Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Guest Blogger: YANCSSB

With the season at a potential turning point for BC, we should probably welcome the arrival of the stumbling NC State Wolfpack. Of course the 'Pack aren't just any team on BC's schedule. Led by TOB, NC State offers a unique challenge in that they have a good feel for much of BC roster and certainly understand Spaz and what he will try to do. To get a feel for NC State and TOB's current status in Raleigh, I've asked James from "Yet Another NC State Sports Blog" a few questions. His answers are below.


1. The NC State defense couldn't stop Duke Saturday. Last year BC picked apart NC State with the passing game too. You have experience on the defensive. What is the cause of the problem? How do you think TOB and Archer will adjust for BC?

YANCSSB: I can tell you how I'd like to solve the defensive issues, but it involves a pink slip of paper with "Mr. Archer" written at the top. Given that won't happen, I'm not sure what State can do to solve the problem. Wake, and Duke even moreso, has provided the perfect blueprint for attacking State's defense: an empty backfield, five wide outs and quick five-yard outs. Doing so negates State's pass rush -- it's true strength defensively -- and takes the safeties out of the equation. That leaves the corners (who typically line up 10 yards off the ball) and the linebackers to stop five receiving threats. It's almost criminally easy to get five yards a pop each and every down, and when your defenders can't wrap up, a five yard out can turn into a 20-yard gain pretty quickly.

As I wrote on the blog Tuesday, State's issue seems to be constantly having to put out one fire after another. They'll correct one issue and another will crop up in its place. Until that trend ends, State won't make much headway towards their team goals.

2. Russell Wilson has thrown INTs the past two weeks. It also seems he is facing more pressure. Are his mistakes due to the offensive line or do you see other issues at play?

YANCSSB: I think he's trying to do too much, honestly. Or rather, he's being forced to out score the opponents. His interception that broke the streak was just a poor decision on his part, throwing a deep ball off-balance to a man in double coverage. The throw was way off and Owen Spencer had no chance to make a play on the ball. The second of the Wake game was a desperation heave with the team trying to mount a comeback on the road. Same thing for his pick in the Duke game. I think he's gotten pretty solid protection for the most part of late. His biggest problem seems to be his receivers aren't giving him any help after the initial route. They tend to stand around waiting for Russell to make a play with his feet, but Russell's been coached all year long to go through his progressions and stay in the pocket. So you've got Wilson back there dancing around, reluctant to scramble if he doesn't have to, and a group of receivers just standing around instead of fighting to get free in the coverage.

3. You are now 2.5 years into TOB's tenure. What is your assessment at this point? Where do you see the program heading?


YANCSSB: Somehow I knew this question was coming...hehehe. I think Tom misses Frank Spaziani, to be honest with you. Offensively, the team looks fine. It's rare that you'll find a team that scores 34 points a game struggling to keep their head above .500, but when you surrender 31, 30 and 49 points in your last three games, it makes it tough. I think Mike Archer was the wrong hire for the job of defensive coordinator. The soft zone defense that's meant to yield yardage but cut down on big plays and generate turnovers is failing on its two main objectives. We're giving up big plays in the passing game still and have a negative turnover margin thus far with only four picks through six games. I'm not sure where Tom's defenses ranked back when he was at BC, but surely they were better than this, I would hope.

Overall, I think most State fans would've expected to be further along than we are. What really stings (no pun intended) is that Paul Johnson wanted the State job initially, and after the interview was turned down by our bumbling AD Lee Fowler. Flash forward and we see where GT is, as one of the three teams from the ACC ranked, and where State is, having just lost to Wake and Duke, and folks that were lobbying for PJ are vocally upset on the boards.

Me personally, I still think Tom can continue to elevate State's program. We had fallen very far and very hard following the taste of greatness and publicity we received when Philip Rivers was getting legit Heisman consideration. The offensive line recruiting had wasted away to nothing and our overall depth was very thin. Losing Nate Irving I think has had some very profound consequences defensively as it seems most of the defense took their cues from him. He had great instincts and actually made the zone defense work by disrupting the middle, and the rest of the folks stepped up around him to match his intensity. Without him there making plays, everyone seems content to let the play come to them instead of attacking, a recipe for disaster.

So long as the recruiting stays up and we continue to build quality depth at all positions, I'm willing to stand behind coach O'Brien. However, if the defensive play doesn't improve from here on out, I would hope O'Brien -- who's referred to this as a "performance-based organization" -- would cut Archer loose and look to bring in a defensive coordinator that can re-energize that group.

