Chat Transcript: Why does Notre Dame support players leaving the roster?
Eric Hansen: Welcome to a special bye week 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 remain in our normal Monday at 7 ET time slot. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube. We’ll also be back on our YouTube channel with our Postgame Takeaways show late Saturday night after the Stanford game on Oct. 12.
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More Content
► Analysis: What Freeman's Notre Dame bye week to-do list should include
► Trail Tracks: Notre Dame football coaches hit road for evaluation period, 10/2
► Notre Dame adds to 2025 wide receiver haul, flipping Antavious Richardson
► The Heat Index update (10/1): Notre Dame target board continues to evolve
► MBB: Notre Dame's recruiting spree shows faith in what Shrewsberry's building
► The Inside ND Sports Podcast will drop later today, on Wednesday evening. On the most recent Inside ND Sports Podcast, we invited former Notre Dame offensive lineman Mike Golic Jr. to join Tyler James and me. Golic, cohost of the Gojo and Golic Show on the DraftKings Network, discussed life as an Irish fan the last four weeks, what he's seen from head coach Marcus Freeman, ND's offensive line play, what the Louisville game will teach us about ND, quarterback Riley Leonard's development, why the offense hasn't taken off yet, if redemption matters on game day, restlessness in ND Stadium, UNLV's quarterback quitting the team 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 not taking a bye week at WSBT Sports Radio 96.1. Darin Pritchett and I are together this week, as we are every week this season, on Wednesday and Thursday 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 that runs on Saturdays before every game. You can download all episodes, including the pregame shows, as podcasts.
As far as this week's chat …
PLEASE remember to include your name and hometown along with your questions.
Here are the rules:
Eric Hansen: But guess what? Since it's a bye week, none of those rules apply ... just the unwritten ones of no 17-part questions and no manifestos.
And if you're going to fight, just don't fight with me.
Excessive exclamation points are welcome.
Off we go.
Dan from Whitby, Ontario: Eric, Love your work. I have a question regarding players like Jayden Mickey and Tyson Ford, who decide to redshirt after four games to preserve a year of eligibility. I read that they were going to continue to go to class because they are both on pace to graduate in the spring, even though both have left the football program (albeit not on Ford’s terms). To me it seems odd that they are able to continue to attend classes, receive room and board, presumably keep NIL money, and earn their degrees, even though the condition for earning a scholarship to Notre Dame was to play football, which they no longer do, with almost an entire academic year still in front of them. Like many, I am not a fan of how easily players can transfer, but in doing so, I believe that if it is permissible for a player to leave a team in mid-season as Mickey did, that all benefits and entitlements from the athletic scholarship should evaporate, once the player leaves the program. Your thoughts?
Eric Hansen: I think Notre Dame does the right thing here, and with these two guys in particular. Marcus Freeman sits in players' living rooms and tells parents and the kids how important a Notre Dame degree is. I think it would be hypocritical to take that away from them when they're this close. And there is nothing to be gained by taking those scholarship away. Once the school year start, that 85 max number is frozen. So if someone leaves after that point, you don't get to add someone from the walk-on ranks to the scholarship bucket. In Tyson's case, he was already on medical hardship. He'll have to get that reversed, but it's easier -- as Joey Tanona did -- to do it at another school that at the original school.
So, Tyson was done at Notre Dame. ... Jaden Mickey has been through hell. His mom died of colon cancer right before the Sun Bowl last December and he played his heart out and came back and completed in the spring and fall camp and got beaten out for a starting spot. While Marcus Freeman disagrees that hitting the portal is best for Mickey, once he said his piece to Mickey, he supports him. As he should.
Manny from San Pedro: Eric!!!!! Leaves are changing color, the temp is getting crisp but your fireside chats keep me warm!!!! Does ND have to go 11-1 to make the playoffs or can they afford a loss if Navy and Army and up ranked?
Eric Hansen: Manny!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you. I think Notre Dame needs to win its last seven regular-season games, making it 11-1, to make the playoff THIS year. There are seasons when the schedule sets up differently where 10-2 is a plausible scenario. It's difficult to envision any scenario this year in which 10-2 would be enough to make the 12-team field.
