The most telling quotes from Connelly's BC preview

As expected Bill Connelly's extensive preview on BC was not positive. He expects a 4-8 season, explaining that the tougher schedule will make the great D/terrible O less successful this year. Connelly is not unique in predicting BC's struggle, but he does inform his preview with some fresh angles and issues. For example, how many BC previews would put such a focus on attendance?

Here are some of the most valid points or opinions:

Wins only matter so much if you’re hurting your fans’ eyeballs. Because BC still had an efficient defense, Eagles games featured a non-stop barrage of three-and-outs. At least, as long as they weren’t playing somebody good. In four games against S&P+ top-20 teams, BC got outscored, 202-24.

He's right. Fans have not really returned after Spaz. I think that is where Daz's utter failure in Year 3 will prove so important. There is an underlying skepticism to his coaching that won't go away with 7-6 seasons.

S&P+ gives the Eagles a greater than 32 percent chance in only five games this year. To reach another bowl, they’ll have to win every semi-winnable game and at least one big upset.

This is where I generally have more belief than most national guys. The schedule is tougher than last year, but it is still not that tough.

BC’s offense has been so awful that it’s almost jarring to remember the Eagles had a Heisman finalist not even four years ago. In 2013, Andre Williams powered an attack that ranked 30th in Off. S&P+; in 2014, without Williams, the combination of quarterback Tyler Murphy and freshman grinder Jon Hilliman kept the Eagles at 50th.

In 2015, BC fell straight to the bottom. Three different freshman quarterbacks struggled, Hilliman got hurt, nobody caught more than 17 passes, and the Eagles crashed.

Sensing a problem, Addazio brought in Loeffler, which makes you wonder if he understood the problem.

I think we will look back on the Day/Brown coordinator combo and realize that they both made Addazio look batter than he was. The failure of the O since Day left is mostly on Addazio for not having the right approach, the right coaches or leveraging the talent he had on the field.