Takeout pace and how does the D look?

As I wrote, giving up 42 to Louisville was bad. You will not win many games when that happens. Now some -- including some coaches -- might say that when you score 45 and score many of those points quickly, you are bound to give up more points. Even before this scoring outburst, BC was playing faster i.e. uptempo. And there was the belief that the new pace would impact the D. The faster pace was part of the reason for resting players.

But just because BC is playing at a faster pace, doesn't mean that we can't make fair comparisons between different BC defenses. Instead of total D and points allowed -- which are impacted by pace, we can look at yards per play allowed. In this measure, it is about how good you are down to down. Here are the stats of BC's yards allowed per play under Addazio:

-- 2017 yards per play allowed: 74th -- 5.7 per play
-- 2016 yards per play allowed: 26th -- 5.0 per play
-- 2015 yards per play allowed: 5th -- 4.3 per play
-- 2014 yards per play allowed: 33rd -- 5.0 per play
-- 2013 yards per play allowed: 86th -- 5.8 per play

As you can see, the team was most stingy in 2015, when it was near the top of all defensive statistics. Now, I know that you could still claim that pace impacts yards allowed per play. If D has to face more plays, they might still wear down and allow more big plays that skew the numbers. But I think what this does speak to is that the current D is not as good as last year and clearly not even in the same ballpark as the 2015 D.

The remainder of the schedule is not filled with offensive juggernauts, so the stats do have a chance to improve. But by the time we shoot down this argument, we will just be hit with more excuses about injuries.

What the coaches have to say

Addazio and his coordinators met with the media Thursday to discuss the start of practice and the season ahead. While most of it was standard stuff, you can glean a bit of information on the season ahead. 

I think it is clear that Addazio has confidence in the team and views them as talented. As he rattles off thoughts on each position group, he continues to mention the upgrade in speed and depth. The only area where he doesn't seem 100% confident is Quarterback. He certainly thinks there is talent among the QBs. He also wisely mentions his philosophy of recruiting lots of QBs and hoping one breaks out. But when it comes to one QB to lead this team now, I don't see the same level of confidence. Maybe he will have it by Game 1...or maybe I am reading too much into this all. 

Here is a good article on the relationship between Landry and Pasqualoni. I do think Coach P was one of Addazio's best hires. He serves as a confidant and can turn raw prospects into elite Power 5 Dlinemen.

Getting to know Ethan Tucky

Expectations are pretty high for Ethan Tucky. The new LB was a key part of the recruiting class and then when Jim Reid came onboard, he raved about him and explained how badly he wanted Tucky at Iowa. If you're looking for signs that he will contribute early, take this interview as an example. BC would probably not have him sit down for the Q&A if they didn't think he was going to play this season. 

The interview doesn't contain anything groundbreaking or dramatic, but does give some insight into Tucky's personality. It seems like he has a good head on his shoulders and a good model for getting better. Beyond the physical, Tucky also explains the learning curve of college football and the staff's preparation. 

There's plenty of comparisons to Milano and Kuechly. That's a high ceiling, but if he really is in that league, BC can have a dominant defense for years to come. 

More looking back at Reid's 1994 Defense

Here is another video of 1994 game footage. This time it was the season opener vs Michigan. BC allowed 36 points, so it wasn't Reid's best effort that year. However, there is still a lot to learn. You can see that the front seven looks and formations are very similar to Brown's. Like Brown we also did a lot of twisting and stunting. 

Despite the score, the defense still made plays. This was a talented Michigan offense and the game swung on some big performances from future NFL guys like Toomer or Biakabutuka, not from bad schemes.  

Getting to know Reid and other links

BC continued their series on the new football staffers with an article on Jim Reid. He seems energized to be back at BC.

Future Eagle Kobay White decided to play basketball in his final high school season and his team had a great year.

Some Celtics bloggers think Jared Dudley could and should return to Boston as a free agent this offseason.

Hoops at MSG and other links

BC Basketball announced a game with Auburn next year. The game -- part of a doubleheader at Madison Square Garden -- is sponsored by Under Armour. Both schools are with UA. Aside from keeping Under Armour happy, the game is smart scheduling. Auburn is rebuilding too and we get to play them on a neutral court. Hopefully BC fans in New York will turn out for the game.

Both of our coordinator changes (offensive | defensive) are under the spotlight.

The Colts seem interested in Justin Simmons.

ICYMI: Watch Addazio and Staff at the Gridiron Club

The night before Spring Practice began, Addazio help a Gridiron Club meeting and BC streamed and recorded it. If you have an hour and a half, try to watch it. While there is nothing earth shattering nor any real hard news, it provides a glimpse into two things: the staff dynamic and Addazio's outlook.

After a year like last season, staff changes were needed. Hiring off of a losing season can be tough because assistants with options can be reluctant to join a losing effort. Yet all the guys who came onboard have good track records and seem genuinely happy to be at BC. If anything they seem to have an energy and a confidence that the holdovers might be lacking. I really liked what I saw from Reid and Pasqualoni. I think they will handle the teaching and the Xs and Os well. They won't screw up what Brown built. Hearing the staff talk about the recruits also gives me some confidence. They didn't put up the hard sell on how great each player is, but you can see the rationale in each prospect. Is it the best class in BC history? Unlikely, but it doesn't need to be. We just need most to click and exceed their ratings.

