Chat Transcript: Addressing the pressing Notre Dame O-Line questions
Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, back on Wednesdays for the rest of the season.
Some quick programming notes:
► If you missed either of our last two episodes of our aspiring-to-be-viral Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps, I think it’ll be worth your while to play catch-up. Last Thursday we launched our season predictions episode. Then Monday night, we were all about news, notes, our takes and Notre Dame vs. Navy in Ireland. We’ve settled into a regular time slot for the season after moving around all offseason — Monday nights at 7 ET. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube.
► On this week’s Inside ND Sports Podcast, we caught up with the starting right guard of the last Notre Dame team to open its season in Ireland (2012) — against Navy, no less — Mike Golic Jr. On the episode, Golic, Tyler James and I discuss that experience, the challenge of jet lag before and after the game, what Golic wants to see from new starting offensive guards Pat Coogan and Rocco Spindler, the importance of center Zeke Correll, the learning curve for the offensive line, what excites him about the 2023 season for Notre Dame, the program's rivalry with Navy, quarterback Sam Hartman and more. The podcast can be listened to via SoundCloud or on your preferred podcast platform including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean and Pocket Casts.
► And, finally, thanks to all who have given me feedback on my return to WSBT radio as a co-host with Darin Pritchett on Weekday SportsBeat (960 AM, live streaming at wsbtradio.com) on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the 2023 Notre Dame Football season. I'll also be co-hosting the pregame shows with Darin. The weekday shows run from 5-6 p.m. ET. This week’s pregame show starts at 11 a.m. ET. You can download episodes as podcasts.
As far as this week's chat … Please remember to include your NAME and HOMETOWN along with your question(s).
Here are the rules:
Eric Hansen: In honor of Ireland, the "no drinking" rule has been rescinded for this week. And in honor of the heat index of over 100 degree in South Bend later today, the "no bare feet" rule has been waived.
On to the chat ...
Paul from Toronto: Hi Eric. Is Offensive Line the toughest position to evaluate? In Joe Alt’s freshman season he was the third LT off the bench. As we know he turned out to be the best of the bunch. Why was it so tough to see his potential and is there any other Irish player at any position waiting in the wings who might be the next Joe Alt?
Eric Hansen: Hi Paul. Offensive line can be difficult to evaluate, because so much projection goes on in terms of players growing into their bodies and what that will look like when they do mature. Lots of people missed on Joe Alt coming out of high school as a three-star prospect, but he was tight end-sized at the time, and that was his position even though he was recruited as a tackle. So his offer sheet was modest, considering who he's become: ND, Iowa, Iowa St., K-State, Minnesota, Missouri, Northwestern, Rutgers, Stanford and Wisconsin. Working against him as a true freshman at the start of the season was being a June enrollee.
Five-star Blake Fisher enrolled early and was the first-ever Notre Dame freshman to start a season opener at left tackle in 50 years of freshman eligibility. Then, he got hurt. Even in those early games, and with Alt just having a month of training camp, he was involved as an extra blocker in ND's power packages early in the 2021 season. So it wasn't tough to see his potential. Fisher got hurt and Michael Carmody and Tosh Baker got auditions (and got hurt) and so Joe Alt started the final eight games of that season. He became the ninth freshman to start at least one game on the O-Line for the Irish, and he and Fisher are the only two to start at left tackle. ... The next Joe Alt? So we're talking about someone who was overlooked in the recruiting process. It's Saturday's starting left guard, the guy who will line up next to Alt, three-star prospect and classmate Pat Coogan.
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Sam from Ithaca, N.Y.: Hi Eric. Happy Football season! The hype train has left the station and I am encouraged to hear Coach Freeman talk positively about the depth that has been created on the roster. With that, it’s always easier said than done when the pads and lights come on. Who from the "depths" does something great on Saturday against Navy that makes us triple-take the roster and say who was that?
Eric Hansen: Hi Sam. Happy and Football Season in the same sentence might have a ring of redundancy for people like us, but I'll take it. The easier version of your question is picking non-starters who will have significant impact beyond Navy, because some of the Navy personnel will be unique to that game. But I will answer your version and say LB Jalen Sneed, DT Jason Onye, RB Gi'Bran Payne and TE Holden Staes will be non-starters who catch your eye vs. Navy.
