2007 Boston College Season Preview -- "THE BIG EASY!" Jul 28, 2007 | 10:28AM - This I my 2nd BC Season preview on this BLOG.
I accept full responsibility for this 10 year TOBlunders0-10 -- Tom O'Brien --blight on BC, but reading the magazines and watching ESPN lather praise on the "disciplinarian", I guess I and many others, well, we never drank that polluted media kool-aid and just concentrated on the performance track record, in game coaching, play calling and the pitiful 8-21, or 28% pathetic record versus Top 25 Teams. Our Marine Supply Officer was mainly a patsie killer.
In 2004, my preview title was “No Excuses”, and of course our former resident clown TOblunders0-10 gave us 3 more WTF’s, as he also did in 2003, with Wake Forest -3, Pittsburgh -10, and of course Syracuse -12, and cost us a BCS Bunny getting torched by 27, at home on Senior Day.
In 2005, my preview was ““Just get Nasty”, and the clown gave us the full metal jacket of Quintina “Pick6” Porter starting over loud fan objections and even the louder players objections, and North Carolina -5, cost us a ACC Title shot and a possible BCS Bowl.
Versus UNC, our cowardly Ginger punted at mid-field with 8:35 left in the 4th, with a short 4th and 4, a red hot Ryan, and down 2 scores. The worst yellow wimp moment in BC football history. After that, it was too late for Ryan to save the patient that Nemo Bible and Blunders butchered.
In 2006, BC had a beautifully spaced schedule and the teams played BC had games before and after us that was to BC's favor.
My preview was ““Just Let it Rip”, and of course as soon as we get a small lead [---in of course the new high powered CFA passing game---], our juvenile Nemo Bible and the incompetent Blunders try and run out the clock early in the 3rd quarter, or halftime, which of course led to North Carolina State -6, [Wake Forest -4; exception], and Miami -4.5 and cost us a ACC Title shot and BCS Bowl.
Then on December 6th, the Football Gods Redeemer came to Chestnut Hill.
“The Lord delivered my people from the bitter bondage of the wicked Puscadores!” A scoop first posted nationwide by me on another site!
Say Halleluiah Eagle Nation!
In 2007, BC has a badly spaced schedule and a very rough slate.
I predicted 14-0 last year and aforementioned, BC lost 3 as a favorite and lost those 3 to freshman quarterbacks in 2006, so mea culpa for having a flicker of faith in this now gone miserable jerk loser and his staff.
2006 was yet another year BC coulda ran the table, yet no one in the media sees the horrible WTF Track Record history on the other tacked thread as TOBlunders0-10 lives life large like many incompetents and losers who daywalk this earth.
The poor die-hard football fools at NC State will learn shortly that Fowler was sold out by his "consulting and advisory" team. Poor Wolfpack Nation, unless the Blunders and Nemo change their incompetent ways? Could happen? I doubt it.
BC had 2 seasons where the dreams ended with poor, scared and pathetic head Coaching and Coordinator timidness and all our losses were as favorites. In 2004, BC has 2 as a double digit favorite.
There is no team that BC can’t beat, so berate me for seeing another 14-0 season, and why not? Please, do not act surprised or shocked when this happens!
We have one of the best QB's in America , the kid is healthy and stronger now and has grit and will finally be unleashed and maybe our defense seals up some cracks. We have a lotta smart, gritty, hungry, motivated players coming back!
This shall happen, and Boston College is going to New Orleans 01-07-08 .
I need to get to Vegas or have someone get a 200-1 bet down for me on the Eagles.
NOW 150-1 or less. I can move the lines in Vegas.
The Big Easy. I hope to be there so we can eat at all the great places.
************THE ANALYSIS*************
>>>>>>>>THE WEAKNESSES
Frank Spaziani ---not my returning choice after the NCSU Hail Mary and 4-3-4 defense he had in after a timeout---needed a summer tour to a Defensive Coaches clinic like Chizik at Iowa State and maybe one other trip, or spend some quality time with Belicheck?
