Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Should BC roll the dice with another 5th Year QB?

Former Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire announced his plans to transfer. Since he is expected to graduate in a few weeks, he is eligible to play immediately next season. One place he won't be playing is Boston College. The Irish are able to block his transfer to BC since we play them next season. However, there will be other 5th years on the market. (Like Chase Rettig's younger brother.) Should BC try to get one more?

The Tyler Murphy experiment might be the best move Addazio made in four years at BC. He carried the team and provided some very memorable moments. Patrick Towles' year wasn't a flat out disaster -- we are going to a bowl -- but it was very disappointing. Unlike Murphy, Towles did not unlock his potential at BC and it feels like we wasted a year of developing someone else in exchange for a 6-6 season. (I would also argue the staff didn't do Towles any favors.) Hopefully Towles has an incredible bowl game and makes us feel like the year was worth it.

As for next year, the current QB depth chart would be some combination of Wade, Brown, Fadule, and incoming recruit EJ Perry. Only Wade and Fadule have started games and neither did much in their limited time. Addazio has spent a lot of time talking up Brown's upside, leaving me and others to wonder if he and the staff have already written off Wade.

The transfer question really depends on Wade. If he stays, I think BC should ignore 5th year QBs. Even if Brown isn't a game changer as a RsF, Wade can be serviceable enough as a backup or transition QB. If Wade leaves, BC needs to get a 5th year. Just for depth alone. Do you want to go into a season with just Brown, Fadule and Perry?

Addazio is safe for another season, but next year is also critical. There will be a new AD and plenty of pressure to win. If his QBs continue to struggle, Addazio probably won't survive. Because of that looming threat, my guess is he will bring in some QB as an insurance policy. Whoever comes in, let's hope he's more Murphy than Towles.

38 comments:

eagle1331 said...

Do you have any hard proof that Bates is definitely gone?

Knucklehead said...

The coach is a lame duck. He will not leave his final season up to Brown or Wade. A 5th year seems likely, as I said 2 months ago. He will need be scrambler(not runner) and will have to be confident(Towles is not confident).

Other option is EJ Perry - he can play.

Problem is the offensive line is horrible. Whomever they start at QB has to deal with that and it is not likely that anyone they sign will be able to overcome it.



mod34b said...

Daz will do what is good for Daz.

Daz should bring in some 5th year SEC lineman - the second string guys who will not play their 5th year at an SEC school. That would provide a massive upgrade to our woeful OL. I have visions of our man 67 (Monteiro) just completely whiffing trying to block WF DE #53. It was a sad joke to watch. But then again 5th year transfer Lowry stunk.

Ps. are there still apologists out there (e.g., Superfan22) who think Daz did a good job recruiting OLs or are still blaming Spaz!

EL MIZ said...

"the year wasn't a flat out disaster - we are going to a bowl." - this is nonsensical, ATL. come on. 4 of the 10 worst losses in BC HISTORY happened this season - the fact that we scheduled freaking Wagner and Umass and those wins propel us to a December exhibition game does not/should not weigh on whether this year stunk. we won 2 legitimate games, got whooped in 4, and had coaching miscues cost us another 2. real record - 3-6 (i'll allow one of the cupcake wins in, since most teams schedule a single cupcake). Addazio is 2-14 in his last 16 ACC games.

attendance is WAY down, alumni and student support is WAY down, our highest rated recruit left - all of the metrics are trending in the wrong direction. "the ship be sinking"

Murphy was great, true. Towles was an out and out disaster. in ACC play he averaged less than 50% completions and a negative TD:INT ratio. the guy stunk. i would have to look at the numbers but my guess is he was the worst QB in the conference. we have a 3rd year soph on the roster who didn't get one meaningful snap all season for reasons unknown, and barely got in for garbage time even in the games where we were losing by multiple TDs and Towles was doing nothing.

that said, i think Daz goes straight to Brown or Perry next year. why? It gives him an excuse! and he'll need one since his "i told you guys this was a 5 year deal, 5 straight years of me running da rock straight into da line ok?" excuse is now up. play Brown, and he can blame his own coaching meltdowns on the freshman. "look, when you have a freshman QB in there you are gonna have some growing pains. now let me eat my french fries in peace!" Daz will say as we spike the ball with no time left on the clock, or as he calls a timeout on 4th down only to punt and then doesn't have a TO to use later in the game.

Hario said...

oh man -- the DAZ excuse train for next year really is set up on the frosh qb.

Guy is such a fraud

JBQ said...

As much as Towles is being criticized, he won the last two games to send BC to a bowl. His innate tools are high at 6 ft 5, 250-260, with a 4.5 40. He was able to be coached at Kentucky and started for two years and then benched his third. When the Dazzler brought in Murphy, he tooled the entire offense around his skills. When Towles came in, the offense was set around Hilliman with Towles just the "ball boy". The coaching at BC continues to be highly suspect. Jags said it best. He won with the same type of recruit that Daz is getting. He did not need to turn to fifth year players to stop a sinking ship. By the way, number 74 Lowery who is fifth year, continues to "false start" with regularity this late in the season. Where are the coaches on that one?

bceagle93 said...