Steve from Atlantic City: Eric – first time, long time – Love your work, you are the best. Your reporting and analysis of ND is always measured, objective, fair, never sensationalized and always very similar to what my thoughts and opinions are (though I don’t know if that is necessarily a good thing) You are my go-to source to get a feel for, or explanation of our football team. Thanks for all you do. So, my question. How is it that Zeke Correll is one of our “5 best”? I get it if you want to say he’s our best “center” and even that doesn’t give me great comfort, but haven’t we been preaching what Harry H and now Joe R tout: “let’s figure out who’s the best 5 then figure out where they will play? A depth chart littered with 4-Star guys that would start on just about any other team in the country (Billy Schrauth, Amil Wagner, Tosh Baker etdc.) and for three years Zeke is our starting center? Seems like an over achiever, but man I would consider him the week link on our line for the last two years. What are your thoughts?
Eric Hansen: Steve, do you want to be my publicist? Thank you. ... The dilemma in measuring Zeke Correll as top five vs. non-top five is experience in recognizing fronts and technical expertise vs. in the past not being physical enough to make those count always at the point of attack. First-year O-Line coach Joe Rudolph is convinced the latter part of that equation has been addressed to the point that Correll is in his top three. That doesn't mean he has the third-highest ceiling. But it's where he is at now. For the record, Correll was a coveted recruit. He was the No. 114 player nationally in the 2019 class, a higher ranking than many of ND's offensive linemen. His offer sheet included Clemson, Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State. Rudolph, at Wisconsin at the time, offered as well.
I am not disagreeing with your assessment of his status with the 2021 and 2022 lines. In fact, in 2021, he was knocked out of the starting lineup by Andrew Kristofic at midseason. But I am open to the possibility that we'll see his best football this season and that he will be an asset, and what I've seen in practice so far backs that up. Let's see if it holds up in games.
Dan from Whitby, Ontario: Eric, one hurdle that I have not heard discussed much this off-season, yet I believe could be quite problematic, is that we don't have a bye-week until after Game 8. Given our early start to camp back in July because of the Week 0 game in Ireland and extending through a very difficult schedule in mid-season which includes two of our three higher profile games against Ohio State and USC, as well as difficult road "trap" games against Louisville and Duke, I wonder if our guys will be physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted as they crawl towards their first off-week in late October? Am I correct to assume that this is a concern, and that some form of load-management will be applied? Has Coach Freeman spoken of how they might address this? Or, am I wrong and it is a complete non-issue? Thank you for your great work, Eric.
Eric Hansen: Thank you, Dan. It is not a complete non-issue, but it has been addressed. First, let's look at ND's choices. The Oct. 21 date for an open date is roughly when the bye week normally falls. But because of the Week Zero game with Navy and the calendar quirk of Week 1 being kind of early (Sept. 2), now you're playing eight games instead of six by that date. ND gets two bye weeks this year. So the choice was, take one after the Navy game (on Sept. 2) or place the second one in November. They opted to schedule an FCS opponent on Sept. 2 and go with a bye week after a road game with Clemson as the second. Given the options, that would have been my choice as well.
But I think you did a good job of answering your own question with your speculation. Load management was used extensively in the preseason to reduce injuries, but also for the long haul. Transfer players like Devyn Ford remarked how he's never felt fresher going into a season. So I think ND is doing the best with what might not be an ideal hand.
Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric, I am sure you must be as excited as I am, that we have finally made it to the college football season. Since football is a game of matchups, where do you feel Notre Dame matches up best against Navy and where do you think they match up worst? Also, which players on offense , Defense, and special teams are you the most excited to see? As always, thanks for hosting the chat and all the great insights.
