Boston College Athletics
1998 Boston College Football Outlook
June 21, 1999 | Football
July 23, 1998
You can just see it in his eyes.
Tom O'Brien believes in this football team. He won't stand there and tell you that this edition of the Boston College Eagles deserves to be ranked in the preseason top 20. Nor will he tell you that he's not concerned about maturity on the line, depth at tight end or experience at quarterback.
But take a deeper look into the eyes of this relatively tall, positively red-headed and decidedly disciplined man; there's your pre-season prospectus. Tom O'Brien believes that this group of survivors, this blue-collar, hard-working bunch that came within a whisker of a winning season a year ago has the tools to build something here. His quarterback and star tight end are gone to the NFL, and much of his offensive line is gone to graduation, but O'Brien believes that discipline, maturity, leadership and hard work are the only irreplaceable members of a football team, and he has plenty of those coming back.
Tom O'Brien doesn't gush; but on the eve of this 1998 football season, his eyes won't shut up.
Among the things O'Brien sees that he likes:
-Experience. Most members of this team have now played a year for O'Brien and his coaching staff. They know the drills, the routines, and what's expected of them. "It made a big difference when we started spring practice," O'Brien says. "The fact that these guys have learned our system for a year put us that much further ahead."
-The defensive front. "I think we'll be much better as a force unit up front with Chris Hovan being at nose for another year, Mike Willetts being a year older, Adam Grace coming on the way he has and challenging Andy Krauza for a starting job, and Sean Guthrie coming on as a redshirt freshman," O'Brien says. "Coupled with the ability of Frank Chamberlin and hopefully Brian Maye, along with Nick Blevins, Ryan Burch and Steve Martin at the inside linebacker position, along with Adam Newman and Brooke Heald playing the outside for us, we will be a much better force unit. I know we feel a lot better about that group than we did this time a year ago, going into the season. If they continue to improve, hopefully we'll be much better against the run."
-The secondary. "I think we're much improved at the safety position, and I think that those young kids on the corners are talented. The only way you can get better and more experienced is playing. We'll hold our breath some early in the year, but they will get better as the year goes along at the corner positions."
-Running back. Mike Cloud is one of the most talented and exciting tailbacks in the BIG EAST and has potential to explode onto the national scene. Quinton Lee proved in BC's spring game that he is a big-time backup. And changes in the fullback corps have BC coaches and fans more than confident in the backfield. A relatively young -- but talented -- offensive line must gel early, behind the leadership of players like Doug Brzezinski and Damien Woody, to pave the way.
-The Offense Overall. The most experienced area of the team, O'Brien will be looking to his offense to provide leadership for the entire team. "Looking at the team, that's where the most seniors are on our football team." O'Brien says. "We will have to get leadership out of the offense. Hopefully they can step up and become even better than we were a year ago on the offense. The defense is still young. We look for them to get better as the year goes on, and we will be a better football team than we were a year ago."
Here's a look position-by-position.
Defensive Line Returning Lettermen (4): No. Player Cl. Ht. Wt. 92 Adam Grace So. 6-3 272 95 Chris Hovan Jr. 6-3 285 47 Andrew Krauza Sr. 6-3 256 98 Mike Willetts Jr. 6-4 285 Lettermen Lost: 1
Much like the defense overall, BC's defensive line is relatively young, but talented...The line is anchored by 1997 First Team All-BIG EAST junior Chris Hovan. Moved to nose tackle in pre-season practice a year ago, Hovan went on to start all 11 games in an award-winning season. He finished his sophomore campaign with 58 tackles, four sacks and six quarterback pressures...Junior Mike Willetts returns to BC's "cat tackle," or field tackle spot. Willetts saw action in all 11 BC games last season, recording 67 total tackles, including five sacks, second-best on the team. His 67 tackles ranked eighth in the BIGEAST among linemen. BC's coaches expect big things out of Willetts this fall...At the boundary tackle position, a battle is shaping up between sophomore Adam Grace, who became a staple along the line as a redshirt freshman, and senior Andrew Krauza, who battled back after an injury-plagued sophomore year to start all 11 games a year ago. One will win the starting spot, with the other as a backup, along with redshirt freshman Sean Guthrie, who possesses excellent pass-rushing abilities, or possibly a redshirt or true freshman.
"Chris Hovan has improved greatly since we moved him to nose tackle a year ago. I would expect him to be a force in the interior of the line both as a run stopper and as a pass rusher. I believe he has the ability to be an All-BIG EAST performer once again. Mike Willetts has shown great improvement through the spring, and I expect that improvement to continue in the fall. We have a little bit of a battle between Adam Grace, Andy Krauza and Sean Guthrie at the other tackle spot, and whoever wins that battle will end up starting the Georgia Tech game for us."
