Guest Blogger: CU Sporting News

Big things are happening for the guys at CU Sporting News. Yet despite their hectic blogging plans, Jason still had time to guest blog here. Check out CU Sporting News for all Clemson related things and updates on the boys' big move to the big time.

1. Proctor got the win and his stats in the opener were okay, but what did you think of his performance?

His stats and performance were more about what Coach Bowden said he graded them as, an A-. He was admittedly nervous at the start of the game, and it showed with a botched handoff to a running back in the backfield that resulted in a fumble.

Here is what you need to know about Will Proctor as he enters his senior year: he is more mobile than former QB Charlie Whitehurst, while not having as much arm strength he is a more accurate passer than Whitehurst. Will Proctor is probably a better fit for Offensive Coordinator Rob Spence's system than Charlie Whitehurst was last season. The system relies on quick reads, and packages with multiple options. He can come to a line with 5 to 6 options that he has to make within a few seconds. Proctor does well with this.

Last season's 16-13 BC ot win in Death Valley received a lot of arm chair criticism in Clemson circles for the offense's failure to lengthen the field by throwing deeper. What happened instead was Whitehurst, a drop back passer, either had to rely on the running game or buy time for receivers to get open, which rarely happened vs. BC's talented defensive front. With Proctor, you will see a different situation. Expect multiple sets, with multiple play options coming out of the huddle. Expect several designed roll outs, sprint outs, bootlegs, etc. Proctor, while unproven in road situations as THE leader of the offense, has the skills to make a difference forcing the defense to match Clemson's speed at wide receiver and three very different running back sets.

Proctor will attempt a lot of very safe passes (hence his very high completion percentage) and rely on a near constant rotation of three running backs and team speed at wideout with Chansi Stuckey, Aaron Kelly, Rendrick Taylor, Jacoby Ford, etc.

2. Your LB core is the walking wounded. Tell us about the new guys who are filling their shoes?

The line backing situation is like a punch to the gut for Clemson at the moment. Middle linebacker Anthony Waters, who turned down a likely third round pick in the NFL draft returned to Clemson to fulfill a family promise to graduate and make a difference on this squad. Instead, the ACC's leading returning tackler will have to watch the rest of the season from the sideline. On top of that, outside LB Billie's broken foot in preseason camp and immediately depth becomes an issue for Clemson. Here is why that is important. Clemson D front line is perhaps the best in the ACC, led by Gaines Adams, perhaps a NFL first round pick in April. The Secondary is ok. Converted running back Duane Coleman and Sergio Gilliam lead that corps, but it is what lots of folks considered to be the weakest part of the Clemson team. Because of attrition of probably the top two linebackers, expect Clemson to be less aggressive on defense, especially among the linebackers, so as not to give up large plays through the air.

Clemson is now vulnerable, moreso than before, to mismatches on defense. Against the run or pass alone, Clemson should be fine. When assignments start to break down, Clemson will be more vulnerable, especially to passes in the flats as the game goes on.

3. Do you think traveling this far north will be a big deal for the Tigers?

Yes. There is an exotic factor to BC for Clemson. I cannot speak for the team, but many fans are seeing the BC game as a late summer vacation opportunity to New England, almost with the same attitude that folks approach a winter bowl trip to a warm climate.

As far as the team goes, other than the usual disruption that traveling causes, I cannot really imagine that much being made of it, as all they will see of Boston will be a hotel and the BC stadium. What will be interesting will be who travels with the team. Saturday, over 70 of the 85 scholarship players, saw action vs. Florida Atlantic, over 50 in the first quarter alone. For the Clemson coaches, decisions this week about who to bring on the travel squad will be important. Against FAU, Clemson was often subbing four players a down. Lots of positions were being showcased, especially at the second string level. Also, losing to BC was a bit of a rallying cry for the Tigers last season, because it served as a reminder to play all 60 minutes. Things like that will be on the mind of the Tigers.

4. What is your prediction for the game?

Keeping Clemson's team speed, experience at both the offense and defense lines and raw talent at running back with Davis, Meriwether and 2005 Florida player of the year, CJ Spiller, I expect Clemson to use some complicated sets with runners out of the back field catching passes, alternating inside/outside running and less aggressive zone defense. At the end of the day, Clemson's experience and speed make the difference with a final score in the 31 to 16 range for the Tigers.

Old QB, current QB, and new QB news

The Steelers signed Brian St. Pierre.

Tommy Bowden expects Matt Ryan to play. Other coaches are not always good at predicting who TOB plays (see: Jim Bunting).

Brett Kan is still hoping for a BC offer.

In non-QB news, Kiwi had a strong preseason and feels healthy.

Understudies under O’Brien

Matt Ryan is questionable for Saturday’s game against Clemson, meaning Chris Crane could get his first start. Backups have been a mixed bag under TOB. Take a look.

Year	Injured Starter	Back Up	1st fill in start of the season
W-L
1997	Matt Hasselbeck	Scott Mutryn	Georgia Tech	L
1999	Tim Hasselbeck	Brian St. Pierre	Pitt	W
2000	Tim Hasselbeck	Brian St. Pierre	Notre Dame	L
2003	Quinton Porter	Paul Peterson	Rutgers	W
2004	Paul Peterson	Matt Ryan	Syracuse	L
2005	Quinton Porter	Matt Ryan	Clemson	W

Once again, let me state that I think Matt Ryan will play this weekend. But as this chart shows and the cliché says “the backup is only one snap away.” I like Chris Crane. Let’s hope he is ready for whatever may happen.

