Virginia Tech seemingly handled the Legend retirement better than nearly any program in recent memory. While not as historically significant as Bowden or Paterno, Beamer was and is an icon at Virginia Tech. Although the past few seasons were a step down from their glory years, they still didn't bottom out. Recruiting and talent remained strong and they were still perceived as relevant to the college football world. Beamer did not pull a power play and install his son or his long time assistant in charge. They hired a popular candidate. Kudos to them for pulling it off. I had hoped BC would benefit from a few forgettable twilight years from Beamer. Now I can only hope that Fuente is a bust.
Three Simple Keys
1. Establish the run. BC has had a few big plays on the ground, but too often the runs on first and second down are getting stuffed. This is in part because teams are loading up for it. BC needs to stay with it and hope that the OLine can get good push and punish VT.
2. No turnovers from Towles. Towles has been lucky that only two of his bad passes turned into interceptions. He can't be that wild this week. A few picks will turn this game.
3. No breakdowns on D. Even after dominating I can't forget UMass' Tight End streaking down the field or the 4th and 19 against Georgia Tech. The D can't have a moment like that this week.
Gambling Notes
-- Addazio is 8-17 in ACC games
-- Prior to taking over at VT, Fuente is 15-10 in home games
-- BC has lost nine straight ACC games
The current line is BC+6
Factoid
This is the first time BC will face a Virginia Tech Football team not coached by Frank Beamer.
Scoreboard Watching
Louisville-Florida State is a huge game for the ACC and for BC (since we face both). I don't know how we will score on either but it will be interesting to see what each team tries to do on D.
I hope to see...
The D capitalize on Virginia Tech's sloppy play. If we force a few turnovers, I could see the momentum swinging our way.
BC is in trouble if...
We come away with FGs in their end. I know I should not take any field goal for granted, but I fear that this could be a low scoring game and ending drives with three points instead of seven invites the Hokies to steal the game on one big play.
Overall
I'm feeling really good about this game. I think we can handle them on Defense and score just enough to get the win. I think the front seven continue to kill the QB and Addazio finally ends the ACC losing streak.
Final Score: BC 20, VT 10
Posts
28 comments:
This will be a very tough game. potentially winnable, but we need a few good breaks.
I watched the VT v Tenn game. VT outplayed Tenn. Outgained them 400 yards to 330. Outplayed them clockwise too: 32 min to 28.
But VT had 5 turnovers. Boneheaded. I am sure that will be cleaned up.
"the Hokies looked really bad"- sure, but because of the turnovers. They had a balanced run/pass attack and have a good defense. They have 45 first downs this year and BC has 29. They can move the ball. They are way better than GT.
BJK also made a very good point about 'ol Bud Foster. He'll be waiting for BC.
Final score: VT 30 BC 14. Hope I am wrong
This game is a watermark for how the season will go.
The VT coach, Fuente, at half time of the Tennessee game said his team was highly emotional with severe swings high and low depending on how the game was playing out.
If the eagles score on their first drive of each half they will have a major advantage mentally and most likely will win.
Final score 22 20. Not sure who gets the gold.
I like the screen pass this week to willis and the te. The old Matt Ryan throw back will be there at certain points to the TE when they blitz and they will blitz a lot.
Late afternoon home game gives VT the advantage. I am not sure why though because they are not impressive.
We will be hard pressed to match the 14 points we put up against Ga. Tech. Our O-line ain't magically getting better as the competition improves. I just hope Towles doesn't throw into coverage...can see that happening too. Defense keeps us in the mix, but points will be hard to come by all year in the ACC.
If you can't beat Georgia Tech, you certainly are not going to beat Va Tech. I fear we will lose by 10 or more points. I love our defense, but they have a tendency to start slow, putting our offense in a hole. And given that our offense has struggled over the last 2 years to score, we cannot give Tech a head start. Also, look for Addazio to blow critical timeouts in the 3rd quarter. He just does not get that when a game goes down to the wire, you need your timeouts to mount a game-winning drive. Seems pretty fundamental to me, but he obviously has no clue.
I hope I'm wrong as we need to steal a win versus the big 4: Va Tech, Clemson, Louisville and Florida State.
Returning from Dublin today, after a great time in St. Andrews, where I got to play The Old on my birthday.
Now for s win against VT on the road tomorrow. Addazio is dead set on his "power run game" which doesn't work well against a VT stacked box. I hope the coaches can figure out a way to keep Foster's boys off balance.
Otherwise, the D will be on the field all day and that's NG.
Points on the board, BC - it's what we need tomorrow from the O for sure.
Not really concerned with VT. They are over appreciated right now. The talent on offense and defense is equal between these teams. This game is about Boston College. If we execute then we win. In this game that will mean hitting 3 of 4 field goals(predicting Knoll gets 4 attempts) and all the extra points(pathetic, expts should be an afterthought).
Concerned with the reliance on Hilliman. He is not an instinctual runner and waits too long for the hole to develop. At that point it is too late. He is not fast so he cannot compensate for the indecisiveness.
