This is my 3rd Season. Here is my Analysis and Prediction and I always give the season a theme.
This year it’s: “TURN THE DEFENSE LOOSE!”
Objectively, since I never mix my heart with my head, BC is not in that bad a shape and once again, there is no team BC can’t beat. None!
TEAM STRENGTHS:
1--Wide Receivers/TE:
Wow! A few years back you could not say this and these guys are bigger, stronger and faster and might give Crane that early confidence and settle in boost with some big plays. This year, can’t have any drops.
Could this be the surprise of the college football world? We have a nice corps of pass catchers and with Logan ’s offense…..Could this be the “Crane Aerial Circus on Commonwealth”?
I hope so!
2--Offensive Line:
I did not think Gosder Cherilus played very well last year no matter where he was drafted. BC has enough coming back and year 2 in the system, BC’s line will be solid.
3—Defensive Line/LB’s:
I combined all the guys. I will go out on a limb but I think BC has one of the best defensive front 7’s in America . BC has size, speed, talent and quality depth like very few powerhouses have in America .
I think from all my years of watching football, the Giants in the 90’s and last year, and the Ravens in 2002, they just shut down teams and let fair to developing offenses come together or just eke out wins with more chances, better field position, turnovers and wearing out the other teams defenses by giving them the ball with loads of 3 and out stops and again more opportunities.
With that said, it’s a double edged sword and you can read the other thread and know that unless Spaz changes his outdated core philosophy, schemes and approach and turns the defense loose with an assortment of multiple blitz packages and moves up our corners to be more aggressive, then the 8 teams rated ahead of BC will be very difficult to beat.
The NCAA Game has changed to a pass happy multiple set offensive circus. It’s time to take the leash off the “Maroon Monster Mash” and make this season something special.
The major key to this season is Frank Spaziani. Spaz can set the tone, get the crowd fired up, give our defense nation wide respect, give birth to 100 nickname contests and maybe trigger a run for the BCS Title.
Same post comments made for years. BC still has no titles. I can’t be that wrong?
How many times has your parents, boss and people told you in life –“Go with your strengths and let the rest happen?”
BC’s enormous synergistic strength is its front 7. Click. That was the leash clasp being released by 74.
TEAM CONCERNS:
1-- Crane.
A 5th Year Senior, so someone has to let Chris know that he has go no where to go and nothing to lose, so use the Logan passing offense and our core of solid receivers and TE and remember one thing…..
…this is it kid…there is no tomorrow…this is your team…..this is your time…this is your year…this is why you took all those 2nd and 3rd team snaps for 4 years…to prepare you to bring BC to Miami, just like when Tennessee won the Title the year after Peyton left!
Hopefully some phone calls and support from Logan, Flutie and Ryan will help guide Crane game by game.
BC’s defense could key a super season by giving the BC offense and Crane better field position and more chances.
2-- Running Backs.
BC has 4 incoming freshman and one sophomore. Is heralded frosh Haden a Tony Dorsett or just a good freshman who needs time? Will sophomore Mulrooney, or the other 3 freshman Reynolds, Kelly or Harris step up since a couple will probably be red-shirted? I say give Haden the ball and maybe pop McCluskey on a 3rd and long like Nebraska did for many TD’s and first downs.
3-- Defensive Backs.
Always a mystery.
BC took in 8 freshman DB’s. The games most natural aggressors and in your face best athletes and BC’s go getters are stifled and give up too much cushion in the Spaz defensive schemes. BC combination of poor pass rushing exacerbated by very few blitzing calls to make up for the lack of pressure and failure to use multiple nickel and dime packages make the key to the BC season again, a true mysterious unknown.
Again, same post I have made for years. Enjoy!
4-- Special Teams.
Big school coaches seem to flock to VT’s Summer School for Special teams. BC Special Team coaches and defensive coaches never seem to go. Ergo, you get the annual BC special teams low rankings and prior year fiascos. Great special teams can make the difference in great seasons and championship seasons.
