Blogpoll ballot

More movement. Saw a good amount of football this weekend. What surprised me is how poor some teams looked while still winning (Florida, Ga Tech). It is a reminder that BC is not the only good team out there with ugly wins.

Games I Watched
Buffalo-BC 50% and listend to the other half
Clemson-Virginia Tech 75%
UConn-Rutgers 50%
Notre Dame-Navy 50%
NCSU-UVA 25%
Florida-UGA 25%
Miami-Ga Tech 50%
FSU-Maryland 75%
UT-South Carolina 25%

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Ohio State	--
2	Michigan	--
3	West Virginia	1
4	Louisville	2
5	Auburn	2
6	Texas	3
7	Tennessee	1
8	Notre Dame	3
9	Southern Cal	6
10	Arkansas	4
11	Rutgers	1
12	Boston College	1
13	California	9
14	Wisconsin	2
15	Oklahoma	6
16	LSU	1
17	Texas A&M	6
18	Wake Forest	1
19	Brigham Young	--
20	Clemson	15
21	Georgia Tech	3
22	Virginia Tech	4
23	Oregon	1
24	Missouri	4
25	Maryland	1

Dropped Out: Florida (#12), Georgia (#25).

Grades and partial viewing thoughts

My grades for this game must be taken with a large grain of salt. I listened to Meterperal and Cronin for the first quarter. Then someone posted a bypass link to ESPN360. From there I was able to watch for nearly two quarters. But it started “buffering” in the fourth. Not sure if it was my ISP or the link. So I had to move back to the radio stream. With that said, this is what I thought.

Offense: B+

Chris Crane played well considering it was his first start and the conditions were horrendous. I liked his ability to run. I think he seems to understand the offense well. However, he was seemingly hesitant to throw downfield. Maybe it was the rain. Maybe it was the gameplan. But he clearly tucked and ran a few times. It was Porter-esque. I am hoping that with more snaps and better weather we’ll see him become more aggressive and the coaches will use more of the playbook with him.

Whitworth and Callender both had nice days. They haven’t had many breakaways or big runs this year, so it was nice to see them make a few big plays Saturday. Considering their troubles holding onto the ball this season, both did a good job of securing it in the rain. Ross is blossoming as a pass catcher. Let’s see more of that down the stretch. Solid day from Palmer. I was also glad to see the return of A.J. Brooks. Much has been speculated about his future. Hopefully little moments like this will keep him committed and in the program.

Who would have guessed that we would score 41 points, yet only complete 10 passes to Wide Receivers and Tight Ends. Gonzo got the day off and everyone else played pretty well considering the limited opportunities and the weather. I wasn’t so surprised that we didn’t go deep too often but I was surprised that none of the WRs broke a play for a long gain. The RBs and Return men were able to make things happen. Why couldn’t the WRs?

The offensive line had its best game of the season. Even on the choppy ESPN360 feed, I could see good push and good holes. Other than that, not much too add. I usually pick up the line play on the second viewing. Couldn’t really do that this weekend.

Bible went pretty conservative. There were plenty of screens and I assume limited reads where they told Crane to run if nothing looked good. I would hope things would have been more explosive if Ryan had played and if the weather was better.

Defense: A

The Defensive line played well. Very active good push. The second teamers getting plenty of snaps.

Herzlich is getting pub and it is well deserved. He is all over the place and plays smart which is so surprising from a true freshman. The other guys played well too. Once again, it was hard to get a great feel from the streams.

The DBs really clamped down on Buffalo. I was really happy with Anderson’s INT. Love the intensity of trying to preserve the touchdown.

Special Teams: B+

Very good place kicking. Sid Vicious had to kick in his worst conditions yet and still came through. Ohliger is having trouble getting the ball into the endzone on kickoffs.

Great kick returns. And it was nice to see Smith finally deliver another long run.

But this wouldn’t be a BC game without one disconcerting play. The bad punt in the fourth. Let’s hope that is out of our system.

Overall: A

Not much to complain about. The next game is really important so it is nice to have this out of the way and get some guys healthy.

Very nice

Sorry for the delay. Blogger wasn't working yesterday afternoon.

Here are my takeaways on AOL Fanhouse.

