Boston College Athletics
Photo by: John Quackenbos
Four Downs: Central Michigan
October 01, 2017 | Football, #ForBoston Files
The Eagles ran past CMU on Saturday with a 28-8 victory
For Boston College, Saturday's 28-8 win over Central Michigan was exactly what it needed to be. A solid all-around victory, it broke a losing streak and inched the team closer to a potential bowl berth. Any victory gains momentum, and with a tough schedule ahead, Saturday was a chance to reboot for the road ahead.
"All in all, coming off a week where we were pretty banged up, a lot of guys missed practice, including the quarterback," head coach Steve Addazio said. "I think the ability to come out here and play with physicality on both sides of the lines, offensive and defensive lines, get a win, get that great feeling, (I'm) pleased with that and looking forward to getting to conference play next week."
On a soggy day at Alumni Stadium, BC simply did its job. It finished with 309 yards of offense, 224 of which was on the ground. The defense forced the Chippewas into short-yardage plays, limiting explosives. Both sides of the ball executed the scheme, improving in some areas while finding other areas of need to keep practicing.
"As Coach Addazio said, always just keep chopping," Michael Walker said. "(We) got to attack every game - doesn't matter who you're playing, just got to attack it full force. (The win) definitely helps with confidence. It was good to get that win. (It) definitely helps us moving forward."
For some, Saturday didn't have the big game feel of a Clemson or Notre Dame. CMU showed itself capable earlier this year in rolling up yardage against Kansas, but it left Chestnut Hill with its third straight loss. But a win over that team is exactly what the doctor ordered. If BC can springboard into the week of practice with its accompanying good karma, it can continue an upward climb with plenty of football left to play.
"We feel like every game is a winnable game," Jon Hilliman said. "Not to disrespect any opponents, we play the best competition, in college football, and we know we're playing. So straight up we just know that every game is a winnable game, (and we) just got to bring it the same. We've got to play every game the same with different opponents knowing we've just got to improve every week."
Here's what else is drawn from Saturday at The Heights.
*****
First Down: Michael Walker
It goes without saying that Walker's performance helped define the Eagle victory. He returned four punts for 128 yards, averaging over 30 yards per return with a long of 61 yards. That return, a touchdown called out of bounds at the six-yard line, turned the early tide away from the 2-0 deficit to set the Eagle victory in motion.
"He's certainly been a spark for us on special teams, without a doubt," Steve Addazio said. "He's done a great job on our kickoff returns. He's continuing to do a great job on our punt returns. Those are valuable plays, valuable yardage. And I'm very, very pleased with that."
Walker's punt returns are a result of strong special teams coverage units. Central Michigan had issues in return coverage, something it tried to negate with squib kickoffs and rugby-style punts. BC's coverage and return game, however, is incredibly strong this year and persevered.
In addition to the long return, Walker had a 30-yard return on a punt he collected at the CMU 46-yard line. With the Eagles up 14-8 in the second quarter, it set up a short 17-yard drive for Jon Hilliman to give BC a commanding 21-8 lead.
Walker broke off the returns by catching balls in stride and at full speed. The coverage team lined up its blocks perfectly, and he broke his runback by using vision. It's a testament to the entire unit, often overlooked a single play during the course of a game.
"I'm very, very pleased with our punt coverage," Addazio said. "We had that one mishap last week at the very end of the game (against Clemson), but otherwise it's been outstanding. Our kickoffs between Max (Schulze-Geisthovel) kicking it out, even against a strong headwind at times. I've been very, very pleased with that."
*****
Second Down: Lukas Denis
By now, everyone knows I'm a huge fan of Lukas Denis. I had the good fortune to watch him star at Everett High School before he matriculated to Chestnut Hill. He was the Massachusetts Defensive Player of the Year because he was a ball hawk with eight interceptions, three of which were touchdowns. In the Massachusetts Division I Super Bowl, he had one of those pick-sixes, putting a Crimson Tide scare into the Xaverian Hawks.
Now at BC, Denis is a force at the safety position. As a true freshman, he played in four games, working his way into the lineup last year for 11 appearances. Earning his first start against Florida State, he later intercepted his first pass against Wake Forest, clinching BC's bowl eligibility.