How did BC do in the kicking game versus VT in the Championship Game? Lost 3 points on a poor snap, and then VT gets a deuce return, along with an early missed a chip shot. -6!
Instead of BC 20-14, its 16-16, and late instead of 21-20 VT and all BC needed was a FG to go squeeze Oranges, but BC got squeezed by the talented, smarter and superior coached VT defense --- early when BC’s offense was smoking hot --- and then late for the Pick 6.
That is my hope for BC’s defense this year, but VT has Beamer and his stellar special teams and defensive coaching crew. By the way, Beamer coaches the Special teams himself. Surprised?
Last year VT’s Special Teams was ranked…..guess… yup, number 1 in America . Yup 1!
Anyone get the message I have trying to convey over the years on why BC has never been to a BCS Bowl Game?
Thank God, long snapper Jack Geiser is back firing bullets and healthy, but Aponavicius is inconsistent after 30 yards and limited in range, maybe 44 and in. This FG kicker is not a concern but a real glaring weakness.
Punt returns and kick returns we should be OK and Robinson is back and we have some freshman speedsters.
THE SCHEDULE AND SEASON PREDICTION:
I assume Frank Spaziani reads this on this site or not, or someone printed him last year’s brilliance and prints this year’s and slides it under his door, or he reads it on this FOX site.
Why don't we make the other teams adjust to our defensive schemes and pressure for just once some year?
Because the game has passed Frank Spaziani by for the last 4 years, or more.
He is a great BC GUY, but he is not the man for the job anymore. In today's world change is the norm with technology and your job. If you are change aversive or a fossil, you lose.
Frank has had ample time to watch countless games where heavy defensive pressure brought by blitzes and attack schemes win games. BC takes itself out of big games with its cushy defense and laying back waiting for a mistake or interception.
As we have the history, that will work on mediocre or even some really good teams, but eventually it will be easily solved and since it hasn't changed in 10 years, it has been solved as we can see from the prior year’s losses analysis.
BC won a lot of games on offensive late game magic and the stellar play of some defensive individuals in a bad scheme.
Frank Spaziani is incapable of radical change and has trouble with in game changes no matter the headset and has a reactive mind. He never forces the teams freshman QB’s or QB to make big plays early and let’s them get settled in and burn BC.
This now pass happy NCAA game is all about heavy rush pressure on the QB. Sacks, hurries knockdowns and forcing the mistake, tempo and the play.
Frank Spaziani does great and will do great versus fair to good competition and maybe even some big games like his tenure with TOB. He is luckier now with the dynamic offense of Jags and Logan scoring more points and capable of comebacks.
I see big trouble after the first 4 games if BC’s defense isn’t changed from the first play to a more radical attack defense, even if the situation versus lesser opponents does not warrant the deal, you still need live game practice and the score starts at 0-0 so start sending in LB’s and an occasional CB blitz and the get to the QB and on the way stop the runner.
As in previous years, this will never come to pass at BC; hence BC will be passed upon and beaten like FSU, Maryland last year and other games in prior years.
I lost faith a long time ago and I my only hope is the offense is so spectacular and will score when Spaz’s defense goes into the turtle or just déjà vus us all over again. What a shame!
This defense could be the best in America with our talent and brains. All ya gotta do is turn them loose.
Here we go:
BC: 6 Offensive and 4 Defensive returning starters and no QB.
The number is my personal ranking of degree of difficulty considering each teams returning starters, QB’s and returning letterman depth.
August 30 at Kent State -- 11
September 6 Georgia Tech -- 10
September 20 UCF -- 8
September 27 Rhode Island -- 12
October 4 at North Carolina State -- 9
October 18 Virginia Tech -- 2
October 25 at North Carolina -- 3
November 1 Clemson --1
November 8 Notre Dame -- 5
November 15 at Florida State -- 4
November 22 at Wake Forest -- 6
November 29 Maryland --7
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1-- BC at Kent State --DNP --- Next Game:
Returning Starters: 8 Offense and 8 Defense and QB.