Inside Linebacker Returning Lettermen (3): No. Player Cl. Ht. Wt. 44 Frank Chamberlin Jr. 6-0 239 55 Steve Martin So. 6-2 218 46 Brian Maye Sr. 6-3 227 Lettermen Lost: 5
The question of the day concerns Brian Maye -- will the 6-3, 227-pound senior return to form? Maye underwent successful neck surgery in February and returned to weightlifting in the spring. After playing in 11 games in 1994, the injury-plagued Maye played in only 11 games the last three seasons. He is an aggressive, mobile and determined defender -- skills that are needed in this talented but mostly inexperienced group...Moving Frank Chamberlin to ILB from fullback seems to have paid dividends, as the BC staff is excited about the 6-0 junior's performance in the spring game, where he recorded eight tackles...Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of spring drills was the move of redshirt freshman Nick Blevins, who recorded four tackles and a sack in the spring game, from outside to inside linebacker. Blevins, along with Ryan Burch and Steve Martin, will all battle for playing time at ILB.
"The Frank Chamberlin move seems to have been an exceptional one for us. He looks like he has all the qualities and abilities you want from someone to play the inside linebacking position. He obviously hasn't done it in a game yet, but has shown the ability to be a good inside linebacker. I think a lot rests on Brian Maye coming back and being healthy enough to play for us. If Brian can get back to where he was, he's an All-BIG EAST performer. If he's back, then I think we will have solidified the inside linebacker position with Maye and Chamberlin. Nick Blevins showed us a lot of good things in the spring, and hopefully he will carry that into the fall. Plus, we signed four pretty good freshmen linebackers, and one or more may get involved."
Outside Linebacker Returning Lettermen (4): No. Player Cl. Ht. Wt. 59 Brooke Heald Jr. 6-3 231 42 Joe Mickens Jr. 6-0 207 88 Adam Newman Jr. 6-5 236 13 Willie Wright Sr. 6-2 214 Lettermen Lost: 1
With the departure of Erik Storz, who led BC in tackles for a loss (13-72) and sacks (13-121) last season, former walk-on Brooke Heald, an athletic player whose speed and toughness make him a favorite among the coaching staff, has been moved outside to the "Cat" end position...Junior Adam Newman, a versatile, hard-nosed player who saw action in all 11 games last year with 22 tackles and a sack, had a productive spring and look to have the boundary tackle spot sewn up. ..Senior Willie Wright emerged late last year as a player ready to accept the load at OLB, and could be in the mix along with Joe Mickens.
O'Brien: "Brooke Heald is learning as he goes, and it looks like he could win the Cat End position. Adam Newman had an excellent spring and will be the boundary end. Right now it looks like Willie Wright will be in the mix, along with Joe Mickens. Between those guys and possibly a freshman, they will handle the outside linebacker spots."
Defensive Backfield Returning Lettermen(7): No. Player Cl. Ht. Wt. 5 Mike Bullock Jr. 5-10 172 3 Pedro Cirino Jr. 5-11 191 27 Tim Davis Jr. 5-9 181 10 Pat Phelts Jr. 5-10 189 8 Jason Smith So. 6-2 193 25 D.J. Sutton So. 5-8 159 40 George White Jr. 6-1 200 Lettermen Lost: 2
BC's coaches are expecting significant improvement out of this position. At free safety, junior Pedro Cirino, who won a starting job as a freshman two years ago, led the Eagles in tackles last season with 130, had two interceptions, three pass break-ups and two recovered fumbles. Cirino was second team All-BIG EAST last fall...At strong safety, George white is coming off a stellar sophomore season in which he recorded 91 tackles, second on the team, along with five sacks, an interception, two broken-up passes and a fumble recovery. BC's coaches feel White, also a member of the BC track team, has the physical skills to be an excellent deep defender...Former wide receiver RaMon Johnson, who missed last season due to knee surgery, moved inside to safety, as did redshirt freshman Carlos Moore, who has impressed the BC staff with his football savvy and coverage skills. Johnson and Moore will serve as the primary backups at this spot...At cornerback, sophomore D.J. Sutton played his way into the starting lineup at the end of last season and apparently won the field corner starting job in spring practice. Sophomore Jonathan Ordway, an excellent track sprinter who lined up at wide receiver last fall, appears to be the leading candidate to start at the boundary corner spot...Mike Bullock, who moved to corner this past spring to give himself a chance to compete for more playing time, and Jason Smith, who moved from safety to corner, look to be the primary backups.
"Pedro Cirino and George White both had excellent springs. Cirino has improved greatly in the year that I've been here. I think he has the ability to be a major-league safety. We're real happy with those two kids.