Even against Buffalo, 41-0 deserves a round of applause.

Congrats to Chris Crane for getting his first win.

I'll post my grades and thoughts later this weekend.

Friday links

Another short preview on the AOL Fanhouse.

Here's a nice article on Ryan Poles, who has been playing much better of late.

Here's a hockey preview of our rematch with Wisconsin.

The Boston papers had some good stuff today. A Crane update in the Globe, an Anam feature in the Globe, and a Davis feature in the Herald.

Evolution of a totally hetero man crush

Matt Ryan has already put out a restraining order against me.

I’m in love. My wife has nothing to worry about because this is not a romantic love. My baby has nothing to worry about because this is not a paternal love. It is a hero worshiping, makes me smile, devotion, belief, he can do no wrong type of love. The subject of my crush: Matt Ryan.

Like most loves, I never would have predicted it would turn out this way. Matt seemed plucky in his first extended appearance against Temple. But a week later he was part of one of the biggest disasters in BC history (the Syracuse game).

But like the strongest loves, it grew and blossomed over time. First the win at Death Valley. He was unfazed by the pressure. Then he pulled off a miracle against Wake Forest. We had a Quarterback controversy and I clearly knew which side I was on.

Things progressed and the crush blossomed. Undefeated as a starter in 2005. Downfield throws became part of our conservative offense. Composure in the pocket.

When your in love, the pain runs deeper. I felt anguish over his ankle injury. Yet watching him overcome the pain and continue winning made my one-way bond stronger.

He took it to a new level last week. As I mentioned the gimpy endzone scramble followed by a bomb that no one else could have made left me speechless. The pass was the equivalent of a dozen roses. I nearly skipped over the bleacher in front of me and let out about three “holy shits.” And with the win, Matt earned my totally devotion (I am singing Olivia Newton John’s Hopelessly Devoted as I type this).

When Paul Peterson graduated, I never thought I could love another BC QB. Little did I know I would get to see someone with Paul’s guts, heart and smarts combined with an NFL body and an Ironman toughness.

Not only is Matt Ryan the best QB in the ACC, he is the best QB in college football. You can have your Quinns, Tebows and Smiths. With everything on the line, I am taking Matt Ryan. But what do I know, I am just a fool in love.

BC-Buffalo Preview

After two tough games, BC gets a bit of a respite this week. Buffalo might be one of the worst teams in college football. They are 96th in Total Offense and 116th in Total Defense. Their lone victory came against an equally bad Temple team. If BC loses this game, it would be a monumental upset.

Theme that won’t be discussed on television radio. BC has only been on the periphery of the National Championship and BCS talk. If we win out, we will be right in the mix. And if BC is in the debate, expect a lot of talk about strength of schedule. Our current strength of schedule is strong, but it will start to fall soon with games against Duke and Buffalo. The talking heads will certainly question why BC played two MAC teams and the good seasons from CMU and BYU will be ignored so they can rail on BC for winning a weak ACC and padding their schedule with Buffalo and Maine.

Buffalo is a perfect example of a limited upside game. We get a win, but risk an embarrassing loss. We get a 2 for 1 in home games, but will not have a full stadium on Saturday. I will repeat something I’ve said before. Playing one MAC school per season is fine. Playing two is unacceptable.

Three Simple Keys
1. Get Ryan out of the game as early as possible. TOB is on record saying he prefers Ryan to start and doesn’t want to be the “upset of the week.” I agree with the idea. But the reality is that BC needs to establish control early and have a solid lead at Half. If BC gets up by 21, Chris Crane should come in. Ryan needs the rest.
2. Avoid Turnovers. Sounds simple, but unusual mishaps have been the source of our fluke losses in the past.
3. Focus on kick coverage. Buffalo’s return game is relatively solid with two guys (Roosevelt and Paterson) averaging over 20 yards a return. In a game like this a big return can make a difference. BC needs to stay on top of it.

Gambling Notes
-- BC leads the series 5-2
-- TOB has not lost to a MAC team
-- This is the second longest home win steak of TOB’s tenure.
The current line is BC-35 points

What would be a pleasant surprise? Seeing some bench riding second and third teamers get some time and play well. I would love to see Smith get some more carries. Or the buried A.J. Brooks.

