Second viewing thoughts and grades: Buffalo

What Addazio and Bates probably didn't realize when they put this schedule together is how empty it would feel. We now have three wins and I don't feel like we've accomplished anything. I also don't feel like we know much. I am glad this part of the season is over. The games weren't fun to watch live or the second time around.

Offense: B-

The stats don't cover Towles' problems. He underthrew a sure TD on the play where Garrison got hurt. He was stripped in the pocket on two plays where he should have felt the pressure. He also continued to miss open men. I think he has more than enough physical tools. I pray the staff and he find a way to leverage those tools without exposing him.

Their stats are similar, but I feel like Jones is playing much better than Hilliman. Jones moves with a quickness and clarity around the line that Hilliman has been lacking. I don't think it is Hilliman's recovery. I think his challenge is the line is so inconsistent and he's not adjusting as decisively as Jones. Willis didn't get many touches and got dinged up at one point. Wofford blocked well.

Smith made some big catches, but also dropped a few. I thought Callinan played well and blocked better than most of the WRs. Garrison's catch was great. I hope he returns at 100%.

I really don't know what to make of the offensive line. Or even how to judge them. Buffalo went all out to stop the run that our line was collapsing on too many plays. Even if our talent and experience was better on the OL, I don't know if there is an answer when the other team is crashing down like that.

Aside from the Towles isssues or the Offensive line problems, I still see too many moments of confusion out there. Taking time outs to before a critical play. Confusion coming out of the huddle. That is on Loefler to start to fix those problems. I know we scored plenty but I don't feel like it was a sharp, well designed gameplan...more like talent prevailing.

Defense: A- 

Smith was great. He dominated his matchups and showed real quickness. Gutapfel was good. Landry looked good.

Milano's biggest play was on Special Teams, but he looked good on D. Strachan played well. Scwab was good.

Moore played well. Johnson was very active and had some nice tackles. Yiadom was very good in pass coverage. Harris was good.

While Georgia Tech was a tougher task and the UMass game included plenty of sacks, this was BC's best Defensive performance of the year. Things were sound. The tackling was good. The scheme was the right mix of aggressiveness and conservative.

Special Teams: B+

Rouse continues to be a breathe of fresh air on Special Teams. His day was great even with his best run getting called back.

Knoll was solid throughout. His punts were well placed.

The punt block was very encouraging. Our Special Teams needs to be more aggressive to help the offense.


Overall: B

Didn't it feel like BC should have won by more? I hoped for a flawless victory, but this will have to do. My primary concern and criticism of Addazio is how flat the team seems during the early possessions. I am sure the weather, empty seats and opponents left the team wanting more. But during down moments like that, motivating the team becomes Addazio's primary job.

The real tests begins this week. Considering this was Addazio's last warm-up, he gets a decent grade.

BC did what it had to do against Buffalo

Lots to digest in this BC win. Garrison goes down with a broken leg. Another flat start. Confusion leading to burned timeouts. Yet, on the flipside, Jones looked good in the backfield. The Defense dominated. Rouse looks really good on Special Teams.

The season seems like it will really come down to how much in-season improvement we can get from Towles and the Oline. At times things look good but moments later it is a mess.

BC has matched last year's win total. I hope they're not done.

I will have grades and second viewing thoughts up late Sunday.

In-game comments post: Buffalo

The last true cupcake of the season. I hope it is not interesting (in a good way) and the team looks better.

Leave your thoughts and comments below.

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BC-Buffalo preview

Based on his media conference call Monday, Addazio is very confident right now. I don't know if he is trying to send a message to the fans and media or his own team, or if he really believes it. Either way, that confidence should carry over to the game this week. The matchup is not as lopsided as Wagner, but there is little reason to think BC cannot win this game handily.

What's on my mind (not totally related to this game)
Buffalo has a few Canadians on their roster. That makes sense given their location. BC used to have a consistent Canadian presence on our roster. Not now. That seems like a wasted opportunity. Get on that Addazio! They play more than Hockey up there!

Three Simple Keys
1. Try uptempo and passing first. This is BC's last tune up before playing Clemson. Towles and the passing game has been inconsistent at best. Use this game to try new things and win the game in the air. If Clemson loads the box next week, BC needs to have faith in the passing game.
2. No defensive breakdowns. I still cannot believe we let Wagner score an offensive touchdown. Like the UMass score, it came out of a broken play. Hopefully the defense tightens things up this week.
3. A big game from the Linebackers. They were quiet last week. Let's hope they are active and productive this week.

Gambling Notes
-- Addazio has not won two games in a row since last September
-- Leipold is 0-1 against Power 5 teams
-- BC leads the series 6-2
The current line is BC-17.5

Factoid
BC has played Buffalo eight times. All the games have been at Alumni.

Scoreboard Watching
Louisville-Clemson will probably determine which team wins the Division and hence the whole conference.

I hope to see...
A highly motivated team. They obviously threw in the towel at Virginia Tech and came out flat against Wagner. That doesn't happen to good teams or teams that believe in their coach and themselves.

BC is in trouble if...
They can't get anything going on Offense. They cannot put themselves in a close game.

Overall
I just don't see BC losing this game. Despite my desire for passing, I think they come out running and never stop. Maybe Buffalo gets cheap score, but this game won't be a problem.
Final Score: BC 35, Buffalo 6

Buffalo on the 2016 schedule

BC's 2016 schedule is becoming a little more clear. After working FOIA requests, MattBC03 confirmed that BC will host Buffalo October 1, 2016. The good news is that this means that BC will have six home games despite the trip to Ireland. The bad news? The home games will be UMass, Buffalo, three ACC games and barring a miracle another FCS team.

Bates deserves credit for working with Buffalo, Northern Illinois and the MAC on making this work. Plenty of altered schedules and penalties were in play, so this did take a good amount of dealing and scheduling to pull it off. 

It will be interesting to see how the coach and AD spin the game. It confirms they are keeping the schedule manageable and winnable. The people who pay attention are going to be upset, but I feel like casual fans, recruits and the media won't. I think padding BC's win total is their goal and that will help change perception of the program. I think it will work too. However, if we do build the program with soft scheduling, eventually the media will start calling BC out.