Blogpoll ballot Week 1

Like last year I was harsh on the teams that lost. The only winner I slightly penalized was BC. A performance like that doesn't deserve a bump up in the polls. The top teams are unchanged.

Games I watched:
BC-CMU 100% (twice)
FSU-Miame 100%
ND-Ga Tech 100%
Michigan-Vanderbilt 25%
Memphis-Ole Miss 50%

Rank	Team
1	Notre Dame
2	Auburn
3	Ohio State
4	Southern Cal
5	Florida
6	Texas
7	Iowa
8	Louisiana State
9	West Virginia
10	Virginia Tech
11	Georgia
12	Florida State
13	Michigan
14	Louisville
15	Tennessee
16	Oregon
17	Clemson
18	TCU
19	Texas Tech
20	Boston College
21	Oklahoma
22	Utah
23	Nebraska
24	Alabama
25	UCLA

Dropped Out: Miami (Florida) (#16), Cal (#23).

Ryan and Raji's returns

The papers finally gave us an update on Raji and Ryan. First the good news, Raji will return for the second half of the Clemson game. I think we'll be okay, since Willis played so well against CMU. Also, I think the fresh legs and focused Raji could be a real lift in the second half -- assuming we are still in it.

Ryan's status is much more uncertain. I am not a doctor, but I've got to think that if he could play last Thursday, he'll be able to play this Saturday. We beat Clemson last year with a backup and I've heard good things about Chris Crane, but I'd feel a lot better with Ryan under Center.

Second viewing thoughts and grade report: Central Michigan

Time and a second look at the game via TiVo calmed me down. I don’t think we played well, but there is hope for Clemson.

[For those new to the blog this season, after every televised game, I watch the game back on TiVo, log the plays and grade out the players. It sounds really dorky (and it is) but you really do see a lot more the second time around.]

Offense: B-

Matty Ryan looked great. My only complaint was the bad intentional grounding penalty. Other than that his passes looked sharp. His reads were good. He was missing some downfield options early, but made great adjustments as the game moved on. Down field routes that he overlooked early become touchdowns to Challenger and Gonzo later. Despite a gimpy ankle he moved well in the pocket. Overall a very strong performance. He remains my biggest source of hope.

The running backs picked up where they left off...with nothing brilliant. Neither outshined the other. No explosiveness. Their best play were when they had good run blocking. Neither made something happen on their own. Both had drops. Whitworth fumbled. The only real brightspot is that both showed improvements in their blitz pick up and protection. Since we look like we are going to have to pass a lot this season, protection will be important. Palmer was solid. Good receptions and much improved on his overall blocking.

The Receivers and Tight Ends were a pleasant surprise. Gonzo was sure handed as always. Challenger looked good (a good route runner, not great once he has the ball in open field). The freshman worked into the lineup and acquitted themselves well. Many hoped for a breakout game from Robinson. This wasn’t it. But he’ll get better. I loved the Tight Ends working the seem routes over the middle. They won’t run free like that against Clemson, but both Thompson and Purvis will cause matchup problems for the less talented teams on our schedule. My biggest critique of the pass catchers -- dropping catchable balls. By my count they missed on seven good throws.

The offensive line was the most troubling part of the game. First the good. The pass protection was pretty good and they worked well out of the no huddle and out of the shotgun. The problems -- where to begin? First Sheridan and Poles couldn’t block anyone when pulling. Sheridan was either getting blown up our running without purpose. (Get in front of someone!) Their struggles left AC and LV out to dry. Marten looked slow and weak at Left Tackle. If he was having trouble against the MAC, imagine what it is going to be like in conference play. The good news, Beekman moved over to Center at two different times without missing a beat. The most confounding situation:
1. Avenski and Hall both got time on the field.
2. Avenski and Hall played well.
3. Yet we brought back both Poles and Sheridan late in the game. Why?
Either stick it out with Poles and Sheridan or play the guys you think are better. Giving the subs a shot only to yank them out later (despite their solid performance) doesn’t make sense and certainly isn’t fair or morale building. My bet is that Hall is in the starting lineup by BYU.

As for Bible…despite the score and the yardage it was a very uneven game for BC’s Offensive Coordinator. The first touchdown drive was really well called. Our design and play selection for the first three quarter were also strong. I liked going up-tempo, no huddle. I like that the staff has confidence level in Ryan to let him throw downfield. Bible’s game plan went to shit when CMU scored with 8 minutes left and cut the lead to 14. So here’s the scenario:

1. You’re on the road. You have a two touchdown lead with eight minutes remaining.
2. Your QB is over 300 yards and has passed at will.
3. You’ve struggled running the ball and your line has looked much better in pass protection.
4. You need to move the ball, kill some clock and potentially add a few more points.

If you are stubborn and/or foolish you say “let’s run the ball” (even though it hasn’t worked) and dump a few passes to the flats. What happened with that strategy? No first downs. Barely taking a minute off per drive. The play calling was ultra conservative with the game on the line and it nearly cost us. What TOB and Bible need to realize is that with the new clock rules, successful passing can kill chunks of time. Get first downs, keep the ball and move the chains. That will work just as well as run, run, dump, punt. Ryan only threw three passes in the final eight minutes. Terrible. One other thing about the game alarmed me. Coming out of a CMU timeout, BC couldn’t get their play in on time and had to burn a timeout. Fortunately they didn’t end up needing the TOs. It is frustrating watching BC waste them in a tight game. I don’t hate Bible like others, but his late game management is mediocre at best.

