BC should preserve this game in some sort of time capsule. That way if future BC fans want to know what life was like under Spaz, they'll have the perfect example in this game. You had a fanbase and a team dying to compete and win (to the point that players were crying), yet we had an ineffective offense, breakdowns on defense and got overpowered in the trenches. As we move on from this mess, people are going to debate how much talent our new coach inherits and how long it will take to rebuild BC. I don't know but I think the simple key for whoever takes over is to get back to having great offensive and defensive lines and make sure they execute well. We've done that many times before and can do it again. And great line play covers a lot of other weaknesses. Too bad the buy who spent the past 16 years here never bothered to figure it out.
Offense: D
The only guy I felt remotely happy for after the game was Rettig. I am sure he doesn't care about stats or praise, but he played well against a Top Ten defense and earned some recognition. He moved well in the pocket and rolling. He made a bunch of good tight throws without wasting too many. He had too near TDs on long plays that Dudeck and Amidon should have pulled in. My only gripe is that as the game dragged on he started to feel the pressure in the pocket before it got there and took sacks.
Finch had a nice return to action. He only really had one explosive play, but he showed his value and versatility in catching five balls. Dudeck had some nice moments early but we didn't use him as much once the game progressed. As I mentioned earlier, he has to pull in that TD pass on the wheel route.
The drops and not coming back to the ball killed us. Evans had some momentum killing drops. Amidon was okay, but he needs to come back to the ball more when he is in tight man coverage. Swigert was good. The ball was a little behind Elliot on the INT, but he still should have pulled it in. Pantale was fine catching but has some issues blocking.
The offensive line was not good. We needed them to be great and we didn't get consistent protection or push from them. Cleary had some issues (as I mentioned in a previous post). Gallik struggled. Vardaro was inconsistent. Betancourt got the start in place of White and let a few different guys blow past him on the way to Rettig. Wetzel was fine.
Martin pulled out a lot of tricks, but I don't think we were aggressive in the right way. Notre Dame has killed drives all year. Dinking and dunking was not going to be the way to beat them. We needed to challenge them downfield more. We didn't do that. I also don't understand all the play action once the line started breaking down.
Defense: C
The defensive line was bad. Maybe their worst game all year. No push and no big plays. Wujciak played the best but he was far from a starr. Murray was okay but didn't make any big plays. Appiah played more in the second half and didn't do much. Edabali was quiet. Ricci got pushed around. Mihalik didn't get much pressure.
The linebackers were a mixed bag. Take Divitto for example. He had some big plays like the fumble strip but still missed tackles and was passed on. Duggan was aggressive but got burned in pass coverage. Daniels was covering a lot of ground but always seemed a step behind the play. Joy didn't play as much. Clancy didn't return after his head injury. One thing that killed us was the option. Duggan kept getting blocked leaving Divitto to guess on the QB or pitch each time. Stopping that play only works if either Divitto moves onto the QB and hopes the corner gets the pitch or Duggan gets there too. Either way it was a breakdown by the LBs.
Sylvia was very active and made a lot of plays, but still let his man go free on Notre Dame's first TD pass. They must have seen something in his coverage because they kept throwing to his side. Asprilla wasn't tested as much. I liked what I saw from Simmons. Rositano was okay.
Once again, I don't understand our aversion to risk. When we brought pressure or forced Golson to make a bad throw, it worked. Yet we were dropping nine guys in coverage at few times and giving Notre Dame time to work to someone open. We weren't ready for the option even though we've played Army and Georgia Tech. And our third down performance was embarrassing.
Special Teams: C
Freese was fine. So was Levano. Spiffy tried but didn't break anything significant. We contained them for the most part on our coverage teams.
Overall: D
I don't feel Spaz is mismanaging the games at this point. We went for it on 4th multiple times. You could quibble with his second field goal but at that point you needed multiple scores so you might as well kick the field goal. But as I wrote at the beginning, all the hallmarks for a Spaz loss were in this game. At this point that is on him.
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9 comments:
BC Hockey had two big victories over ND ranked #7 and BU ranked #11.
I'd like to see more coverage of our NCAA championship team and let's write off the football season as most fans did weeks ago.
I'm going to disagree with Bill on this one. I think this is without question our best game of the year. Our players were overmatched physically and certainly on the coaching end, but I haven't seen anything close to that level of effort (or execution) all year. (I've watched every game at least once). Remember, this is a ND team that beat Oklahoma in Norman. The same Oklahoma squad that put up 63 against Texas, and took the #1(KST) and #3(ND) teams to the wire. This is by leaps and bounds the best team we've played all year, and we stayed with them. I can't be more proud of our guys, and I think this bodes very well for next year, when (God-willing) they get some great coaching and support from our AD.
Also, on the Verdaro front, all the johnny tough guys giving him a hard time for crying, clearly haven't been in that situation before. Fighting your guts out even though your overmatched and outcoached, and playing on pure emotion for over two hours. When you get kicked out, all that emotion comes forth. I'd rather have a whole team of guys that passionate than some other guys that could care less. We need more guys on our squad like that, not less.
catab i agree with you 100% on the vardaro comment. are you secretly coach spaz?
Jasmine,
I dream of being able to grow a stache that robust. And having a house in Hingham that ballin'.
This team has made the same mistakes all season. The line constantly misses assigments. The wheel route was a perfect example. As Chase set to pass Teo cam free up the gut and he couldn't step into the throw. Looking back at the play the center and guard were doubling down on the DT and never saw Teo's delayed blitz who had a free path to Rettig.
Defensively our DL never got double teamed, no need. ND's OL could easily handle our DL one on one leaving the BC Lb's to fight off larger OL coming out on them as well as double teams with the TE. Our DE's lost contain on every stretch play. Technique is awful.
BC is a poorly coached team of kids who are giving 100%.
Practice does not make perfect, Perfect Practice makes perfect and it has seemed like this staff is teaching bad habits and techniques.
I agree that Rettig acquitted himself very well. Unfortunately, I think the resounding conclusion that most came to was, "Imagine this kid playing for [insert any other school here]. What a waste of a great arm."
We are the new Cubs fans. Sure we will keep coming to the games, and almost revel in the torture of our maroon and gold blood.
We are the new Cubs fans. Sure we will keep coming to the games, and almost revel in the torture of our maroon and gold blood.
Stay local. Why Cubs when Red Sox would fit just as we'll (2 championships in a century)!
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