Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat as we head toward the conclusion of Irish spring football practice.
Some quick programming notes:
► If you like our coverage and want more of it, we've got a great subscription special going on this week. Please consider it.
► 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 slot and will continue on there after spring football ends. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube. Also we’ll be doing a Postgame Takeaways show on YouTube on Saturday evening after the Blue-Gold Game. Here’s our Scrimmage Takeaways show from last Saturday.
► Tyler James and I are back in weekly podcast mode. Look for a new episode Thursday afternoon. On our most recent Inside ND Sports Podcast, Sportico legal expert Michael McCann joined us. He's also a professor of law at New Hampshire and visiting professor of law at Harvard. McCann discussed the current legal battles with the potential to have the biggest impact on college athletics, the NCAA's push to allow schools to make direct NIL payments to athletes, if the NCAA's role moving forward is sustainable, the timeline and impact of Dartmouth men's basketball players unionizing, if employment would limit transfers and more. The podcast can be listened to via SoundCloud or on your preferred podcast platform including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podbean and Pocket Casts.
► Finally, we’re in the home stretch of Notre Dame spring football coverage and discussion at WSBT radio season. And Darin Pritchett and I are together this week on Wednesday and Thursday on Weekday SportsBeat (960 AM, live streaming at wsbtradio.com). The weekday shows run from 5-6 p.m. ET. You can download episodes as podcasts. We’ll also be calling the Blue-Gold Game Saturday at 1 p.m. EDT.
As far as this week's chat …
PLEASE include your NAME and HOMETOWN along with your questions.
Here are the rules ... not bending on them this week.
Eric Hansen: Off we go.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hi Eric! It's 70 in Jersey today. Hope you are having some nice weather and no tornadoes. Explain to me again why, if the ND secondary was expected to be high end, that ND needed two Db's in the transfer portal. It's the second largest positional group taken in the portal next to WR's, who obviously loss several people thru transfers. Hope they both are better than the guy who left to play at Syracuse. Second, did McFerson leave since ND has shown the tendency to take kickers in the transfer portal? Three, will Loren Landow tutelage help to reduce injuries? Last year we lost numbers at WR, a thin depth group, to hamstrings. I was hoping since Balis left and now that Landow is here, that he would help to prevent them. However the team has at least one hamstring injury so far. I know coach Landow was known for building strength and lean muscle, and helping players to add weight if needed. But how is his injury record where he has worked?
Eric Hansen: Hi Len. Hopefully, that nice New Jersey weather puts you in a good mood. Raining here but warm in SB. ... I think the reason Clarence Lewis left to go to Syracuse is that his perception is that Ryan Clark, the grad transfer from Arizona State, is better at nickel and that he was essentially an insurance policy at cornerback. He wants to have a chance to start. Going from the No. 1 pass-efficiency defense to the No. 78 team may afford him that opportunity. Maybe I am misunderstanding the intent of your question. Len. Notre Dame lost three starters from last year's secondary and some other experienced players beyond Cam Hart, Thomas Harper, DJ Brown ... and Lewis. This is a defense that was overall in the top five with a chance to be better this year. Why wouldn't you want the best players and adequate depth to reach that goal? And it appears ND may yet be considering adding even more on the back end with Rice transfer CB Tre'shon Devones expected to visit this week.
I think I am not clear on the second question either, so I'll do my best. That ND brought in a transfer kicker in Mitch Jeter did not affect punter Bryce McFerson. They do have a transfer in 30-year-old Eric Goins, who hasn't played football in almost a decade but has worked at both positions. There is always going to be competition wherever you go. Notre Dame feels it brings out the best in those who don't shy away from it. As far as Loren Landow. Injury prevention, recovery, injury mitigation is a big part of his approach as it is with John Wagle, part of the sports performance team. But football is a violent, demanding game. You're never going to go injury-free for a whole season. Ever.
Michael in San Antonio: Has the coaching staff loosened the reins on Eli Riordan somewhat as spring practice progressed, or do they still have him on a "pitch" count? What are your thoughts on the TE group as a whole? Do you think Notre Dame will be active in the transfer portal to add some depth to the O-line or Safety position?