JUST IN: Daz reportedly interested in Houston job. Says it's his "dream job". Pass it on.

TC for AD & HC in 2017

Knucklehead said...

He said it was a 5 years haul. This is the end of the 4th year. If he goes 6-6, 5-7 or worse next year(more difficult schedule) then he fails by his own "metric"(loathe the word metric it is like using thrown under the bus). Why would he risk using a QB he hasn't seen play in a D1 game? Doesn't make sense . . .

Unless the kid is great. The only chance, slim - moderate, is EJ Perry coming in and blowing doors off.

Again the line is going to preclude that from happening.

Dazzler has to get a Paul Petersen/Baker Mayfield type that can scramble and make throws because there will be no line protection again next season.



Knucklehead said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Knucklehead said...

Jags signed Anthony Costanzo and he turned into a NFL left tackle. Dazzler could take the best aspect of every lineman he has signed and not reach the talent of Costanzo.

The offensive line is the problem. Towles was gunshy because of the pressure and frankly his receivers do not get open consistently either.

Have you noticed that since Sweeney has woken up later in the season that Towles has gotten better?

notfadeaway said...

Why is it such a foregone conclusion that this man stays at the helm. I hate the talk of this man being an acceptable leader of our program and face of our University. This was a debacle of a season. We beat a few powderpuffs and barely pulled out two ACC wins that could have probably gone either way. We got smeared up and down the field by other competition. We won 2 ACC games in 2 years and we are a laughing stock. People are calling for us to get booted from the conference. Iowa State is using us as an example of what not to be. Why is everyone okay with this as the status quo? We need to have aspirations, pride and someone needs to be accountable. This is not an acceptable place to be.

Kash86 said...

Anyone that thinks EJ Perry is going to be able to play at this level is braindead. He is Troy Flutie 2.0

Knucklehead said...

The same shit was spewed about Doug flutie 1.0. wouldnt be so quick to shoot him down if you saw him play. If you have and still think otherwise then you are obviously not a fucking good judge of talent. I don't give a shit who you are.

CT said...

Yeah, Perry has a good arm, isn't a statue, and throws well on the run. Had a good line.

El Miz at 10:42 nailed it.

Any hoops coverage?

Bravesbill said...

In speaking of Paul Peterson, he would be a decent choice to bring in as a QB coach and Asst OC. The entire program needs an injection of new blood, new concepts, modern plays/strategy/ideas. The fact that he's a BC guy is a plus as well. Heck, I'd probably prefer him over Loefler already.

Joe said...

If you want to keep pinning your hopes on finding the next Doug flutie, good luck. To assume that EJ Perry can come into the ACC and have success in year 1 after playing HSFB in Mass is unrealistic.

As to the above points re: the offensive line, I still fail to understand how people like mod don't get the struggles. You're basing the OL success off of their ability to run the ball, which the last 2 years have been bad. In year 1 and 2, they were able to generate 19th and 16th ranked run production respectively, with mediocre HS talent (from Spaz) and some 5th year infusion. The guys that were there had been in the program for 4 years and mature. The bottom was going to fall out when you look at the numbers that were brought in prior to Addazio.

From an offensive line perspective, you are starting over in year 3 (which is why anyone who is saying that "its year 4 of Addazio this shouldn't be an issue), when Spaziani's last 2 classes produce 2 OLmen that stayed in the program, the reset is inevitable. From an OL perspective, you're in year 2 of rebuilding.

Bravesbill said...

So according to your logic Joe, does Daz's 5 year plan not start until the remnants of the Spaz regime have fully left? So considering that there may be a few 5th year seniors left from the Spaz era next year, Daz's clock doesn't start until 2018?

Knucklehead said...

He has not recruited an average o-lineman or QB in 4-5 years. Maybe on perry but like I said slim chance and no chance with this line.

He is going to look back and wish be demoted or let his boy Frye go. Frye is a major part of the problem.

Knucklehead said...

Look at the USC QB. He was in line behind 4-5 star stiffs when he was running the account tear and now he is the best QBs in the Pac 12. Just one example. Nobody knows what the fuck they are talking about.

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

Joe, the cupboard was left bare by Spaz is a myth the pro-Daz people push.... like the dopey Superfan22.

First, Spaz did not leave mediocre talent. Andy Gallik was drafted in the 6th round by NFL Titans and Bobby Vardaro was not draffted but has been a 3 year started at Minn in NFL. Other guys were decent too. All Spaz recruits. Daz brought in Patchan and Silberman (was on SF in NFL) which were good moves. Patchan was injured too much or he too would be an NFL guy. So it is really remarkable to have 3 NFL talents on one line. These guys were not trained and developed by Daz either. They were upperclassman soon to graduate and Daz knew it.