Eric Hansen: Hi Marie. I never take college football season for granted. And having gotten to know you. I know how passionate you are. So it’s time to enjoy. ... Notre Dame's best matchup will be its passing game against Navy's pass defense. On defense, it will be ND's ability to bring players in waves. ... The bad matchups for the Irish is dealing with the unknowns about the Navy offense with a new offensive coordinator who is marrying option with passing principles, and Navy's pre-snap movement in their defensive front and aggressive pressures ... that was a challenge last year. I'll pick one of each as the player I'm most excited to see. Maybe boring picks here: Offense: Sam Hartman, defense Jordan Botelho, special teams Devyn Ford on kickoff returns.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hello Eric, It's almost time for Notre Dame football. Marcus freeman in so many ways is putting his imprint on the program. It has quickly become his program. Whether it is how to practice, how much trash talking is allowed at practice, emotional talks with the team when he feels they are needed, leadership practices that he has demanded, all towards two purposes. First to make sure his team is physically, mentally and emotionally ready to play every week. 2cd, to foster a culture of accountability. All that being said IYO how often will this team this year have emotional letdowns such as last year against Marshall, Cal and the second half of Navy? Will those moments of adversity be met with strong player leadership or will the methods used in coaching this team foster discontent in those difficult and trying times? Can Sam Hartman help this team win and stay together when adversity happens? Who would be that leader on defense in adverse times?
Eric Hansen: Hi Len. Thanks for the questions and the runup to them. I don't think the Marshall and Navy games were the product of emotional letdowns as much as they were tactical coaching shortfalls. Stanford too (which you didn't mention). And Cal was a matter of maybe playing too tight with a new starting QB in Drew Pyne who came out very, very tight, given the 0-2 start to the season. But your leadership point is certainly relevant in the context of this season. One of Marcus Freeman's three major objectives in training camp was developing strong leadership in the player ranks (the others developing depth and injury mitigation/load management). And he feels very good about where the team is with that. It's all theory until/unless you're tested by adversity. You could make the argument that the team already experienced a good dose of that when director of football performance Matt Balis resigned the week that training camp started. But yes, Sam Hartman's leadership has been and will be valuable.
On defense, I'd start with the captains -- JD Bertrand and Cam Hart. But there are many others such as Jack Kiser, Xavier Watts, Nana Osafo-Mensah who fit that profile as well.
Chuck D from "The Land": Four Cleveland/Akron, area HS's THRASHED State Champs from Ind, Ga., Ky., and Va this w/e -- no game was close. Big time football lives in OHIO! Thanks to both YOU & TYLER for keeping us focused all year...it is finally HERE. My questions: 1) Where is Angeli? IMHO, he is the KEY to the Playoffs. Sam should take the Irish there but if he gets nicked up, cannot miss a beat with Steve A. 2) How confident are you that the Irish can learn from last year and a) pickup the blitzes and b) not give up the long passes? My opinions: 1) 35-17 vs Navy 2) 11-1 and a Playoff berth 3) Yours and Tyler's ratings SOAR this year! You guys are THAT good.
Eric Hansen: Chuck, thank you for hyping us up. I hope we live up to that. And thanks for watching Football Never Sleeps! To your questions ... 1) Steve Angeli is about where Drew Pyne was last year at this time. He's a better athlete with a better arm and he was smart enough to be attached at the hip to Sam Hartman since he arrived. Pyne probably had a better mental command of the offense. 2) I think two years with the same defense for the players — finally — and some needed evolutions for DC Al Golden will prove to be big assets on Saturday, though it won't be easy. 3) I like your predictions a lot. Thanks again.
Jeff from Boston MA: First time questioner but loyal reader of these chats - I love them and look forward to them. Keep up the great work. What would the Irish need to do against Navy for you to meaningfully increase your expectations for the 2023 season? What would cause you to lower them?
Eric Hansen: Hi Jeff, and thanks for the question. We got a similar question on the podcast this week, and I'll try to answer it more succinctly this time. To me, there have been five statistical metrics that playoff-caliber teams excel at or at least are better than average in four of the five. They are run defense, total defense, run offense, turnover margin and pass efficiency. Here are national champ Georgia's rankings nationally in those categories: 1st, 9th, 19th, 65th and 6th. And here are ND's: 36th, 21st, 35th, 84th, 31st. So those are the trend lines I would pay most attention to. The other big factor early -- new OC Gerad Parker's play-calling.
Drue in Springfield: Eric...your wisdom and talent in handling some pretty tough questions with grace is always exemplary and sometimes greatly entertaining. I have two questions. 1. Is there any part of Hartman's game that can be considered a weakness? I am far from and expert, but all reports are than he can run and evade but is far from a duel threat. 2. Reports from camp are that this team has shown well in all facets...some being surprises and others expected. This is good. But from your perspective, is there any weakness on either side of the ball that could keep this team from winning any game (other than injury to Hartman, Morrison, or Mills)?