What would be a letdown? If Buffalo keeps it close and Ryan is forced to play the whole game.

What would be a shocker? A BC loss. If we lose this game it would be beyond crushing.

Bottom Line
I think BC wins with ease. The team is playing well and has a clear talent advantage. I am worried that the team will falter before the season is out, but don’t think it will be this weekend.
Final Score: BC 48, Buffalo 17

Kiwi starts and AOL link

Kiwi is getting his first pro start. He should see plenty of time against his old high school and college teammate Jeremy Trueblood.

Here is a Q&A with Al Skinner.

The Buffalo News has some nice things to say about our move to the ACC.

Will Blackmon is going to get his shot in Green Bay.

My latest on the AOL Fanhouse.

Here is the AP’s game preview.

Grade Report and Second Viewing Thoughts: FSU

Here are my long delayed grades and thoughts after seeing the game again. Weird game (but I should expect that now). Watching the game, it felt like BC controlled and even dominated at times, yet the stats, final score and final play show how close it was. This is not to slight our guys but FSU still has more talent. The gap is not as wide as it would’ve been ten years ago, but they have some great players. BC’s win shows what team work, coaching and a great QB can do.

Offense: B

Matt Ryan is my hero. I plan on writing something dedicated to him later in the week, but for now, I will just have to say that his bomb to Gonzo might be the greatest pass a BC QB has made on a non scoring drive. Hobbled, he still had enough gitty up to buy time in the end zone and deliver a perfect pass to Gonzo. It is also one of those plays that TV dulled. In person, from high above the opposite endzone, the play came out more like a work of genius or of a prodigy…because no one even saw that play or opening. Matt rolled, and the play was breaking down, and threw it to spot 40 something yards downfield. I don’t even think Gonzo knew how the defenders would part they way it did. When Matt released it, I wondered “what the hell was that?” Yet as the ball moved downfield, I saw Gonzo run under while the five FSU defenders near the area all sort of stood nearly motionless. Like I said, the drive didn’t produce points, but it changed field position and killed more clock. Great play. The rest of his game was very good. The pick was not his fault. He moved well and I loved the little productive shovel passes when he scrambled. His passing was as sharp as it has been since his ankle injury. Very good game.

The running backs numbers didn’t stand out, but both did a much better job reading their blocks and waiting for their moment. It gives me hope for the rest of the season and for next year. I also want to note that both are getting very good at picking up blitzers. Ross deserves mention for his sweet run and catch. He has speed that Palmer lacks, making that play much more interesting as the season progresses.

The receivers and Tight Ends were somewhat mixed bag. Gonzo had a great catch but clearly blew it on the INT. Challenger never broke anything. Robinson caught a nice deep ball and was good in space, but still runs his routes too short on 3rd down. The TEs blocking was mixed. Purvis made a nice catch but also coughed one up.

The line had its best game of the season. Yes, Florida State sacked Ryan twice, but overall they controlled the game, opened up good holes and gave Ryan enough time. We continued the mixed lineups, yet never missed a beat. There were a few trip ups here and there, but the pulling and run blocking was very crisp.

Bible’s calls bring down the O’s grade. He stalled out one drive keeping it on the ground too many times. Some of our Red zone stuff still looked scattered. We moved the ball yet couldn’t sustain many things. The 24 points is very deceptive as 14 really came from the D. After the great game against VT, I was hoping Dana would get on a roll. This game contained many nice plays, yet, like I said, only generated 10 points.

Defense: B+

The defensive line played well. They forced Weatherford to move and scramble more than a dozen times. FSU abandoned the run so quickly that it was hard to gauge the run stopping. One concern is that some of the new guys seem just a step too slow. There were at least six occasions when Giles, Larkin, Raji, Smith and Brace were each a step away from Weatherford and couldn’t close the gap. He didn’t beat us for big plays, but a more mobile QB could.

The linebackers were outstanding again. Dunbar might have had his best game of the season. Pruitt was also good. Francois was less of a factor, because Toal got so many snaps. Toal is clearly getting better each week. I don’t know if it was his health or his attitude, but he is playing with a focus and discipline that he didn’t have last year. Akins continued to cause havoc.