I find the decision to keep Spaziani a high risk deal and even higher if BC doesn't blitz, have lots of new blitz packages, and jam receivers and have much better aggressive defensive schemes.
Frank shoulda blitzed, disrupted and shaken those 3 freshman QB's and given them some pounding hits, even if a penalty or two, to rattle their games. But nope, we just try and burn the clock and let them get settled in and get confident and come back and beat us!
Maybe Spaz will upgrade and change, one can only hope Jags and Logan will have some major input or changes.
The new learning curve capacity software is simply not a program that runs on Spaz's hard drive. You get the blue screen of death, or worse WTF losses. Being burned with 3 Hail Mary’s --previously 2 Wake Forest Games-- is still a major black mark that needs erasing.
We are gonna find out by next January. Count me amongst the absolute faithless unless I see Atkins and Dunbar or others side-by-side in Game 1 blitz and kill some QB’s, blitz like Georgia Tech does and others, 2 off the same side and all types of blitz packages and angles and our defensive backs line up within the same time zone as the opposition receivers.
Other weaknesses that I gleamed from watching and reading is:
1-- We need another nasty cornerback to step up and play tight.
2-- Our Strong Safety needs to step up and start making some pass coverage plays.
3-- Our linebackers need to be more aggressive and use our speed LB’s on our deep roster.
4-- LV and Andre are slow. Unless they lost some weight, I hope we see more of Brooks, Smith and anyone else. I say replace the 2 Seniors early and often. We need a speed threat and breakaway runner if Ryan gets the passing game going early.
5—Now that Nemo Bible sleeps with the fishes, its step up time for our TE’s and WR’s, and no drops. BC's TE's need to be the weapons they were in the past.
>>>>>>>>>>THE STRENGTHS:
1-- Matthew Ryan staying healthy and assuming leadership with Logan . This to me will be the “Bobby Orr Difference Maker” in the BC season. Full mobility and a mentor that doesn’t sit on the ball like Nemo hatching an egg, Do not forget Chris Crane is a big strong guy so BC has the trigger position covered. Major edge in case of any injury!
I see BC and Ryan starting hot and scoring first and fast and giving our defense a chance to freelance and take chances and this strategy is my key to running the table, since Spaz may be willing to blitz more with a nice ead instead of blitzing to force mistakes and get an early lead when tied or behind?
Jump on them quick and kill them early!
2-- Our defensive line. Depth, power, size, we have 4 huge guys, and some real talent. If BC ever gets pushed around and we don’t take tons of blitz chances at LB, then shame on us and see you at 8-4 or worse with this schedule.
3—Our offensive line. I read the baloney on the zone blocking and then looked at the returning starters and others. Please. Like Zone blocking or any variation is a major mystery? You see a different color and knock it on its butt. What's the big problem?
This is not Medical school.
**********THE SCHEDULE******************
BC: 7 Offensive and 9 Defensive returning starters.
The number is my personal ranking of degree of difficulty considering each teams returning starters, QB’s and returning letterman depth.
Teams 2 through 8 are so close, any team can be interchanged, so no offense intended!
Sept. 1 Wake Forest 8
Sept. 8 NC State 9
Sept. 15 at Georgia Tech 5
Sept. 22 Army 12
Sept. 29 Massachusetts 11
Oct. 6 Bowling Green 10
Oct. 13 at Notre Dame 6
Oct. 20 Open
Oct. 25 at Virginia Tech (Thursday) 1
Nov. 3 Florida State 2
Nov. 10 at Maryland 7
Nov. 17 at Clemson 4
Nov. 24 Miami 3
Those are my rankings of toughest games from 1-12. Here is my schedule by game reasoning:
Sept. 1 Wake Forest -- Next Game: Nebraska
Wake Forest : 9 Offensive and 5 Defensive returning starters. Last year WF 21- BC 14.