Defense: C-

No one unit stood out, but each had a few stars and each had guys who seemed lost or under motivated.

The defensive line was a mixed bag. The very first drive Raji and Brace were collapsing the line and causing problems. However, knocking out Brunner and CMU adjustments changed that quickly. The Chips went exclusively spread with short drops and our first team DTs became non-factors. Giles doesn’t have Kiwi’s closing speed, but showed good hustle and understanding of his responsibilities. Larkin was key late in the game, but MIA for the rest of it. The biggest surprise on the second viewing -- how well Willis and, to a slightly lesser extent, Brady Smith played. They were better able to handle the spacing and speed of the CMU spread. Raji didn’t play like a 300-pounder last year. He was a good tackler and had a great motor. Thursday night, he looked slow. And then to make matters worse he lost his cool late and got kicked out. An auspicious start.

The linebackers really let me down. These guys need to carry the team and only some of them showed up on Thursday. Pruitt looked great. He had a solid tackling night and did a real good job pealing off of blocks. Francois didn’t see as much time, but he was also strong. Before the season, I thought Dunbar would be All-ACC. He didn’t make me look very smart Thursday. Yes, he led the team in tackles, but he missed a few and was really out of position on a few plays. Toal took three quarters off and was in a fog. He pulled it together late, thankfully. Akins and McLaughlin looked good in limited time. Toal and Dunbar are the two most talented guys on the defense. They need to play much, much better.

The secondary was a near disaster. In the past against the spread offenses our front seven was so strong that the secondary in turn looked good as well. Thursday was not as impressive. Silva played well, but Bowman was lost in coverage and let people get by him twice. Without Glasper, Silva is going to need to step up and direct traffic. Anam -- great speed, still no game sense and he still thinks tackling is flinging his body at the guy with the ball. How has the coaching staff not reinforced wrapping up after four years? Morris and Tribble played okay. Still too much cushion in match ups where they were favored. Anderson was a non-factor.

I didn’t like Spaz’s gameplan. He was mixing linebacker combos and who was playing with whom and I think it hurt cohesiveness. The three man front was ineffective. The prevent didn’t prevent anything. Goalline defense -- even with two guys over 330 on our side -- saw CMU get a good push. We have a lot to accomplish defensively before Clemson.

Special teams: C+

Ohliger looked good. The miss was a long kick and nearly through. Ayers got good distance but still needs to get the punt off faster. The kick coverage looked great. The kick returns were solid and I think Tribble will break something big this year. But we could never have a flawless special teams outing. How do we not stop the fake field goal? The fumbled punt was sloppy too and, finally, Dunbar losing his cool on the final punt was stupid. Just stupid.

Overall: C-

Yeah, I know the grades don’t even out, but this was a bad effort overall. I am still a believer in this team, but there is a lot of work to do before Clemson.

Friday fallout

Not a whole lot of news and analysis yet. I’ll rewatch the game tonight. However, the papers and message boards provided plenty of fodder for today.

First maddening quote: “They brought us here and wanted to take a shot at the moon.” -- TOB.

My reaction: Of course they did. A MAC school getting a BCS school to come to their stadium in primetime on ESPN. You know how a real team handles that challenge -- by stepping on their throats. Kicking them while they are down. Backing the bus over them over and over and over. What did we do up 21 in the fourth? Let them back in the game. Ugh. I am getting fired up again.

Second maddening quote: “We went to Pitt and their quarterback was a guy named Rick Trocano. We knocked him out. You know who the backup was? Dan Marino. He went about 20 of 30." -- TOB comparing facing one of the all-time greats to facing CMU’s backup Freshman QB.

My reaction: Give credit where it is due -- "this kid is tough. He looked sharp." Whatever. But don't put him in the same class as Marino. It just sounds and reads bad and is just more ammo for TOB critics.

Surprising quote: “So why did Boston College schedule this game? Why were the Eagles put at risk in last night's season opener at Central Michigan? On the face of it, BC faced what appeared to be a no-win situation: Lose and, well, the Eagles might as well walk back to Chestnut Hill; win, and it better be by a large margin.

Again, the question: Why did BC have to go to such great lengths -- chartering a flight to East Lansing, Mich., Wednesday night, then practicing at Michigan State's facilities yesterday morning before taking an hour bus ride north on US 127 four hours before last night's game -- to play its first game of the season at Kelly/Shorts Stadium?

Why go through the hassle of scheduling a road game against a Mid-American Conference opponent?

Ostensibly, it was to give BC a much-needed 12th game, but, in reality, it was a way to schedule an easy W." -- Mike Vega!! Vega who rarely takes the team or school to task asked the question that needed to be asked. He gave Gene a chance to answer: (paraphrasing) “blah blah blah 2-1 for one with the MAC, blah blah blah people cancelled on us, blah blah blah we can’t buy games.”

The two papers did a pretty good job. Yet neither gave any insight into the extent of Ryan’s injury or confirmed Raji’s status for next week.

After seeing his awkward start on the ESPN Season Preview show, I was really worried about Doug Flutie’s broadcast potential. Last night he was great. A natural. Very good voice. Picked up good things and while a little too forced jokey, I thought he did have chemistry with Craig James.

As you’d expect the message boards were vicious today. And we deserve it.

I have some good news and some bad news if last night is a real indicator of this team’s flaws. The good news: we are in for a bunch of passing shoot outs and I think Ryan is up for it. The bad news: more rollercoaster games and more frustration.