Tom from Grand Rapids: Happy bye week Eric!! It’s a day for comments, question, and possibly a rant. Would it be fair to say R.Leonard’s talent ceiling is higher than S.Angeli’s ? Yet at the same time Leonard’s floor is lower than Angelli’s …..with that being said, how low does the offense have to get before a potential qb change could happen? I’m talking about giving Angelli a couple series to possibly ignite a spark in the offense. Lord knows there have been too many times this offense has been stuck in neutral at the stop light!! The project that is James Rendell isn’t panning out like they had hoped, are there other options? Finally can you explain the Al Golden / Al Washington defensive line rotation? I watched Rylie Mills on the sideline for a good part of the 4th qtr and I am just trying to become educated as to what the hell is going on.
Eric Hansen: Hi Tom, and thanks for your questions. I'm not sure what Notre Dame would have gained specifically against a Louisville team that can stuff the traditional run game and sack the quarterback so deftly by playing Angeli a couple of series early. ... When the Irish scored 21 first-quarter points? And Leonard had by far his best pass-efficiency rating in an ND uniform? And was not only able to elude the pass rush, but be ND's leading rusher in the game? So, I'm guessing this question is more generic ... and for future opponents. I think you have to look at what you would gain and what you would lose by that.
What you would lose is you're trying to evolve Riley Leonard's game ... making an investment, as a coach, you believe will not only get you into the playoff but pay off with the better version of him in playoff game(s). That is a gamble and one Marcus Freeman and Mike Denbrock thing is a worthy one. So why play Angeli, who probably would have a higher passer rating, but puts you in the situation where teams can load the box against your run and sack your QB easier. What does that do for the team and Angeli? I get why people love Angeli. I'd want him on my team, but I don't think he gives THIS Notre Dame team the best chance to win.
I'm a bit confused by the Rendell question. Yes, he struggled in games 1-3, but has had a really strong last two games. Averaged 41.5 against Louisville, 3 inside the 20, no touchbacks and only five yards in returns. I'll take that all day long. ... Rylie Mills rotates with Jason Onye. Their snaps were 46 and 24. Onye has had the better year so far and maybe deserves more. Mills needs to step up and per PFF had his best game of the season against Louisville ... but I think he'd be the first to admit there's a higher level he needs to reach.
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Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric, I hope you’re enjoying the bye week and at least getting a little extra spare time for yourself. Obviously, there’s a long list of things that Notre Dame needs to work on during the bye week. There is only so much time and you can’t do everything. Which things do you think it would be most beneficial to put the most time into that would result in the biggest overall improvement for the team for the remainder of the season? Are you anticipating any significant personnel changes following the bye? Is there any indication that Schrauth will be back? On a scale of one to 10, how worried are you that this team won’t be ready for Stanford. There’s a fear of a letdown, the bye we can be a problem, and for some reason, no matter how bad Stanford is Notre Dame always seems to struggle at least for the first half, if not longer. Of The remaining games on the schedule which do you think will be the toughest? I am definitely not sleeping on Navy. Thanks for hosting the chat and for all the great information.
Eric Hansen: Hi Marie. Having a great time on the bye week. Lots of work to do, but getting to see the grandkids a lot this week, because one of them is turning 9! He and I went out to dinner last night and he surprised me and wanted to go to a chicken wings place. What a great kid!!! As far as what Notre Dame needs to work on during the bye, I actually did an analysis piece on that earlier this week: Analysis: What Freeman's Notre Dame bye week to-do list should include.
I came up with a list of five ... I'll share my top two ... continuing to evolve the QB position/passing game ... and that includes keeping Steve Angeli sharp and engaged. No. 2 is straightening the edges. Whether vyper Boubacar Traore returns at some point this season -- and I'm not optimistic that will happen -- both the vyper and field end spots need some deep self-scouting. I think Josh Burnham, who played four snaps Saturday, makes sense as a swing player as he returns to full health from a chronic ankle injury. That helps both positions.
How much can you use the linebackers to help you situationally at vyper? Does freshman Bryce Young need to be prioritized at field end over transfer RJ Oben at this point? Does Brenan Vernon need to move back to end? Those are all fair questions to look at this week. ... I'm not anticipating personnel changes not dictated by injury other than what I just discussed. But there are some dictated by injury on the table and I do think there needs to be some conversation about what's best for the O-line moving forward. Maybe not make changes, but certainly drilling down and seeing if they're needed.
