BC looks for fix with home help
After being trounced in every facet of the game during a 49-0 loss at Virginia Tech, Boston College will attempt to right the ship heading into the home opener on Saturday against FCS school Wagner.
Coach Steve Addazio said the Eagles were tentative in their first on-campus road game of the season after playing Georgia Tech in Ireland and UMass at Gillette Stadium.
“I felt like we played really fast in the first two games,” Addazio said. “I felt like we played slow on Saturday, slower, a little bit tentative, a little bit, ‘What’s coming at us here?’ both sides of the ball, special teams. Some of that is the venue, and some of that is our inexperience and some of that is making sure we’re aware of our inexperience and our venue. I think that was an anomaly and sometimes that happens in football. We created some real negative momentum for ourselves very, very early that we were not able to really push back on.”
An early turnover resulted in the Hokies’ first score, and on the ensuing kickoff BC’s Myles Willis returned it 100 yards for a touchdown, only to have it called back for a illegal block penalty. The Eagles ended up at their own 8-yard line.
Addazio said Sunday’s practice dealt primarily with fundamentals and getting back to basics, particularly on offensive.
The Eagles were anemic in this area with just 124 total yards, rushing 28 times for 44 yards. Quarterback Patrick Towles was 9-for28 passing for 80 yards and an interception. This all explains Mike Knoll setting a school record with 13 punts.
The inability to move the ball led to BC consistently facing third-and-long, averaging more than 8 yards to go while converting 4-of-17 third downs. This also contributed to the Hokies’ offense working with a short field for much of the game.
“I want to do a little less,” said Addazio. “I want to make sure we can really focus on our fundamentals. Less focus on scheme, more focus on fundamentals and playing as fast as we can play and try to get rid of as many mistakes as we can on the field.
“I think that will help us. I’m not saying that’s the answer to all the ails that happened on Saturday, I’m saying that’s something we need to do, on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game.”
BC (1-2, 0-2 ACC) gets a two-week reprieve from ACC foes with nonleague games against Wagner of the Northeast Conference and Buffalo of the Mid-American Conference. Then, it’s back to the ACC as No. 5 Clemson pays a visit on Oct. 7.
“We’re anxious to get home and play at home. We just can’t wait to play at home,” Addazio said. “It’s hard to believe we’re going into the fourth game of the year and we haven’t been in our home stadium yet. That’ll be a good thing to play at home. The familiarity, that’s a good thing. I think our guys are excited for that, and looking forward to it. I am too.”
Wagner, which has wins over Div. 2 St. Anselm and NAIA member Concordia, and then winless Buffalo the following week should give the Eagles a chance to build some momentum.
Otherwise, questions about Addazio’s future at The Heights will grow louder.
“The personal thing doesn’t mean a thing to me,” said Addazio, who is 18-23 overall and 8-18 in ACC play at BC. “We’ve got a game on Saturday and we’ll go win the game.