So he had some time to get some OL to be ready in year 3. He did jack shit to get those OL. In 2013 he did zip. 2014 he brings in 3 (and 1 quit). (Baker and Schmal.. 2 duds) So Daz squanders his time and does not get OL he needs. and now here we are.

Daz made a lot of offers for OL in the early years but lacked that certain quality needed to close the deal for BC.

Knucklehead said...

. . . When it comes to who will be a good college qb, literally nobody. The NFL spends millions analyzing college qb's and has a 50% hit rate.

Knucklehead said...

All that stuff from mod is good for a crossfire like debate with Tucker Carlson, apologies mod.

The basic fact is that he has not recruited a traditional 4 year qb or o-lineman in 4 years.

CT said...

You should be redshirting Olineman your first two years until Spaz's guys graduate.

Oline in front of AW was legit. Poor dude can't hang on an NFL roster. Like all those 2000 yd Wisconsin backs.

This should be a pro-style team. Don't need Julio Jones at WR. Ivan Boyd can work. An accurate QB with pocket awareness is most important.

CT said...

Most important if u don't have a Wisconsin or LSU oline. Which appears is out of reach for our esteemed recruiting staff. I mean, Alex Smith has made a lot of money dinking and dunking.

EL MIZ said...

Darius Wade enrolled in school in January 2014. next year he'll be a 4th year with RS JR eligiblity b/c of his broken ankle last year. all this talk about Perry is silly - Wade should be the starter, and if it isn't him, it'll be Brown, the true freshman who is redshirting this year (and who Daz talks up in all the interviews).

Perry is gonna RS next year.

why bring in a 5th year senior when there's a guy with essentially the same level of experience who has been in the program? i'd much rather just keep Wade and Brown, and have the coaches spend their time plugging other holes and finding other players.

John said...

Do not roll the dice in my opinion.

I agree with CT.

John said...

And El Miz.

knucklehead said...

Dazzler is a fraudulent POS, no? Why then is Brown going to be good based on being "talked up?" Ridiculous. Wade not starting this season speaks for itself.

There is no way he leaves his career up to Wade or Brown. Makes no sense from the decision makers perspective if he can get a 5th year player.

BC should be able to get a good 5th year QB easily. BC grad school and ACC sells itself. He should have his choice.

Unknown said...

interesting discussion. With respect, Knucklehead, by your logic is not the decision to eschew Wade/Brown/Perry in year five of his tenure an indictment of Addazio's inability to recruit and coach up his talent? Thus, a willingness to keep him as HC is a self-defeating prophesy?

Guido said...

According to sources , Zaire has been granted an unconditional release , but I doubt that he would be interested in BC with all the negativity about the O-Line. Is the unconditional release accurate ???

Knucklehead said...

I am telling folks what I think will happen based on what I know about the situation at the school and how college football typically works.

The hc has not had his contract extended. As of now he has one year remaining on his contract and he is done(next years schedule is brutal and he will not win as many games next season- to get an extension). Is he going to coach the team with Boston College's long term goals in mind ie play an untested Brown, a lousy Wade or green Perry for developmental purposes or is he going to try and put himself in a position to get a contract extension by playing a "better" 5th year QB. Human nature says contract extension.

His problem is that whomever he uses at QB the o-line is going to be a detriment, which is his problem/own doing. He still doesn't get that. When he is gone from BC he will wish he hired a o-line coach because his protégé has not "cut it" the last three years - long time to hold onto an under achiever.

luch said...

There is a QB recruit out of san diego that is pretty good but BC signed him as a Safety / Athlete. Might be worth giving him a shot. I seem to remember other QBs forced to play different positions that ended up as damn good QBs...

mod34b said...

Knuckle - Daz has 4 seasons remaining on his contract.

Bravesbill said...

Luch, the good news is that Daz recruited Catholic schools in San Diego (which is a highly fertile area given the success of Cathedral and St. Augustine). The bad news is that this QB prospect from Cathedral is only a 2 star and is more of a run QB, which is probably why he was signed as a Safety/Athlete.

Bravesbill said...

I think they also got a TE recruit from Cathedral if I'm not mistaken.

Max said...

The talent, grit, size, strength and just plain fun to watch football skills and intelligence of the 1984/85 Corton Bowl team should be one of the goals of each and every BCteam and recruiting class. And I am not even referencing the great team after. There have been many. Daz should spend a day watching true BC football and then go recruit. Not just players but coaches as well. If he had any class he would step down for the good of the program.

Unknown said...

If BC beat GT and Syracuse this year I would've considered it a success. I would've been satisfied with and 8-4 record and honestly it's what I expected going into the year; with that being said I consider the 2016 season a disappointment at 6-6.