"Growing up, BC was the biggest school in Massachusetts, and I took pride in the fact that I came from Massachusetts," Denis said. "My first chance came at a camp, (and) I came to the camp every year for four years, even after I committed. I learned a lot coming in and staying with the coaches. I really appreciated the type of people they were, the atmosphere they brought, and I made the right choice."
As the starting safety this year, the local product is now exploding onto the national scene. He had a huge fourth-down stop against Northern Illinois to help BC earn the victory, and he's been all over the field in attacking opposing passing games. On Saturday, he intercepted two more ball, giving him five on the year and placing him atop the national lead.
"He's never really played," Addazio said. "He's played a little bit, bits and pieces, but he's starting to gain some confidence, starting to gain some experience, and so I think he's more comfortable in the different coverage schemes. We play a little bit more zone, and there was a time all we played here really was man (coverage). I think he's growing with that, as are the other guys."
As Denis becomes more comfortable, he will continue to become a dangerous threat to attack opposing offenses. And like fellow Everett native Manny Asprilla, he'll be the next in a line of players who traded their Crimson Tide to star for the Maroon and Gold.
"I knew Manny went to BC, and all throughout high school, people would always be like, 'you're going to be like Manny, you're going to do this.' He kind of just told me what college was like and the type of ball that we play here at BC. I came for visits, and I kind of loved it. I liked the coaches here, and although some of them have changed, we brought in some very good coaches, and I really appreciate them."
*****
Third Down: Jon Hilliman and AJ Dillon
Quarterback Anthony Brown didn't practice this week after suffering a shoulder injury late in the Clemson game. During the Central Michigan game, there was a moment where Brown was hit after a throw, drawing a roughing the passer penalty for low contact. Slow to get up after the hit, he finished the game without missing a snap.
Brown's inactivity during the week combined with sloppy conditions as BC limited its throw game. Though he went 14-for-21 passing, he only passed for 85 yards, 23 of which came on one play with Jeff Smith. Managing the game, Brown instead relied on AJ Dillon and Jon Hilliman to carry the workload.
The duo finished with 48 carries for 213 yards. Hilliman had two touchdowns rushing while catching Brown's only passing score, while Dillon rumbled for 120 yards and an average of 4.8 yards per carry. Running between the tackles with a battering ram offensive line, it was a good confidence builder before BC returns to their ACC schedule.
"I'm really pleased with (them)," Addazio said of the duo. "We've seen that against really good opponents now. I think Jon has really elevated his play, and I think AJ continues to elevate his play, get more experience and get more comfortable as we go. Those two guys combining together, I think there's a really nice kind of flow there right now."
Hilliman in particular is really evolving as a running back. He entered 2017 with five career receptions for 40 yards. As a redshirt sophomore last season, he caught only one ball. But he has 12 catches already this year, including two touchdowns. He had four grabs against Clemson for 24 yards, spotting himself out of the backfield as the right option for Anthony Brown on a number of plays.
*****
Fourth Down: The defensive scheme
If there's been a season-long quest to find the next level of development, the defense found it against Central Michigan. It was particularly dominant against the Chippewa pass, recording three sacks and three interceptions. John Lamot, forced into his first career start after injuries to Connor Strachan and Max Richardson, had 10 tackles, as did Will Harris. Kevin Bletzer, Zach Allen and Harold Landry all had two tackles for losses, with Landry and Allen recording single sacks. Save for one big run by CMU's Kumehnnu Gwilly, BC also never really surrendered the big play.
'
The scheme employed answered virtually everything Central Michigan threw at it. Isaac Yiadom spent most of the day on an island against Mark Chapman, defending the backside passing routes of left-handed quarterback Shane Morris. The scheme correctly analyzed Morris' throwing windup and allowed Yiadom to defend the right side with a safety providing over the top help. Though Morris finished with 21 completions, the passing game never really got its wheels moving.
"Every week, we try to come out, even on special teams, (and try to get the offense a better chance to score," Lukas Denis said. "We live on that board over there that kind of dictates your chances to score based off of your field position. Every time we try to give them a short field, (we) do the best we can do that as a team we can win the game."