Eric Hansen: Hi Drue, thanks for the feedback. Sam Hartman has improved his passing efficiency number every year for the past five years, so that's a good start, but his weakness has been interceptions at time. Some of that has been playing in a weak rushing offense, in which balance was hard to achieve, so often defenses could kind of force the agenda. One of the attractions of coming to ND was the offensive line play and a better running game to put him in better situations and not have to force passes. He as proven to be a better-than-average runner, but given how an injury could affect ND's bottom-line trajectory, the Irish coaches won't feature him in many planned runs. And when he does, he needs to slide. As far as your second question, the offensive line has to be as good as advertised by the time the Irish get to the Ohio State and USC games (and of course Clemson in November). And the defensive line's surprise camp surge needs to be real and hold up in those games.
Jack from Strongsville Ohio: Hi Eric. I see that the SEC Commissioner feels that the CFB Playoff system needs to be re-worked because of the pending conference shake ups. What are your thoughts on this. Thanks as always for your and Tyler's great work across all the outlets.
Eric Hansen: Hi Jack, and thanks. I think that's fair. If the Pac-12/Pac-4 ceases to exist, then it's silly to award automatic bids to six conference champs. Five would make more sense. There's also the chance the automatic bids completely go away and you're just picking the best 12 teams, which would open up the possibility for ND to be seeded 1-4 and not have a ceiling of the 5 seed. So far, I'm not getting any red-flag vibes.
Joe, Nunica, Mi.: Is Nolan Ziegler injured, I didn't see his name on Saturday's game roster?
Eric Hansen: Nolan Ziegler, a sophomore linebacker, missed a large portion of preseason practice because of an off-the-field issue for which he's requested privacy. He is still expected to be part of the team this season. Freshman Drayk Bowen has moved into Ziegler's No. 2 position at middle linebacker with a strong training camp surge.
Tanker, NM: Hi Eric, happy game week! Do you anticipate Braylon James getting on the field this year or will he be in more a developmental phase this season? Such a freaky athlete that I hope he is able to get some looks here and there.
Eric Hansen: Hi Tanker. Barring a run of injuries, I don't think freshman Braylon James will be part of the core wide receiver rotation that will include two other freshmen — Jaden Greathouse and Rico Flores Jr., but that doesn't reflect his talent level, as you alluded. I think it's reasonable to expect to see him in low-leverage situations from time to time in games that have been decided. The Irish coaches are excited about this future.
Jeff from Phoenix: Good morning Eric! No question today but, if I may, an important heads-up for Phoenix-area ND fans that want to watch the game on Saturday. The local NBC affiliate is listing the ND game as 1-3 pm local. The national NBC game coverage starts at 11:30 local. So it appears that the Phoenix affiliate is showing the Arizona Cardinals preseason game and I suspect showing only a late/condensed version of the ND-Navy game. I am searching for streaming alternatives to enable watching the entire game live. Thanks!
Jeff from Phoenix: As a follow-up to my chat comment, I've confirmed with local NBC programming that in the Phoenix area, the ND-Navy game will only be joined 'in progress' following the Arizona Cardinals game. Estimated to join ND game at half-time. My four-letter word tirade has been respectfully deleted…
Eric Hansen: There is always Peacock streaming, but yikes. The NFL rules in ratings, but it's a preseason game. Thanks for sharing in g-rated fashion.
Jim Tal from Valley Center, Calif..: Greetings Eric, hey with all the work you're doing are doing, are you angling to be the busiest man in show business? Man, you seem to be everywhere but always enjoy all that you do. A few quick questions. First of all, how deep does the ND running back position go in 2023? How many guys will get really meaningful carries and who are they? And won't it be a big letdown if the Irish don't figure out a way to effectively negate a Navy blitz package that totally overwhelmed them during the second half of last year's narrow win? Wishing you the best.
Eric Hansen: Thanks Jim. 1) The RB position truly goes five deep. If Jeremiyah Love is truly fifth, then I fee safe saying he's the best fifth-string RB in the nation. The surprise has been Gi'Bran Payne starting the season at No. 2. ND will be creative in getting those guys involved, including special teams roles and roles in the passing game. Devyn Ford, for instance, is the kickoff returnman. You can bet Jadarian Price and Love will be involved catching passes. Audric Estimé is too good not to get more than the 156 carries he got last year (but not much more), but I do think you'll see all five get meaningful touches even if it's intermittent. ... Yes, it will be a big letdown if ND didn't seize the opportunity from last season with a whole offseason to do so, even with two new starting O-linemen.