Why do I do this to myself?

When we last saw BC football they were hanging on for dear life on the road against a team that they outclassed in talent and in a game that shouldn't have been as close as its score. A boneheaded play by the opponent's QB gave the game back to the Eagles late in the fourth. Boise. Mt. Pleasant. It is all the same. Terrible game. Just...I don't know...words fail me.

My initial thoughts: Matt Ryan is going to have to carry this team. Ryan Poles and Kevin Sheridan better improve quickly. We'll miss Ryan Glasper. For a team the media likes to call disciplined, we sure make dumb mistakes and draw stupid penalties. Cowardly play calling on both sides of the field.

I'll post my grades after I have begrudingly watched the game a second time (propably this weekend). There were some really good efforts and some really bad ones. This game never should have been this close.

Although it is only the second game of the year, Clemson is really going to make or break this season.

BC-CMU preview

I am breaking out a new format for my previews. Last year’s attempts at predicting what BC would do became trite (to me at least) by November. We’ll see how long this format lasts.

Theme that won’t be discussed on television. This could serve as Brian Kelly’s audition for the BC job. Yes it is the longest of long shots, since TOB is not leaving Chestnut Hill any time soon. But if CMU were to hang with us and go on to a winning season, people would take notice. We will search a conference like the MAC for our next coach. With a few winning seasons, a Mass native like Kelly would certainly be on the short list. And if (God forbid) CMU beats BC, look for some BC fans to try to hire Kelly on Friday.

Three simple keys:
1. BC needs to get to the Quarterback(s). CMU’s QB situation is a mess. BC can make it worse by putting all of their passers on their respective backs. Yet our defensive line is untested. This should be a good opportunity for them to prove that they can fill the void left by Kiwi.

2. Pass effectively. Ryan likes to sling it and CMU is undersized at Corner. He needs to stretch the field and get all the guys in the mix. This should also be a good opportunity to see which of the reserve WRs and Tight Ends want and can step up.

3. Ryan Ohlinger needs to impress. The guy is a headcase. He has the leg. Let’s see him get off to a good start and carry it through the season.

Gambling notes.
-- TOB is 6-3 in openers.
-- CMU hasn’t won an opener since 2002.
-- TOB is 11-11 against the spread as an Away Favorite.
-- BC is 3-1-1 against the spread vs. current MAC schools.
The current line is BC-13.5.

What would be a pleasant surprise? A controlled scrimmage where BC puts up 40+ points, plays the second team and hold the Chippewas to 14.

What would be a letdown? A narrow win.

What would be a shocker? A loss. This team and this schedule has so much upside. A loss…I don’t even want to think about it.

Bottom line
I think BC wins. It won’t be as pretty as I would like, but I think the defense plays well, I think Raji will have a big day and I think Ryan will throw for 200+ yards.

Final Score: BC 34, CMU16.

Good to Great

Anyone who has gone to Business School in the last five years probably had to read Good to Great. While it focuses on business leaders, there is a sports reference buried deep inside the book. The author Jim Collins mentions John Wooden’s tenure at UCLA. The Wizard of Westwood coached at the school for 15 seasons before finally winning a championship, which sparked one of the greatest runs in team sports history. Making the leap from good to great is extremely difficult…yet when reading the book I immediately started hoping that TOB had that leap in him. The leap has been a somewhat of a theme for this blog this summer (see below) and when a message board poster (HJS) suggested that someone send a copy of the book to TOB, I decided to conclude the last day before kickoff with an overview of Collins’ keys to greatness and if TOB is headed there.

Level 5 Leader: Level 5 is Collins’ highest level of leadership. However, he found the Level 5s are not exactly what you would expect. They are not exclusively the rah rah, big speech, big idea types. The Level 5s tend not to make a big splash on arrival. They are slower and more methodical in their approach and results. BC fans want a Coughlin-esque tough talker, but the former BC coach and current Giants coach would probably not qualify as a Level 5. TOB seems to have the personality for the Level 5. This is a good thing.

First Who, Then What: This idea is get the right people on board and then figure out who should do what. It also covers everyone buying in. TOB certainly has the people he wants in place -- the staff has been mostly intact for seven years. So that is covered. There are still major questions about whether or not they are the right people.

Confront the brutal Facts: TOB has certainly done this -- to the annoyance of many fans like me. He is constantly talking about the challenges building and winning at BC (academics, the region, weather, etc.). Great companies know their challenges and then work around or through them. I don’t think Collins would appreciate TOB using them as a crutch with the media like he does.

The Hedgehog Concept: Find out what you do and do it well. Under TOB we will never be a run and gun, 50 points a game team. It is not in him. So we need to build physical teams that play controlled, error-free football. I think TOB knows this. Now the question is can we improve our quality of play so that this style is more effective against the better teams in college football. This also means no more WTFs.

Culture of Discipline: Pretty straight forward. I would say TOB has this for the most part. However, there are the occasional cracks here and there.

Technology Accelerators: Not really applicable to football. (One could say adopting new techniques, but I haven’t seen anything that really fits the examples in the book.)

The Flywheel: This covers the forward momentum that greatness carries. Once you create something great, it can become so powerful that it moves forward on its own. We are clearly not there yet.