Up front, Harold Landry found himself playing in different looks. BC disguised him with Zach Allen before the snap by bunching their players, using mismatches to create opportunities for both players. In particular, Landry matched up at times against Central Michigan's unique offensive weapon Tony Poljan.
A redshirt freshman, Poljan is listed as a quarterback but is used in a variety of plays. He's 6 foot 7 inches and a well-stocked 237 pounds, making him a very big and tough target. Central Michigan used Poljan for a single pass at his natural position but spread him into the game plan as both a runner and receiver.
There were times Landry lined up to cover Poljan in linebacker form, creating a heavyweight battle out in pass patterns. The big man hit BC for 83 yards on four rushes and three catches, but it came through the Chippewas running disguised patterns of their own. All in all, it gave pro scouts an intriguing look at the potential first round pick.
"Just schematically we're growing," Addazio said. "We're continuing to grow. We're trying to adapt based on some of the personnel hits that we've taken. We're getting to the point where we have to account for future issues. So we're trying to do some things that give us a little bit more versatility. We're looking at a couple of different things right, trying to get absolutely to squeeze out the best we can out of everybody to give us a little bit more depth."
When he gets to the NFL, Landry is going to face more players with Poljan's size. Offensive linemen, especially on the edge, stand anywhere north of 6 feet 5 inches. They're big, with quickness and power, and they line up with tight ends who add hands and natural speed to those skills. Having success in those versatile situations only naturally will make him more appealing to scouts.
*****
Point After: Virginia Tech
This win serves as a good day for Boston College football. The Eagles punched the clock, went to work and did their job. It puts BC back in the win column, which in turn helps it turn the corner as the season nears the halfway point.
That can only be a good thing given their next opponent. Ranked No. 12 last week, the Hokies slid to No. 16 in the Associated Press poll following their home loss to Clemson.
Virginia Tech never really pressured the Tigers, committing three turnovers and falling behind in the first quarter by 21 points. It was their first loss of the season, coming in their conference opener. By falling to 0-1 in the league, it opened up the Coastal Division pennant race, and it puts extra emphasis on a need for a victory next week at Alumni Stadium.
Longtime rivals who first met in the Big East but blossomed in the ACC, they'll play on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. in a nationally televised game on ESPN2.
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"All in all, coming off a week where we were pretty banged up, a lot of guys missed practice, including the quarterback," head coach Steve Addazio said. "I think the ability to come out here and play with physicality on both sides of the lines, offensive and defensive lines, get a win, get that great feeling, (I'm) pleased with that and looking forward to getting to conference play next week."
On a soggy day at Alumni Stadium, BC simply did its job. It finished with 309 yards of offense, 224 of which was on the ground. The defense forced the Chippewas into short-yardage plays, limiting explosives. Both sides of the ball executed the scheme, improving in some areas while finding other areas of need to keep practicing.
"As Coach Addazio said, always just keep chopping," Michael Walker said. "(We) got to attack every game - doesn't matter who you're playing, just got to attack it full force. (The win) definitely helps with confidence. It was good to get that win. (It) definitely helps us moving forward."
For some, Saturday didn't have the big game feel of a Clemson or Notre Dame. CMU showed itself capable earlier this year in rolling up yardage against Kansas, but it left Chestnut Hill with its third straight loss. But a win over that team is exactly what the doctor ordered. If BC can springboard into the week of practice with its accompanying good karma, it can continue an upward climb with plenty of football left to play.
"We feel like every game is a winnable game," Jon Hilliman said. "Not to disrespect any opponents, we play the best competition, in college football, and we know we're playing. So straight up we just know that every game is a winnable game, (and we) just got to bring it the same. We've got to play every game the same with different opponents knowing we've just got to improve every week."
Here's what else is drawn from Saturday at The Heights.
*****
First Down: Michael Walker
It goes without saying that Walker's performance helped define the Eagle victory. He returned four punts for 128 yards, averaging over 30 yards per return with a long of 61 yards. That return, a touchdown called out of bounds at the six-yard line, turned the early tide away from the 2-0 deficit to set the Eagle victory in motion.