Matt from St. Louis: Hi Eric. Thank you for doing these chats. You always do such great reporting and have wonderful insight and balance. Two football questions: (1) What are the three biggest storylines for you this season? (2) What three things does ND have to do off the field to succeed this year and in years to come? And one media question: (3) Who in ND football (past or present) would you most like to interview and why? Thank you!
Eric Hansen: Hi Matt. Very good, but difficult and very broad to do it justice in a chat format. I'll do my best and hope to do a better job than the St. Louis Cardinals front office is doing this summer ... Three storylines 1) The Sam Hartman effect 2) Can the Irish front seven rise to the occasion? 3) Marcus Freeman's coaching evolution (which includes how his decision to promote Gerad Parker to OC turns out). Three keys to sustained success: 1) Continue to elevate recruiting, 2) A Media rights deal that will allow the Irish to remain competitive with the SEC and Big Ten schools. 3) ND evolving its incoming transfer policy. Media question: I've been fortunate enough to interview everyone I've wanted to that was alive when I started by career, so I'll go into the past. Frank Leahy. To coach at ND for three years and win a national title in your third year THEN serve our country in the military for two years in WWII, THEN come back and be an elite coach again for years ...
And then the health problems that nudged him out of the game and to see ND football fall on hard times when he did. ... I'm here for all of that. Fascinating stuff.
Bob from Oxnard, Calif.: Greetings from Fiji (vacation). Any tips on how to get the game over the internet? Thanks.
Eric Hansen: If any of the international chat-heads can help answer this, I'd appreciate it. Bob, if you can email me, I'll try to get an answer to you from NBC. My guess is Peacock streaming is the best option. ... This link might be helpful, although I don't have the expertise to know how valid this info is. https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/watch-ncaa-college-football-from-anywhere/
Frank from Royse City, Texas: How many rushing yards will ND get against Navy?
Eric Hansen: Brian Newberry is Navy's new head coach. He elevated his LBs coach to DC, so they're running the same defensive system with nine starters back on defense. in his three games as Navy's DC vs. ND (2019, 2021, 2022), Notre Dame topped out at 150 rushing yards. Last year it was 34 carries for 66 yards with a long of 28 ... 30 yards in losses to Drew Pyne alone. It was 31 for 150 the year before and 31 for 105 in 2019. But Ian Book threw for 5 TDs in a 52-20 rout, and that was a top 25 Navy team. I’ll say 150 this year, because Sam Hartman's passing will open up the run somewhat, eventually.
Jeff: What is the latest with Tyson Ford? I noticed he is not on the depth chart.
Eric Hansen: Tyson Ford is on OUR depth chart, which goes more than two deep. He's dropped 18 pounds to 274 this summer and is working at both the defensive tackle and field ends spots. Still a guy projected to have a bright future. His opportunity to show that likely comes next season.
Curt from Warsaw, Ind.: Hi Eric, do you expect Navy to blitz early and often?
Eric Hansen: Yep, until Notre Dame shows it can handle it and make them pay for it.
Matt from DC: It seems like just a few months ago it was nearly settled that the starting OGs would be Schrauth and Kristofic…and now it’s neither! Do you get the impression that this was Coogan/Spindler surging, Schrauth/Kristofic taking a step backwards, or some combination? Do you see Schrauth as being someone who could be starting by mid year?
Eric Hansen: Hi Matt. To Joe Rudolph's credit, he staged an open competition with an open mind. And Spindler and Coogan surged. Schrauth also had a very good camp and is a future starter/star. Not sure about this season, but next season if only Alt and Correll leave, I would see the starting line being RT Wagner, RG Spindler, C Coogan, RG Schrauth, LT Fisher.
Bryan from Pt. Pleasant, N.J.: Sláinte, Eric! Thank you for the great coverage. Question about this weekend's game: Navy is unique and difficult to prepare for, even when you have a good idea as to how they are going to attack you. I've been reading about the added "wrinkles" Navy's new coaching staff is looking to incorporate into their offense, i.e., short passing concepts and the addition of pass-catching threats at tight end. How have Marcus Freeman, Al Golden & Co. been preparing for these new elements? Does there seem to be any concern about how these new elements may affect how our team typically would defend against the triple option? Thanks!