Conclusion: I bet TOB has read the book. Even if he hasn’t he clearly has established many of the keys to Collins’ guide. But that still means nothing. TOB needs results and soon. If he goes on a nice three or four year run and wins two ACC titles, we can look back on what he did and say “he built something great.” If we go 8-4 this year and 8-4 next year, he might as well retire. Seriously...because he’d be done with a lot of people. BC has never been in a better position regarding its conference, its facilities and the school itself. The powers of our conference are in a down cycle. Our non-conference schedule is hollow. Greatness is waiting to happen. Can TOB take us there? The answers to that question begin Thursday.

Good to Great Summer 2006

-- Outside Opinion: Bob Ryan, Burnt Orange, Dodgy at Best

-- Building a Staff

-- Improving after nine years

-- The best and worst of TOB Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Talent issues (here and here)

Bad hair days and other links

Last week a few of the guys shaved and died their hair into Mohawks. Now the first photos are leaking out. I kind of like the look.

Seperated at Birth: WWE's Viscera and BC's B.J. Raji

I've been critical of the Globe's lack of coverage. Tuesday they finally stepped up to the plate. Vega published three articles and two were listed as web exclusive. Creating unique content for Boston.com is very encouraging. Here are the articles: a Sheridan feature, a story on the Freshman, and a write up on Whitworth.

While this push is exciting, it still showed one of my frustrations with BC coverage -- the papers covering the same story. Part of this is inevitable. On a sports beat only so many things happen. However, sometimes it feels like BC shapes the story by making certain players available. So you get a Freshman story in the Herald too. The Herald also featured this article on our big boys.

Jeff Smith continues to get attention locally.

Smith isn't the only one getting written up by his local paper. The Providence Journal published this article on Jamie Silva Tuesday.

Former BC star Antonio Garay is still hoping to make the Bears final roster.

Here is a little something on the Gionta brothers.

Guest Blogger: The CMU Weblog

It's game time (almost). It's game week anyway. So I enlisted the help of a CMU blogger to get some insight before our kickoff Thursday. Tony gamely answered my queries below. Go to The Central Michigan University Weblog before and after the game to read about CMU sports.

1. Is your QB picture as uncertain as it appears. Will the starter for the BC game be on a short leash?

As of right now the starter is Brian Brunner. This late into camp and with opening night just over a week away it seems as if he will start the BC game. However a few days ago Coach Brian Kelly said he has not closed the gap and locked up the starting job like he had hoped for. Dan LeFevour, a red shirt freshman seems to be the next closest QB competing for the starting job. Central overall has a nice talented crop of QB's, but Brunner is by far the most knowledgeable of the system. He has, however, only taken 3 snaps in his college career, and still hasn't really shown how to properly execute in the scrimmages CMU has had. LeFevour is much more athletic, and has shown a lot in practice/scrimmage. This all leads me to believe that Brunner will start against BC, but he will most certainly be on a short leash. If he falters early against BC...making interceptions, fumbling the ball, or just making plain bad throws, don't be surprised to see another QB quickly step in. Coach Kelly has also made this fact known...he is not ruling out using numerous QB's in this game. Sean Price is very athletic and fast, as well as Duane Brooks, both viable options. How the QB or QB's play in the BC game will determine whether Central can even keep it close.

2. Last season CMU struggled against passing attacks. Have any adjustments been made to improve things?

Well over half of Brian Kelly's recruiting class was DB's. He wants them faster, more athletic, and a little taller. That will pay off in the future, but most likely not early on this year. Both starting CB's are gone from last year, and the starting Strong Safety Marlin Maxwell can not play due to eligibility problems. Senior Pacino Horne was a safety last season but has moved to CB as a starter on one side. The other probable starter according to Kelly is redshirt freshman Josh Gordy (5-11, 189). 5-6, 181, Terrance Robinson is a veteran QB on the team, but he will compete with some freshman recruits for playing time. Junior Curtis Cutts (6-0, 210) is replacing Horne at Free Safety. The other Safety spot could go to one of the newly recruited freshman from Florida or to redshirt freshman Aaron Carr or Calvin Hissong, a former receiver. Basically you see the DB's are completely revamped from last year. The inexperience will no doubt cost CMU at times this season, but overall Coach Kelly is very excited about their athletic ability. It all comes down to how fast they can learn from their mistakes. It might be ugly in the beginning, but there is certainly upside. BC, I am sure, will be ready to exploit CMU through the passing game, and if I was coach, that would be my number one strategy. I would be shocked if BC's receiving core didn't hurt the inexperienced DB's in this highly pressurized game for them; it's tough to play a new position with that much pressure, and against a great team off the bat and be successful. I look for the pass defense to be the worst in the MAC most of the season, with good improvement down the home stretch.

3. Dan Bazuin will be the focus of our protection. Is there anyone else on the defensive side BC should key on?

I think Thomas Keith, who was a sophomore last year is absolutely awesome. He was named second team all MAC after leading CMU in tackles with 104, and interceptions, with four. He was top six in tackles in the entire Mid-American Conference. The rest of the linebacking group is very solid with Issac Brown and Doug Kress, very solid, physical players. I do believe Keith was very underrated nationally last year, and is a great player...he should prove that even more this season for CMU with all the expectations placed on this team locally. Bazuin is the best for sure, and you better plan your strategy around him, but the whole Defensive Line in general is very solid -- this wasn't the number one rated run defense in the MAC last year for nothing. If CMU can stop BC's running game, and not have to bring another man up to defend the run, and emphasize more on shutting down BCs passing game -- that's the scenario where CMU has a chance to pull the upset.