"He's certainly been a spark for us on special teams, without a doubt," Steve Addazio said. "He's done a great job on our kickoff returns. He's continuing to do a great job on our punt returns. Those are valuable plays, valuable yardage. And I'm very, very pleased with that."
Walker's punt returns are a result of strong special teams coverage units. Central Michigan had issues in return coverage, something it tried to negate with squib kickoffs and rugby-style punts. BC's coverage and return game, however, is incredibly strong this year and persevered.
In addition to the long return, Walker had a 30-yard return on a punt he collected at the CMU 46-yard line. With the Eagles up 14-8 in the second quarter, it set up a short 17-yard drive for Jon Hilliman to give BC a commanding 21-8 lead.
Walker broke off the returns by catching balls in stride and at full speed. The coverage team lined up its blocks perfectly, and he broke his runback by using vision. It's a testament to the entire unit, often overlooked a single play during the course of a game.
"I'm very, very pleased with our punt coverage," Addazio said. "We had that one mishap last week at the very end of the game (against Clemson), but otherwise it's been outstanding. Our kickoffs between Max (Schulze-Geisthovel) kicking it out, even against a strong headwind at times. I've been very, very pleased with that."
*****
Second Down: Lukas Denis
By now, everyone knows I'm a huge fan of Lukas Denis. I had the good fortune to watch him star at Everett High School before he matriculated to Chestnut Hill. He was the Massachusetts Defensive Player of the Year because he was a ball hawk with eight interceptions, three of which were touchdowns. In the Massachusetts Division I Super Bowl, he had one of those pick-sixes, putting a Crimson Tide scare into the Xaverian Hawks.
Now at BC, Denis is a force at the safety position. As a true freshman, he played in four games, working his way into the lineup last year for 11 appearances. Earning his first start against Florida State, he later intercepted his first pass against Wake Forest, clinching BC's bowl eligibility.
"Growing up, BC was the biggest school in Massachusetts, and I took pride in the fact that I came from Massachusetts," Denis said. "My first chance came at a camp, (and) I came to the camp every year for four years, even after I committed. I learned a lot coming in and staying with the coaches. I really appreciated the type of people they were, the atmosphere they brought, and I made the right choice."
As the starting safety this year, the local product is now exploding onto the national scene. He had a huge fourth-down stop against Northern Illinois to help BC earn the victory, and he's been all over the field in attacking opposing passing games. On Saturday, he intercepted two more ball, giving him five on the year and placing him atop the national lead.
"He's never really played," Addazio said. "He's played a little bit, bits and pieces, but he's starting to gain some confidence, starting to gain some experience, and so I think he's more comfortable in the different coverage schemes. We play a little bit more zone, and there was a time all we played here really was man (coverage). I think he's growing with that, as are the other guys."
As Denis becomes more comfortable, he will continue to become a dangerous threat to attack opposing offenses. And like fellow Everett native Manny Asprilla, he'll be the next in a line of players who traded their Crimson Tide to star for the Maroon and Gold.
"I knew Manny went to BC, and all throughout high school, people would always be like, 'you're going to be like Manny, you're going to do this.' He kind of just told me what college was like and the type of ball that we play here at BC. I came for visits, and I kind of loved it. I liked the coaches here, and although some of them have changed, we brought in some very good coaches, and I really appreciate them."
*****
Third Down: Jon Hilliman and AJ Dillon
Quarterback Anthony Brown didn't practice this week after suffering a shoulder injury late in the Clemson game. During the Central Michigan game, there was a moment where Brown was hit after a throw, drawing a roughing the passer penalty for low contact. Slow to get up after the hit, he finished the game without missing a snap.
Brown's inactivity during the week combined with sloppy conditions as BC limited its throw game. Though he went 14-for-21 passing, he only passed for 85 yards, 23 of which came on one play with Jeff Smith. Managing the game, Brown instead relied on AJ Dillon and Jon Hilliman to carry the workload.
The duo finished with 48 carries for 213 yards. Hilliman had two touchdowns rushing while catching Brown's only passing score, while Dillon rumbled for 120 yards and an average of 4.8 yards per carry. Running between the tackles with a battering ram offensive line, it was a good confidence builder before BC returns to their ACC schedule.