Barring a setback, Schrauth should be back sometime in October. We'll have an update on Monday on him and others. ... Marcus is 3-0 coming off a bye and those have all three been very strong performances. So my concern level would be a 3, and only that high because of the NIU game (which wasn't after a bye). I watched Stanford against Syracuse. They are better than last year. I still think USC is the toughest game left, but Navy is going to be a handful.
Joe Cap from Massapequa, N.Y.: Hi Eric . Great win Saturday. The depth of this team rose to the occasion in a big way. 4-1 now entering the bye week. So much young talent on the field and more will continue to play. So many positives MF has brought to this program. this one loss to Northern Illinois however appears to have deflated the season. Do you think the players have lost confidence in themselves? Are there any rumblings of the players losing confidence in the coaching staffs decisions with play calling and personnel? I feel like that loss is lingering . Something seems off. Am i wrong? As always you are an A+++
Eric Hansen: Joe, thank you +++. I don't think the Northern Illinois game has affected the players the way it has affected SOME fans. You know what they say about "fool me twice" and so I understand why some fans are guarded. Justifiably. But this team has a roster that SHOULD get them to the playoff. And that's still out there for this team. And the players know it. I'll add that I think the Northern Illinois game is darker for ND fans than it is for people who watch college football that don't have an emotional investment in the Irish.
Kevin from Calgary: Hey, Eric, great of you to not take your own bye week away from the chat! I was wondering about the status of Tyler Buchner. Is he continuing to practice at wide receiver? Is he in line to be scout team QB before the Navy game? I'd sure like to see him succeed after he came to his senses and returned to ND.
Eric Hansen: Hi Kevin. Thanks for being here in the bye week. You all showed up big time today. VERY full question queue. And really good ones. Trying to type and think as fast as I can to get to most of these. As far as I know Tyler Buchner is still working with the receivers, though he was not fully healthy in August ahead of the start of the season. I would be shocked if he got meaningful playing time at that position. And yet he can help the team, and the Navy scout team QB could be one of those ways. I'll ask about him and dig into that as we get a little closer to Navy, I promise.
Jack from Strongsville, Ohio: Hi Eric. From the home of the American League central division champions Cleveland Indians/Guardians. Is there a lack of talent on this year's offensive line or has the injuries and early opt outs to the NFL been too much to overcome? Thanks for your great work on all the platforms.
Eric Hansen: Not only home of the AL Central Division Champs but the city that was kind enough to host my entrance into this world. There is NOT a lack of talent. But there is/was a lack of experienced talent. Think about how rare it is to start a season with six collective starts among five offensive line starters. Northern Illinois, by comparison, has 119. So how did that happen? Look at the tackles. The NFL first opened its doors to underclassmen in 1989. Through the 2023 draft, ND had some O-linemen give up a fifth-year option from time to time, but in all those years the number of TRUE junior O-lineman to come out for the draft was ZERO. Then in one cycle you have two, and both players who could have changed the trajectory of this team early in the season. On top of that, there weren't any mutual fits from the transfer portal at that position. The good news, Jack, is we won't be having this conversation next year.
It'll be who gets left out of Charles Jagusah, Guerby Lambert, Aamil Wagner, Ashton Craig, Billy Schrauth, Anthonie Knapp, Tosh Baker, Rocco Spindler, Sam Pendleton, Sullivan Absher and more? ALL of them have 2025 college eligibility. Some may hit the portal.
Tony from Lake Mary, Fla.: Hey Eric. I was chatting with some friends during the game and we kept coming back to just how technically competent that the secondary looks for pass breakups. The number of deflections on crossing route where the CB or S reaches as the ball comes in without grabbing the back and getting a DPI is amazing. Then how ready the Leonard Moore was. And Jordan Clark has been a phenomenal addition. How does a CB recruit not see Coach Mickens' ability to teach the position and not immediately want to come? What's the sense on his desire to stick around and take over for Al Golden when that time comes vs moving on? I have heard that he is being paid in line with many d coordinators already and working for his great friend that he is fine waiting it out.