The secondary played well considering the situation – FSU passed all day and have real talent at the WR position. I was really impressed with Wes Davis. Tribble had an outstanding game. His INT was perfect. He saw the read, sucked in Weatherford and then was in the endzone before you knew it. Anam’s pick saved us. However, his day was mixed. His tackling was better, but he was a step too slow every time he blitzed from the corner (our blitzes are much more effective with Dunbar or Akins). Sanni played well until he got hurt. Silva made some important tackles. Overall a solid effort from the DBs.

I didn’t like Spaz’s plan all that much. The blitzs weren’t very effective. FSU gave up on the run and we did very little to exploit that. Instead we sat back in deep zones and allowed Weatherford to move the ball. Yes, we made some big plays and kept them out of the endzone, but overall I felt that gameplan was too conservative in the second half. I understand he is playing the percentages with a two touchdown lead, but it is painful to watch and you will lose one day playing that way.

Special teams: B+

Smith bobbled one of his first return chances in weeks. His lone return was solid.

Sid Vicious looked good. Ohliger did not. Where was his distance on the kick offs.

Ayers is having a really strong season and punted well again.

Overall: B+

Despite Florida State’s down trend, winning on the road in the division against a talented team still means something. The defense is getting better, which we need. We cannot run the table on Matt Ryan alone.

Blogpoll ballot

On the road, so I only saw bits and pieces of other games. Here is my latest ballot. The biggest change was where I placed some of the one loss teams.

Games I watched
BC-FSU 100%
Ga Tech-Clemson 50%

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Ohio State	--
2	Michigan	--
3	Southern Cal	--
4	West Virginia	--
5	Clemson	5
6	Louisville	1
7	Auburn	1
8	Tennessee	1
9	Texas	3
10	Rutgers	5
11	Notre Dame	2
12	Florida	1
13	Boston College	3
14	Arkansas	--
15	LSU	10
16	Wisconsin	3
17	Wake Forest	5
18	Georgia Tech	7
19	Brigham Young	7
20	Missouri	1
21	Oklahoma	3
22	California	10
23	Texas A&M	3
24	Oregon	7
25	Georgia	1

Dropped Out: Nebraska (#23), Pittsburgh (#24).

FSU pics

Our seats were up about as far as you can go, so you can barely make out some of the stuff in the pics. I also don't take action shots during the game. It is just too distracting. But here are some shots from the pregame and post game. The Flaming Spear is very cool. I had a great time, but the Florida State game experience can't hold a candle to Clemson.

Safety first

More to come Monday night and Tuesday, but I quickly wanted to tackle the safety issues, which is still being debated on the message boards.

When it happened, I was torn. I knew it was a gutsy call, but I had a pit in my stomach about giving Florida State a chance to win outright. In fact when they went to review of the final play, I was sure we were going to lose the call and the game.

Now, under calmer circumstances, I will say it is one of the gutsiest calls of the TOB era and the right one. We’ve lost on fluke, low percentage plays in the past. We’ve also been lucky to escape two overtimes. Although they are all independent events, would you want to bet that we would win another OT game or lose again on a late, deep ball? Winning OTs and losing on flukes just can't keep happening. So as Coach TOB should reduce the chance of both.

TOB also said that his team was gassed.

So the safety:
1. Eats time via the non-kick and then the free kick from the 20
2. Takes the blocked punt out of play
3. Improves field position
4. Gives FSU two shots at the endzone instead of the four they might have had with the extra time

If this had backfired TOB would have been vilified. So he deserves credit for making the right call. If we win out, it will certainly be called a turning point in the season and maybe even in his career.

Back from Florida State

Sorry for the delay. Traveled Sunday. Worked Sunday night. Just getting back to blogging now.

Great trip. I know we don't have the greatest travel rep in football, but overall a good showing by the BC faithful. Met some readers and saw a few former classmates. The best part was wining the game. It hit me on the ride home: we just beat Florida State at Doak! I know they are down, but that still means something to me.

Here are my takeaways from the AOL Fanhouse.

I'll have Grades and pictures up later in the week.

