Addazio toots Brown’s horn
BC coach asks QB to take lead
Optimism was the calling card yesterday as Boston College football coach Steve Addazio used a rare day off for his players to provide an update to media in Conte Forum on the early portion of preseason camp.
“We’re enjoying this team and the progress that they’re making, their attitude and how they go about their business,” said Addazio. “It’s been exciting. Obviously, it’s been a thrill to be in our new (indoor fieldhouse) facility, just a spectacular facility. It’s almost like a sign: We’re in there at practice and the rain is coming down like crazy (last week) and we would have been out there with nowhere to go. But it didn’t faze us.”
A total of 106 players reported to camp, led by 24 Bay State products.
“We have a lot of talented players sprinkled throughout the roster. The challenge is to make sure those players are healthy. The other challenge is get our quarterback (Anthony Brown) back there to where he is comfortable again. It’s still a process there,” he said.
“I think it’s getting everybody back together at one time, and push forward. That’s a process throughout training camp and we’re not there yet. We’re excited about both sides of the ball. I’ve said it before, we can get after the quarterback on defense and, (on) offense, we can move the football and score and get chunks of yardage. I’ve said it a lot and I’ll say to again: A lot has to do with the triggerman.”
A year ago, BC posted a 7-6 record, including a 4-4 mark in the bruising Atlantic Coast Conference, against a schedule that featured 10 teams that made bowl visits. While BC ranked third nationally in pass-efficiency defense and 12th in interceptions (Everett product Lukas Denis ranked second in the country with seven picks), it was the offense that made the biggest strides — registering 35 or more points in three consecutive games for the first time since 2002. Freshman AJ Dillon rumbled for 1,589 yards, the second-most rushing yards by any freshman back in the country, and seventh-best total overall.
Brown, a redshirt sophomore, started 10 games a year ago, throwing for 1,367 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
“He’s a ball guy. He got hurt, like anybody else, he goes through a little bit of a devastating period mentally, but he was quick to get back on . ... So, every day he’s another step closer in that process,” said Addazio.
“He’s a real leader. He’s kind of a Pied Piper-kind of guy; the guys attract around him. He’s been exceptional. Obviously, he’s ahead of schedule. Everything looks great. He’s throwing the ball great. Keep your fingers crossed as he takes you down that path, but there’s no reason to believe that he won’t be there.”
Like any coach, Addazio finds areas to improve as the Eagles prepare for the Sept. 1 opener against UMass.
“Well, third down on defense, stopping the run. You put a lot of smaller bodies on the field so, consequently, people are starting to run the ball on third down,” said Addazio. “Another thing on defense, teams are getting up-tempo and trying to ‘unwind you.’ We want to have answers for that.
“On offense, third (down) and medium. It’s a throwing down for us in the throw game. We also have a heavy emphasis in shotgun runs. We’re really working on sudden-change on both sides of the ball . . . . You’re trying to figure out how can I sustain the level of play.”
‘We’re excited about both sides of the ball. I’ve said it before, we can get after the quarterback on defense and, (on) offense, we can move the football and score and get chunks of yardage.’ — STEVE ADDAZIO (right) Boston College football coach