Eric Hansen: Hi Tony. I think CB commits Mark Zackery, Dallas Golden and Cree Thomas, and safety commits JaDon Blair, Ethan Long and Brandon Logan would all agree with that assessment. The thing about Mickens is he not only is a very good teacher, he's a great evaluator. He did the same at Cincinnati. Ben Morrison and Leonard Moore weren't five-star prospects, but Morrison plays like it and Moore is moving in that direction. Sauce Gardner impacted UC when Mickens was there from very early in his career. I do think he'd like to stick with ND and eventually succeed Golden and ND is doing everything it can to make that waiting period worth it. And yet he'll be in demand this offseason.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hello Eric!! Great coverage by you an Tyler going into this bye week. You delved into the ND team right down to the detail if Marty Biagi helping with Safeties is causing a problem with special team's performance. I wondered that also. I hope this is a good first bye week question. For each position group give an Eric grade, A,B,C,D,E, for that group to be playing at the CFP level. An A would be a group definitely at the CFP level, B would be trending to that level and capable of being on a CFP team where other groups perform at the A level, C would be needs work to be at a CFP level and would hold the team back this season from reaching the CFP losing at least 1 more game, D would be hard to see how this group obtains that level this season and will cause team to miss CFP this season for sure and to lose at least 2 more games, and E would be a position group that needs transfer help after the season because it will never obtain that level.
Eric Hansen: Hi Len, thanks for the compliments. I'll throw one back at you. I like your question and the specificity of it. There are position groups that would get a lower grade in this snapshot that I feel better about if you asked me this question in the next bye week after game 8 for the Irish. So Quarterback would be a C, but I think that will be a B by next bye week. Same with the C I give WRs and O-line. RBs B with a good shot to end up an A. Tight ends C with good upside. CBs A+. Safeties A. Linebackers B with a chance to be an A. D-line C, with upside of getting Gabe Rubio back soon and the downside of likely having to play without Boubacar Traore. STs B-. Really good potential here, but too many gaffes.
Larry from Topton, Pa.: Hi Eric!! I think last game was !! worthy!! (as is your coverage!!!!). I wonder what you thought of the in-game fan support for the Louisville game? This was my first in-person game since 2018, and I thought the ND crowd was pretty good; especially in making noise to support the defense in the 2nd half. I had heard and read that the home crowds had been pretty blah for the earlier home games this season, so I would like to know your opinion – was Saturday’s crowd support similar to those for the first two home games, or was there an improvement for this past game? Did it only seem good to me, because I had my expectations lowered?
Eric Hansen: Hi Larry. And thank you. I do think the crowd was by far the best it’s been this season and rose to the occasion. But given some of the crowds in years past and other places I've taken in games, the atmosphere certainly has room to improve. Again, for me there is too much talking and not enough energy and music during the stoppages of play. The crowd has to get quiet to hear the talking. Maybe do more of that at halftime and keep the flow going during the games. But again, I thought the fans did a really good job of making noise, and I trust you helped!
Ed from Sayville, N.Y.: Hey Eric, how are you? Only a dozen or so snaps for Sneed on Saturday. Do you have any insight into why that might be? I certainly wouldn’t challenge Coach Golden, just curious about his development. Thanks and enjoy the bye weekend!
Eric Hansen: HI Ed, doing great, thanks. And thanks for being here. You're right linebacker Jaylen Sneed played a season-low 12 snaps -- and that's with Jack Kiser out with an injury for the second half. His previous season low was 26 the game before. And yet his PFF grades were really good with the reduced usage. So that's definitely on my radar to ask Marcus Freeman and Al Golden about ... so great observation for nudging me in that direction. My sense of what's going on here is that playing less is helping Sneed refocus ... and that this is temporary. However, in the interim Jaiden Ausberry and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa are surging and are doing what Sneed does better. Sneed is an elite athlete trying to become a very good linebacker. I think he has it in him. Very curious to see him after the bye.
MikeD from Rochester N.Y.: Eric!!!@@!! to provide some needed depth at Vyper, could they move Kevin Bauman or Davis Sherwood over there? Seems like the right size/body type but maybe too big a transition ?
Eric Hansen: MikeD!!!@#$%^&*(!!!! I like the way your mind works. Maybe without the injury history for Bauman and more time for either you could borrow from the tight end room. So the reason for my pause ... other than suggesting Josh Burnham as a swing piece ... I wanted to give the depth chart a good scan to see if there was someone else I might be missing. And I came up with two possibilities ... freshman defensive tackle Cole Mullins (6-4, 265) who played some DE in the spring, and possibly linebacker Preston Zinter, a 6-2, 235-pound sophomore who might be able to give you some burst.
