BC’s Grosel looks to rebound at Louisville
Boston College quarterback Dennis Grosel will need greater support from the entire offense when the Eagles visit Louisville at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Grosel was under duress, especially in the second half, in last Saturday’s 33-7 home loss to No. 22 North Carolina State.
The Wolfpack entered the game first in the ACC in total defense and second in scoring defense, and the script didn’t vary. Grosel was 21-of-39 for 194 yards and a pick that included a touchdown pass to tight end Trae Barry on the Eagles’ opening drive.
Not mentioned in those stats are the six drops coach Jeff Hafley identified that included Barry’s mishandling of a makeable reception in the NC State end zone in the second quarter.
At least five of Grosel’s 18 incompletions were throwaways to avoid a sack. Grosel was sacked three times and hurried 11 times.
Receiver separation may have contributed to NC State’s seven pass breakups. Grosel had problems connecting with Zay Flowers on deep routes against both ClemDennis. son and NC State. BC’s minus three yards rushing in the second half took play action out of the equation.
“There are a lot of ways to get guys the ball in space and we will continue to do that,” said Hafley. “Everybody sometimes looks at There were six other opportunities to catch the football and Dennis would have had a highlight night.”
Follow your nose
Playing nose tackle is the most thankless job in college football.
TJ Rayam is in his third season in the role, with 24 starts. Rayam will make his seventh start of the season at Louisville opposite center Cole Bentley, a 6-3, 314-pound, redshirt senior on the Rimington Trophy watch list.
“He is having a real good year, probably the best football that he has played and I’m proud how he has responded this year,” said Hafley. “It’s not a fun position to play because you are getting plastered by 600-plus pounds each play.” The 6-0, 295-pound graduate student from Alabaster, Ala., routinely practices against two All-ACC first team offensive linemen, guard Zion Johnson and center Alec Lindstrom.
Nose tackles are asked to be immovable objects that clog up the middle on runs and provide pocket pressure on pass plays. When BC middle linebacker Isaiah GrahamMobley leads the Eagles in tackles, which he does most games, it means Rayam did his job at the point of attack. Rayam fished with a seasonhigh five tackles at Clemson and three against North Carolina State.
“They come in all shapes and sizes but you need a really thick guy who is hard to block and move,” said Hafley. “You need the guys who are stout that can take on the double teams.”
As for Lindstrom, he will have his hands full against Louisville’s beastly nose tackle Malik Clark.
The Maitre D
Free safety Jason Maitre is a deep cover guy who delivers a linebacker’s jolt on would-be pass-catchers.
Maitre administered such a hit on NC State WR Emeke Emezie late in the second quarter that jarred the ball loose for an apparent forced fumble. After a review, the pass was ruled incomplete and the Wolfpack settled for a field goal that made it 10-7 on the last down of the first half.
“He had the hit at the end of the half on the guy and he knocked it out,” said Hafley. “That was great hit and he had a lot of great hits and I felt like he was all over the place.
“The guy plays with a ton of energy and he practices really hard and comes in and watches extra film a ton. He is become a leader for us and this is his first year playing that position for us.”