4. If BC shuts down your run game, I think we romp. However, if you guys can move the chains and control the clock, it could be interesting. What is your prediction and final score?

As much as it pains me to admit it, and make no mistake, I do believe CMU has a chance, I think BC will win. Lately a lot of the press around here has been concerning when it comes to the QB and RB positions. Kelly is not happy that Brunner "didn't take the job and run with it" and he also is not happy with starting RB Ontario Sneed, who had an unbelievable freshman season last year. Kelly has criticized him for being tentative when running during practices and scrimmages. He even went as far to imply that Ontario wasn't the for sure number one starter at this point. If he doesn't pick it up in practice and has a slow start in the BC game, look for CMU to turn to a 3 RB system, which isn't very deep with all freshman. My main concern however is the pass defense and our pass offense. I believe that will be the difference. Brunner is starting the first game of his college career against a perennial top 25 team on national tv -- that is the epitome of pressure. I think he will struggle and Kelly will go onto shuffling QB's, which in no way is good for the cohesion of an offense. The young/inexperienced DB's will give up some easy pass plays and points as well. I can't predict how rookies will play, or how inexperienced players will play so this is tough. If they play like they've played forever CMU no doubt can pull an upset in front of a fired up crowd. However, I will go off past experience and knowledge of football and say they have a tough time due to the lack of pressure situations. Final Score: BC 38 CMU 17

Thanks to Tony and be sure to check out his blog.

Another ATL QB? Another BC blogger and other links

With Simms going off to Louisville, BC is looking elsewhere for another QB and it looks like one of the places they are scouting is Metro-Atlanta. Local product Lee Chapple is getting interest from BC. Like Applegate, he is a late bloomer playing for a power program (GAC annually sends kids to DIA schools and has the state's top RB). He may not be as well-known as Simms, but I think he would be a solid signing.

There is another new BC blogger out there. TWood, who is well known to many message boards readers, started a BC Basketball blog earlier this summer. Welcome to the club, T. As always I wish him the best of luck and while BC basketball is not as emotionally draining as BC football, there will be times where TWood's new family will need our prayers for his sanity.

Jeff Smith cracked the two deep and got a little pub from his local paper.

Here is an update on CMU.

The USA Today published its ACC Overview.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer named recent recruit Nick Schepis the 3rd best player in their area.

Brian St. Pierre fights for a roster spot in Baltimore.

Questions about Depth

Here is the Depth Chart for Central Michigan.

It is BC and TOB, so there is clearly nothing shocking here. (We just don’t do shocking.)

However the release does raise some questions.

1. How often will Brandon Robinson be on the field? The star recruit of his class, BRob redshirted his first year and then barely saw the field last year. When he did play, he showed a spark that fans hoped for. Many thought he would be a starter by now. I still have faith. As the third option last year, Gonzo caught 28 passes and scored 5 TDs. I think BRob can at least match those numbers.

2. Who is the emergency QB? I think it has to be Billy Flutie. I know the staff wants to redshirt Ross Applegate. What happens if Ryan or Crane go down? Do they go with the best player? Do they waste Ross’ redshirt? Are the walk-ons even in the mix? TOB will never address these questions since it is speculation at this point. Hopefully Ryan stays healthy all year and it never becomes an issue.

3. Is Ty Hall the backup at more than one position? Hall is dinged up and it cost him a starting role at guard. He’s had time at both Tackles and even got a shot at Center. He is only listed as the backup Right Guard, but I bet he will be considered in other spots if needed.

4. Where is Pat Sheil? Another prized recruit who is missing from the list. He is still a Redshirt Freshman, so there is time for him. But given how fast past OLine prodigies were worked into the depth chart, I thought he’d be on the two deep by now.

5. When will the decision between Anderson and Bowman be made? Anderson looked great in limited time last year. It is encouraging that Bowman is playing well enough to challenge him. Since one of them will be replacing a three year starter, I think the guy needs to be named and given the time to prepare mentally for next week.

Season prediction Part III: what will happen

This is part III of my possible predictions. This will serve as my official prediction. The others were the extreme. This is what I think will actually happen. Last season, I came pretty close with this forecast. I am not as confident in my the predictions below. I really think this could be a fantastic season. The type many of us have been waiting for. Yet common sense and TOB lowering expectations forced me to add one more loss than my gut wanted. As much as I like being right, I would welcome this team out performing my expectations below.

What will happen

At Central Michigan. Win. BC is listless for most of the first half. However, they get their act together and kick ass in the second half.

Clemson. Win. This is the game I went back and forth on. I really think Clemson is overrated and we face them at the right time. However, the constant “this is Clemson’s year” talk left me questioning my instinct. So I went with history. Let me explain. After TOB, the second most predictable coach in the ACC is Tommy Bowden. Like clockwork, his teams stumble early only to save his job late in the season. I think we win this game and provide the Bowden haters with more ammo for the new year.

BYU. Win. Alumni is not College football's toughest venue, but I like our chances against a BYU team crossing the country.

At NC State. Win. NC State has talent. I think they lack good coaching.

Maine. Win. Not even interesting.

Virginia Tech. Loss. The longest win streak of TOB’s career is six games. Closing last season with three wins would mean BC would enter this game with an eight-win streak. Do you honestly think it will last past this game?

At Florida State. Win. Revenge from last year. Bouncing back after the Tech loss will be a real sign of this team’s heart.

Buffalo. Win. I hope people are starting to realize how light this schedule is.