Eric Hansen: Hi Michael. I grouped your questions together, so I don't lose track of the second one. Let's start with No. 1. They've already added at safety. Rod Heard II enrolls in June. And they've got numbers and quality beyond him, particularly in surging sophomores Adon Shuler and Luke Talich. We've done feature stories on both recently. So no more safeties. Offensive tackle is a maybe. If there's someone in the portal who could beat out the right tackle candidates, ND may be interested. I don't think they will end up doing it, though. As I mentioned, cornerback apparently is in play.
TE Eli Raridon is no longer on a pitch count and has been participating fully in the past couple of weeks. I like the tight end group. Cooper Flanagan, who I wrote about recently, has been very good this spring. Mitch Evans has been progressing nicely, but those ACL recovery timelines can be unpredictable, and ND has two players dealing with that at this position in Evans and Kevin Bauman.
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► Notre Dame football depth chart projection after mid-April scrimmage
► Notre Dame Football Transfer Tracker for 2023-24 offseason
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Brian from South Bend: Tyson Ford, according to Coach Freeman “He’s taking some personal time off, just to figure out what he wants to do". This is hard not to read into that he's more likely than not going to enter the Transfer Portal. If he does enter the portal, what was missing for him receiving playing time? Was it his pace of development, or more of the other players on roster rising faster than he did on the D Line?
Eric Hansen: Tyson Ford has been a bit of a puzzle to a lot of us. Great attitude, hard worker. He's had some minor injury issues here and there, but nothing overwhelming. I'm not sure bouncing back and forth inside and out for two seasons worked in his favor. Sometimes it can. In his case, it did not. He's also competing inside with a very deep group of interior D-Linemen.
Lorne from Reno. 1. I respectfully request that you never again use the phrase "Kiser on a roll." 2. Bryce McFerson? (I'm sure you'll get a lot of that one) 3. Loved Tyler's article on Christian Gray, which brings me to my question: while Jaden Mickey improved a lot between his first and second year, I just don't think he is in the same class as Gray; do you think that Mickey will start at Field while Gray backs up Morrison (what your depth chart says) or will Gray move over to Field to get the two best corners on the field? Is Gray's speed an issue at Field? With people throwing away from Morrison, I think Gray could have a monster year on the other side.
Eric Hansen: Lorne, I'll make you a deal. If you can prove your really are from Reno and not doing a spoof on the Bonanza TV show, no more Kiser puns. And it could have been worse ... Kiser is a roll? Bryce McFerson's decision to transfer surprised me ... I'm not sure it did the coaching staff. ... I would say there's a competition between Mickey and Gray to play opposite Ben Morrison. It just isn't playing out now because of Morrison's injury. I think we'll see that in training camp, the competition, and Gray will probably win it. I think Mickey is extremely valuable and much improved, and Lord knows he's been through a lot and persevered. The question is who will be the fourth corner he rotates in late, in case of injury, etc. Right now I'd say Micah Bell. It could be a transfer. You mention the depth chart we have on your site. It's not always linear at certain positions, which is hard to show. Right now, for instance, I think Rocco Spindler is the third offensive guard and would come in at either position if needed ... If he doesn't overtake someone.
Mike from Rochester N.Y.: Hi, Eric, Happy Spring!!!!!! I noticed Micah Gilbert has moved ahead of Deion Colzie in the two deep you and Tyler published. I was hoping a healthy Colzie would break out this year - it looked he was going to last year until he got hurt - and give the team another experienced WR to rely on. Is this matter of Gilbert really surprising everyone, Colzie not progressing as expected, or a little of both?
Eric Hansen: Love the exclamation points, Mike!!!!! And back at you. I think it's Micah Gilbert continually surging. His name gets brought up routinely by players on both sides of the ball. Colzie has a dislocated finger that caused him to miss some practices. He's looked good in the practices I've seen, but the competition at that boundary spot is going to be fierce, especially when Jayden Thomas is fully healthy and Beaux Collins joins the roster in June.