Eric Hansen: Sláinte right back at you, Bryan, now that I know what it means! The advantage this year, even with the new wrinkles and schematic uncertainty for Navy, is having the Mids at the start of the schedule, not in mid-stream. So ND got to work on all those eventualities in spring, intermittently in camp and then for the past two weeks. Here's what Al Golden had to say when I asked him a similar question re Navy late night:
Given the background of the Navy offensive coordinator, Grant Chesnut, at Kennesaw State and then having the option layered on top of that, does it feel a little bit like a blind date?
“Yeah, you’ve basically got three influences on offense, and so it’s definitely made us simplify. We’re going to have to keep it simple and be able to adapt on game day. But that’s game 1. It’s just magnified a little more this year, because it’s already a different offense than you’re used to seeing. Now you compound that with not knowing the percentage of each system, or each concept, how much it contributes to the whole. So, we’ll see how it unfolds on game day.”
Kevin from Dallas, Texas: Hi Eric, it is game week! Finally here! I have not seen much discussion on the clock rule change this year. Have you discussed with Coach Parker and/or Freeman how this will impact play calling or approach to the games? I think this will limit comebacks and change the play calling in certain situations toward the end of halfs (like the NFL where you can run a lot of time off). This will also have a timing impact as plays will need to be sent in sooner with the clock not always stopping in certain situations.
Eric Hansen: Hi Kevin, so the rule you are referencing is the clock running after a first down is achieved, as the NFL has done for years, as opposed to stopping to move the chains. I did not ask about it, because it's exactly what the coaches face on second and third downs routinely, so they are used to it. Now where it may impact the game is fewer possessions per game, especially with a team that likes to hog the ball, like Navy. That makes turnovers all the more a key factor his weekend.
Ty: Do the new clock rules for college football put an even bigger premium on maximizing possessions against an option team like Navy???
Eric Hansen: Bingo.
Ryan from Mars, Pa.: Good Afternoon Eric What do you think about spindler and coogan starting i think spindler deserved a chance what’s your score prediction GO IRISH☘️☘️🏈🏈
Eric Hansen: Ryan, I think it's a nod to physicality. Rudolph wanted butt-kickers. He got it, though the guys who are 2s, especially Schrauth, fit that profile as well. But Rocco, my goodness. Just needs to be assignment-correct. My score prediction is Notre Dame 38, Navy 16.
Matt in Augusta, N.J.: Does NBC do enough to promote ND football? In my opinion they could do so much more. I think ESPN does a better job of promoting the programs in the SEC. They preview each team in the preseason, and NBC could
Eric Hansen: Either there are a lot of Matts on the chat today or you're moving around a hell of a lot to different cities during it ... I think you got cut off there when making suggestions. I am largely oblivious to TV promotions, because I am focused elsewhere, but from my limited view, I think you have a point. It was harder to promote when ND was a standalone college football product on Saturdays. Now with the Big Ten games thrown in there, I think there will be more promotion and more resources given to providing better coverage overall.
Matt from sunny Long Island: Hey, Eric. Thank you for your solid journalistic work. Part of the arms race among top teams involves the number of coaches and grad assistants. One example that comes to mind is South Carolina hiring in former Cleveland Browns head coach, Freddie kitchens as an analyst (!) I have a general/vague sense that Notre Dame has been catching up to the SEC powers on this front. Do you have any handle on how the numbers and spending are trending, and how important is the coaching/analyst/GA population to the success of an elite team?
Eric Hansen: Is this really Matt from Augusta/DC/St. Louis? If it is, still an interesting question that I need to take ... Keep in mind, some big-name analysts are finding a soft landing spot before the churn toward their next opportunity, so their impact may be more limited than you think. I think Notre Dame has been increasing both the numbers and impact of analysts and GAs, which is run reason there's an office shortage at the Guglielmino Athletics Complex. Certainly James Laurinaitis and and now Max Bullough being essentially full-time linebackers coaches with a hand in recruiting as GAs is a good example. Chris Watt too when he was here working with the O-line. We seem very close to deregulating those positions all together by the NCAA, so I'll reserve further comment until that happens .. .then dig into a number that makes the most sense.