The offense needs to use Willis more. He is faster than Hilliman and makes high impact plays with limited opportunities.
The third back is not impressive either. I would rather have, the washouts, Outlow and the guy from the Bronx. At least they played fast.
As always, Coach Addazio will bring the players into Lane Stadium holding a decided schematic advantage. Knucklehead is right. This comes down strictly to the players' execution.
This is where Addazio's "tough love" pays off, where the players realize that if they foul up, they are going to bear the blame all by their lonesome.
In John Feinstein's biography of Arnie Auerbach ("Red" to you), "Let Me Tell You a Story", Feinsten quotes Arnie directly from one of the legendary lunches Arnie and I would convene at the China Doll restaurant in Chinatown, DC. We all enjoyed many laughs at the expense of myriad non-entities in the sports world. Feinstein paraphrased Arnie's words about coaching in the last chapter (p. 361 in the iBooks version), but I remember what Arnie said exactly. Arnie sat back as if he were finished on a topic, and then he leaned forward and said:
"I know I could have done what I did with a lot of people. I selected a great owner, Walter Brown. I selected great players. I cultivated the media so that they would tell my story in the press, and let the players know they would be blamed for any losses. When I was still coaching, after we'd won a game, I would talk to the writers for as long as they wanted. When we LOST I would only talk for a few minutes. I just believed it was the right thing to do.
"I still believe that's the way you should do things as a coach. Take the credit when you win; spread the blame when you lose."
This.
Whichever team gets to 20 first will win. For BC to win, we need a trick play, special teams or defensive touchdown. Otherwise I don't see us breaking the 20 point barrier in Blacksburg with what the offense has shown so far
"This" what? I hope there is more because it sounds like you are equating Addazio with Red Auerbach.
I'm so sorry if there was any confusion about what I wrote. Please forgive me, and let me take a moment to be perfectly clear:
YES, I am indeed equating Coach Addazio with Coach Auerbach. In terms of their game plans, their "should be" level of success once you take the players' execution of the game plan out of the equation, and their players' eventual growth. The BC players' failure to execute has caused this run of losses.
Losses on the scoreboard that is, not losses in terms of coaching performance. Coach Addazio, just like Arnie, can only lead the horses to water. He can't make them drink.
I will assume complete facetiousness on your part if you are equating Auerbach with Addazio. The buck always stops, in some way, shape or form, with the coach.
CLAP,CLAP.
Shaughnessy is that you?
knucklehead - I think Hilliman is fast on a straight sprint. See his 71 yard romp. But he is not quick to and through the hole and, like Andre, lacks elusiveness to avoid tacklers. He is very much like Andre Williams - poor filed vision.
Outlow was really the best at hitting hole quickly and with intensity. Too bad he left.
OC has been making those satirical comments for years, although it has been a while before he started up recently. Just watching the NFL game yesterday, it was pretty clear that Rex Ryan and the Dazzler went to the same school for timeout usage.
Mod, Hilliman seems like he's decently fast once he gets started. He looks like he has no acceleration though which is a big problem.
The thing with Andre was that he was tough. He would make a decision and just run. He wasn't caught after he got into the open field. The 70 yard Hiliman run against put him into the poor mans Andre category that DB caught up with him, I believe.
Andre was soft his first few seasons. He got injured every season if I recall correctly until Dazzler came in and lit a fire under him.
Christ that was poorly written.
agree BB on no acceleration and Rex is so awful.
agree Knuck on Andre tough in year 4. He had a sweet OL - lead by Patchan - to make big holes.
I would like to see Richard Wilson get some multiple carries at the HB/FB position. He is never given time. @ 5'10" 225 lbs - he is also quick and very powerful. Unfortunately , Addazio will never give this kid a chance. He should transfer !!!! On very few occasions , he will get a carry and then sit on the bench for several games. I am sure ( but not positive) that Outlow felt the same way.
I was at the game in Dublin. No one caught up with Hilliman and there were 3 DBs chasing him, 2 with a chance to catch him and they came up with Bupkis.
I agree Jon looks slow at the handoff, but there is usually no hole to run to - at least as far as I can see. If Jon H got Andre's holes, he'd gain 2,000 yards as well.
I think we miss Outlow for sure, and I'd like to see more of Willis too. I thought the Biology major had potential as well - Wilson.
Go BC - beat VT
17 and 8 both caught up with him. On the turn no less. They got him and either tripped him or caused him to t
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taGs2F7sUcU
If it was touch football somebody dove and touched him at the goal line after the 230 pounder lugged it for 70 plus yards-and he went into the endzone standing up.
He may not be the fastest, but I was impressed watching him in person, and I had a good vantage point.
If it was touch football someone dove and tagged him close to the goal line after the 230 pounder lugged it over 70 yards.
He may not be the fastest, but I was impressed from my vantage point which was very good.
Yeah Big I was at the game to ok. Like I said, on the turn both of those guys caught up with him. He still isn't that great. He is good. Not Andre Williams.
Glad you were there, Knuck. At least Jon made a rainy day in Dublin better for awhile.😊
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