AOL update and news links

Short game preview over at the Fanhouse.

Vega published a nice article on Challenger.

Both papers released features on Brady Smith and his battle with Lyme disease (this is the Herald's verion).

The Miami Herald included a really nice feature on Larry Anam. It is more confirmation on how popular BC is with recruits' parents.

Heading to Florida

I leave for Florida tonight. Not sure how much I will be able to post Friday or Saturday morning. You can check out my latest Fanhouse entry over on AOL.

If you are going to the game please stop by and say hello. I will be in section 318, Row 83. Look for a guy with BC hat and maroon pants. BC has a pretty good record in my road trips. Let's hope it keeps up this weekend.

BC-FSU Preview

TOB is playing a shell game with his starting QB, so this preview will certainly have some hedging. Both teams need the win to stay alive in the division. As I’ve been saying, Florida State may not be what they once were, but they still have some of the games best athletes and can still beat any team in the country when they are on.

Theme that won’t be discussed on Television. This is minor, but I doubt anyone will remember that TOB was a key part of Florida State's first ACC loss. He was the Offensive Coordinator on the UVA team that knocked off the ‘Noles on ESPN in 1995. That win was crucial for the long-term success of the conference as it showed that the basketball schools could raise their level of play and compete with the conference’s newest member. The game did not turn TOB into a hot commodity but it certainly looked good on his resume when BC came calling two years later.

Injuries will be discussed. Not only is Ryan dinged, but it seems like half of the Florida State defense is ailing.

Three Simple Keys
1. BC cannot go too conservative if Crane plays. During last year’s game Porter got injured and Ryan was called off the bench. For most of his snaps TOB and Bible went ultra conservative and BC failed to move the ball. It wasn’t until late in the game that they finally allowed Ryan to throw and he did pretty well. This year’s team is much better throwing than rushing. Getting away from that because of Crane would be foolish.
2. The Defense must get to Weatherford. Once FSU put him in the shotgun last year he began picking BC apart. This year we need to keep the pressure on. FSU will be ready for Akins. Perhaps it is time to rush one of the other LBs.
3. Kicking and punt coverage need to be perfect. BC got lucky last week. They allowed Virginia Tech great field position throughout the game and the Hokies never exploited it. We shouldn’t press our luck against FSU. They are still dangerous and allowing them easy points when their offense is struggling would be a real letdown.

Gambling Notes
-- BC is 2-0 as an underdog this season
-- TOB is 12-10 the first time he has visited a stadium
-- BC is 7-2 against the spread in their last nine games as an away dog.
The current line is BC+6.5

What would be a pleasant surprise? If Chris Crane starts, plays well and BC wins. I always try to be an optimist when it comes to winning games, but I really worry about Crane. Winning your first start is tough. Winning your first start on the road against Florida State would be a major accomplishment.

What would be a letdown? If Ryan starts, plays pretty well and we lose. I think a Ryan-led team should beat the ‘Noles. If he plays and BC doesn’t pull it out, I will be very disappointed. Plus another conference loss at this point would put us closer to Boise than the ACC Championship game, so a letdown is a given.

What would be a shocker? A Crane-led blowout. Let me repeat – despite their ranking and recent struggles I still think FSU is a pretty good team. If Chris Crane walks into Doak and leads us to a big win it would be a big surprise.

Bottom Line
If Ryan were playing I’d have a lot more confidence. But I’ll go out on a limb and say we win regardless of who starts. I think BC’s defense has improved enough over the last month to keep us in the game and I think we can still score 28 against Florida State.
Final Score: BC 28, FSU 16

The U wants who?

He's gonna need some sunblock

South Florida papers are mentioning TOB as a possible successor to Larry Coker at Miami. I just don’t see it happening. While Miami will probably look for someone who has a sterling reputation and a track record for successful cleanups, I think TOB would have real problems fitting in down there.

The next coach of Miami has to walk a fine line. He needs to embrace the good things about the U culture (elite athletes, us against the world mentality) yet keep them inline and most importantly, win all the time. Part of winning is recruiting. The program sells itself to a certain type of kid. However, Coker and staff haven’t done a great job in evaluating and closing on those kids. While TOB is a pretty good recruiter, I don’t think his sales pitch would fly with the type of guys who want to play for the U. I also don’t see the Michael Irvins and Luther Campbells of the scene embracing our stoic Marine.