4. What is your prediction for Saturday?


YANCSSB: Wow, I don't know. I'd like to say a State win, but O'Brien hasn't beaten BC since leaving in 2006 and with the way our defense has played thus far, it wouldn't shock me to see State lose. On the other hand, I'm curious to see how BC responds from the VT beatdown and if either of your quarterbacks steps up to secure the position for good. I predict a sloppy affair with lots of points, and since I'm on the State side of the ledger, I'll say State wins a "shootout," 34-31.

27 comments:

ObserverCollege said...

Here is YANCSSB's, uh, insight: "if the defensive play doesn't improve from here on out, I would hope O'Brien -- who's referred to this as a "performance-based organization" -- would cut Archer loose and look to bring in a defensive coordinator that can re-energize that group."

Let's get a clue, YANCSSB. There is NOTHING wrong with the coaching nor the schemes. The buck stops with the minions who actually need to perform on the field.

It's like Coach TOB said last weekend: "Kids have got to make plays," O'Brien said. "It's not the scheme and it's not the coaches. Right now we've got to make plays."

Last time I checked, Mike Archer doesn't strap on the helmet. Nate Irving would, but I've been told he's unavailable. I don't understand how you're supposed to win when you're stuck with a 2nd-string MLB who can't make plays. I'm sure NC State will pull it out because BC has no talent, but the players need to step up when you face real competition.

Claver2010 said...

10 yard cushion from the CBs? Getting burned on 5-10 yard outs? That sounds awfully familiar...

James C. said...

OC: For a fantastic look at how the scheme can take you out of a play before the ball's even snapped, head here:

http://www.backingthepack.com/2009/10/12/1082049/you-can-stand-under-mike-archers

Lots of great screen caps that show how Duke attacked our passive defensive scheme.

Sure, execution by the players has something to do with it...but is it not on the coaches to "coach up" their players?

ObserverCollege said...

Fantastic, James? Try DUMB. I have left a comment at "Backing the Pack" to explain what's wrong with these people. The fact is, though, that these "screencaps" show two things:

1. On both plays, the coaches had called the proper defenses for the plays in question.
2. On both plays, the players failed to apply the lessons they learned in S&C Coach Rice's ballet and yoga classes to twist and extend their bodies in the most flexible way possible so as to deflect and, in Play #2, intecept Thaddeus Lewis's passes at the line of scrimmage.

The coaches can only do so much. At some point the players need to step up and perform.

mod34b said...

Observer --

You say that you are "sure NC State will pull it out because BC has no talent."

hmmmmm...I guess the 4 wins to date are flukes. Just lucky 'ol BC. same kind of luck that let BC beat a superior ND for 7 straight years. I appreciate that you continue to underestimate the team.

If BC does win, however, can you promise all here that you won't come back to these boards for a year. I that's a fair way to treat a flame thrower like you. Can you agree to that? If NCSU wins you can continue offering your musings.

CT said...

I wonder if we'll deviate from the norm and attack with 4 WR sets.

You know, adapt.

ObserverCollege said...

Your wins over Northeastern & Kent State were legit. All preseason expectations showed that you'd beat those teams.

The Wake and FSU games, though, were clearly flukes. But credit to your Coach Spaziani. He understood your team had no business leading those two squads, and so he went "Prevent" on offense and defense to milk the clock. Both teams would have roared back anyway as you can't keep 4-star recruits down, but Spaziani managed things so they'd run out of time.

As far as the ND series, you really only have a couple of wins. You can't count the ones with Ty, as he just didn't look like a legitimate Notre Dame coach (and the players responded accordingly). Ty's poor work led directly to the 2007 nightmare, as he left the cupboard bare for Charlie in that senior class. Plus, you didn't play against Brady during his upperclass years. Last year's game, of course, was thrown on purpose so ND could "fall" into the Hawaii Bowl and recruit Manti Te'o (Mission Accomplished, I'd say). So really, you've only won a couple of times against ND. Although if the two teams played 20 times ND would win 19 or so, by a statistical fluke BC can win a couple in a row.

Danny Boy said...

CT, its time for Spaz and the gang to prove that they're coaches. We have the talent. We can easily line up 3 WRs, a TE, and then motion the RB out to create all sorts of options. We have the talent, we just need the scheme.

Mod34b: Reread Observer's posts. He has coopted Steven Colbert's approach (who I guess borrowed heavily from Johnathan Swift). He is satire on the highest level.

mod34b said...

Danny --

I've been through the drill with Observer. (you might have seen my early post with mention of Swift; and Colbert is no swift.)

