Wednesday September 16, 2009

Boston College Preview

Boston College Preview
When Boston College entered the ACC, I did not envision the Eagles beating Clemson three of the first four seasons. Every game has been a fourth quarter game with the margin of victory being 3 point, 1 point, 3 points and six points. I also did not envision a trophy for the winner of the game.

I most cases, this kind of competitive series could result in a rivalry. But something is missing. When you have not beaten a team on your home field since 1958, often times you could fear that opponent. But, again, something is missing and I think I know what it is.

When Boston College came to Death Valley in 2005 they were led by head coach Tom O’Brien. He is now at NC State.

In 2007 when the Tigers and Eagles battled in a night game for the ACC Atlantic Division title it was Jeff Jagodzinski wearing the headphones on the sidelines. He is now ……maybe playing golf.

Turnover has hurt BC. This week in 2005 we were talking the difficulties in blocking Mathias Kiwanuka on offense and how they could stop Will Blackmon on offense. Brian Toal was a linebacker that scored the winning touchdown as a tailback in overtime. They are gone.

In 2006, when the Eagles won a double overtime game in Chestnut Hill, BC had a huge offensive line despite missing Jeremy Trueblood. It was James Marten, Josh Beekman and Gosder Cherilus that all went on to be drafted in the NFL draft. They have moved on.

In 2007, it was the Matt Ryan show in Death Valley. The future NFL star came up with the one pass that ripped the heart out of the Tigers late in the fourth quarter. Gone.

In 2008, the storyline was having to deal with almost 700 pounds of future NFL defensive tackles Ron Brace and B.J. Raji. Mark Herzlich dominated from sideline to sideline. Gone.

College football has turnover every year but BC has had an unusual amount in their coaching staff. This will be their third head coach in the last four years. Players come and go but I have to ask if they have replaced the previously mentioned stars with comparable players? Has BC’s instability taken its toll?

The Eagles have two freshmen quarterbacks in Justin Tuggle and Dave Shinskie but will they develop like Matt Ryan? Anthony Castonzo and Matt Tennett are vets on the offensive line but are they Trueblood, Marten, Beekman and Cherilus? Rich Gunnell hurt the Tigers two years ago but is he as dangerous as Will Blackmon? The defensive tackles are nowhere near the size of Raji and Brace but can they play close to that level? Can Frank Spaziani continue what was started by O’Brien and Jagodzinski?

It is clear Boston College has had as much turnover as any program in America and the first two opponents (Northeastern and Kent) did nothing to test this group. So who are these Eagles?

The starting offensive tackles look like what BC has brought into the Valley the last two trips. Anthony Castonzo is 6-7 and 295 pounds and Rich Lapham is 6-8 and 322 pounds. Matt Tennett is perhaps the best center in the ACC but the guards are expected to be average.

Montel Harris is a 200-pound back that had 900 yards rushing as a freshman last season. I think he has to be a big part of their success if the Eagles want to upset Clemson Saturday. Rich Gunnell and Justin Jarvis are solid but not spectacular at wide out.

BC has played both Justin Tuggle and Dave Shinskie at quarterback and both have played well enough to deserve playing time Saturday. Saturday will be the first time either will be tested on the road and even the Boston College staff has concerns about how they will handle the crowd noise.

On defense the Eagles have allowed just seven points this season but Northeastern and Kent don’t scare defensive coordinators.

Defensive ends Alex Albright is an All-ACC candidate. Austin Giles has moved inside to defensive tackle. Boston College has had a ton of NFL talent on this side of the ball but they will miss their emotional leader in Herzlich.

Under Tom O’Brien, BC was a fundamentally sound football team that did not beat themselves. Under Jeff Jagodzinski, they won the division both seasons but it was much more impressive doing it without Matt Ryan. So how will this team react to having its third head coach in four seasons?

Frank Spaziani is totally different than O’Brien and Jagodzinski. First, he is the defensive mind. He cut his teeth on the other side of the football. Spaziani has more personality and is more likeable than the previous two head coaches in Chestnut Hill but we have yet to see what his stamp on this program will be though.

So going into Saturday, I have more questions than answers about this group of Boston College Eagles. I doubt they have replaced some of those special players of recent years with more special players but I don’t know that for sure. Even Spaziani does know. “We’re 2-0,’’ he said. “We are happy, but having said that, we have come to a new page, which poses new challenges. It’s going to take four or five weeks before we know what kind of football team we have.’’

What I do know is that Clemson would have an extremely difficult time winning the Atlantic Division with a loss Saturday. The Tigers need a win to even their record in the conference because the division is winnable at 1-1 but an 0-2 start would be difficult. Every team in the division has some issues but I doubt any team could afford to start 0-2 and still win the division.

I know a lot of fans are looking forward to TCU coming to Death Valley next week, but because this is a conference game, this week’s game is much more important to the Tigers goals.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Ann Fallaw, Bob Pollock.