2015 Boston College Football: Daz'd and Confused

[berniecarbo1]

The D is fabulous but the O and special teams are bad, real bad. I am surprised the special teams have not improved at all. Bad punts, bad coverage makes the fiekd longer for the O and when you have a struggling team, that doesn't help. But it's a win. They are 3-1 where everyone figured they would be. They go .500 and they are bowl bound, despite the Daz.

I am/was a big Daz fan but his in game coaching regretfully is at best a C. His recruiting overall is ok but not great. To be this young in his third year and to have yet another horrid special team unit is on him. Next week is their first road game against a good Duke team. Big test. They win then bowl outlook is pretty good. Lose and it's a slog.

 

[Doctor G]

I never want to hear TOB doing color on ESPN 3 again.Like listening to someone talking to himself.

 

[kenneycb]

Agreed. This defense is just fantastic. I can't remember a BC team (maybe since Raji) that could rush 4 and have a chance.

Recruiting on the defensive side looks to have been plus the last few years, particularly the secondary.

If only that academic advisor was mildly competent to sync up the Brace breakout with Raji's prime. My favorite d play from my four years is between the SS that blew up two Maryland runners for returns in 2006 (Anam?) and Brace murdering an NC State RB in the year Raji was ineligible.

This D may legit be one of the best in the country. Don't want to go too far on that one but against real competition they've let up 14 points and minimal yardage. Whither Tyler Murphy.

 

[Dave Stapleton]

Hilliman out with a broken foot, possibly for the year. Not good.

 

[kenneycb]

Per Daz, both Flutie and Smith are going to play against Duke.

 

[tims4wins]

For whatever it's worth, it has been raining down here in the triangle for nearly a week straight and is likely supposed to continue through the weekend. Could be pretty sloppy out there. I'm supposed to be going to the game but not taking two toddlers if it's nasty out

 

[mauf]

They are 3-1 where everyone figured they would be. They go .500 and they are bowl bound, despite the Daz.

I think they have to go 8-4 to be bowl-eligible, because their 2 wins against non-FBS opponents (Maine and Howard) don't count toward the 6 wins required for eligibility.

 

[Dave Stapleton]

I think they have to go 8-4 to be bowl-eligible, because their 2 wins against non-FBS opponents (Maine and Howard) don't count toward the 6 wins required for eligibility.

One win against an FCS team may be counted toward bowl eligibility. Also, if there are not enough bowl eligible teams a 6-6 team with 2 wins agains FCS teams is eligible.

 

[mauf]

One win against an FCS team may be counted toward bowl eligibility. Also, if there are not enough bowl eligible teams a 6-6 team with 2 wins agains FCS teams is eligible.

Thanks for the correction. The annual tilt with Maine makes even more sense now.

 

[Dave Stapleton]

With this offense, every road game left on our schedule is looking like a loss with maybe Syracuse as a possibility. I don't see how this team gets to 7 wins.

It's all dependent on whether the Oline grows throughout the year. There were some signs this weekend but still lots of question marks.

 

[4 6 3 DP]

I think it's possible Addazio and Fitch like punting more than Tom O'Brien did, which I didn't think was possible.
 
I completely understand that with this defense you want to play conservatively, but 2nd and 1 to start, with the passing QB in there...two straight runs right into a brick wall...I really thought Ryan Day was a problem, but the more I watch Addazio coach offense the more I think it's him. Not his fault guys get hurt, but theres offensive regression here.
 
Edit: Not as if Flutie can throw very well, either. 

 

[doldmoose34]

Can we just go back to the single wing offence?

 

[gingerbreadmann]

Fuck that call. Pretty clearly hit the ground.

That said, irrelevant because there's a 75% chance Duke has already scored enough to win the game. This offense has given new meaning to the word ineptitude.

 

[kenneycb]

I watched (or at least had on in the background) the horrifically boring Maryland-Michigan game earlier.  Currently debating whether or not to fire up the ole ESPN3 for this dandy.  It was painful to even follow the PBP online.

 

[gingerbreadmann]

I hate football.

 

[doldmoose34]

Well Adazio said the same thing to the zebras as I did Fuck You

 

[Dave Stapleton]

Awful call there. That's a TD

 

[4 6 3 DP]

The only question I'd ask Steve Addazio after this game is obviously he watched this team all summer, and a month into the season.
 
