time to encourage a transfer. I hope this is just message board fodder and not Freeman working to get certain players to leave. It gives me a bad taste in the mouth. I'm hoping the conversations are more like it was with Pyne and he opted to transfer. (Jaden Rashada did commit to ASU) today. Have you heard any reliable facts on this topic? Thanks!
Eric Hansen: Hi Jason. Notre Dame, as it typically is at this point on the calendar, is way over the 85-scholarship limit. By our count it's 94. This isn't new in terms of roster management. Starting around 2016 Brian Kelly and his staff would have conversations with players after the season about their expectations and goals for the following season .., and the coaches would weigh in as well. A typical conversation would be the player expressing a desire to win a starting spot in the spring and saying that they'd strongly consider a transfer if they didn't win the job.
Now would ND not offer up an option to return? That can and does happen with players who will leave with a degree in hand and are not invited back for a fifth or sixth season. But not with underclassmen. Aidan Keanaaina is GOING to be a senior with junior eligibility. I heard the same rumors you did and I'm convinced no underclassman is being told there's not a spot for them. Could he or someone else be physically compromised to the point where a medical hardship is recommended? That happens almost every offseason. I'm not sure that's the case with him. But the bottom line from talking to people inside I trust, the scenario you painted isn't happening.
Tom from Grand Rapids: Happy Frigid Wednesday Eric!! Now that this program has a full year under the new coach, and system. Would you go through, and give your critical eye grades to each coach, along with the overall grades for the Offense /Defense. Plus pick one item you would like to see addressed by each side of the ball. Appreciate your tireless work, and GO IRISH ☘️
Eric Hansen: Hi Tom. I think we did that on a recent podcast and admitted perhaps I'm too easy of a grader. Tyler James recently did a piece in which he ordered the assistant coaches from 1 to 10. One, Brian Mason, was easy. So was 10, D-line coach Al Washington. I think where it gets tricky is 4-9. Tyler had Al Golden No. 9. I would have had him higher. And this factors in recruiting as well. As a whole, I think this might be the best recruiting staff I've ever covered (I was not on the beat during the Holtz/Cerrato years). On the field, I think it's a strong group with room to improve. Where I'd like to see improvement on offense is a downfield passing game that opens up everything else. I think we might finally see that in 2023. On defense, I'd like to see ND be elite against the run. I need to be convinced that will happen in 2023.
Jcricc, Chester, N.J.: With regard to D1 Scholarships offered to athletes, what “out of pocket” expenses could a recruit be expected to cover during his/her four years of attendance?
Eric Hansen: When the NCAA instituted cost of attendance stipends roughly eight years ago, it really minimized out-of-pocket expenses, including some travel. NIL money has helped out even more.
Guest: Who are the best athletes on Notre Dame’s defense?
Eric Hansen: Off the top of my head, I'd say Jaylen Sneed, Drayk Bowen, Ben Morrison, Xavier Watts, Joshua Burnham, Rylie Mills, Christian Gray. ... Micah Bell, when he arrives in June, may be the fastest.
Len from the Jersey Shore: No more questions. I just wanted to complement you, Tyler and Kyle again for doing such a good job getting information out.
Eric Hansen: Really appreciate that.
Eric Hansen: OK, for the first time I can remember in a long, long time, I emptied the queue. Thanks for all the great questions. Be sure to check out our coverage this weekend as we get to interview all four transfers who are in school this semester on Friday. As for the chat, we'll take a break next week and return on either the 15th or the 22nd.
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