Boston College Athletics
Spring Practice Report – March 16, 2017
March 16, 2017 | Football
Eagles return to the practice field in full pads Saturday
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Boston College football team completed its second practice of the spring inside the bubble at Alumni Stadium Thursday morning. The Eagles finished their second practice in as many days in just helmets before putting on full pads for the first time Saturday.
Thursday's practice was just over two hours and Boston College offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler was pleased with the Eagles' progress offensively after two practices.
"It is very encouraging," said Loeffler. "If you go back and look at the video tape from day one and day two a year ago, you would almost cry. This year is totally different – we look like a totally different football team and have a long way to go still, but it is encouraging."
One key area Loeffler credits to the overall development of the offense was the amount of preparation leading up to the Quick Lane Bowl last December. "We were able to have a complete spring football in December, which was awesome," added Loeffler. "The kids were able to see our vision and what we want to get accomplished and obviously, it has been translating over to our spring."
The up-tempo, no-huddle offense the Eagles used in the Quick Lane Bowl featured 75 plays, including 29 points in the first half en route to the 36-30 victory over Maryland.
Looking ahead to the remaining 13 spring practices for the Eagles, Loeffler touched on what he hopes to see on the field this spring. "The quarterbacks have to play well – not just one guy, but two guys," Loeffler continued. The Eagles have improved the overall depth in the quarterback room as redshirt junior Darius Wade begins the spring as the starter with redshirt freshman Anthony Brown second on the depth chart. In addition, John Fadule, EJ Perry and Dennis Grosel have all shown flashes in the early going under center.
Practice Notes: One player who looked to be in mid-season form already after the first two days of spring practice is rising junior wide receiver Jeff Smith. Already one of the most explosive athletes on the team, Smith has shown excellent hands and route-running so far for the Eagles … while both practices were non-contact, it is easy to see the BC defensive line will be a group that can get to the quarterback in 2017. Highlighted by the return of All-America defensive end Harold Landry, defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni has some intriguing options to get to opposing quarterbacks in rising juniors Zach Allen and Wyatt Ray along with one of the more underrated interior defensive linemen in the ACC in Ray Smith … sophomore defensive back Hamp Cheevers has been one of the defensive backs who have caught the eye of the coaches after two practices … Boston College will wear full pads for the first time Saturday as the Eagles will spend the majority of the practice scrimmaging.
Thursday's practice was just over two hours and Boston College offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler was pleased with the Eagles' progress offensively after two practices.
"It is very encouraging," said Loeffler. "If you go back and look at the video tape from day one and day two a year ago, you would almost cry. This year is totally different – we look like a totally different football team and have a long way to go still, but it is encouraging."
One key area Loeffler credits to the overall development of the offense was the amount of preparation leading up to the Quick Lane Bowl last December. "We were able to have a complete spring football in December, which was awesome," added Loeffler. "The kids were able to see our vision and what we want to get accomplished and obviously, it has been translating over to our spring."
The up-tempo, no-huddle offense the Eagles used in the Quick Lane Bowl featured 75 plays, including 29 points in the first half en route to the 36-30 victory over Maryland.
Looking ahead to the remaining 13 spring practices for the Eagles, Loeffler touched on what he hopes to see on the field this spring. "The quarterbacks have to play well – not just one guy, but two guys," Loeffler continued. The Eagles have improved the overall depth in the quarterback room as redshirt junior Darius Wade begins the spring as the starter with redshirt freshman Anthony Brown second on the depth chart. In addition, John Fadule, EJ Perry and Dennis Grosel have all shown flashes in the early going under center.
Practice Notes: One player who looked to be in mid-season form already after the first two days of spring practice is rising junior wide receiver Jeff Smith. Already one of the most explosive athletes on the team, Smith has shown excellent hands and route-running so far for the Eagles … while both practices were non-contact, it is easy to see the BC defensive line will be a group that can get to the quarterback in 2017. Highlighted by the return of All-America defensive end Harold Landry, defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni has some intriguing options to get to opposing quarterbacks in rising juniors Zach Allen and Wyatt Ray along with one of the more underrated interior defensive linemen in the ACC in Ray Smith … sophomore defensive back Hamp Cheevers has been one of the defensive backs who have caught the eye of the coaches after two practices … Boston College will wear full pads for the first time Saturday as the Eagles will spend the majority of the practice scrimmaging.
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