Addazio Media Availability: Sept. 12

Do you feel a little extra buzz this week knowing that it's Notre Dame?
You know what there's a buzz because, yes it is Notre dame and we're not going to deny that there is a natural rivalry in there. We played them two years ago and it was the same way. But there's also a buzz because our team is not happy. But we're going to charge this opponent.

Can simplifying stuff on offense help Anthony?
Absolutely. That's kind of what we did, but yes. Anthony is going to play great. He's going to have a great plan. That will happen. Everybody around him has to do their job and play well too. That's all part of it. Our center is going to have another week under his belt right now and that's going to help. These guys get another week under their belt and they go. There's some good plays made in that game. We got to make more of them and we have to make them more consistently. We have to take care of the football plain and simple. We can't have balls fumbled on the 26. It' not who we are and it hasn't been who we are all preseason camp. It's not going to keep going that way. That's going to end abruptly. We're just going to go play hard and physical and we're going to attack this game with a real passion and a real charge.

Biggest challenges facing Notre Dame?
I think they play really hard on defense, even more so than I remember two years ago. On offense, they have a quarterback that can beat you with his feet. We've played two of them already like that. I think he's a hell of a player. I know him. I think that he's really good. I think the challenges posed to us are taking care of the football on offense and making the plays that are very available to be made. On defense, don't give up those big hits. We've given a couple of hits up but overall, have played really, really well. But we have to eliminate those plays that move the chains and keep drives alive.

What did Ben do that convinced you that he could step into that position?
He was slotted to be the sixth and seventh lineman in the game. He's a talented guy and he's really had a great camp. But what happened was is we lost two centers. Shane has been out for over three weeks and abruptly, we lost Jon. Now we have to go to the next guy and the next best offensive lineman is Ben. Alec is ready to go. Alec is going to be a heck of a player here. He's 263 pounds right now and we're getting ready to play some pretty big men at center. So we have to get a big man ready to go. I've said it before and I'll say it again, he did some really good things in that game. He had one errant snap but to think that that wasn't going to happen would be naïve. And then he had some issues that any young guy is going to have. But he is a ballplayer. He had a heck of a day out here today, so he's just going to get better and better. It's the same with Anthony. The guy's going to improve every week. Along the way there's going to be some things, but I tell him all the time, roll through it and keep going. The sky's the limit with him, same with Ben.

You've got some guys on offense that have played with him. How does that affect how you prepare your game plan?
Well it helps that we've already prepared for two quarterback run teams and that's what we've been involved with. So I think that in itself helps us prepare for that. We've had some game reps and a whole bunch of practice reps. They are not exactly the same as the other two but there are some really carry over principles. We understand that offense, but it doesn't make it any easier. There's a give and take and the risk is that they take some shots too, and it's a long season. But he can throw it, he can run it. He's a big kid. He's a really good looking athlete. They also have a really good offensive line with future NFL players in it. They've got tow really good backs and they've got some really good receivers. This is a talented team we're playing right now. I think they've done a really fantastic job of getting their guys rallied back and they're playing hard. I think these are going to be two teams that are going to play really hard against each other. And the one who has the ability to take care of the football and execute. The plays that are there to be made, make them. I think that's going to be the team that has the success on Saturday.

Can you talk about Wimbush a little?
I thought he was a blue chip, premiere player. We were hoping at that time that we could get him here. He's a national prospect and for good reasons. You're talking about a guy who can throw and run. He's got size and he's a winner. I have a lot of respect for him. I wish we had a chance to get him here, but he's where he is and he's doing a heck of a job. And we are where we are and we're going to square off.

What makes that program special?
They got a great head coach, a great program. And they have for years. There's a lot of good talent there.
Two years is kind of an eternity in college football. But can you build at all from facing these guys two years ago.

I think what you can build on is having played them just two years ago, there's enough guys who we are and a part of the vibrancy of that game. They understand that. Sometimes if there's a long lapse from playing a team, it can drift away but it hasn't. That was a very exciting game two years ago. The atmosphere was fantastic and I think they are well aware of the fact that the atmosphere will be fantastic here as we move to 3:30 which will only help. And I think it's going to be a great football Saturday in Chestnut Hill.

On Connor Strachan:
He's been banged up here. This is his fourth week and he's working through all that. He's not really himself right now. He's got a little bit of a leg issue. He's adapting to playing in a different position, he's trying to get his body to 100 percent. He's working overtime right now mentally and physically. He's done a great job. He's a tough player, he loves football and he's going to make an impact in this game.

On AJ Dillon's role:
We will continue to get him more work. The next piece for him is being able to handle that extra load. As a back, you've got to be able to maintain the exactness of what you're doing as you're starting to get fatigued. The intensity at this level for every snap is pretty big.

On receivers getting open:
I thought we got open. He was pretty good with the ball. There was one wild segment where he was going to the right place but not accurately. There's obviously three of them that stick out to me: two of them are volleyball tipped and one was in the corner of the end zone. You've got to make those plays. They're huge plays when they happen. The throw game is phenomenal but you've got to catch it and make your plays or you're just behind. To be good in the run game, you've got to run. If you're throwing a bunch of balls and you're not completing them and you're throwing a little less, the risk you run is neither one of them really getting going. We've got to find that balance, but the productivity of that has got to increase. I think that's part of this new balance strike we're trying to get right now. We're pretty close, probably more so that we all think. It's got to happen. I've seen glimpses of it but we need consistency. I think some of these young players are moving along pretty good and I think the older players have got to rise up and make sure they're accountable. I have to do a great job of helping Anthony and other young guys with the style of things we're trying to do so it doesn't become too cumbersome for them, especially in the hype atmosphere of a big game.

Boston College Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

AJ Dillon

Connor Strachan

Related Videos