Boston
College Eagles
Preview 2007
By
Michael Bradley & Pete Fiutak
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2007 BC Offense Preview |
2007 BC Defense Preview
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2007 BC Depth Chart
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2006 CFN Boston
College
Preview
Why would Tom O’Brien leave a program which he guided to eight bowl
games (and seven straight post-season wins) to go to a school in the
same conference with no real tradition, in what might appear to be a
lateral move?
Money talks, and O’Brien, who was unhappy with his salary at BC and no
doubt seduced by better facilities, a more lenient academic setting and
a broader recruiting base, left Chestnut Hill for North Carolina State
and a new challenge. While the move surprised many, it left Boston
College athletic director Gene DeFilippo with a tough job. He needed to
find a new head man who wouldn’t demand a multi-million dollar contract,
but who had the fire and talent to keep BC winning games – it has
averaged 8.8 wins over the past six years – within a somewhat
restrictive setting.
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Head coach: Jeff Jagodzinski
1st season
Returning Lettermen:
Off. 18, Def. 23, ST 3
Lettermen Lost: 17 |
Ten
Best BC Players
1. QB Matt Ryan, Sr.
2. CB DeJuan Tribble, Sr.
3. DT B.J. Raji, Sr.
4. LB Jolonn Dunbar, Sr.
5. OT Gosder Cherilus, Sr.
6. OG Ryan Poles, Sr.
7. LB Brian Toal, Sr.*
8. FS Jamie Silva, Sr.
9. DE Nick Larkin, Sr.
10. LB Tyronne Pruitt, Sr.
*if healthy |
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2007 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 8-4 |
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Sept. 1 |
Wake Forest |
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Sept. 8 |
NC State |
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Sept. 15 |
at
Georgia Tech |
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Sept. 22 |
Army |
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Sept. 29 |
Massachusetts |
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Oct.
6 |
Bowling Green |
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Oct.
13 |
at
Notre Dame |
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Oct.
25 |
at
Virginia Tech |
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Nov.
3 |
Florida State |
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Nov.
10 |
at Maryland |
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Nov.
17 |
at
Clemson |
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Nov.
24 |
Miami |
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2006
Schedule
CFN
Prediction:
7-5
2006 Record: 10-3 |
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8/31 |
at Central Mich W 31-24 |
| 9/9 |
Clemson W 34-33 2OT |
| 9/16 |
BYU
W 30-23 2OT |
| 9/23 |
at NC State
L 17-15 |
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9/30 |
Maine
W 22-0 |
| 10/12 |
Virginia Tech
W 22-3 |
| 10/21 |
at Florida State W 24-19 |
| 10/28 |
Buffalo
W 41-0 |
| 11/4 |
at Wake Forest L 21-14 |
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11/11 |
Duke
W 28-7 |
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11/18 |
Maryland
W 38-16 |
| 11/23 |
at Miami L 17-14 |
| 12/30 |
Meineke Car Care Bowl
Navy W 25-24 |
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The winner of the sweepstakes was Jeff Jagodzinski, the former Packers’
offensive coordinator who spent a couple of years (1997-98) directing
the Eagle attack. Though he doesn’t have a big name and there were
rumors in Green Bay that his departure was not greeted with wailing and
gnashing of teeth, Jagodzinski will likely satisfy the sector of Eagles
faithful who weren’t always completely thrilled with O’Brien’s somewhat
conservative offensive philosophy.
The biggest question is whether “Coach Jags” can continue the success
and perhaps even build on it, while also adding a bit more pizzazz, with
academic requirements that are stiffer than many in the league.
Inheriting a team with 17 returning starters, including All-ACC QB Matt
Ryan, is a nice start, so there’s not likely to be much of a grace
period, if any.
This is a good enough team to get to the ACC Championship game, and it
has the right makeup to possibly win the whole thing, if Ryan can ease
the coaching transition and make everyone around him better. O’Brien
instilled a belief that the program could and should win no matter what.
Now those beliefs should carry over, even if the leader isn’t around
anymore.
What to look
for offense:
BC’s offense averaged 400-plus yards a game while Jagodzinski
coordinated the offense a few years ago, but don’t expect a wide-open
attack. Ryan’s strong play will allow for a productive passing game, but
Jagodzinski’s roots as an O-line coach will mandate a strong running
profile with a new zone run blocking scheme. The return of top backs L.V.
Whitworth and Andre Callender will provide more balance, and won’t put
the entire offense on Ryan’s shoulders.
What to look
for on defense:
The decision to keep defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani was a good
one. He’ll direct a group that returns the entire front seven, which
made play after play after play in opposing backfields. A secondary that
produced 21 interceptions last year must replace two starters, but
overall this should again be a physical, stingy outfit, particularly
against the run.
The team will
be much better if …
one of the receivers can become a big-play threat. One of the offense’s
biggest problems has been its inability to burn teams on the deep ball.
Kevin Challenger is solid, but he isn't necessarily a home run hitter.
Junior Brandon Robinson or sophomore Clarence Megwa have potential and
could provide an instant upgrade.
The Schedule: Jagodzinski has a good team returning, with
the potential to get off to a big start if the Eagles can get by a road
trip to Georgia Tech and the season opener against defending ACC
champion Wake Forest. Army, UMass and Bowling Green in a three-game lull
should get the team fully tuned up for an absolutely brutal second half
of the year. It doesn't get much tougher than at Notre Dame, at Virginia
Tech, Florida State, at Maryland, at Clemson, Miami. Good luck, rook.
Best
Offensive Player:
Senior QB Matt Ryan. After battling painful foot and ankle injuries, a
healthy Ryan returns to the Heights for his final season as the league’s
most experienced quarterback and a Player of the Year candidate. He’s
got a next-level arm and Brett Favre-like toughness, to go along with a
new passer-friendly offense that’s going to supercharge his
numbers.
Best Defensive Player: Senior CB DeJuan Tribble. Senior
linebacker Jolonn Dunbar will lead the team in tackles, and senior
tackle B.J. Raji is the top pro prospect, but Tribble is the star of the
defense. He led the team in interceptions, and with a shaky secondary
returning, he'll be vital at erasing one side of the field.
Key player to
a successful season:
Senior RBs L.V. Whitworth and Andre Callender. The 1-2 tandem
will likely swing more towards Callender, who fits the new coaching
style and blocking scheme beter. Together, the veterans have to add more
pop to an offense that became too reliant on Ryan when things got tight.
While these two backs aren’t necessarily special, they should provide
far more balance if the new coaching staff commits to running the ball.
The season
will be a success if ... the steady winning tradition continues with the new coaching staff.
With ACC road games against Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Maryland and
Clemson, not to mention the home dates with Wake Forest, Florida State
and Miami, an ACC title is likely out of the question. However, for a
program that hasn’t won fewer than seven games since 1998, anything less
than a bowl season and a strong run in the ACC title race will be a
disappointment.
Key game:
Sept. 15 at
Georgia Tech. Could this be an ACC title game preview? Probably not,
considering the schedule, but if BC can win their opening two games
against Wake Forest and NC State, it’ll be 3-0 with a win in Atlanta. If
might be a must-win, considering the next ACC game is at Virginia Tech
over a month later.
2006 Fun
Stats:
- Red zone scores: Boston College 37 of 46 (80%); Opponents 24 of 35
(69%)
- First half scoring: Boston College 194; Opponents 107
- Kickoff return average: Boston College 25.9 yards; Opponents 17.1
yards