Injuries turn O-line into revolving door
One of the reasons Boston College coach Steve Addazio cited for cancelling the 2015 spring football game was an insufficient number of offensive linemen to fill two rosters.
Finding and signing offensive linemen became a top priority for the BC coaching staff. That commitment to restocking the front should get the Eagles offense through Saturday’s game against Central Michigan at Alumni Stadium.
Starting left tackle Aaron Monteiro of Brockton suffered a lower-body injury in the Eagles’ 34-7 loss to Clemson, and his status for this weekend is unknown. If Monteiro is unable to play, he will become the third returning starter from last year’s offensive line to miss time because of injury.
“So let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope we can keep some continuity there,” Addazio said yesterday. “We had a lot of moving parts, but we’ve lost some of those moving parts right now as you know. Your moving parts are starting to shrink.”
Ironically, the offensive line’s problems began April 6 in the spring game when starting left guard Elijah Johnson suffered a knee injury. Senior Jon Baker, who began the season on the Rimington Award watch list as one of the nation’s top centers, suffered a torn ACL at Northern Illinois on Sept. 1.
Baker’s backup, Shane Leonard, has been out since training camp with a knee injury and is not ready to return. Addazio was forced to use freshman Ben Petrula for Baker even though he played only guard and tackle in high school.
Addazio could move left guard John Phillips to left tackle if Monteiro can’t dress. Junior Sam Schmal, who played in 11 games last season, could play either left guard or left tackle.
Right tackle Marcell Lazard, a graduate transfer from West Virginia, has not performed up to expectations, while Chris Lindstrom of Dudley has been rock solid at right guard. Lazard made starts at both tackle positions for the Mountaineers.
Denis the menace
BC sent outstanding safeties Justin Simmons (Broncos) and John Johnson (Rams) to the NFL the past two seasons and junior Lukas Denis of Everett is building a case to be next.
Denis was all over the field in run support and pass coverage against the mighty Clemson offense. He led the Eagles with nine solo tackles and four assists for a career-high 13 and added a forced fumble and his third interception of the season.
“I thought Lukas played his best football game,” Addazio said. “I thought as a whole in the secondary, we played pretty well.”
BC is second in the ACC in passing yards allowed per game (147.5).
Caged Tigers
BC punter Mike Knoll has become a friend of the defense. Knoll was in consideration for ACC special teams player of the week for his efforts against Clemson.
He pinned six punts inside the Clemson 10-yard line and three inside the 6, with a 42.9-yard average and a long of 53 in nine tries. Knoll’s repeated punts deep inside Tigers territory helped keep the game tied 7-7 into the fourth quarter.