Kent State is a little better than most think since last year they lost their QB early, but they do have a nice runner and lots returning. BC overlooks this scheduled cupcake and they will light this board up like a Christmas Tree.
BC has too much on defense for this one dimensional offensive team and small defensive line.
BC 37 Kent State 13 --- 1-0 ACC: 0-0
2-- Georgia Tech at BC Previous Game: Jack'ville State -- Next Game: at VT.
Returning Starters: 5 Offense and 4 Defense and a new QB.
New Coach and new QB and tough graduation losses, but Paul Johnson played BC tough with Navy. I expect this game to be dominated by a yet to jell BC team. We have a way better engineering school and much better passing attack and defense. Sliderule this!
BC 33 Georgia Tech 13 --- 2-0 ACC: 1-0
3-- UCF at BC Previous Game: USF -- Next Game: at UTEP
Returning Starters: 5 Offense and 9 Defense and a new QB.
This team knows how to win with George O’Leary and its offense can score versus porous C-USA teams, and came very close versus Texas and beat NC State away. This game should be a barnburner but BC’s defense lives up to the pre-season predictions and crushes the Knights.
BC 30 UCF 10 --- 3-0 ACC: 1-0
4— Rhode Island at BC Previous Game: At Hofstra -- Next Game: Brown
Returning Starters: 9.
This is a very bad Division 1-AA team.
BC 55 Rams 6 --- 4-0 ACC: 1-0
5—BC at NC State Previous Game: USF -- Next Game: at FSU
Returning Starters: 6 Offense and 4 Defense and QB.
Gee, if Chuck left the cupboard bare, why all the NCSU graduation losses. This miserable bad mouthing ungrateful brat continued his banter and slights against BC well after he left and into the first ACC Season, like TOB was responsible for BC’s success. I will hate this guy until the day he dies for what he said about my alma mater after he left. This will be year 12 for O’Brien and yup, TOBlunders0-12. Enjoy!
This year game should be full of venom, trick plays and hard hits. BC has too much on defense and Crane may have settled in by now and BC has better receivers and players and of course…..Amato left the cupboard bare= joke.
BC 26 Wolfpack 19 --- 5-0 ACC: 2-0
6—VT at BC State Previous Game: Western Kentucky -- Next Game: at FSU
Returning Starters: 6 Offense and 4 Defense and QB.
BC and VT are very similar. I think BC and Jags had VT’s defense on it heels in the title game, and I never saw the play sequencing and offense look smoother, until BC stalled in the red zone. Maybe Crane by this time is the surprise efficiency leader in America and BC has an error free, turnover free offense and the Maroon Monster Mash is in full title run mode. Getting pressure and blitzing Glennon on every play will be the key to victory.
BC 26 Hokies 16 --- 6-0 ACC: 3-0
7—BC at North Carolina Previous Game: at Virginia -- Next Game: at GT
Returning Starters: 10 Offense and 8 Defense and QB.
Last year my tipping point for greatness game was Notre Dame in Game 6. Unless NCSU's great recruit QB Mike Glennon gets the helm and is a superfrosh, I think BC will beat VT, and be 6-0.
This year the tipping point for greatness is UNC. UNC will be home and after 1+ years and spring practice Butch Davis is a solid Coach. This is a solid, dangerous and now loaded for bear team, with a new DC and some really speedy, talented players.
Most of BC's losses in the last 4 years have a common theme, BC got no pressure on young QB's and they buried Spaz’s outdated schemes. Do this in Chapel Hill and UNC may use this as a springboard game after already playing VT and Miami .
I see bad things. I see Spaz reverting back to old habits and the UNC QB standing tall and riddling the BC secondary with speedy receivers and underneath routes.