Jack from Strongsville, Ohio: Hi Eric. Attending the Blue Gold game Saturday in chilly South Bend. What is the format for the game? Running clock in second half? Thanks for all your fine work.
Eric Hansen: Hi Jack. Hope I run into you in the parking lot. We will get the full lowdown on format and which players get drafted onto which teams Thursday morning. But what I can tell you is it will be a traditional game with traditional scoring with some modifications (kickoffs, etc.). I would expect a running clock in the second half, and I just received some info that while it is expected the second half will have a running clock, head coach Marcus Freeman has the discretion to revert to traditional game clock rules in the game's final minutes if he so chooses. Also a reminder to get to the game early. Parking is going to be tight with a lacrosse game, baseball game, softball game and hockey tournament all going on Saturday. And finally, it's going to be oddly chilly on Saturday, so you may want to have a warm jacket, "antifreeze" in a flask, or both.
Ryan from Mars, Pa.: Good afternoon Eric with the blue and gold coming up on Saturday who are your players to watch i want to see CJ Carr Jordan Clark and Chris Terek on Saturday GO IRISH ☘️☘️🏈🏈
Eric Hansen: Hi Ryan. I got to see everyone this past Saturday in the closed scrimmage (but open to the media), but given this Saturday's format, I'm most eager to see the wide receivers and all three of the QBs who don't have ankle braces on.
Mark from Golden Valley, Minn.: Eric: Not sure that the format submission won’t pull a hat rick on me, but I will try anyway. First question I’ve been wanting to ask is whether you think fellow ND fan Ryan from Mars, PA comes in peace? Second question I have is during the summer months when the players initiate their own practices, are they allowed to tape those for the coaches to review? Finally, if you had to make a prediction by the end of our 2024 season what national ranking will our offense have and our defense? I always look forward to reading these chats every Wednesday night. Go Irish!!!!!!
Eric Hansen: Mark, it took me a second to get the Mars pun, and I love it. I hope Ryan does too. Because it was so well done, kick your shoes off and feel free to violate the other rules as well. … As far as the summer practice question, they ARE NOT allowed to film the summer players-only practices and have the coaches see those tapes. … To your rankings question, Notre Dame was 29th in total offense and 5th in total defense in 2023. The best ND has ranked in total offense since 2010 is 26th in 2020. Tempo does affect those rankings, and I don't expect ND to be on the high end of plays per game, but I think this will be a top 25 offense ... 25th, but more importantly not dip wildly against the better defensive teams. As far as total defense, ND was in the top 5 for the first time in four decades. I'm going to say they'll finish third this year.
Tom from Kennesaw, Ga.: Hi Eric. When Micah Bell was recruited it seemed that his speed was his best trait and if I remember correctly there was even some debate if he would be on offense or defense. What do you see as his role on this year's team? In your sage wisdom, what are his strengths and weaknesses? Thanks for these chats. Now that Spring ball is coming to a close, what are thinking regarding continuing these Chats? Maybe every other week?? Thanks. Go Irish!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Tom, and thank you. Micah Bell and Chance Tucker were the cornerbacks on the field with the No. 2 defense in Saturday's close scrimmage, with Luke Talich and Kennedy Urlacher as the safeties, and they played pretty well as a group. Bell's best asset is his speed. His biggest weakness at this point is being 177 pounds. That will change over time. He's also training at nickel. He looks a lot more comfortable in his coverages. I like where he's headed. ... As far as the chats, we'll definitely do one next week to wrap up the spring and another after the NFL Draft on Wednesday , May 1. And then we'll see. Probably every other week at that point makes more sense. There will still be portal stuff going on ... and in June lots of recruiting official visits. As long as there's demand, I'll make time for it.
Patrick from Fort Wayne, Ind.: Good afternoon Eric, after viewing the Saturday scrimmage, can you tell us how the QB snaps were divided in a rough percentage? Do you anticipate the same allotment for the Blue and Gold game?