Matt from Salem, Ore.: The season is about to start and I'm getting nervous. I've been looking at last year how close we came to ten and two. And I look at the difference In quarterback Which everyone has said was the issue for Notre Dame for years. And I've been feeling really optimistic about this year. I read We have the best line and running game, Sam Hartman's played with. That he will Elevate the inexperienced past catchers. The linebackers and Corners are strengths. The d line is two deep everywhere. What should I be looking for pre Ohio state to tell me my optimism is Justified or not? Thanks for your insight.
Eric Hansen: Continuing with the Matts .... I mentioned a bit earlier the five statistical metrics that are reliable ... as well as Gerad Parker's play-calling. ... Pay very close attention to what goes on with the NC State game. On the road, against a very good defense that has challenged Sam Hartman in the past.
Marie from Atlanta: Hey Eric, if you were an athletic Director in the ACC, would you be for or against adding Cal and Stanford and why? Thanks for the insight.
Eric Hansen: Matt ... I mean, Marie, I haven't given it a great deal of thought, but if I could make it work logistically, those are two very strong brands and Stanford is kind of the non-revenue sports. It also shows a commitment toward the ACC not getting absorbed into a Power 3.
Alex from Cincinnati: Hi Eric. It seems like when we have success against Navy on defense we get penetration and create havoc to get into the backfield and throw off Navy's rhythm and timing. When we suffer on D we are reacting too much to what they are doing on offense. Do you get the inclination that Al Golden will take an aggressive approach this year on D to create havoc? On offense, do you feel we will be better against their relentless blitz with an experienced QB at the helm. Thank you.
Eric Hansen: Hi Alex. I think ND can only be so aggressive in the early going as they try to feel out the new scheme. There will be a lot of adjusting on the fly in the first half. At least they've studied all the possible scenarios well and worked on them. And then once they get a feel, I think they can be more aggressive. ... On offense, I do think having a sixth-year QB who sees it all is kind of an under-hyped advantage, because the pre-snap position ND will be in this year should be lightyears ahead of last year. We talked to Mike Golic Jr. a bit about this on the podcast this week.
Tom from Sister Lakes MI: Hi Eric, Kudos on the Audric Estime piece. I learned a number of things about the young man and gained more respect for him. Just the opposite after reading Tyler's piece on Jaden Mickey. If you're going to run your mouth, you better back it up on the field. He didn't do that last year based on his poor performance and coverage grading. And why would you jaw at your own teammates? My question is: Do you know if Freeman, Golden and Mickens encourage him to trash talk? Put up with it? Wish he didn't do it?
Eric Hansen: Tom, I'm a little pressed for time, so I'll just give you what Marcus Freeman said about the chippiness and trash talk in general in his Aug. 12 press conference:
“We definitely encourage competitive spirit, and we want to have energetic practices and we want our guys to provide energy. When it becomes a distraction, that's when we’ve got to make sure we cut it out. And there have been times in camp — like any camp you go to — that it's crossed the line, and we’ve got to make sure at that point we address it. “I don't want to pull back that competitive spirit that they have. But I want to make sure that we understand there's a certain level that we can get to, and we can't cross that line. It's a fine line, because we're going to push into that edge. We're going to push them to right there, where we want you to play with that energy that truly, I believe, it takes to have success. But what you can't do is [get] hurt, [cause] fatigue. And we’ve got to make sure we always correct it when we get to that point.”
Matt (actually Pat) from St. Paul: Thanks for the chats Eric, fired up for this season! Any news on the QB recruiting front? Will the Deuce Get Loose with the Irish? Thanks!
Eric Hansen: Haha. Hi Matt/Pat: Notre Dame continues to hone in on Deuce Knight, now from Nashville after transferring, who said recently he's moving closer to a final decision. Bear Bachmeier, a four-star prospect from California, remains in the mix as well and told me he'd like to visit ND this fall. Stay tuned.
Not Matt from Nowhere: Thanks for answering all of Matt’s questions!
Eric Hansen: I love it!
Ryan, Caro Michigan: Hi Eric, Happy Game Week! What WR do you believe will stand out this weekend?
Eric Hansen: Jayden Thomas would be my No. 1 choice.
Eric Hansen: Ugh, I have run out of time and Matts. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll be back next Wednesday at noon ET to do it all again.
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