"I'm really pleased with (them)," Addazio said of the duo. "We've seen that against really good opponents now. I think Jon has really elevated his play, and I think AJ continues to elevate his play, get more experience and get more comfortable as we go. Those two guys combining together, I think there's a really nice kind of flow there right now."
Hilliman in particular is really evolving as a running back. He entered 2017 with five career receptions for 40 yards. As a redshirt sophomore last season, he caught only one ball. But he has 12 catches already this year, including two touchdowns. He had four grabs against Clemson for 24 yards, spotting himself out of the backfield as the right option for Anthony Brown on a number of plays.
*****
Fourth Down: The defensive scheme
If there's been a season-long quest to find the next level of development, the defense found it against Central Michigan. It was particularly dominant against the Chippewa pass, recording three sacks and three interceptions. John Lamot, forced into his first career start after injuries to Connor Strachan and Max Richardson, had 10 tackles, as did Will Harris. Kevin Bletzer, Zach Allen and Harold Landry all had two tackles for losses, with Landry and Allen recording single sacks. Save for one big run by CMU's Kumehnnu Gwilly, BC also never really surrendered the big play.
'
The scheme employed answered virtually everything Central Michigan threw at it. Isaac Yiadom spent most of the day on an island against Mark Chapman, defending the backside passing routes of left-handed quarterback Shane Morris. The scheme correctly analyzed Morris' throwing windup and allowed Yiadom to defend the right side with a safety providing over the top help. Though Morris finished with 21 completions, the passing game never really got its wheels moving.
"Every week, we try to come out, even on special teams, (and try to get the offense a better chance to score," Lukas Denis said. "We live on that board over there that kind of dictates your chances to score based off of your field position. Every time we try to give them a short field, (we) do the best we can do that as a team we can win the game."
Up front, Harold Landry found himself playing in different looks. BC disguised him with Zach Allen before the snap by bunching their players, using mismatches to create opportunities for both players. In particular, Landry matched up at times against Central Michigan's unique offensive weapon Tony Poljan.
A redshirt freshman, Poljan is listed as a quarterback but is used in a variety of plays. He's 6 foot 7 inches and a well-stocked 237 pounds, making him a very big and tough target. Central Michigan used Poljan for a single pass at his natural position but spread him into the game plan as both a runner and receiver.
There were times Landry lined up to cover Poljan in linebacker form, creating a heavyweight battle out in pass patterns. The big man hit BC for 83 yards on four rushes and three catches, but it came through the Chippewas running disguised patterns of their own. All in all, it gave pro scouts an intriguing look at the potential first round pick.
"Just schematically we're growing," Addazio said. "We're continuing to grow. We're trying to adapt based on some of the personnel hits that we've taken. We're getting to the point where we have to account for future issues. So we're trying to do some things that give us a little bit more versatility. We're looking at a couple of different things right, trying to get absolutely to squeeze out the best we can out of everybody to give us a little bit more depth."
When he gets to the NFL, Landry is going to face more players with Poljan's size. Offensive linemen, especially on the edge, stand anywhere north of 6 feet 5 inches. They're big, with quickness and power, and they line up with tight ends who add hands and natural speed to those skills. Having success in those versatile situations only naturally will make him more appealing to scouts.
*****
Point After: Virginia Tech
This win serves as a good day for Boston College football. The Eagles punched the clock, went to work and did their job. It puts BC back in the win column, which in turn helps it turn the corner as the season nears the halfway point.
That can only be a good thing given their next opponent. Ranked No. 12 last week, the Hokies slid to No. 16 in the Associated Press poll following their home loss to Clemson.
Virginia Tech never really pressured the Tigers, committing three turnovers and falling behind in the first quarter by 21 points. It was their first loss of the season, coming in their conference opener. By falling to 0-1 in the league, it opened up the Coastal Division pennant race, and it puts extra emphasis on a need for a victory next week at Alumni Stadium.
Longtime rivals who first met in the Big East but blossomed in the ACC, they'll play on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. in a nationally televised game on ESPN2.
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Players Mentioned
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