The Boston College Ceiling of Expectations...or Lack Thereof

While the Boston College defense looks eerily familiar to last year, the offense appears to be looking for an identity.

This should not come as a surprise to anyone.  A team doesn’t quickly recover from losing its star player, quarterback, and captain to the NFL.  Chris Crane is no Matt Ryan, and now it is up to Jeff Jagodzinski to find a manageable offensive game plan.

Coach Jags needs to board up the offensive line and get something going.  While the GA Tech defensive front may be one of the best they face all season, three sacks (including a safety) and two interceptions by Crane is not going to get the job done. 

Jags will have to use his expertise on the offensive side of the ball to vary the game plan from last year because, without Ryan at quarterback, the Eagles will not be throwing the ball over 46 times or averaging 28 points per game.

If they want to be successful this year, the Eagles will have to rely on Crane’s mobility, as well as the inexperienced Jeff Smith and freshman Josh Haden at tailback to set the tone and use up some clock.  This will allow the impressive BC defense to do what they do best and shut down opposing offenses. 

Boston College returns six starters on defense, but their biggest gain will be getting a former five-star recruit in linebacker Brian Toal, who sat out last year with a medical redshirt, back into the starting line-up (not to mention that Toal led the team in rushing touchdowns in 2006 with six). His leadership on defense and in the locker room will keep this team in games late.

The loss of sophomore defensive end, Alex Albright, is a substantial one, and the only way the 2008 Boston College team will be successful is if the veteran defense is able to impose their will on opposing offenses while keeping up the morale of the Eagles inexperienced offense by continuously giving them a short field of scoring opportunities.

Already at 1-1 after beating Kent State in their opener and losing to Georgia Tech in Week Two, Boston College will have their work cut out for them this season if they even want to be eligible for a bowl bid this year. 

The Eagles should have three more guaranteed wins on their schedule (Rhode Island, NC State, and Maryland), however the defense will need to win at least two more games against a tough ACC Schedule and Notre Dame.

The ACC seems to be abnormally weak this year, and unless they can surprise the critics, Boston College is not helping to strengthen it up.