Coming out of spring practice, D.J. Sutton had won the job at the field corner and Jon Ordway, a redshirt freshman, looks like he's the leading candidate to be the boundary corner, with Michael Bullock and Jason Smith and possibly some freshmen getting into that mix. Both Sutton and Ordway are relatively young, but talented in that both can run and add make-up speed that we haven't had at that position in the past.
Quarterback Returning Lettermen (2): No. Player Cl. Ht. Wt. 7 Tim Hasselbeck So. 6-2 211 12 Scott Mutryn Sr. 6-3 212 Lettermen Lost: 1
The most closely-watched battle for a starting spot on any team is intensified at BC with the loss of senior team leader Matt Hasselbeck, who passed for more than 2,200 yards a year ago. Matt's brother, junior Tim Hasselbeck, will battle it out for the starting spot with senior Scott Mutryn...Despite having limited experience, Hasselbeck is an athletic competitor who stands a real shot st snagging the position...Mutryn saw action in three games last season (and started the Georgia Tech game), completing 22-for-35 for 202 yards..Sophomore Dave Robbins will provide backup.
"It's a two-way battle right now between Mutryn and Hasselbeck. I think they both did good things in the spring. They both had excellent springs."
Running Back Returning Lettermen (5): No. Player Cl. Ht. Wt. 35 Greg Bartlett Sr. 6-0 214 21 Mike Cloud Sr. 5-11 201 20 Quinton Lee Jr. 5-10 195 4 Carlton Rowe Jr. 5-11 200 35 Cedric Washington So. 5-10 197 Lettermen Lost: 2
Although BC must replace two of its top four rushers, two players who accounted for 60% of the team's total rushing effort a year ago return. Senior Mike Cloud led the Eagles in rushing last season (and finished third in the BIG EAST) with 886 net yards, an average of 6.5 per carry and 88.6 per game with eight touchdowns. Cloud also snagged 20 passes for 225 yards and led the team in all-purpose yardage (116.5 per game) and scoring..Junior Quinton Lee picked up 313 yards in only five games last season, an average of 62.6 per game and had an explosive spring game for the Eagles with 140 yards and two touchdowns...Lee has secured the backup tailback position, while the explosive Cedric Washington, redshirted last season, and Carlton Rowe, who has moved to the offense from defensive back, will battle for playing time. Washington played both defensive back and running back during the 1996 season and could definitely challenge Cloud and Lee...At fullback, BC's coaches feel good about moving senior Greg Bartlett from linebacker to fullback. BC also moved redshirt freshman Ryan Utzler to fullback.
"The Bartlett move to fullback was a good move. Greg has improved tremendously, and it really encouraged me the way he played in the spring game. If we are able to improve upon that, he will be able to do what we ask of our fullback to do. I think Mike Cloud can have an exceptional year as tailback if he continues to improve and work hard. He has great quickness and a great stutter-step move at the line of scrimmage. He can accelerate, he can run away from people, he has good hands and I think he will be one of the top running backs in the country. Quinton Lee gives us the opportunity to have an experienced backup now. Quinton came in a couple of times last year, and he has continued to improve. I think that will be a good 1-2 punch for us."
Wide Receiver Returning Lettermen (4): No. Player Cl. Ht. Wt. 9 Derrick Crittenden Jr. 5-9 183 11 Anthony DiCosmo Sr. 6-3 209 18 Dennis Harding Sr. 6-1 178 1 Jermaine Walker Sr. 5-8 166 Lettermen Lost: 0
An exciting and experienced group of wide receivers returns for the Eagles, with Anthony DiCosmo, Dennis Harding and Jermaine walker leading the way. Harding led the team in receptions the past two years, finishing last season with 29 for 432 yards, an average of 43.2 per game, with two touchdowns. He enters his final season with 99 career receptions...Fellow senior DiCosmo, playing in eight games, established himself as BC's big-play wide receiver, averaging a team-high 15.1 yards per catch...Explosive senior Walker saw action in all 11 BC games last year, catching 21 passes for 239 yards, an average of 21.7 per game. He broke the 100-yard mark in all-purpose yards twice last year...Junior "utility man" Derrick Crittenden caught 17 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns last year, while sophomore Steve Dapra, a former running back, is a physical ballplayer who should become a more complete receiver with added experience.
DiCosmo, Harding and Walker are three kids that played a lot of football for us last year. I think each kid has improved in the areas of getting up the field. They've improved their speed. They've improved their overall understanding of what we're asking out of them in the passing game. We will look for those three guys to handle most of the receiving duties for us. Crittenden, Dapra, Dedrick DeWalt and a few others may figure into getting into the rotation with these guys, but I think that will be determined by their performances in pre-season. We're looking forward to having them compete for time, but I think we've improved ourselves and will be much better with Harding, Walker and DiCosmo having another year in our system."
