Passing forward
Backup quarterbacks make moves for BC
Boston College coach Steve Addazio came out of last Saturday’s Jay McGillis Memorial Spring Game energized by the Eagles’ passing offense.
That was a satisfactory development considering that last year’s starter, Anthony Brown, was on the sidelines recovering from knee surgery.
White team quarterback EJ Perry of Andover and Maroon starter Matt McDonald posted promising stats despite the fact they had one series of actual game experience between them.
“It was a great thing for us but not great at the expense of Anthony not being there,” Addazio said during yesterday’s ACC coaches conference call. “Two guys, Matt McDonald and EJ Perry, took every single snap with the ones (first team) and the twos and you can’t get that kind of development.
“Normally you have all these reps lined up with your returning starter. So these got to experience being starters and got all kinds of reps and their growth was phenomenal.” Perry, who played a series in BC’s win over UConn a Fenway Park on Nov. 18, completed 10-of-20 passes for 141 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. McDonald completed an efficient 10-of13 for 129 yards and three touchdowns. Maroon won the game, 26-21. “They are both talented young players and they even surprised me at the level they are at right now,” said Addazio. “At the end of the spring you walk away and you say to yourself, ‘These guys can go into a game and play at a high level,’ and that makes you feel a lot better.”
Brown was the second BC freshman quarterback to start a season opener in school history. He started 10 games and completed 134-of-258 passes for 1,367 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Brown suffered a seasonending knee injury in the second quarter of a 17-14 loss to North Carolina State on Nov. 11 at Alumni Stadium. Darius Wade started the final three games of the season but transferred to Delaware on Jan. 16.
Addazio went into the spring season facing the possibility that Brown might not be ready for the 2018 season opener against UMass on Sept. 1. That made developing a backup capable of starting the year the Eagles’ overriding spring priority.
“Now we’ve got three guys that can all play at a very high level and we have two very talented guys coming in,” said Addazio. “Matt McDonald and EJ Perry looked great in spring ball and gained a lot of confidence for the staff and the team.
“They moved the ball well and made plays and Anthony was there every day in great shape to start the season.”
The Eagles have two components in place that can facilitate the development of an untested quarterback. They have five returning starters on the offensive line and seven with 10 or more career starts.
Several redshirted underclassmen are ready to step up along with incoming freshman Tyler Vrabel, the 6-foot-5, 285-pound son of Tennessee Titans coach and former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel.
Their first job will be to open holes for tailback AJ Dillon, who started 12 games and rushed for 1,589 yards, the second most by a freshman in ACC history. Dillon was an All-ACC first team tailback and Rookie of the Year.