Upon a second sampling of Observer, I see that while there are elements of sarcasm, it certainly is not well done. In fact, I think through the veneer of this pseudo-sarcasm, we can see simply a clown, and, as we all know, clowns are angry people.

So, I am hoping a win against NCSU might send the clown packing for a spell.

mod34b said...

CT --

I hope your are right. But I suspect the script will remain!.

I will cringe when I see the first play from scrimage is haden/harris running up the middle for 2 yards!

conlonc said...

Claver2010 - you beat me to it!

mod34b said...

CT -- note how we started the last three games...see a pattern:

Northeastern:

1st-10, N.E.48 14:00 M. Harris rushed to the left for 48 yard touchdown

Kent State:

1st-10, KeSt48 14:50 J. Tuggle incomplete pass to the left
2nd-10, KeSt48 14:50 M. Harris rushed up the middle for 5 yard gain
3rd-5, KeSt43 14:30 J. Tuggle incomplete pass down the middle


Clemson

1st-10, BC25 12:20 J. Tuggle passed to L. Anderson down the middle for 8 yard gain
2nd-2, BC33 12:20 J. Tuggle incomplete pass down the middle
3rd-2, BC33 11:55 J. Tuggle incomplete pass down the middle


wake

1st-10, BC28 13:08 M. Harris rushed up the middle for 7 yard gain
2nd-3, BC35 12:56 D. Shinskie passed to R. Gunnell down the middle for 20 yard gain
1st-10, Wake45 12:14 M. Harris rushed up the middle for 9 yard gain


FSU

1st-10, BC9 13:14 M. Harris rushed to the right for 2 yard gain
2nd-8, BC11 12:44 D. Shinskie incomplete pass to the left
3rd-8, BC11 12:29 D. Shinskie incomplete pass to the left


Vtech

1st-10, BC21 10:50 M. Harris rushed up the middle for 5 yard gain
2nd-5, BC26 10:25 D. Shinskie incomplete pass down the middle
3rd-5, BC26 10:13 D. Shinskie incomplete pass down the middle

Unknown said...

ObserverCollege - Ok, since you seem to know everything... since the problem is ONLY the players on the field, and NOT Archer, as you say "NOTHING wrong with the coaching nor the schemes"... tell me boy genius, what was the last Mike Archer defense that performed at a high level?

At LSU, when he was fell flat on his face after running out of Arnsparger recruits? Or perhaps it was at Kentucky, where his defense ranked in at 119 out of 119 teams?

Surely, sometime in his many years of coaching, Archer has had competent athletes.

Forget about performing at a high level, when has a Mike Archer (not Arnsparger) defense reached the heights of just 'average'?

Oh, and I love your "I don't understand how you're supposed to win when you're stuck with a 2nd-string MLB who can't make plays" line.

The true level of your moronic thought comes out w/ that one. Of all the problems NC State has, QB play is not one of them.

eagleboston said...

I think BC beats NC State but the streak against ND ends. Too much talent and experience. Plus, it's a road game and BC has yet to win on the road. But, the ND game has no bearing on our ACC hopes so it really does not matter save for Catholic pride (I have 3 Notre Dame grads right on my block in addition to a brother who is a grad so the game does matter to me).

I'm coming out for the Central Michigan game and I expect local alumni to get their butts in the seats. The Red Sox are done and Central Michigan is a very good MAC team. BC must hit on all cylinders to win that game.

BCNorCal07 said...

ObserverCollege: TROLL!

Mmm.

CT said...

I do see a pattern. Of incompetence and predictability. Run-pass-pass. Or one rush, two passes. How about getting Harris/Haden in the flat or running over the middle vs. a LB.

BTW, would love to see Haden start living up to the hype. When does he start playing this year? His BC tattoo alone should be good for a big play at some point. Let the tattoo work its magic.

How about a screen pass first up to give the QB some confidence? Ooh, radical idea. Too bold for Tranq?

I'd love to see our CBs on my television screen when the bad guys catch the ball. That's all I ask. Is that too much? Just occupy some segment of pixels on my screen when the receiver catches the ball. I have only one more wish: a defensive line not closer to our LBs than the opposing QB after the snap. Just migrate a little to the half of the TV screen toward the QB.

Home mojo. Go BC.

Erik said...

I'll tell you what, people like to talk about college football "traditions", fans and gameday experiences. Some schools have touchdown jesus, some schools have $2 bills with orange paws, some schools have dotting the I in Ohio, some schools have boosters that buy recruits Cadillac Escalades, some schools have live animals for mascots....

ObserverCollege is one of the Top 3 things going for Boston College Football. We can't pack 100,000 people into a stadium, but Lindy's darlings like Ohio State can't have conversations like this.

mod34b said...