Eric Hansen: I can tell you how the series were divided. I did not count snaps. So Steve Angeli got four offensive series. Kenny Minchey and CJ Carr each got three. My guess is Angeli and Minchey will be on different teams against each other and CJ may play for both teams, including some in the second half when the deeper reserves take over.
Jules from Joliet, Ill.: Good day Sir. From the spring practice reports it seems that the WR position is both talented and deep. Coach Brown has stated that he wants a 6 or 7 player rotation. Based on your observations, who would you predict will fill those slots? Thanks for all of your great work.
Eric Hansen: Hi Jules. Good day to you, too, and thanks. It's a little tough to predict, because Beaux Collins and Logan Saldate don't arrive until June and there are some players, like Cam Williams, who are suddenly surging late in spring. But I feel pretty good about Faison, Greathouse, Thomas, Gilbert, Mitchell and Collins. And I'll throw KK Smith in there as a seventh. Lots of competition still to come. And Cam Williams, by the way, looked very good in last Saturday's scrimmage.
J Buckley from San Diego: Love the coverage, can't get enough, now that's enough small talk. LOL, Now, what is the QB room going to look like, with the Gatorade Player of the Year, walking on and joining the QB fray. I know he may not have been playing against top talent but he seems pretty big and accurate or will he be looking at changing positions? Then you have Duece coming in next year, its getting crowded in that room. I'm sure someone is going to bolt after the Spring game but who? Also, interior DL need an update, especially on the one time 5 star Brenan Vernon, what's the depth looking like. THANKS THANKS and ohh yaa THANKS GO IRISH!!!!
Eric Hansen: Thanks J. I assume you are speaking of Anthony Rezac, the NEBRASKA Gatorade Player of the Year, who will join his twin -- scholarship freshman linebacker Teddy -- on the roster this summer. I believe he'll stay at QB and probably be a big help with the scout team. Someone may indeed bail after spring, but it won't be because of Rezac. Ideally, the better time to bolt -- with more jobs open and a chance to learn a new offense in the spring — would have been the last portal window, in December. If I were advising Angeli, I'd stick around in 2024. If things didn't look promising toward winning the job in 2025, then I'd take a look at my options in December.
Here is the link to our depth chart projections, which we updated after Saturday's scrimmage and after Bryce McFerson hit the portal Tuesday. We'll update it again after the Blue-Gold Game. Vernon is running No. 3 at the defensive tackle position, behind Rylie Mills and Jason Onye. That's a good place to be in April. There are six players, including Tyson Ford and injured Armel Mukam, at the position. There are five at nose guard, including Gabe Rubio, who is expected to be back on the roster in June. Some players, like Donovan Hinish and Onye are adept at both spots. Lots of options there.
Roger from Saint Louis: What does a finding of probation mean for Michigan? Is it nothing more than the fines and recruiting restrictions that are described in addition to probation? Didn't probation used to mean that you were not eligible for postseason bowl and championships?
Eric Hansen: Hi Roger. There have always been different levels of probation, depending on past offenses and how serious the current ones were -- and whether the school cooperated. There are still different levels, and nothing as serious as a postseason ban for Michigan. We're in a different era of NCAA enforcement. I mentioned this analogy the other day on the podcast. It's kind of like you have a 20-year-old son, who has a job, his own apartment and pays all his own bills -- and you want to impose a curfew on him. So there's not a lot of teeth to these punishments.
Bob from Oxnard, Calif.: Will walk-on nation rise again with Chris Salerno filling in for our departed starting punter?
Eric Hansen: Hi Bob. I think Eric Goins will get a shot first, and I wouldn't be surprised if Notre Dame gets someone else out of the portal who wants to play on a team that will contend for a playoff spot.
Kevin from-Sleepy Eye, Minn.: Eric:) Ford unsure of his future and Oben isn't getting mentioned at all. Concerning news for defensive front? Or no concern at all from your perspective?
Eric Hansen: Zero concern (OK maybe 1%), especially after what I saw on Saturday. Keep in mind you didn't hear a lot about Javontae Jean-Baptiste last spring. Al Washington has a lot of depth at all four of those positions, and he uses spring to look all of it over. JJB really didn't come on until the season started and then he REALLY came on. Also, some of its player availability. We did interviews with D-line and O-line pretty early in the spring with CBs and QBs at the end. I think the defensive line is going to be deep and pretty darn good.
