Wednesday, April 01, 2015

Whose collective wisdom on Addazio is right?

The CBS College Football Staff rated and ranked all Power Five (plus Notre Dame and BYU) coaches. The haven't released the full list yet, but Addazio did show up on the first rollout. CBSers ranked him 47th. This is what they wrote:
47. Steve Addazio, Boston College: You have to admire Addazio's "dude" qualities, but Eagles fans would like to see an improvement on his 14-12 start in Chestnut Hill.


CBS left their criteria wide-open, so their rankings are subjective among their writers. Who knows why they put Addazio where they did? We don't know which writers ranked him high or ignored him altogether. What we do know is that all their voters are deep into college football coverage, and as a group they don't think much of Addazio. In fact, whoever wrote the summary inferred that most BC fans are frustrated. I would say it is the opposite. I think Addazio has exceeded fan expectations in both seasons.

But is our bias as BC fans any more irresponsible than CBS's? Most BC fans think the Dude is great and will take us higher. But we could be wrong? Maybe Addazio is just a 7-5 coach and those other Power 5 guys are better.

In Addazio's case, I think BC fans are correct. Even the most plugged-in CBS expert isn't watching every BC game. The media also doesn't realize the extent of Addazio's rebuild.

These rankings ultimately don't mean much. However, it does give us a little idea of what the outside world thinks of BC's coach. Hopefully our insight and expectations are right and theirs are wrong.

25 comments:

BCDoubleEagle said...

Addazio took a 2-10 team and turned them into a winner overnight. He deserves serious kudos for that. This panel of "experts" clearly did nothing more than to look at his overall record and rank him accordingly. What a joke.

SaturdaysOnShea said...

Daz has said from the get go that this was about a five year rebuilding process. He has said multiple times in the last year that 2017 will be the year that BC really arrives and is where he wants them to be. Most of us have predicted sub-.500 seasons the last two years and he has exceeded those expectation. This year will be interesting to tell as I think there will finally be an upgrade of talent and it will be most players' third year under Daz.

BCMike said...

The only time where Daz has let me down were the two bowl games--but just being there was a surprise (at least the first season).

Dan said...

Most people outside the BC people don't realize what a fiery trainwreck Daz inherited.

I think this program is clearly on a positive trajectory but is probably staring at another 7-5 given the strength of schedule and breaking in a new QB. You never want to look too far out but 2016 and 2017 are setting up to be pretty sick.

mod34b said...

To quote Bill Parcells: "you are what your record says you are"

Daz is a .500 ish head coach.

Not impressive. Not depressing.

Middle-schmiddle

Mediocre.

Yes. He improved over the last gasps of the "Spaz Error". But, honestly, any competent coach would have significantly improved over Spaz's 2-10

#46 sounds about right.

Hario said...

I think Daz has done a solid job so far in spite of his record.

I guess it depends on what you think the talent was already on the team that he had to work with - if your mod and think we already had 7-9 win talent than hes probably hasnt done much. If you think the 2 win team really was barren than maybe hes done.

I think we will really get to evaluate him one way or another when his first class of recruits are Juniors -- is he getting the right talent and is he developing them. If he is still a 6-6/7-5 coach in years 3 and 4 i would stop holding out for much more of an improvement after then.

TheMcHugh said...

In two seasons he's done a great job of putting some patchwork pieces in place to get the team back to respectability. That's an A so far since the program was in a shambles.

The next step is to develop and keep developing the talent. I think he's got a real chance at that but they have some ways to go. That old saying, sometimes it's not the Xs and the Os...

NEDofSavinHill said...

Coughlin in his first year at BC won four games then eight games in his second. He averaged six wins per year. Was he a mediocre coach? TOB left BC at the 10 win level. His teams won eight straight bowl games. They were 6-0 against the Fighting Irish. He only won eight games his first two years. Daz has exceeded TC and TOB. Not bad. 2.CBS mainly covers the vastly overrated SEC. Their reporters only see a limited number of games. Whether they know their subject matter is debatable. The opinions of the Sports press are largely a reflection of where their commercial interests lie. ESPN and CBS have a huge financial stake in certain conferences that is why you get the hype and the propaganda. Take everything they say with a grain of salt. Al Jazera owned by Qatar and Fox half owned by the Saudis don't provide unbiased reporting on the Middle East. They have an agenda. So too ESPN and CBS. HAPPY EASTER.

JBQ said...

Close games were really a concern. There were big problems with both coordinators. We shall see what the new o.c. will do. I don't think much of the d.c. Addazio has the world in his hand. He needs to have personnel who can do the job. His enthusiasm is contagious. I wonder about the quality of his personnel picks.

BC Eagle in Baltimore said...

Coach Addazio has completely changed the culture and chemistry of BC football for the better. He is an extremely effective communicator, motivator and recruiter. His players are excited to work hard for him. He has assembled an incredible group of dedicated assistant coaches who believe in him and the players. Coach Addazzio has created a family environment in the locker room and on the field. After spring work outs, the atmosphere in the Yawkey Center is motivated and excited for the upcoming season.

Hoib said...

I think he has overachieved considerably so far and will continue to do so. Who cares what CBS says.

CT said...