Exactly why did Troy Flutie start this game? It's obvious the offense is far better with Smith out there. What decision maker thought this team was possibly better with Flutie starting? Were practice reps wasted on Troy being out there? Jeff Smith should have gotten every single snap of practice since Wade went down. Only chance at 6 wins. 

 

[gingerbreadmann]

The only question I'd ask Steve Addazio after this game is obviously he watched this team all summer, and a month into the season.
 
Exactly why did Troy Flutie start this game? It's obvious the offense is far better with Smith out there. What decision maker thought this team was possibly better with Flutie starting? Were practice reps wasted on Troy being out there? Jeff Smith should have gotten every single snap of practice since Wade went down. Only chance at 6 wins. 

The short answer is because of his last name, but I'd guess it's a combination of Addazio's lack of offensive mental prowess and thinking of Troy as the "passing" quarterback when Smith is probably better at that, too.

I think he's figuring it out now, for what it's worth. Hopefully we've seen the last of Flutie for a while.

 

[kenneycb]

We also wasted about 15-20 seconds after the Smith first down because we had to huddle since Smith apparently can't run a hurry up. Probably for the best all things considered.

Zero passing yards in the first half.

 

[Dave Stapleton]

4 missed calls by the refs that half. Is Coach K on the sideline?

 

[berniecarbo1]

Just remember fellas, Duke never wanted BC in the All Confederate Confetence. Still would like to deep 6 them if they could.

Not for nothin but the horrific special teams, and not the O will keep BC from winning 4 more games and getting to a bowl. When you can't execute a snap and your coverage on punts and kickoff is weak, it makes the opposing team's O scheme that much easier. The special team crap I place on Daz and I agree his in game play calling sucks. The fact they have such a young team in the 2 deep with no upperclass balance is in the coach. This is year 3 and I am starting to see regression. Agree that with Daz, no matter who is on the field for the O, he is at best an 8 win coach, even with the shitty cupcake OOC schedules BB sets up. Man this is frustrating.

 

[BoredViewer]

It's weird to me that colleges recruit QBs that can't throw.  I remember a time when BC was practically QBU... hard times.

 

[kenneycb]

My god this is painful to watch.  I think I'm a few minutes behind on ESPN but that 3rd down play call was awful.

 

[gingerbreadmann]

That was about the 4th time they've tried the delayed handoff and it's been that result every time. Just excruciating after finally accomplishing some good plays in succession right before.

 

[4 6 3 DP]

Wow. Good for the kid.

 

[Dave Stapleton]

Thad Smith has some wheels and may be the playmaker we've been begging for.

 

[doldmoose34]

Yeah great fake and bomb, but some of the play calling is fucked up. After the goal line stand and sneak for a couple yards, the next play was a handoff when there was a huge gap in front of the center, either QB could've picked up 4 or 5.., play went for a loss back to the 1

 

[kenneycb]

Just remember fellas, Duke never wanted BC in the All Confederate Confetence. Still would like to deep 6 them if they could.

Not for nothin but the horrific special teams, and not the O will keep BC from winning 4 more games and getting to a bowl. When you can't execute a snap and your coverage on punts and kickoff is weak, it makes the opposing team's O scheme that much easier. The special team crap I place on Daz and I agree his in game play calling sucks. The fact they have such a young team in the 2 deep with no upperclass balance is in the coach. This is year 3 and I am starting to see regression. Agree that with Daz, no matter who is on the field for the O, he is at best an 8 win coach, even with the shitty cupcake OOC schedules BB sets up. Man this is frustrating.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

 

[4 6 3 DP]

Good thing Daz fired the special teams coach. Fumbled punt, botched snap, shank wide left....
 
So we can recruit defenders, give them to Don Brown, and get the hell out of his way.
 
The Offensive Cooordinator runs draw to set up a FG for a team that can't make a FG. Just brilliant. Seriously braindead stuff. 

 

[gingerbreadmann]

I hate that I felt emotion from watching him miss that. Would have bet money he would miss it but still had a glimmer of hope. Gah.

 

[kenneycb]

Good thing Daz fired the special teams coach. Fumbled punt, botched snap, shank wide left....
 
