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Eagle Eyed Thoughts Week 9

The impeccable home record continues!

I don’t know why Alumni Stadium has been such an incredible home field advantage for the Eagles, but the stats speak for themselves:

Against Central Michigan, the Eagles thoroughly dominated the highly regarded QB Dan LeFevour and a CMU offense that was averaging over 33 points a game was held to 10. LeFevour was held to 26 yards on 11 carries while throwing two interceptions on a day that mirrored his outing four years ago which he also lost. Although this clearly shows that a young B. C. team can get in a groove when at home, Boston College has two ACC road games in their next three games, must wins if Boston College wants any chance to get back to the ACC Title game now that Clemson beat Miami.

Boston College needs to make sure that they do not wear out Montel Harris

After bringing his lunch pail to work last Saturday and picking up another ho hum 136 yards, Harris brought his season carries up to 183, already more than he had all of last year. The loss of Josh Haden has caused Harris to steadily increase his carries the last three games to 25.3 from 17.8. I am all for more Harris, but this increasing workload might affect the sophomore as the season progresses with at least four and the possibility of five games remaining on the schedule. Harris’ running style, continuing to churn his legs and breaking through tackles, not only wears defenses down, but also himself. Freshman RB Rolandan Finch has mono and the B. C. staff considers senior RB Jeff Smith an enigma. Keep your fingers crossed that Montel stays healthy this year.

The coaching staff did a quick remodeling of the special teams

It seems as if the staff wants former kickoff return man Jeff Smith rested up and backing up Harris, taking both preseason kickoff guys off the field. Insert Deleon Gause, the diminutive corner and CB Dan Mulrooney, who played RB last year. Both are small, fast, and inexperienced, bringing a wildcard into a special teams which also includes erratic P Ryan Quigley and the limited range of Steve Aponavicius. Gause also looks to return punts as well, a position usually in the wheelhouse of white-hot receiver Rich Gunnell.

Speaking of Gunnell, how great has he been this year?

His consistency in an offense with a freshman QB, streaky offensive line, and freshman QB has helped ease the transition. I know he thanks God every night for the development of Colin Larmond, who gets defenders off him. He has more yards and TDs this year than all of last year. Look at these yardage stats week to week. 114, 0, 51, 47, 6, 42, 179, 134. Excuse the 0 and 6 (in the Clemson and Virginia Tech games, BC starting QBs threw a combined 6-33 for 29 yards) and that’s a heck of a week to week and 92.5 average. Kudos to you, Rich Gunnell, for stepping up big this year as a senior captain.

Nods and Shakes of the week:

• Nod: OLB Luke Kuechly who is the ACC defensive back of the week, leading tackler in eight8 out of our nine games, and recorded 11 tackles against Central Michigan. He never disappoints.
• Nod: K Steve Aponovicius became the all-time B. C. leader in points scored. Although not universally loved because of his limited range, he has beaten all newcomers and deserves his day in the sun.
• Shake: The first 17 possessions of the game ended in punts. Are you ready for some football!
• Nod: The Dave Shinskie pass to Rich Gunnell. Shinskie does so many things that anger you (looking down receivers, lack of mobility, relying to much on short out routes), but gives you that beautiful ball every now and then that keeps you coming back for more.
• Nod: CB Donnie Fletcher had a career high seven tackles as well as an interception. If our corners do their jobs, it will be hard for Virginia to put any points on the board.

Tags: Boston College, Dave Shinskie, Donnie Fletcher, Luke Kuechly, Montel Harris, Rich Gunnell, Steve Aponovicius