A simple play I liked

Aside from his reputation and the stats, I don't know much about Scot Loeffler. By that I mean that I don't know what sort of plays he calls, how creative he is and how good he is at teaching his players these plays. Because BC is always going to be run first under Addazio (regardless of his coordinator), there will always be some restrictions on the play caller and play designer. However, there have been some encouraging signs from Loeffler so far. Towles seems comfortable in the Offense and we are passing more effectively than last year. But teams are still selling out to stop our ground game. The good news about that aggressiveness, is that there are simple counter plays to run against a defense loaded up to stop the run. 

One counter that Loeffler used in the first two games was passing to the the H-back/Tight End coming out of the backfield on a wheel route. Against Georgia Tech, Chris Garrison caught it out of the backfield. Against UMass we used the same play, only with Callinan as the H-back. Below is the set up.

Unfortunately the game broadcast cut back to the play before getting a clear glimpse of the formation, but BC starts in the I, with one WR wide and two TEs on the other side. UMass has eight in the box. Towles play fakes to the RB as Callinan looks to be the lead blocker going to the weakside.

But the H-Back is not a blocker and blows by the Linebacker ready to chuck him. This is the beauty of using a faster guy like Callinan or Garrison instead of Wofford. These big WRs can run right around your typical Linebacker. It also forces a DE or Linebacker to start to cover Hilliman coming out of the backfield. The extra blockers on the strong side also give Towles plenty of time.

Towles knows where he wants to go -- the H back -- but the other nice thing about this play is that all his progressions are on one side of the field. I am guessing the H-back is the first option. The WR deep is the second option and the running back is the last. But overall it is a simple play. Hopefully all BC QBs could handle it.

Callinan has his man beat from the start so he has plenty of time and space to locate the ball and adjust. Fortunately on this throw, Towles lofts it right into his belly. No acrobatics needed. The UMass Safety comes over to help but it is too late.

Callinan makes the catch. First Down, Boston College.

As I wrote, this isn't some wild concept or something new. Play action against a loaded box is trusted and true plan. What I appreciate about Loeffler is that he called his at just the right time and that he added the wrinkle of putting faster players coming out of the backfield. This is not a slight on Wofford. If anything, as teams see this play on tape, they will be looking for Garrison/Callinan lining up in the backfield and think pass or view Wofford's snaps as runs. It will then be up to Loeffler to mix it up and keep off of tendency. But not bad for an Offense that couldn't do anything right last year.