The other way to win is to out coach the other side week in and week out. This is where TOB becomes a real question mark for Miami. It is a given he could get a different type of athlete to play for him at the U. Those elite players mean you win most of your games going away. But as BC fans know, TOB’s style lends itself to close games where he squanders BC’s talent advantage (CMU is just one recent example). The first time TOB lost to Maryland or NC State because TOB played it too close to the vest, you would hear the ‘Cane faithful start pining for the days of Coker.

I don’t think TOB is set on retiring at BC. He’s floated his name out there too many times to think that he wouldn’t listen to offers. But the U is one place I think he would turn down. The guy is about safe and strategic moves. If he leaves BC it will be for a program where he can succeed and where the expectations will not be sky high.

Ryan rumor mill

"Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious. "
-- Simone Adamley, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Everyone agrees Matt Ryan is injured. TOB acknowledges a foot injury separate from his previous ankle injury. But no one from BC has provided any detail about what the injury is, how extensive it is and what the prognosis is. The void created by this lack of information has been filled with speculation. Here are some of the things I’ve read or been sent:

1. Ryan has a broken foot. He needs surgery but is delaying it for a second opinion.
2. Ryan’s foot is broken, but he is going to try to play.
3. Ryan has been seen on crutches.
4. Ryan has been seen walking without crutches and without a limp
5. Ryan is not practicing.
6. Ryan will play Saturday and then have surgery.
7. Ryan will see how he feels on Saturday and will be a game time decision.
8. Ryan will be week to week and will have the surgery when he can no longer play through the pain.
9. Ryan is highly unlikely, but TOB does not want to disclose his status so FSU has to prepare for Ryan and Crane
10. Crane will start but Ryan will be his back up.

This is what I think: Ryan does have a broken foot, but he can play through it. I’ve heard from numerous people that he is walking without a limp. If he can walk, I think he can play.

I have faith in Chris Crane and think we can win with either QB, but I would prefer to see a gimpy Matty Ice. Stay tuned.

Guest Blogger: Tallahassee.com's Mike Boone

They will be in black uniforms and are coming off two loses, but Florida State is still Florida State. BC needs this win and I think most fans understand how tough it will be to go into Doak. In an effort to get a better understanding of what we can expect on the field, I've asked Mike Boone from Tallahassee.com to answer some questions regarding the matchup. Check out his blog for more on the 'Noles.

1. Jeff Bowden is the whipping boy and blame for all of FSU's woes, but from what I've seen I don't think it is all play calling. I just don't think some of the players are nearly as talented as the guys from the glory years. What's your take?

MB: I’m of two minds on this subject. It is clear to most Seminole observers and almost anyone else who has ever watched a football game, that the offense has declined since Mark Richt left to be the head coach at Georgia. Ironically at the time most FSU fans thought that Jeff Bowden was the right man for the job since he was the coach that Bobby wanted to replace Richt, who had been hugely popular among the Seminole faithful. So the criticism of Jeff is certainly warranted because he is ostensibly the offensive coordinator and is ultimately going to be held responsible for the offensive scheme and the play-calling. Some people have suggested that Bobby is meddling more than anyone realizes, and that in his old age he is becoming more conservative and more willing to trust the defense to win games. Some say that he’s lost his edge. Coaching aside, the talent level entering the program has not declined noticeably. Charlie Ward wasn’t the #1 player in Georgia when he signed with FSU, but he became the most decorated amateur athlete in the history of the US. Lorenzo Booker, Drew Weatherford, Myron Rolle, Xavier Lee, Antone Smith, Chris Davis and Marcus Sims are just a few of the names that have started their careers in Tallahassee as blue-chip recruits, desired by every team in the country. They were all highly-ranked high school players, but for some reason it seems that their skills haven’t translated to the collegiate level. Whatever the reason, Florida State has seen plenty of talented players in the last 5 years whose skills weren’t utilized or just never blossomed fully.

2. Last year, FSU exploited their height advantage at WR to take the lead. Do you see the same thing happening this year and can the O-line give Weatherford enough time for the routes to develop?