Tony from Lake Mary, Fla.: Hey Eric. Love your response to the Tyson Ford and Jaden Mickey question you opened the chat with. Along with what you said, in the ever opened business landscape of college football, I, personally, can still hold on hope that Notre Dame will still do what is right for its students that came to ND on good faith that it was the best place for their future. And walking the walk that ND is first an academic institution before an athletic institution.
Eric Hansen: Thanks, Tony.
J Buckley from San Diego: Thanks for these chats/rants great therapy. Now, that Gillett guy for Louisville cut through our O-line pretty good. How did you think the O-line fared in what was one heck of an entertaining game. Big plays, errors, penalties, fumbles had it all, and what about LM speed, he showed up out of nowhere to force that fumble. Speed!!!! more of that please.
Eric Hansen: JB, thanks for your question. If I remember right, you had a really good one last week I wasn't able to get to. ... Yeah Ashton Gillotte is a handful. I think the best way to term the O-line's performance is that they survived. Between game plan, Riley Leonard's skill set and doing just enough, they survived and advanced. In my opinion, the two best defenses they'll face this season are in the rearview mirror. Now is the time to make some headway with better cohesion, chemistry and consistency. Because if ND makes the playoff, they are going to be challenged again big time.
Tom F from Kennesaw, Ga.: Hi Eric. What a much needed performance and win!! Some rapid fire questions: 1) When will we know kickoff time for GT game? 2) Who are some of the injured players that we expect to return soon? Rubio? Flanagan? Spindler? Who else?? Frustrating for all of us, but media people especially, not to get injury info this week. 3) Please rate the top 7 available OL in order?? Any chance there are changes on the left side of the OL during Bye week? 4) Other than FSU do you think that all the remaining teams on our schedule are better than what we thought at the beginning of the season? 5) Was Louisville the best defensive team we will face? Thanks for all your hard work and I especially enjoy your Press Conference questions. Go Irish!!!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Tom. I owe you an email and promise to get to it tonight. The bye week has kicked my butt a little more than I thought, but you are on my to-do list. ... Let's get to your questions ... 1) We should get the official word at about 11:30 a.m. on Monday or thereabouts. We'll have it on our website immediately. 2) Injured players expected to come back soon ... Gary, Flanagan, Schrauth, Rubio (all barring setbacks), Pendleton maybe even Tae Johnson. I've weighed in on Traore. Not sure yet about Kiser, Faison. Hope I'm not leaving out anybody. Will double check after the chat. 3) I'm doing this based on today's snapshot, not their ceiling and not guys out for the season: 1. Schrauth, 2. Wagner, 3. Coogan, 4. Pendleton, 5. Rocco, 6. Knapp, 7. Absher. In November, Lambert moves onto that list, maybe sooner. I think Rocco and Pendleton will compete for a spot at LG when Schrauth comes back. Maybe a change at LT, but I don't think so. Knapp got better vs. Louisville. 4) Yeah, I do actually. Maybe USC is about the same. I had them ranked pretty high in my preseason poll. 5) Yes in the regular season. ... And thank YOU.
Mike aka "Mo" from Maumee OH: It appeared that Leonard sustained some sort of injury in both the NIU and Louisville games (non-throwing shoulder?), and to me, it also looked like the offensive game plan shifted into "neutral" afterward. For example, I don't believe that Riley ran a single time in the second half of the NIU game. Your take on this? Thanks!
Eric Hansen: Hey Mike/Mo. He did not run in the NIU game after suffering the left shoulder injury, yet ran and ran a lot with contact the next week against Purdue. Leonard said the injury in the Louisville game was getting the wind knocked out of him, not a shoulder injury.
Kevin-Sleepy Eye,MN: Eric:):):):):) First question: What are offensive stats as far as success with play-action pass plays? With our rushing attack I feel we don't do enough of it. Second question: will 11-1 get us a home playoff game? Do we need style points in addition to being 11-1??