Larry from Topton, Pa.: Thanks for keeping all the audio content going, which is a great supplement to yours and Tyler’s writing. I really look forward to hearing your voice, because you are the sound of ND reason. My question relates to last week’s jersey scrimmage. What 2 or 3 things did you see in that pseudo-game environment from Coach Denbrock that were different from the previous 2 offensive coordinators? Thanks for keeping us informed!!
Eric Hansen: Larry thanks for the compliments, and just wait 'til I share with my two adult sons I am the voice of reason. They're probably old enough to almost agree now. I wish you had said that when they were teenagers. ... But thanks ... I'm not sure we saw anything near the full scope of what Denbrock would do on a gameday. But what I can offer is I think we'll see more of a variety in personnel groups, more versatility in running backs and receivers, more running from the QB than certainly last year, more of a vertical push (which we did NOT see on Saturday) and an offense that doesn't dip so much in production when it faces the tougher defenses on the schedule.
Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric, I hope you’re having a great week, and enjoyed the Saturday jersey scrimmage. Based on what you saw, would you describe the offense and the defense as being better, worse, or what you expected prior to beginning of spring practice. In what areas did they surprise you both positively and negatively? In the areas that were negative, do you feel like they have the pieces to improve enough to become championship level in those areas? One final question, please complete the following sentence , this is the most optimistic I have been about a Notre Dame team at the end of Spring practice since _____? Enjoy the game this weekend, as always thanks for all the great insights and for hosting the chat.
Eric Hansen: Hi Marie. By the way, I don't know which one of us won our little side wager, so you will have to let me know. ... Thanks for your thoughtful questions. I have to be honest with you, I was pretty optimistic in the spring about what Notre Dame could turn into in the fall if the offense could be consistent, which it didn't end up being. My reasons this year for optimism don't have as many caveats. The Offensive line is the biggest question. It's not a dead end, but it is a question. But I think this is the best offensive/defense coordinator combination Notre Dame has had in the post-Lou Holtz Era. And that mitigates some personnel concerns on the field.
The defense was a little better than I thought, and I expected it to be good. But Ben Morrison didn't play and Rod Heard II isn't here yet ... but the linebackers are really exciting and the young safeties has really surged. Boubacar Traore makes (and others) make me feel good about the pass rush. The offense is about what I expected ... a work in progress and behind the defense. As it should be. I thought Angeli and Minchey would be sharper and more consistent. On the other hand, CJ Carr wowed us. Just one practice, but apparently he's been pretty impressive. Angeli and Minchey may play very well on Saturday. The offense is still learning the plays and not adding the bells and whistles, so I think it will look much different in August.
Dave from DC: Hi Eric, do you have any insight on who among ND former players will be in attendance on Saturday? I've always felt our alums are a great recruiting tool!
Eric Hansen: Hi Dave. We are having Hunter Bivin, assistant athletic director/alumni engagement on our podcast Thursday. He's putting together this Legacy Weekend and did the others as well, so tune in for that to get the details.
Glenn from Santa Monica: Eric, Can you explain the difference between our vyper and rover positions and the body types needed for each?
Eric Hansen: Sure Glenn. The prototype for the Rover position remains Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who could stay on the field on third down and was an All-American while playing the position. The two players who are currently 1 and 2 there are Jaylen Sneed (6-1, 219) and Jaiden Ausberry (6-2, 220). It's really kind of a hybrid linebacker/safety skill set. Ideally, you'd like someone who can cover slot receivers and tight ends and also is physical enough to impact the run defense. JOK could do all of that. Usually the slot receiver part of that is why ND turns to nickel more often than not. Vyper is a big explosive player who is asked to rush the passer, play the run and occasionally drop into coverage (but not against a slot receiver). So Isiah Foskey at 6-5, 260ish was ND's last All-American there. The body types there currently are Jordan Botelho (6-3, 263), Junior Tuihalamaka (602, 250) and Boubacar Traore (6-4, 240). Botelho and Junior came to ND as linebackers.