So we can recruit defenders, give them to Don Brown, and get the hell out of his way.
 
The Offensive Cooordinator runs draw to set up a FG for a team that can't make a FG. Just brilliant. Seriously braindead stuff. 

And the same misdirection play that takes 5 seconds to get going and has led to multiple multi-yard losses today.

 

[gingerbreadmann]

Fuck everything about this game

 

[kenneycb]

So Dudek was the only read on that 3rd down play?

 

[4 6 3 DP]

Criminal to waste this defense on this head coach. Yeah, he recruited them but he's now wasting them.

 

[edoug]

I get the hate for the coaches but players have to make plays.

 

[Dave Stapleton]

I get the hate for the coaches but players have to make plays.

That's where I am. They had two chances to win it and didn't execute.

 

[doldmoose34]

What do we have to do to get someone who can kick a fucking field goal, we treat special teams like special Ed

 

[4 6 3 DP]

The coaches have had three years to recruit a QB that can throw a spiral, to recruit a kicker who can kick a ball straight, they've shown themselves incapable of it. 
 
Sure the kids deserve some blame, but I don't see anyone out there who didn't do what you'd expect. Their ST have been incompetent for years. They act like the forward pass is irrelevant. The head coach melts down again and again any time clock management or end of game coaching is necessary. It's frustrating. This guy ain't getting better at anything but excuses about program building. 

 

[berniecarbo1]

Criminal to waste this defense on this head coach. Yeah, he recruited them but he's now wasting them.

I think Don Brown and some other guys really recruited them. Daz is the old O line guy, right? Another game they could have won if they had just decent special teams. The O actually started to play ok in the second half. Look they had a TD taken away in the first half, shank a FG in the second half. That's 10 points they left out there. This is a game they really should have won.

But they have no special teams and that puts way too much pressure on your O to score touchdowns (didn't we have this conversation last year and the year before??) and right now anyway, that ain't happening.

Unreal

 

[BigMike]

That was one of the worst football games I have ever watched.  Just miserable play on the field on both sides, Duke must have dropped 10 passes.
 
And horrible coaching on both sides. Cutcliffe's second half playcalling on offense was just bizarre. On the other hand Daz was just Daz
 
3rd and long in the 4th and BC plays for the long FG.  I don't get it, just wishful thinking I guess.
 
3rd and short, and they have a kid who is basically a RB in the game at QB and they have him straight drop back to throw on 2 straight plays?
 
Even the last sequence of the game.  Duke decides to go into victory formation with 2:30 or so to play in the game knowing they will not be able to run the clock out and will have to punt back to BC with around 30 seconds to play,  and BC screws it up by taking a defensive offsides allowing Duke an extra snap and the chance to run out the clock
 
It's a shame because the defense is good. It's not as explosive or as much fun as 2007 defense, but it's very good especially up front.  But they are unwatchable when they have the football

 

[BigMike]

Some numbers on the game.    BC gained 305 yards with only 13 first downs.  Seems like an odd combo.  Duke got 228 yards on 16 first downs
 
In terms of the QB battle

With Flutie at QB BC took 28 snaps gaining 194 yards
With Smith at QB BC took 36 snaps gaining 111 yards

 

[berniecarbo1]

Some numbers on the game.    BC gained 305 yards with only 13 first downs.  Seems like an odd combo.  Duke got 228 yards on 16 first downs
 
In terms of the QB battle
With Flutie at QB BC took 28 snaps gaining 194 yards
With Smith at QB BC took 36 snaps gaining 111 yards[/quote

Was Flutie the QB who tossed the TD pass that was taken away by the refs? If so, I would start him, and only him, next week against Wake and start converting Smith to a RB. I did see a light with the O. I also see 4 possible wins left on the schedule (Wake, NC State, Syracuse and Va Tech) so the season is not lost. But I am losing faith in Daz as a HC and game day coach. His calls are mind boggling.

 

[Humphrey]

Some numbers on the game.    BC gained 305 yards with only 13 first downs.  Seems like an odd combo.  Duke got 228 yards on 16 first downs
 
In terms of the QB battle
With Flutie at QB BC took 28 snaps gaining 194 yards
With Smith at QB BC took 36 snaps gaining 111 yards

Consider this:   They had runs of 25, 16, 15, 12 and 8 yards.   They had pass plays of 66, 33, 16, 10 and 8 yards.   That's 209 yards out of 10 plays.   The other 54 plays gained 96 yards, pretty horrible.  