As for Addazio...when this ends he probably has a future in TV. The guy can talk and you see how he recruits. He's got the right outlook and doesn't point fingers publicly like some of our past coaches did. We know he is a bit thin-skinned, but in this setting he said the right things about fans, criticism, and how he will handle himself (I took that to mean the tirades on the sidelines).

It will take more than one booster event to prove things are on track, but that was an effective meeting. I hope Addazio can turn that passion into wins this year.

First Day of Spring Practices

BC Football began Spring Practices Thursday. It is the team's first chance to improve off of last season's disaster and also the first chance for the new QB and new coordinators to work with the team. ESPN posted the three big issues of Spring Practice, but it is even simpler than they suggest.

BC needs just one QB to step up. ESPN and Loefffler say that the team needs to find the top two or three QBs. That will be too many. BC needs one clear cut guy who has command for the offense, respect from the team and the ability to win games. I want to be optimistic about the season, but if all the guys are bunched together, than I am going to think all are mediocre. We've seen what Smith, Fadule and Flutie can do. The staff has good film on Towles. And although he got hurt, Addazio has a good feel for Wade. I can buy one making a huge development step forward. I can't buy all five (plus Brown). If all five are even, then none are good and BC's offense is in trouble.

Improve the OLine. Who cares if a QB steps up or if the running backs are healthy if they are running for their lives? The OLine issue last year was about development and talent. The best talent was young and undersized. Now they are all a season older and physically better. They need to use these next two weeks to find positions and work as a unit. They are not under the same time pressure that the QBs are, but progress is important.

While ESPN focused on the D and new staffers, I am not worried there. Reid took over Defenses before -- including BC's. The rest of the guys all have history with Addazio or BC, so it shouldn't be a problem. If anything the overall staff should be more effective.

Spring Ball is usually overblown. This year is different. BC needs to make real progress or else it could be another long year.

Looking back at Jim Reid's 1994 Defense

My memories of Jim Reid's one season at BC are fond. He may have inherited a talented roster, but he helped maximize their potential. I don't know what he's going to keep from Don Brown's scheme or what he will implement on his own, but this look back at a defensive battle against Virginia Tech is interesting. Some things of note:

-- BC is playing a lot of zone coverage, so that is different from Brown's preferred man and Cover 1 schemes.
-- At the time, Virginia Tech was a run-heavy team with some option plays, so BC crowds the box throughout and the LBs are very aggressive on run stopping.
-- Like Brown, he has his down linemen mix things up with stunts.
-- He doesn't need to blitz too often (but that is also because VT was so vanilla).

Some non-Reid things to notice:

-- This was the first game in Alumni after the renovation/expansion.
-- Dave Sims and Doc Walker are on the call and sound the same as they do today.
-- Old friend Gary Tranquill was calling plays for the Hokies.

All quiet on the staffing front

Still no news on BC's open staff vacancies. With the recruiting quiet period nearing an end, I think Addazio will want to fill the openings soon. Yet all we have now remains speculation and gossip.

Hoffses reported that Reid was still representing Iowa to recruits as late as Saturday. That makes sense and probably explains any current delay. BC and Reid are probably being sensitive to recruits and Iowa's potential staff needs. No need to upset anything until the deal is closed in Boston and Ferentz has time to plan. Even Football Scoop -- which trades in gossip and speculation -- is remaining quiet. I don't think they are being cautious out of fear of being wrong (it hasn't stopped them in the past). I think they are being cautious to protect sources.

The only curve ball is the added speculation that Reid might not be the only Iowa guy coming to BC. As I tweeted Monday, Iowa DB coach and recruiting coordinator Seth Wallace followed some BC people on Twitter Monday morning (including me). It looks like he unfollowed some of the others. Based on that I reached out to BC folks and got non-answers (no confirmation or denials). If BC is hiring away Iowa's recruiting coordinator a week before recruiting goes full tilt, then I can see Addazio being very respectful of Ferentz's needs. It is professional courtesy.

In the end, I think Reid remains likely and Wallace remains a long shot. And we haven't even gotten into any changes that might come on the offensive side of the ball. It should be an interesting week.

Report: Daz closing in on Jim Reid

According to Blauds and some Iowa folks, Addazio is closing in on Jim Reid as Defensive Coordinator. If this comes together, I am okay with it. At 65, Reid is a little older than you would want, but his track record is very good. This would be Reid's second stint as DC at BC. In his one season at the Heights, he guided the awesome 1994 Defense to 7th overall ranking. Offenses, personnel and approaches are very different, but I can say as an eye-witness, that defense was very, very aggressive.

In more relevant times, Reid was Defensive Coordinator at Virginia from 2010 to 2012. During that time he helped turn the Cavaliers into one of the better Ds in the ACC. Their ACC Rankings each year:

2010 -- 10th in the ACC
2011 -- 4th in the ACC
2012 -- 5th in the ACC

Reid has numerous ties to New England and Massachusetts. Like Brown, it appears like Addazio's old mentor Paul Pasqualoni served as the match-maker (Reid was on Pasqualoni's final Syracuse staff). I don't know what he would be like as a recruiter, but Reid can clearly take the talent we have and keep it as a functional, effective unit.