MB: FSU comes into this game with some serious, well-documented troubles running the football, same as they did last season. The difference is that this season Weatherford is a known quantity; BC shouldn’t leave him with the time to throw the ball that he had at times last year. He is a much smarter player this season than he was last year, despite his early inconsistency. Against Duke it seemed that Weatherford got on track and showed that he might be ready for another big game against a quality team. I would expect that Florida State will want to try to keep the Eagles from blitzing Weatherford to death and stuffing the run like they did in 2005. The offensive line for Florida State is improved over last season but is still nothing to write home about. Drew is going to have to get the ball out quickly and look for Greg Carr and DeCody Fagg to bail him out of bad plays. Booker has also developed into a quality pass-catching back, so he will see plenty of touches. To answer the question more directly, FSU is going to want to come out and try to establish something on the ground, but if that doesn’t happen early Jeff will pull the plug and turn the reins over to Weatherford and see if he can win another game against BC with his arm. Greg Carr is the X-factor to me. If he runs crisp routes and uses his body he will be awfully hard for anyone from Boston College to cover. The kid is simply a freak.

3. Surprisingly Andrews didn't attack BC much last year. He left the talented Linebacker corp to sit back and make plays (which they did). Do you see him mixing up the strategy this year?

MB: Florida State is in a tricky spot here, because injuries to defensive players have really taken their toll on the depth chart. The linebackers who will most likely be starting are not all as experienced as the amazing trio that took the field against the Eagles last season. While Buster Davis returns as the heart and soul of the team, and is one of the best linebackers in the country. He is a legitimate candidate for the Butkus Award. Timmons is a pure athlete who just happens to play linebacker, he has to be seen to be believed. The depth problems mean that FSU needs to get their defense off the field and not let BC grind out long scoring drives. FSU will have to shelve their popular 3-4 Buck package for this game, just because not enough of the new linebackers will be available to play. Timmons and Davis will be all over the field making plays, no matter what happens. There is no one position on the defense that is more vulnerable than another since they are all thin, so Mickey Andrews will stick with what has been his bread and butter as long as anyone can remember: play Cover 1 and hope that in the long run your athletes make more plays than the other team’s athletes. If Tony Carter is able to go at cornerback, it makes it much easier for the Noles to play man coverage, which is where they are most comfortable. Mickey may try to blitz more often if Matt Ryan is in fact hobbled by his foot problems, or if Crane enters the game at any point. Timmons would be a prime candidate to line up at end and come off the edge on third down. Otherwise, expect the unexpected, and expect to see a ton of younger players in places where they may not be as comfortable as they’d like to be.

4. Finally a prediction: what do you expect for Saturday?

MB: I expect to see Florida State try to score a lot of points, throwing the ball more than they have yet this season. Greg Carr is going to get plenty of work. I also expect that Florida State’s defense will have a hard time getting the Eagles off the field, unless Matt Ryan can’t play. This game is going to be decided in the fourth quarter when fatigue will be a huge factor. Bottom line, if Boston College hits Florida State in the mouth and inflicts their will, it’s going to be hard to keep them from doing the things they want to do with the football. Now, with all of that said it would be easier to pick Boston College to win, but this is the sort of game where a team will rally around one another. This is the sort of game where a team has to decide what kind of team they are, and that goes for both these squads. BC is coming off their best win of the season, and everything in me says that BC is going to win, but I can’t shake the feeling that FSU has heard for a while about how they aren’t as good as they used to be, and that they just don’t have the players to win games that they are supposed to win. It seems likely that BC wins this game, and maybe they will. But maybe the Noles circle the wagons in their new black uniforms and win this game on pure emotion, even though they probably have no business winning. And that, is what I think will happen.

Boston College 27 Florida State 31

Check out Mike's blog for more on Florida State football.

Good hoops info and other news

Be sure to check out TWoods' House that Skinner Built. He's got good updates on the informal fall practices. I'll start posting my hoops stuff soon.

We are not the only team dealing with injuries. FSU might be without their leading tackler.

AOL update

My take over at the Fanhouse on BC defining itself in the second half. Mostly focused on TOB.