I don't understand how anyone would say Addazio is mediocre when everything needs to be taken in context. The cupboard was pretty bare when he got here and two bowls later the rebuild is on. Surveys like these are dumb. Some coaches have the train humming along the tracks, having built a recruiting network and relationships with high school coaches. Some are trying to get the train started, always the hardest part. Not any coach can resurrect a program's attitude, its philosophical approach as well as its talent acquisition.

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

cupboard bare?

Rettig
Williams
Amidon
4 returning OL plus a transfer Daz engineered
3 players headed for NFL on D?

not bare.

Daz did a decent job recognizing talent on his new squad

it is a game of results and once Daz can get consistently to 8-9 wins i will see him as an above average coach.

yes he did change the mood and atti-DUDE of the team. That was a must Glad he did that.

Daz, show me the double-ues.

twballgame9 said...

By saying that TOB "left the team at a 10-win level" is that your way around the fact that he never won 10 games?

Joseph said...

"To quote Bill Parcells: "you are what your record says you are""

Is that after one game, ten games 100 games or 500 games? It might make a difference.

Joseph said...

"Rettig
Williams
Amidon
4 returning OL plus a transfer Daz engineered "

So 7 or so mentions here, out of about 30 who are in each game. Bad math.

mod34b said...

oh no! he's back

eagleboston said...

Mod, I love you, but you are wrong on this issue. Spaz completely decimated and destroyed the program. He inherited am ACCCG team and dropped them to 2 wins in just 4 seasons. He was lazy with recruiting and did not bring in classes with depth at all positions (True he had Williams, Amidon and Rettig, but he did not bring in talent in the trenches, especially on defense).

What did Daz do? He came in Year 1 and got BC to a bowl. Despite the graduation of Williams, Rettig and Amidon, he got them to a bowl in Year 2. Impressive! This guy can flat-out coach and, more importantly, he exudes enthusiasm and a drive to succeed. So refreshing after the Spaz days which I believe were even darker than the Henning era.

The question now is can he get us to the TOB-Jags level? Can he consistently beat Notre Dame and get us to 8-9 wins? Only time will tell, but I think he is on the right path.

mod34b said...

check out a depth chart from 2013

quite a bit of talent there maybe 5-6 guys who made to nfl or got series looks

2013 depth chart

CT said...

Mod, you might want to demonstrate some reason before going all-in to stick to a point.

Rettig? Amidon? Really? Wow. Only a beaten down BC guy would argue that this proves a point.

But, hey, you've got your narrative like NedfromWhoCares and neither make much sense to me.

At least you might watch football every now and then. I know he doesn't.


Napolean Bonaparte said...

He's a solid coach and a great fit for BC. His attitude and work ethic are superior. He's an articulate and classy representative of the university. He knows its all about winning in the end. But he still has perspective and values and cares about the young men he coaches and has clear behavioral expectations on how they carry themselves within the university community. Obviously, we can't get too carried away as its too early. But he is clearly doing a fine job thus far. We have every reason to be happy and cautiously optimistic for the future. Bottom line - if you had a son playing football at this level - you'd be happy to have him play under this man. What more can you ask for at this stage?

xx said...

Players will continue to be injured and team will suffer because pasta, pizza and soda are not where bodily health, resilience, performance and recovery are found.

Daze's cultural blind spot and ignorance on training table literature and discipline mean a recurring cycle of 'if onlys' and 'should've beens'.

Look to Jerry Rice's regimen and diet as benchmarks for lasting, injury free, high performance regardless of position or body configuration. If a coach is not cutting edge at this most elemental level of preparation he can little expect to project lasting results in the totality of a program, nor can he be the best iteration of himself in the leading of it. At the top level of athletic competition it is these considerations that carry players and teams to the winning edge.

BC exhibits a history of treating great coaches poorly and poor coaches greatly. Present coaching mediocrity is an order of magnitude less desirable since it is the most expensive in school history.

Let's short this circuit. Time for a new hire and instituting performance based compensation.

xx said...

Wait...At 3 and 7 this is not mediocrity at all. It is below average.

xx said...

Let not the invariable year after year wishful thinking, because an extended contract has been signed, deter BC from the correct move. Addazio must be chalked up to experience and excised at once. Anemic offense is not just a personnel issue. This season has become unsatisfactory and must be written off to clear the air for the next hire, who should be equipped with a deliberate, measured attitude and delivered hungry on a performance based compensation model.

Remember what sentiment and pollyanna optimism brought following the initial failure of the Chlebek era, more and wider failure sinking to sub-mediocrity. Mediocrity must be torn out at the roots to prepare the soil for a rebirth of abundance.

Unless BC is willing to push in all the chips and truly recruit on a national basis, or to court a Myer or Saban as an overt act of Catholicism [a strategy that merits serious reflection in this time of Islamic resurgence], it may be time to decide whether the try is run and football as an aspiration should recede to a regional consideration for a once ambitious Heights.

Meanwhile, Addazio may go in peace to contemplate enlightenment, deeper faith and discipline and perhaps the comforts of familiar foods, family and agita. Every star has its arc, there is no shame in that Bambina.

Ever to Excel.



Mangia! or,

Here's what you get when you eat too much.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obNptfZ71OY