Eric Hansen: Kevin><><><><! I think you have a point here. Per Pro Football Focus film evals, Notre Dame has thrown play action on only 11.2 of its passes, and yet the Irish are completing non-play action at a better rate. 65.8 to 56.3%. My sense is though, you will see more over the last seven games of the season and ND will get better at it. And you're right to suggest they do more. Just as a comparison, I'll throw Alabama's stats in. The Tide throws play action 19% of the time and is completing those passes at a 94.1 rate compared to 66.7% for passes that do not have play action. ... No style points needed to get into the playoff at 11-1, but the perception of ND as an ascending/improving team would affect their seed ... and their viability to actually win a playoff game.
Doug from Sunny Florida: Eric, the hurricane has passed so we should be good....for a week. I've been intrigued by the PFF ratings for awhile and always look at the players ratings after a game. Sometimes they match the eye test and sometimes they don't match what I'm seeing. How much, if any, do the coaches rely on the ratings and adjust playing time for players based on the ratings? Is there a more in depth detail of each players rating that would point a coach/player on how to improve the rating (ex. an OL pass blocking is good but run blocking is low)?
Eric Hansen: Hi Doug and glad you are back to being sunny Florida and not Hurricane-y Florida. Glad you are safe. The college coaching staffs that get PFF reports get a much more detailed breakdown than the version you and I have access to. Notre Dame does its own film grades, so for its own self-scout this acts as more of a cross-reference, if you will. And they don't always align. Where I think there's some real value is in starting a scouting report on an opponent ... individual and team tendencies and strengths and weaknesses. ... I'm not sure how much you are getting with the ratings you are looking at and if you're taking full advantage of all the features, but there is incredible detail and breakdown if you dig into it. Again, not the end-all, be-all, but I find it to be an interesting evaluative tool.
Denny from Beaverton, Ore.: Hi Eric; I took your advice and listened to your pregame radio show on WSBT radio and really enjoyed it. Game coverage by Tony S. and Ryan H. was exciting and fun to listen to, however listening only does not give you a good perspective on the game. I also wanted to tell you I really liked your article a couple days ago on things that Coach Freemen may want to look at during the break. It was well thought out. My question has to do with PFF (Pro Football Focus) where all the players are graded on their game performance. If you have written an article on this topic in the past could you direct me to it? How in the world and by whom is every player graded on their performance by Sunday and more in depth a few days later. What a benefit for the coaches and players. Thanks for your great work and enjoy the break you hopefully get.
Eric Hansen: Hi Denny, and thanks for listening to the pregame show. We are on 3 1/2 hours before the game until an hour before the game at wsbtradio.com. ... We had a guy from Pro Football Focus on a podcast a couple of years ago, though we were focused on draft prospects rather than PFF's process. We did go down that road a little bit, but you have inspired me to do a story on it. So thank you for the idea!
Matt from Austin: Eric, it has been a great week for the ND men's basketball program. With a bye week coming up, do you see any movement with our committed football recruits, as well as any new commits? I know we flipped a WR today and hope to land the two great LB targets. Any insight that you may be able to add on our efforts. Thank you. Matt
Eric Hansen: Hi Matt. If you're a subscriber, Tyler James gives very detailed info in his regular Heat Index updates. You will know where ND stands at every position. And he's got a story about ND coaches out of the road recruiting today and who they're looking at. So, let me give you the Cliffs notes. ... ND still would like to add at WR, they've re-engage and are looking are more edge players on defense, still dealing with QB drama, still feeling good about finishing very strong at linebacker.
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Jim from Oak Island, N.C.: On 3rd down against a loaded box why don’t we send a receiver over the middle instead of sending them all to the sideline?
Eric Hansen: Hi Jim. I tried to get a picture for you of eight men in the box, but didn't have time to search for a good one without holding up the chat. Typically, in trying to get a team to unload the box, you're looking for quick throws and QB runs. If you have an elite O-line you'd like to take some deep shots too. But if you make a quick throw and there are only three players (or two) not in the box, the l area where there would tend to be less traffic and better matchups stands to reason would be on the outside MOST of the time.
Ced walker Saginaw Michigan aka sagnasty Saginaw pride with the injury of boubcar traeor im hearing jaylen sneed might be getting reps at vyper god bless this football team here come the irish trust the process the golden standard rally we are nd god country go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us
Eric Hansen: Ced, both Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Jaylen Sneed have lined up at vyper already in certain sub packages. And I see no reason why that would not continue. But if someone is tell you Jaylen Sneed at 6-1, 224 is moving there full time and playing there on running downs, you might want to check whether they've been at Happy Hour before they hit the keyboard.