At Wake Forest. Loss. Losing this game would be crushing. It would kill any good will TOB would have built up with the hot start and the FSU win. But until O’Brien proves that he can consistently avoid a WTF game, I need to pencil at least one in. As everyone knows, Wake has given us fits. Why should I expect anything different this season?

Duke. Win. A team that might be worse than Buffalo.

Maryland. Loss. I believe this is our year to knock off a few of the big boys. As sure as I am of that, I am unsure how we will do against our peer programs. TOB has historically split against his peers. I think we trip up over Maryland this year.

At Miami. Win. I think this is the end of the Coker era. I also think this will be a huge game for Matt Ryan.

9-3 after the regular season. I don’t think that will be good enough for the ACC Championship game. So I see us going to Orlando for the Champs Bowl against Nebraska. We crush them and TOB gets his first 10 win season in 10 years.

Season prediction Part II: worst-case scenario

This is part II of my possible predictions. I don't think the wheels will come off this season, but if things go bad it could play out like this.

Worst case scenario

At Central Michigan. Loss. The team comes out flat and never gets into the game. MAC teams continue their early season upsets (a la Ohio beating Pitt last season).

Clemson. Loss. Clemson is rolling and we are completely lost.

BYU. Win. BC finally bounces back and gives hope for the remainder of the season.

At NC State. Win. Even in a bad season, I think we will beat NC State.

Maine. Win. Three in a row raise spirits, even if one of the wins comes against Maine.

Virginia Tech. Loss. The mini-streak comes crashing back down to earth. Hokies romp.

At Florida State. Loss. BC shows more spirit than they did against Va Tech. Still loses.

Buffalo. Win. Buffalo is terrible. We don't lose this game under any circumstance.

At Wake Forest. Win. With the CMU game filling our WTF quota, BC actually plays well and gets the win in Winston-Salem.

Duke. Win. Duke might not beat a DI-A team this season.

Maryland. Loss. Both teams need this game. Maryland pulls it out.

At Miami. Loss. Miami is back and ESPN regrets putting BC on primetime. No Flutie memories. Just relief that the regular season is over.

6-6. This might still get us into a bowl. Probably Boise again. Even in a terrible season, I think TOB could do enough to beat a WAC team in a Idaho. The final tally: 7-6. Bowl streak intact but the fanbase clearly unhappy.

It shows you how easy our schedule is that even in a terrible season, we still get to .500 and make a bowl.

Check in tomorrow for my actual predictions.

Southern commit and other news

The basketball recruiting class is really taking shape. The newest addition is Joshua Southern. His cousin and BC staff member Preston Murphy helped close the deal.

Here is an article on football commit Dan Mulrooney.

The New York Times profiled Buffalo's pay for play out of conference schedule. BC will pony up $320,000 for them to come to the Heights. (Thanks to Mark for sharing the link.)

ACC Blogger David Glenn has a recap of the recent recruits who didn't make it to campus. After a few years of academic washouts, we managed to avoid it this year.

Another Kiwi update. It looks like he is really turning heads.

Blogpoll Roundtable

The Blogpoll roundtables are back. This time Notre Dame blogger The House that Rock Built is asking questions about our preseason ballots. My answers are below. Check out his blog for links to what other bloggers had to say.

1. What's the biggest ripoff in this preseason poll? Either pick a team that's offensively over or underrated, or you can rag on a particular voter's bad pick (hey, we're all adults here, we can handle it).

Oklahoma. Unlike the Coaches, most blogpollers had time to adjust their ranking due to the Bomar mess. Yet, at 16, they are higher than I think they should be. I think they will struggle and probably are about five spots overranked.

2. What should a preseason poll measure? Specifically, should it be a predictor of end-of-season standing (meaning that a team's schedule should be taken into account when determining a ranking), or should it merely be a barometer of talent/hype/expectations?

I always look at it as a predictor of how the season will end. I think Notre Dame will win it all, hence their No. 1 ranking in my poll. I don’t think BC has the best talent and clearly doesn’t have the expectations, but I think that with our schedule we will finish in the Top 20. I learned right away that this poll stuff is clearly inexact.

3. What is your biggest stretch in your preseason ballot? That is to say, which team has the best chance of making you look like an idiot for overrating them?

Florida. I have them in the Top 5. Although the blogpollers placed them pretty high, there are many Gator fans who are worried about Urban Year 2. They clearly have question marks, and the Meyer-Leak combo didn’t look like a Top 5 team last year. If they lose to UGA, Tennessee, Florida State and South Carolina, I’ll be cleaning egg off my face and trying to get Orson and Stranko off the ledge.

4. What do you see as the biggest flaw in the polling system (both wire service and blogpolling)? Is polling an integral part of the great game of college football, or is it an outdated system that needs to be replaced? If you say the latter, enlighten us with your new plan.

The biggest flaw with any poll is that the voters cannot see all the games. It was a lesson I learned last season. I think Brian accounts for this bias with his poll better than the traditional polls, but the system is still flawed and outdated. My solution is not original: a 16-team playoff, Conference winners and a few at-large selected by a committee.

5. You're Scott Bakula, and you have the opportunity to "Quantum Leap" back in time and change any single moment in your team's history. It can be a play on the field, a hiring decision, or your school's founders deciding to build the campus in Northern Indiana, of all godforsaken places. What do you do?

I would go back to the 2004 Temple game and take Paul Peterson out before he broke his hand. I don’t know if he would have been enough to prevent the Syracuse debacle the next week, but I like to think he would have made a difference…

Rehashing the Syracuse game. Ugh. Thanks for ruining my day, House That Rock Built.