 

[kenneycb]

Some numbers on the game.    BC gained 305 yards with only 13 first downs.  Seems like an odd combo.  Duke got 228 yards on 16 first downs
 
In terms of the QB battle
With Flutie at QB BC took 28 snaps gaining 194 yards
With Smith at QB BC took 36 snaps gaining 111 yards[/quote

Was Flutie the QB who tossed the TD pass that was taken away by the refs? If so, I would start him, and only him, next week against Wake and start converting Smith to a RB. I did see a light with the O. I also see 4 possible wins left on the schedule (Wake, NC State, Syracuse and Va Tech) so the season is not lost. But I am losing faith in Daz as a HC and game day coach. His calls are mind boggling.

That was Smith.

 

[Dave Stapleton]

I would start Flutie and use smith in specific limited situations as appropriate. Try to move more to a 65/35 run pass ratio.

Smith is talented but really raw and not ready to play every down.

 

[berniecarbo1]

According to Blauds (take it for what its worth) BB is working on multi year deals to get UMass and UConn on the football schedule on a yearly or near yearly basis. Not sure if this is fact or more of him putting out rumors as fact and hopiing something sticks. They currently have 2 openings on the schedule next year. I don't understand why it is so hard for them to schedule opponents. If they do get UMass and UConn on the schedule on a yearly or regular basis I think it is a cop out. Why cant they get Power 5 programs othr than Notre Dame? Thoughts?

 

[kenneycb]

Beats the hell out of Howard and NMSU.  So it's something, I suppose.  IIRC Bates has yet to schedule an OOC P5 game in his tenure.

 

[berniecarbo1]

Beats the hell out of Howard and NMSU.  So it's something, I suppose.  IIRC Bates has yet to schedule an OOC P5 game in his tenure.

They have Ohio State in the early 20's home/home but that is it other than ND currently on their schedule for the next 7-8 years. He needs Power 5 schools desperately. I guess, as you say, it fills 2 games on the schedule, coupled with the 8 conference games and the "good for New England game".....although with UConn and UMass, do you really want to put another New England team on the schedule? But the big problem is finding Power 5 schools. What should happen is that the ACC should go to a 9 game schedule ( play one "rival game" every year, say BC-Syr, and bracket the rest of the league into 3 4-team groups, thereby playing the groups on a round robin basis so you play every team in the league at least once every three years. In a 5 year cycle you will have played everyone home and home at least once), play ND every 3 years and find a Power 5 to fill in the non ND years. That way you would have UMass, UConn, the 9 ACC games and ND/Power 5 every year. Do away with the FCS thing. IMHO no Power 5 program should play an FCS school. There are plenty of low level FBS schools out there to put on a schedule.

 

[Was (Not Wasdin)]

According to Blauds (take it for what its worth) BB is working on multi year deals to get UMass and UConn on the football schedule on a yearly or near yearly basis. Not sure if this is fact or more of him putting out rumors as fact and hopiing something sticks. They currently have 2 openings on the schedule next year. I don't understand why it is so hard for them to schedule opponents. If they do get UMass and UConn on the schedule on a yearly or regular basis I think it is a cop out. Why cant they get Power 5 programs othr than Notre Dame? Thoughts?

 
 
It's all risk and no reward for some of those other P5 schools (especially the ones that are mid to top in their respective conferences). There are not enough top flight prospects in the area to make it worthwhile to "show the flag" for recruiting purposes for them to come here, and I dont think BC is the kind of team they want for home games-good enough to cause some heartburn and maybe win a game here and there, but not good enough if you beat them (at home) to mean much in the national consciousness.   I think BC has to continue to build to the point where a win over BC means something before other P5 teams will schedule them. 
 
Look at Tulane-not a great program by any stretch, but they have been able to get home-and-homes with schools like GA Tech, Syracuse, Ole Miss, Miss St. and (starting in 2017) Oklahoma because those schools all want to play in front of the potential recruits in the area.  
 
FWIW, the teams visiting BC typically stay at the Westin right on 128 in Waltham.  I'm not sure there would be a more boring place to stay for a bunch of college kids.