Ed from Sayville N.Y.: Hi Eric. Two questions keeping brevity in mind. How might the skill sets of the young linebackers impact Coach Golden’s approach to game planning? With respect to the jersey scrimmage, which position group surprised you the most?
Eric Hansen: Hi Ed. Don't hold back on the exclamation points for brevity's sake!!! Appreciate the concise, clear questions. Yes, they will and they have affected it. ... Here's what Marcus Freeman had to say about that very subject after last Saturday's scrimmage:
"That’s what spring’s about: being able to move your pieces around and saying, OK, how do we formulate the scheme around the pieces? It’s not the vice versa. It’s not here’s our scheme. This person has to fit into it. It’s, OK, let’s get the best players on the field and formulate the best defense around those pieces.”
Which position group surprised me the most? If I hadn't been expecting a wow from the linebackers, I would have said them. So, I'll say safeties. Those two sophomores are coming on ... Talich and Shuler ... to complement Watts and Rod Heard II.
Kevin from Orlando: Notre Dame was apparently required to "telecast" one of it's "lesser games" in 2023 exclusively on Peacock. I had never turned off a Notre Dame football game in my long life. I couldn't get by the first quarter of the so-called "streaming". The picture was frozen for more time that it was freezing. I turned it off and went to radio. Now the Blue gold game this Saturday is scheduled again for Peacock and I would imagine that another regularly scheduled game this fall will again be required for Peacock. I talked with my brothers living in different states and they had the same problems I had. You would think that our new Athletic Director having shepherded much of NBC sports for a number of years would be able to tell NBC that Notre Dame, having suffered through several streaming debacles, must insist that the streaming of any of its athletics must be of a reasonably high quality. So far, at least for me, Peacock and ND football has been a disaster. Is this a rant? Perhaps, but I think it is something that needs to be addressed. Like everyone else, I do very much appreciate what you do for Notre Dame fans. We have come along way since Joe Boland of my youth.
Eric Hansen: Kevin, it is a rant. But I was so relieved you didn't ask me a difficult question at the end of it, I was happy to run it as is and let it stand on its own and perhaps someone with much more streaming knowledge could chime in. I am not that guy.
Patrick from Los Angeles: Do you think Aamil Wagner will beat out Tosh Baker at right tackle? It does not appear that Baker is doing a lot to impress this spring. Any sense that Guerby Lambert will be in the tackle competition this summer? Also, who do you project as the starter at left guard? Thank you.
Eric Hansen: Hi Patrick. I think I might be in the minority on this one, but I do think he will. In August. I think Guerby Lambert is talented enough to push for a spot in the two-deeps, though Sullivan Absher has shown growth at tackle and has had a nice spring.
Mike McFadden from Williamsport, Pa.: Hi Eric, In the NIL world now, are schools/coaches/agents permitted to contact players at any time to request they transfer to their team and what they can offer, IE. starting position, $$$, etc? I ask this as many times a player announces his transfer on X and a short time later declares for a new school, within hours. How can a valuable player review all his options from 133 teams for the best offer. My take is all that work was done previously. Go IRISH !!!
Eric Hansen: Mike. There are ways to circumvent the rules without violating them and that's by involving third parties. Now the athlete is supposed to initiate that contact even under those conditions, but I've seen a lot of anecdotal evidence of tampering in football and other sports, including women's basketball. What Notre Dame has done a good job of -- and this is in the legal part of it -- is scout players whether or not they've expressed an interest in the portal, so that when they do enter it, ND knows who they like, whether they're a fit, etc.
Bill: Originally from Syracuse, NY, although I've lived in Houston for more than 40 years... I think that makes me a Texan now(?). My question is about the running backs. I have the sense that we have an extremely talented group of runners, but I haven't really seen much said or written about them lately... even after the recent scrimmage. Can you tell us how they're doing? Is there an evolving/obvious ranking among them?