Season prediction Part I: best-case scenario

Last season I made three sets of predictions. One best-case, one worst-case and then one final, lock-solid, what will happen (which proved pretty accurate). With the season a little over a week away, I’ll reuse the gimmick again. The best-case scenario is a little tough since my real prediction is going to be pretty positive. If everything goes well the season could play out like this.

Best case scenario

At Central Michigan. Win. Despite some injuries and a flat summer, the team comes out strong in its opener.

Clemson. Win. Another classic between two evenly matched teams. Matt Ryan shows that he is the real deal and puts away fear of a second year starter slump.

BYU. Win. BC still proves too physical for the Cougars and controls the game throughout.

At NC State. Win. NC State cannot stop the most potent offense of the TOB era. BC runs at will behind Beekman and Cherilus.

Maine. Win. No giant killer moment for Maine this year. Crane gets his first extended time of the season and everyone goes home happy.

Virginia Tech. Win The Heights are electric as BC hosts a Thursday night game in a battle of Top 20 teams. BC wins and propels themselves to the Top 10 in both polls. Classes are lightly attended Friday.

At Florida State. Loss. Another close game, but like the year before, BC can’t hold on to beat the ‘Noles.

Buffalo. Win A nice bounce back game after the Florida State loss.

At Wake Forest. Loss Come on. Even in a dream season we lose this game.

Duke. Win. Duke is in for a long year. We don’t make things better for them.

Maryland. Win. A really tough game, but BC hangs on.

At Miami. Win. At this point BC is cruising and Miami is struggling in possibly Coker’s last season.

The two conference losses keep us out of the ACC Championship Game. However, our high ranking and appealing TV draw place us in the Chick-Fil-A/Peach Bowl against Georgia. TOB keeps his bowl win streak alive by beating the dogs and BC caps a really impressive year with an 11-2 record.

Check in tomorrow for the worst case scenario.

Andy Katz email exchange

Like most fan bases, BC followers often feel slighted by the national media. Even before we joined the ACC, it often felt like ESPN’s basketball coverage was based on Duke, North Carolina and then everyone else. The lone exception in Bristol has been Andy Katz. A Massachusetts native, Katz has often given BC more time than his peers. His news and analysis on the Eagles is usually more insightful than stuff available in the Globe or Herald. In addition to giving time to BC basketball, Andy is also willing to give time to a BC blogger. In this email interview, we talk about his connection to the school and his expectations for this year’s team.

ATL_eagle: BC basketball fans often feel overlooked by the national media, so your reporting and insight into the program is always appreciated. How have you built your relationship with Al Skinner and his staff?

Andy Katz: Essentially by being myself. I get along very well with people. Al is one of those people that doesn’t always let a lot of folks into his inner circle. But once you sit down and just talk to him you find that he has an engaging and infectious personality. It’s no secret that my father is a professor at Boston College Law School. He has been there for 38 years. So I grew up around the program. That helps with my familiarity with the place.

ATL_eagle: We know you have Boston roots and a BC connection (your father). Were you a fan growing up?

Andy Katz: I was a fan. I went to BC basketball camp for years through the Tom Davis and early Gary Williams years. I used to go to Roberts Center and the Complex all the time. I remember shagging rebounds at times for Jay Murphy and Martin Clark.

ATL_eagle: Skinner's assistants finally got the credit and opportunities they deserved. Are you surprised programs haven't expressed interest in Al? Is his style and demeanor the real reason he is overlooked by fans and the national media or is it something else?

Andy Katz: If Al wanted to I was certain he could have pursued Virginia. But Al is a man who is comfortable with his surroundings. He’s an East Coast guy, more so a southern New England/New York person. I’ve always thought he would be the perfect NBA coach if he ever wants to go that route.

ATL_eagle: While fans liked the new hires, many are concerned about the major turnover in assistants. Are we putting too much emphasis on the role Coen and Cooley played in BC's recent success?

Andy Katz: Probably. Be patient with Pat Duquette. He knows basketball. He has tremendous relationship skills. He’ll get it done. I wouldn’t fret.

ATL_eagle: After a decade of going after "diamond in the rough" types, it looks like the 2007 recruiting class will be filled with well-known, heavily-recruited players. Do you attribute the shift to the change in staff, the need for a higher level of talent in the ACC or is it just that BC's recent success is gaining traction with the blue chippers?

Andy Katz: It’s more of a case of the ACC and the recent success. But BC will still look for the hidden gems when it can get them.

ATL_eagle: I’m expecting a big year from Jared Dudley and think he'll thrive now that he doesn’t have to defer to anyone. Am I overestimating his ability or the role that Craig Smith played in Jared’s success?

Andy Katz: No, Dudley is the type of player who can score regardless of who is next to him. It might be tougher without Smith, but Dudley finds a way to get to the basket. I’m not sure there is a better player using the angles around the basket.

ATL_eagle: Do you think Sean Williams can develop into a 30 minute a game player and contribute something on the offensive side of the court?

Andy Katz: Not sure. He is working on his offensive game. But he has to improve on his low-post moves. If he does then the Eagles have a real shot to get deep into March.

ATL_eagle: I know you have BC in your top 20? Do you think this team has enough talent to win the ACC or potentially make the Final Four?

Andy Katz: The Eagles won’t beat out North Carolina but I see no reason why they can’t fight for second with Duke, Georgia Tech and Maryland.