Indeed, BC's initial series (and most of the play calling) is totally predictable. Run-Pass-Pass

All the runs to start the game are to the middle of the line and all the passes are to the short middle of the field too. It's almost as if the coaches want the players to take/get a few hits to just wake up and realize that it's "GAME ON."

In addition to possibly a short out pattern to start, how about some sort of sweep or some type of run far off tackle, or even a screen.

And, of course my favorite opening play for any team (and one I have never seen done sucessfully and one BC will never try) is to throw the bomb on the first play. If it worked, it would be a thing of beauty.

Let's hope for something different on kickoff returns and on the first series.. P-L-E-A-S-E

ERIK -- incomprehensible. who is Lindy?

mod34b said...

Actually, given this predictability, I went back and looked at the first play of the 2nd half in each of BC's six games this year. I'll let you decide if you see any pattern!! But even so, these Harris rushes to start the second half have actually been quite successful!

Northeastern

1st-10, BC44 14:53 M. Harris rushed to the right for 12 yard gain


Kent State

1st-10, KeSt35 14:55 M. Harris rushed to the left for 1 yard gain


Clemson

1st-10, BC28 14:54 M. Harris rushed up the middle for no gain


Wake

1st-10, BC20 15:00 M. Harris rushed up the middle for 9 yard gain


FSU

1st-10, BC20 15:00 M. Harris rushed to the left for 9 yard gain


VT


1st-10, BC20 15:00 M. Harris rushed to the right for 8 yard gain

mod34b said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Merle said...

Come on mod34b - You're not familiar with the opening bomb BC used against Michigan to open the Dan Henning era? It worked! And it was all downhill from there. (In both the game and the Henning era.)

From the Sept. 4, 1994 NY times:

"Over breakfast at the team's hotel this morning, Boston College's Dan Henning told quarterback Mark Hartsell that he wanted to open the game against Michigan with a play called the speed pump, a bomb that he hoped would go for a touchdown.

Both Henning and Hartsell were making their respective debuts, Henning as the Eagles' head coach and Hartsell as the starting quarterback.

Henning argued with his assistant coaches over the prudence of the play. Hartsell was taking over for quarterback Glenn Foley, a seventh-round draft pick by the Jets. Henning thought it would be good for Hartsell to get his feet wet and silence the 105,936 at Michigan Stadium.

Just as Henning drew it up, Hartsell rolled right. He waited, waited, waited. Then he heaved a 74-yard touchdown pass to receiver Greg Grice. In 16 seconds the Eagles were up by 7-0, Hartsell wasn't nervous and the crowd was silenced."

mod34b said...

merele --

Brilliant. I love it.

What a memory and what resourcefulness to pull up a sweet newspaper article so fast.

Alrigtht, the BC mojo is returning!

Darius said...

I remembered that too. Right off the top of my head. It was a classic moment. Then I remembered the rest of the game. God, Henning was a disaster.

I'd love to see Shinskie throw underneath on the first 10 plays. Pick apart the buffer for easy yardage. Then start running. It's always "run first to set up the pass" with these two coaches (Spaz, TOB). Turn that on its head this one opportune time and not ony would it baffle NCState, but it would give every coach we face the rest of the way some pause.

Erik said...

mod34b-
http://www.lindyssports.com/football/college-football.php

Erik said...

In all fairness, don't you have much more confidence in the experienced Harris & Haden duo than the inexperienced Uncle Dave? I agree we should keep defenses on their toes, but running is definitely a strength of the team when we're not playing on the road in an ACC game on grass in the fall of 2009.

CT said...

The Speed Pump: sort of an apt description of Henning's tenure with BC over the proverbial barrel.

Henning just needed 15 yrs and inspiration of the Wildcat to become the genius NFL commentators seem to think he is nowadays.

I love how Henning had to "argue" with his assistants over the "prudence of the play," as if they were negotiating an arms treaty with the Russians.

It was a long pass. With a football. Oooh, radical stuff. That was probably Henning's first introduction to the downfield pass anyway.

Falcons fan here. BC fan. Bitter.

I have more confidence in Harris/Haden, yes, than in Davie S. Easily. Not even close. But, um, I'm thinking people are on to our secret weapon--our running game. No one knows about it. Let's keep it a secret and break it out when they least expect it.

We may need to conjour up the Henning mojo and convince Tranq that it's nighttime so that he can come out of his coffin to coach the boys up on the speed pump, part deux.

campy said...

I have a hazy memory of seeing Doug Flutie throw a first-play 80-yard TD bomb.