Eric Hansen: Hi Bill. Maybe the sheer volume of running backs stories is lacking (or appears to be), because that's such a strong position group, they are not creating a lot of drama. It's kind of like the kid that's getting straight A's sometimes gets put on the back burner. There is a lot to like with this group. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price will be at the top of the rotation and offer complementary skills. Love is even taking some wide receiver reps, which could pay off in two-back formations.
Freshman Aneyas Williams has flashed often, and I expect 6-0, 229-pound freshman Kedren Young to do the same when he's fully healthy. Which leaves Gi'Bran Payne as the guy with a wide skill set and valuable on third down. Really strong group.
Bob from Loganville, Ga.: Eric, watching MF's press conference after the jersey scrimmage, his body language (or what I read as a bashful smile) for many questions equated to a kid in a candy store, although he seems to tamp down the answers down with coach speak. Did I read the room correctly or am I overly excited about this football team?
Eric Hansen: Bob, I think there's reason to be excited AND as long as you keep in mind there's a lot of work ahead. Again, having coordinators the caliber of Denbrock and Golden along with some strong position coaches is good reason to feel that progress will be made. The defense will be good enough to keep them in every game. The offense will decide the ceiling.
Jeff from Canton, Mich.: Hi Eric, wondering if I could get your thoughts on the upcoming seasons projected strength of schedule. Compared to last year, there doesn’t seem to be any teams in the top 5 or top 10 on the schedule. Only three of the twelve make the list in FSU, USC and UL. I think a 10-2 season is very doable this year, but not sure if ND gets in the top 12 with this schedule to make the playoffs. This looks like one of those years where going 11-1 is necessary. Nice trend for ND in going 9-4, 10-3 in first two years so now an 11-2 season is up next!
Eric Hansen: Hi Jeff. Keep in mind the teams that are toughest on the schedule on paper in the spring aren't always the teams that are toughest when the season unfolds. But let's assume this is a weird year, and they align with that. In that case, 10-2 would be a tough sell for a playoff berth, if both of those losses came in November (to Florida State and to USC in the finale). In some years, 10-2 is going to be an easy sell to make the field.
Mike McFadden from Williamsport, Pa.: ... and thank you Eric. Great answer and I believe exactly what you said but could not put into words like you. Circumvent the rules, ... IE. circumvent the rules, anecdotal evidence of tampering and worse. Great wording and I agree 100%. Thanks Eric.
Eric Hansen: Thanks, Mike!
Tom from Kennesaw, Ga.: Hi Eric, a lot is happening with ND athletics with players coming and going. Would you think that by the end of the month that we will have settled into what will be in camp in the summer?? Following last weekend's scrimmage how concerned are you regarding the LT position?? I watched some of the Bowl highlights this week and Jagusah got beat pretty badly on more than one play. I understand he is young and its early but I hope the offense will be effective and efficient sooner than later this season. Let's hope for a fun and Healthy Blue-Gold game Saturday. Go Irish!!!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Tom. The spring transfer portal closes on April 30, after which time only grad transfers can enter the portal. And ND is at 88 scholarship players, so there has to be more attrition to get to 85. I would say the end of May is more realistic than the end of this month.
James from Columbus: Hi Eric. Does ND have any interest in Savion Washington from Colorado? 6’8” 320lb starting LT.
Eric Hansen: I would not rule out an offensive tackle addition, especially if someone leaves. But I don't think this is someone who could beat out the three guys who are ND's best tackles, even with his 10 starts at Colorado. Graded out as a pretty good pass blocker but a pretty mediocre grade from Pro Football Focus.
Eric Hansen: Adding to a part of Tom's question I accidentally skipped, Jagusah has all the tools and the right mindset to be VERY good. It's a matter of when. Remember he came back from serious knee surgery weeks ahead of schedule and played in only a handful of snaps in a reserve role in one game prior to the Sun Bowl. Before that he played with two damaged ligaments for more than half of his senior season on a winless team. His time is coming.
Eric Hansen: And my time is done. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll be back to do the chat all over again next Wednesday at noon ET.
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