You may all laugh, but UNC will be just as tough to beat as Clemson the next week. BC has a let down after beating VT and NC State back to back. I see this team as a huge surprise team besides BC this year and maybe we get a rematch in ACC Title game?
Tarheels 40 BC 37 in 3rd OT --- 6-1 ACC: 3-1
8—Clemson at BC Previous Game: at GT -- Next Game: at FSU
Returning Starters: 9 Offense and 8 Defense and QB.
Can BC run its streak to 4 versus the Top 10 rated Tigers? JoLonn Dunbar with the dive to block an extra point after Nick Larkin made the two greatest back to back defensive plays in BC history. BC letting another Hail Mary pass get behind Spaz’s missing link nickel and dime packages and Kelly had butter fingers last year and only a corner blitz saved BC.
I see BC playing very tough at home after a UNC butt whupping. I see a close game and then BC pulling away late with a solid QB execution in the clutch and a brutal defensive running stop game. The Clemson luck runs out and Poondamonium breaks out in South Carolina as the Tigers get Eagle clawed since we came into the ACC.
Tigers 22 BC 27 --- 7-1 ACC: 4-1
9—Notre Dame at BC Previous Game: Pittsburgh -- Next Game: at Navy
Returning Starters: 9 Offense and 7 Defense and QB.
Notre Dame has this game circled and their anger and alums anger has the Golden Dome ready to explode with a Titanium Sombrero 6th straight loss at BC.
BC defense plays much better, but the Crane offense is sputtering with a suspect running game but a late bad call gives BC life and a late BC rally nips the Irish and the BC Board invasion has begun.
6 Straight! The Titanium Sombrero!
Irish 27 BC 28 --- 8-1 ACC: 4-1
10—BC at FSU Previous Game: Clemson -- Next Game: at Maryland
Returning Starters: 7 Offense and 8 Defense and QB.
Drew Weatherford has killed BC with bulletproof protection and short quick underneath routes to speed merchants in 2005 and 2007 at BC.
We won in Doak in 2006 and Crane turns the table and BC smothers Weatherford.
BC 27 FSU 25 --- 9-1 ACC: 5-1
BC is now a TOP 7 team and nearing the 2 hole for the BCS National Title bid to South Beach .
11—BC at Wake Forest Previous Game: at NCSU -- Next Game: at Vanderbilt
Returning Starters: 5 Offense and 9 Defense and QB.
Riley Skinner is a polished QB. The big difference is WF has a killer kicker in a close games
As the last ACC Tilt for Wake Forest, and if Clemson stumbles, this could be for the ACC Title shot and a trip to Tampa . Grobe is a tough home Coach. Grobe is the best Coach in the ACC, maybe America! Swank makes 4, Apo misses 3 as one is blocked, but Crane fires 3 TD darts!
BC 37 Wake Forest 26 --- 9-1 ACC: 6-1
ATLANTIC DIVISION CHAMPIONS.
12— Maryland at BC Previous Game: at FSU -- Finale.
Returning Starters: 8 Offense and 5 Defense and QB.
Senior Day. BC’s defense sets a record for sacks and the defense smothers the Terps and BC’s Crane throws for 400 yards versus Maryland for the second straight year. Where was this defensive blitz mania all year as fans pull their hair out. I have no worries there.
BC 37 Maryland 14 --- 11-1 ACC: 7-1 *******************************************
DECEMBER 6: ACC Championship Game
On to Tampa Bay and I see BC in a rematch with UNC and BC winning 38-10 and getting the BCS # 2 spot and a shot at the National Title.
12-1 ACC 8-1 ACC CHAMPIONS.
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Tennessee had a QB like Chris Crane after the Peyton Manning era and won the title. History repeats itself . BC, a 9 point underdog to the USC Trojans who play a brutal schedule and go 11-1, and end up ranked 1st, get upset in Miami by the Eagles, by stopping a 2 point conversion with no time left.