These guys have been over achieving for years with a great Coach. BC is bigger, stronger and when Ryan got unleashed he killed WF through the air, but BC was playing from behind. I see a BC victory 31-15. When I rank WF 8, and they owned us, you can see how I ranked the rest of the teams and how difficult this schedule will be. Sam Swank is a huge weapon if the game is close, --YIKES--, but we recruited some kid named Bennett who will be his equal one day and may surprise with a boomer!
Season: 1-0 ACC: 1-0 Division 1-0.
Sept. 8 NC State -- Previous Game: UCF -- Next Game: WTFWofford.
NCSU: 8 Offensive and 6 Defensive returning starters. Last year NCSU 17- BC 15.
Ain’t no Hail Mary gonna save this sad, ungrateful, overpaid bad mouthing TOblunders0-10. BC players send a message that the leaving comments by this clown were heard and BC has a much higher ceiling, with a real Head Coach.
Mike Archer, a defensive wizard, may keep it close, but this NCSU offense gets Nemo and stuffed. I see BC pulling away late for a 34-13 win and two WTF’s from last year are reversed.
Season: 2-0 ACC: 2-0 Division: 2-0
Sept. 15 AT Georgia Tech -- Previous Game: Samford -- Next Game: At Virginia .
GT: 7 Offensive and 8 Defensive returning starters. Last year DNP.
I thought Reggie Ball was more bad than good. This is a solid team and a solid Head Coach and one of the best defensive coordinators in America in Tenuta.
This game will be a real test for Matt Ryan versus a sophisticated, magnificent, aggressive defense and blitzing system. Maybe BC sees that after being 2-0 and GT maybe upsetting Notre Dame at ND in the opener, maybe BC can eke out a win knowing it’s the first of 5 rough road warrior events.
BC 16 GT 14
Season: 3-0 ACC: 3-0 Division 2-0.
Sept. 22 Army -- Previous Game: AT Wake Forest -- Next Game: Temple
Army: 6 Offensive and 6 Defensive returning starters. Last year DNP.
Matthew Ryan gets to the middle of the Heisman Trophy race with a 56-6 blowout win.
Season 4-0 ACC: 3-0 Division 2-0
Sept. 29 UMASS -- Previous Game: AT Maine Next Game: Villanova DNP Last Year.
Matthew Ryan goes higher in the Heisman Trophy race with a 38-17 win. I hate playing hard nosed scrappy Division 1-AA teams who have a chip on their shoulder and UMASS is a great AA program with great coaching and kids.
I wanted Texas in Austin. I saw cranes there last week adding like 20,000 seats and a practice grass field that looked like Augusta for 300+ yards and the indoor practice center. Alas, our AD turned down a great long term home and home and broke lots of BC GUY hearts!
When Texas calls, you even take a 4 road and 3 home deal!
BC's neighbor's treat us like criminals over the past 144 years and we have pumped billions into their hoods.
Time to build a retractable 75,000 seat dome on the new St. John's land and more in my future VISION post, like Jerry "Boss Hogg" Jones did for the Cowboys and say...Enjoy!
Season 5-0 ACC: 3-0 Division 2-0
Oct. 6 Bowling Green -- Previous Game: West. Kent . -- Next Game: Miami Ohio .
BG: 7 Offensive and 8 Defensive returning starters. Last year DNP.
This is the quintessential trap game versus a solid MAC team. Last year BC was one tipped pass away from a major National TV MAC Chippewa embarrassment at the hands of run out the clock at halftime loser TOBlunders0-10.
If BC looks ahead to Notre Dame, BC will be in big trouble with a team that has WR’s and can throw, but alas, the two major #### Puscaodore’s are now NCSU’s problem.
BC wins a shootout 34-24.
Season 6-0 ACC: 3-0 Division: 2-0
Oct. 13 AT Notre Dame -- Previous Game: AT UCLA -- Next Game: USC.
ND: 4 Offensive and 5 Defensive returning starters. Last year DNP.