Sean from Schaumburg, Ill.: Hello Eric, What's with the slow/poor starts at home? Especially, in September. Marshall, Cal, NIU, Miami-Ohio. A fumble on kickoff return to start the game vs Louisville. Allowing Louisville near 10-yards per play on first down plays in the first half. Outgained by Louisville over 100+ yards. They did win. It wasn't pretty but winning is all that matters from here on out. We've all talked about MF focusing on road trips and being prepared. Do you think he's over-compensated and has neglected home preparation in some non-obvious ways? Getting up too early? Eating too early? Not praying enough? Praying too much? I'm joking on those last two. Just throwing out ideas. Thank you. Go Irish.
Eric Hansen: Hi Sean. I think there's some natural built-in challenges in September home or away that you're not facing later in the season. Especially if you are playing a team with a new coaching staff or new coordinators or a coaching staff that is overly familiar with how your team operates. Texas A&M and Navy last year there was a ton of adjusting on the fly in the first half. … I figured it would take ND a while to pull away from a Chuck Martin-coached team. The Cal game in 2022 was Drew Pyne's first start and he pressed too much. Marshall was a hangover from the Ohio State loss. NIU was the head scratcher. No reason for it. But mistakes happen in football. It's how you respond. And I think responding to fumbling the opening kick by answering with 21 first-quarter points against the best defense ND will face this year was a damn strong answer.
Sean from Portland, Ore.: Eric, thanks for your engagement and all you do. I don't live in an area where many people are ND fans or care about ND football at a critical level, which is why it's hard to keep to the "no 17-part questions and no manifestos." Here's my best effort: 1) As much heat as R.Leonard is taking... the O-Line is making him look bad. They are bad, no way around it. How hot is Joe Rudolph's seat? Last year he had a stacked O-Line and they underperformed. This year they have a young, questionable, and now unhealthy offensive line. Regardless of what PFF says, the eye-test says they're below average for major college football. 2) After TA&M where their players were cramping and spending much of the 2nd half laying on the turf, we were singing Landows praises. Now, ND may be the most injured team in the country. When Landow was let-go from the Broncos, their injury rates were way up (I know correlation is not equal to causation). Is he part of the injury issue? How about UA shoes, field turf, or just plain bad luck?
Eric Hansen: Hi Sean and thank you. I don't think Joe Rudolph's seat is hot at all. Marcus Freeman regularly praises him and not because he's defending him in a question. Keep in mind, even the GREATEST OF GREAT (and I'm talking about Harry Hiestand) have some challenging situations that can only be mitigated during the season. His last season at Tennessee before coming to ND comes to mind. Tennessee fans' reaction to him leaving ranged from shoulder shrug to don't let the door hit you in the ass. And Harry is as good a position coach as I've covered in four decades of doing this. What I do think is fair to expect/demand over the last seven games of the regular season is real improvement by the O-line.
I liked how you framed the Loren Landow question. I think it's unfair that any time there's an injury to knee-jerk into it being the strength and conditioning coach's fault. But I do think it's fair for Marcus Freeman and his staff ... and you ... to put it under the microscope. ND leans so heavily into sports science, it's hard to believe there's a correlation, but again it's worth studying and asking those questions.
Ryan from Frankfort Ill.: Good Afternoon Eric what do you Think About the play of Kennedy Urlacher he has looked good during the Purdue game and the Louisville game when he got the fumble recovery down by the Goal line GO IRISH ☘️☘️🏈🏈
Eric Hansen: Hi Ryan. He sure did. It'll be interesting to see of he can get the safety rotation to expand a bit in the latter part of the season. Even if he doesn't this year, it feels like he's got a bright future ahead of him on defense and a bright present on special teams.
Chris in Albuquerque: Hey Eric, I know you are not the usual recruiting guy (I think) but outside the optics of potentially losing Deuce Knight, I feel like our qb room is set up very nicely for the next several years to come, thoughts?
Eric Hansen: HI Chris. It is, and yet do all those quarterbacks stay at ND. There is SO MUCH movement at that position throughout college football, but when was the last time there was a third-stringer as good as Kenny Minchey and a fourth-stringer as good as CJ Carr? Wow.