Tight End Returning Lettermen (4): No. Player Cl. Ht. Wt. 86 Bryan Arndt Jr. 6-4 260 82 Robert Ellis So. 6-4 252 80 Mike Guazzo Jr. 6-3 230 16 Rob Tardio Sr. 6-5 245 Lettermen Lost: 2
The Eagles will miss the departed Dragos and Pollack (drafted by the New York Giants). Senior Rob Tardio is the only tight end with true game experience. Tardio has already established himself as a key contributor to BC's running attack, as a blocker from the tight end slot. He will look to bolster the pass offense by becoming a big-time pass receiver...Robert Ellis, who made three catches for 30 yards in the spring game, and Bryan Arndt, moved from the defensive line, will compete for backup positions.
"Tardio is the only truly experienced kid we have back. He's having a great off-season right now and we look forward to him carrying on the tradition of Boston College tight ends. That's been one of our premiere positions, and I think Tardio will be a premiere tight end if he continues to make the strides and progress he's made through spring practice and into the summer. We'll look forward to a competition between Ellis and Arndt in pre-season, to find out which of those guys will go into the season backing Tardio up."
Offensive Line Returning Lettermen (6): No. Player Cl. Ht. Wt. 74 Doug Brzezinski Sr. 6-5 305 73 Dan Collins Sr. 6-5 287 65 Michael Cook So. 6-5 300 72 Butch Palaza Jr. 6-4 287 63 Damien Woody Jr. 6-4 312 66 Paul Zukauskas So. 6-5 306 Lettermen Lost: 4
Despite being hit hard by graduation, BC's coaches are looking for a big, strong blue-collar offensive line and look to achieve that goal as the players gain experience and learn the system and schemes. A team goal for this season: better point production...Three-year starter Doug Brzezinski, at 6-5, 305, anchors the BC offensive line. Brzezinski was a first-team All-BIG EAST selection last year...BC's coaches feel returning starter Damien Woody, a 6-4, 312-pound junior, has has the center spot sewn up and could be an honors candidate with hard work...Sophomore Paul Zukauskas impressed coaches in the spring and has a leg up on the right tackle spot...At right guard, fifth-year senior Dan Collins is in a battle with sophomore Paul LaQuerre for the starting nod...Coaches were impressed with the spring progress of sophomore Michael Cook, who is looking like a starter at left tackle after recovering from an injury last season... Matt Knapp has moved from defense to guard, where he will join junior Butch Palaza, who got several starts last year.
"I think our offensive line improved greatly in spring practice, and we will grow into a better offensive line than we had last year. I liked what I saw out of Zukauskas, our right tackle. I think we have a good fight going at right guard between Dan Collins and Paul LaQuerre. I don't think there will be a center in America any better than Damien Woody, or a guard better than Doug Brzezinski. Both should be All-East performers, and who knows, the sky's the limit for those two guys as far as where they're going. Michael Cook showed great improvement through spring practice. The more he plays, the more confident he becomes, and the more confident he becomes, the better he will be at left tackle. With Darnell Alford coming back to school, he will add some depth to the line, along with Butch Palaza, who played a lot last year at center and can play some guard. Some of our redshirt freshmen may be able to give us some time if we need it."
Special Teams Returning Lettermen (3): No. Player Cl. Ht. Wt. 43 Jason Malecki (P) Sr. 6-2 220 23 John Matich (PK) Jr. 6-2 203 93 Kyle Geiselman (S) Sr. 6-1 220 Lettermen Lost: 1
Junior John Matich completed 10 of 16 field goal attempts last season (62.5%), including a long of 40, and 22 of 23 PATs...Matich won the Hawaii game two seasons ago with a 42-yard field goal in his varsity debut. He has been plagued by injuries, but is a very accurate, hard-working player who will handle kickoff and field goal situations...Senior Jason Malecki averaged 41.0 yards per punt last season, including a long of 57. Matich is an outstanding "Pooch' punter; out of 20 pooch opportunities last season, he was successful on 15, including seven that were downed inside the five-yard-line...Kyle Geiselman is a veteran snapper who will be counted on for long and short snaps...Geiselman's backups include Butch Palaza and Rob Tardio...In the kickoff return department, BC will look to Walker, Crittenden and Washington...Pedro Cirino and Dedrick DeWalt will return punts..Scott Mutryn looks to be BC's holder, along with Tim Hasselbeck.
"Matich is now completely healthy. He'll get a full spring and summer's worth of workouts in and will be much stronger with his leg and much better with his kicking duties. Jason Malecki has the ability to be the top punter in the BIG EAST, and I think we will expect him to do that."