The reason I have this as BC’s 6th toughest game is the above. ND had huge graduation losses and no Brady Quinn. ND recruited well, but its schedule is more imbalanced than BC with 8 tough games and 4 lesser “creampuffs”.
You heard it here first. If this ND doesn’t jell early, it could be 1-5 or 2-4, and that would be bad in one way, since UCLA should beat them the week before.
Me, I am hoping ND beats UCLA! GO IRISH versus the Bruins!
No way ND beats USC, so with 4 easier games after USC, and ND may actually need this BC win for a bowl game. ND will be one monster battle, since ND recruited very well in the past years and this year!
SCARY GAME -- as always!
This game is the season tipping point for greatness or whatever comes next.
The ND fans, The Irish Blind Eyes, have circled this game for years with the BC upsets and 4 straight wins. Going 5-0 will make the Irish faithful explode with anger and shame. Please wear the green uni's again.
In the old days, ND would always win games in the BC position in the many road snake pits due to talent and players.
BC is more experienced and talented and has Matthew Ryan and I like our chances to go 6-0, and Dome shuts down in anguish and humiliation after BC wins for the 5th straight time.
Jesus loves the Eagles. I will have a price on my melon, until I get a letter of dispensation from the PopeB16.
That ain’t gonna happen kids with a sharp and ready Ryan.
BC wins 33-21. Matthew Ryan is at or near the top of the Heisman race and BC is now a contender for the title, but alas, the season is just begun.
Season 7-0 ACC 3-0 Division 2-0
Oct. 25 at Virginia Tech (Thursday) Previous Game: Duke -- Next Game: At GT.
VT: 8 Offensive and 8 Defensive returning starters. Last year BC 22-3.
VT was embarrassed and humiliated by its play and sideline shenanigans last year. This will be a classic monumental rival battle and BC toughest and most important game in years in terms of what is on the line.
I say a mature BC team with Jags beats the Hokies in a close defensive battle and BC’s defense will have to stop VT. Edge Ryan over Glennon.
This may be the first of 2 since VT has Miami at home. See you in Jacksonville December 1st??? Beating one of the two coastal favorites twice in one season will be a Herculean effort.
BC is ranked higher than at any time in its history with a win.
BC 16 VT 13
Season 8-0 ACC: 4-0 DIVISION: 2-0
Nov. 3 Florida State Previous Game: Duke -- Next Game: At Virginia Tech.
FSU: 6 Offensive and 8 Defensive returning starters. Last year BC 24-19.
Two toughest games back-to-back.
If BC wants to go to Jacksonville , the road goes through beating a revamped and retooled offense in FSU. Would rather have played them in an opener before they get their act together. Matthew Ryan shows why the “ICEMAN FOR THE HEISMAN” posters all over town and in my bedroom posted over my wedding portrait!
BC is now a contender for the Florida Gator Crown.
BC 38 FSU 27
Season 9-0 ACC: 5-0 DIVISION: 3-0
Nov. 10 Maryland Previous Game: North Carolina -- Next Game: At FSU.
Terps: 8 Offensive and 6 Defensive returning starters. Last year BC 38-16.
If you wanna win National Titles you have to win lots of tough ballgames or lose one early, like Florida did last year, and hope to sneak in with politicking and lobbying. BC ain’t Florida and has to win them all. Maybe the Terps have QB issues is my hope and BC continues to run the final 6 pack gauntlet.
Beating Friedgen 3 in a row is very difficult. This is The Terps last home game for Seniors and Maryland beat some big teams last year. Maryland if their QB gets going quickly, could be in the thick of the ACC Title hunt.
Ryan the Magician pulls out another win and the Heisman is his to lose. BC is one win away from Jacksonville .
BC 30 Maryland 17
Season 10-0 ACC: 6-0 DIVISION: 4-0
Nov. 17 at Clemson Previous Game: Wake Forest -- Next Game: At South Carolina .
Tigers: 5 Offensive and 7 Defensive returning starters. Last year BC 34-33.