Patrick from Boulder, Colo.: Eric!!!!!! Two questions this week. Do you anticipate our that in the second half of the season we will see the Tight Ends more involved in the passing game? Also, it seems that we continue to be vulnerable to good rushing attacks - what do you see that we can do to mitigate that going forward? Thanks as always for your great insights.
Eric Hansen: Patrick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think there are going to be weeks when flexing the strength of the tight end room makes sense, especially when Cooper Flanagan comes back (soon), and some weeks where it doesn't make as much sense. The goal with this offense is to be good at all those things by November, so in December you can deploy the style that attacks the opposing defense the most effectively. 2. Some of what ails ND in its run defense is scheme. And the Irish are willing to at times give up chunks in the run game to prevent explosive plays. And that was understandable against Louisville with Brooks and Lacy at WR for the Cards and a freshman playing all 76 snaps at cornerback. But I do think post-bye DC Al Golden needs to be better with the shifting from that philosophy to loading the box when needed. Howard Cross playing a great game helps too. He did not look like himself until Saturday. Rubio coming back, Mills stepping up would help too.
Finally, a refining of the five-man linebacker rotation would help ... not eliminating it but honing in on the roles and situations more so that the pairing make more sense and the matchups are to ND's advantage.
Chris in Albuquerque: You are the man!
Eric Hansen: Thank you!
J Buckley, San Diego: One more, I'll be at the Stanford game with a bunch of peeps, any new food joints that I need to hit up? Thanks again, and I'll look out for ya when I'm there. Take care and Go Irish
Eric Hansen: JB, shoot me an email and I'll hook you up. ehansen@insidendsports.com.
The Beave from Grand Rapids, Mich.: Also follow up to Kevin’s Tyler Buchner question. As a walk-on on scholarship in LAX, wouldn’t ND have to burn a scholarship if Buchner plays as they did with Jordan Faison last year?
Eric Hansen: That came into play with Matt Jeffery as well. And because ND can kind of skirt that issue with NIL money until the scholarship limit goes up to 105 perhaps as soon as next year, there is a workaround there.
The Beave from Grand Rapids: Eric: Thanks. For being here even on an off-week. With all rules suspended, I will ask a math question. In response to several questioners earlier in the year asking how ND got down to the 85 scholarship limit, you responded that ND was able to essentially pay NIL money in lieu of free academics and keep a player above the 85 limit. If that is allowed, doesn’t NIL effectively eliminate the 85 scholarship limit? 85 on scholarship + [add the number] with tuition paid through NIL = Infinity?
Eric Hansen: It makes it easier to blur that line legally yes. And remember, this gray area is only going to be there for maybe the rest of this season.
Scott from Louisiana: Do we have any updates on injuries that happened during the Louisville game?
Eric Hansen: Monday at noon.
Robert from Dunedin, Fla.: Eric- Thanks as always for hosting the Chat! I am a bit concerned with the wave of players opting for red-shirting during the season. I'm sure circumstances/validity vary by player, but I also think it can be disruptive to the Team. If this trend continues, perhaps a rule should be considered that the player sits out the number of games prior to the redshirt declaration the following season? If they commit to play (and barring injury) I think they should honor the commitment they made to the team. Is this thinking off the rails? I appreciate any take you might provide.
Eric Hansen: Robert, I wish I had more time to get into this. It's only Jaden Mickey this year. I see this as more of an isolated issue than one that warrants a rule/philosophy change. But I get your concern.
James from Placitas, N.M.: Is there a chance Fr. Dowd, CSC has college football eligibility? I noticed he was seated at the end of the game near Jaden Mickey and just wondered if he might be in the transfer portal from UND Academics to Notre Dame’s Defensive backfield due to the attrition there !
Eric Hansen: Ha. James, he sat near me at Marcus Freeman's press conference. I think he is in the role that suits him best and leave it at that.
Bob (Oxnard, CA): Where can the team most improve between now and USC?
Eric Hansen: QB play, offensive line, run defense.
Eric Hansen: OK, out of time. I've got another commitment coming up and have to get to it. Sorry for the questions I couldn't get to. Thanks for all the great questions I did get to and all the fun punctuation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We'll be back to do it all over again next Wednesday at noon ET heading into the Stanford game.
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