Same with the Tigers, I hope they have QB issues late. BC sees the dream is real and very achievable and the ceiling is what the players make it, not what some ungrateful, disloyal, disgruntled, non-conference title Head Coach says it is!
Beating Bowden and Clemson in Clemson 2X, and 3 straight years like Maryland on the road will be a huge accomplishment. This is a 5 pill blood pressure event washed down with pork BBQ!
Clemson does not want to lose to a northern team 3 straight years, 2 at home. UGH! This also is the last home game for Clemson seniors, also a contender for the ACC Title.
Badly spaced schedule unlike last year, but hey, that is what makes Champions. You would like to catch either team before the new QB settles in, but you knew the job was dangerous when you signed up!
BC 24 Clemson 16
The Heisman is now Matthew Ryan’s.
THE ICEMAN COMETH. THE ICEMAN LEAVETH WITH THE STATUE.
BC has a date in Jacksonville with the Coastal Champion, with one game to go, since all division games and tiebreakers are ours.
Season 11-0 ACC: 7-0 DIVISION: 5-0
Nov. 24 MIAMI Previous Game: At Virginia Tech
Canes: 9 Offensive and 7 Defensive returning starters. Last year Miami 17-14.
BC goes up 20-6 at halftime and Jags tells the ABC sideline babe, “Well were up aren’t we, so I am headed to Mary Ann’s ---a local BC Bar ---for a beer and watch the rest of the game doing tequila shooters with the BC babes!”
[An Inside Shot at assclown TOB for last year's arrogant comment at Miami Halftime on National TV and then BC lost!]
Your's truly has a massive coronary event, and the 5th paddle whack at 400 amps starts the loon’s ticker and then Jags says, “Just wanted to make sure my kids knew what was on the line and were paying attention!”. I then take 5 nitro’s and wash it down with a Bud.
BC holds off a furious Miami comeback and wins 37-35. Matthew Ryan wins the Heisman Trophy.
BC with its strength of schedule is ranked Number 1 just ahead of USC and LSU.
Season 12-0 ACC: 8-0 DIVISION: 5-0
Dec. 1 ACC Championship Game in Jacksonville versus Virginia Tech.
Beating VT once is a major chore. Twice with the events of the past year is like I said, a Herculean task, but Lady Luck is with the Eagles and I promised to take us to New Orleans and this season theme, which I know you are all waiting for is.........
“THE BIG EASY!”
BC defense which was maligned and suspect by this writer comes through again and stuffs the classy Hokies and BC wins 30-16.
BC ends the season undefeated and ranked Number 1 in the BCS with the 10 tough games since Bowling Green has a great year, and goes to….New Orleans .
“THE BIG EASY!” is just that.
Season 13-0 ACC: 9-0 CHAMPIONS. DIVISION: 5-0
Jan. 7 BCS Championship Game in New Orleans Sugar Bowl versus USC.
Pete Carroll’s bunch was not tested like our Eagles and if Mack Daddy Brown can out coach him, so can Jags.
In a game to BC’s tempo and passing attack, BC wins an epic Vince Young type of aerial circus against the deep and talented high school All Americans at every position and speed to burn Trojans, and BC continually blitzes Booty and he throws 2 Pick6’s and BC wins, 38-37.
The PopeB16 hands Jags the Glass football!
Yours truly, heads off to collect huge $$$$ in Vegas with his new squeeze Jessica Alba but is tragically hit by a speeding Paris Hilton and wanders off into the desert and Jessica cashes his tickets and says “BCEagle 74 who?”
GDF replaces James Gandolfini in the new HBO series, “The Boston Tenor’s!”
TOBlunders0-10 says, “Well, I recruited those guys and I knew they could do it all along!” and suddenly a deranged naked man covered with sand fires a sharpened poisoned cactus needle through a blowgun and TOblunders0-10 is killed instantly as the mysterious Sandman escapes laughing into the humid* night air.
*A Classic TOBlunders0-10 juvenile deliquent excuse why we lose in Miami!
