Boston College Athletics
Louisville Remains Dangerous in Life After Lamar
October 10, 2018 | Football, #ForBoston Files
There are similarities that Louisville is ready for a BC-like breakout with a 2-4 record
It was one year ago when Boston College and Louisville converged football paths into a fateful game at Cardinal Stadium. The Eagles were 2-4 after losing to Virginia Tech, and prior losses to Wake Forest, Notre Dame and Clemson threatened to torpedo the team's bowl hopes. The Cardinals were 4-2 and one week removed from a national ranking after losing a competitive game at NC State.
There was no way of knowing that the 44,679 fans in attendance would see one of the season's best games. AJ Dillon exploded for 272 yards and four touchdowns, and Colton Lichtenberg kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired to lift BC over Louisville, 45-42. It was an absolute shootout featuring 38 points in the fourth quarter, including Dillon's infamous 75-yard stiff arm run to glory.
This week, the shoes are reversed. Boston College enters a game one week removed from a disappointing loss to NC State, and the 4-2 Eagles are hosting a 2-4 Louisville team loaded with talent but still in danger of losing its season.
"We're getting ready this week for a talented Louisville team that's athletic and quick," head coach Steve Addazio said. "Great coaching staff, great program and a lot of playmakers are on their field. We've had a good week of practice. I thought our kids are working hard fundamentally and schematically with great attitude, great work ethic and looking forward to the challenge."
Louisville comes to Chestnut Hill as a vastly different team than the last couple seasons. Lamar Jackson posted video game statistics against BC in both 2016 and 2017, accounting for three touchdowns in last year's fourth quarter alone. His 41-yard touchdown run with 5:03 remaining in the fourth quarter completed a Cardinal rally from down 14 points, capping a day where he led his team to 625 yards of total offense.
Jackson's now gone and playing on Sundays with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens as a first-round draft pick. In his place is a team that's continued to develop even as it's struggled to win football games over 2018's first half. Quarterback Jawon Pass in particular is finding his way, having thrown for 605 yards in Louisville's last two games. He completed 23-of-35 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns last week against Georgia Tech. It marked the first time in five games he also didn't throw an interception.
"You're talking about a big, talented guy," Addazio said. "He's athletic. I'm not there to tell you exactly what his special talents are but he certainly has real good talent. I think trying to adapt your system to what you want to do with your guys, I'm sure there is a lot of that going on."
Replacing Jackson with Pass is a necessity in college football. The game operates on three or four year cycles as opposed to the decade of contracts in pro football. Players are like lightning bolts because they can disappear as quickly as they first show up. Louisville had to start planning for life after Jackson almost as soon as he broke out as the starter, which in turn can be difficult for any program. It's something Addazio related to with how his program had to replace players like Andre Williams almost immediately after a breakout performance.
"There is an adjustment to all of that," he said. "These are talented guys that are playing hard. They have good ability. There is a new normal there. (Lamar Jackson) made up for a lot of ails. He made a lot of people right. I've been around guys who can do that. They are out there in the country right now. When you have an eraser like him, it makes people real smart. You could have the perfect defense called, and he could go 90 (yards) on you."
That creates an adjustment period as the offense competes against live action in the first few weeks of the season. Pass only has 1,059 yards on the season with six touchdowns compared to a 54% completion percentage and seven picks, and he continues to develop as a passer. He reached 300 yards passing against Florida State, a career milestone even though the Cardinals ultimately lost the game.
Jaylen Smith's presence at wide receiver helps, especially given that he posted 123 yards receiving against BC in 2016 and 118 last season. Earlier this season, he had five catches for 100 yards against Florida State. He pairs with Dez Fitzpatrick, who had 127 yards last year against the Eagles.
But it contrasts with a rushing attack that ranks second-to-last in the conference. There's a lack of balance there that's hurt the overall statistics. So even though the offense scored 55 points against Florida State and Georgia Tech, it remains last in total offense and scoring offense.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Malik Cunningham is capable of spotting a few run-pass option plays, and he broke off a 34-yard run against the Yellow Jackets last week. He's also the only player with a 100-yard rushing game this year, having gone for 129 against Western Kentucky. No running backs broke through in the season's first half, however; Trey Smith is listed as the team's starter with 137 yards on 29 carries for a team averaging less than 120 yards per game.
That doesn't mean Louisville can be taken lightly. BC was in a similar situation last year, and this game provided the springboard for the Eagles to become extremely dangerous to play against. It's something of a first-hand warning that a team can struggle with statistics in the first half before becoming a certified wagon in the second half of the year.
"This time of year, all of a sudden teams come out of their malaise a little bit," Addazio said. "It happens. All of a sudden the light goes on, (players) start to get a little experience. It's amazing how everything comes together all of a sudden."
Boston College and Louisville will kick off at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at Alumni Stadium. The game will be televised on the ACC Network RSN, which can be seen locally on NESNÂ Plus, and Fox Sports Go. The game can be heard on the BC IMG Sports Network and on satellite radio via Sirius channel 133, XM channel 194 and Internet channel 956. Streaming options are also available via the TuneIn app on mobile devices.
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There was no way of knowing that the 44,679 fans in attendance would see one of the season's best games. AJ Dillon exploded for 272 yards and four touchdowns, and Colton Lichtenberg kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired to lift BC over Louisville, 45-42. It was an absolute shootout featuring 38 points in the fourth quarter, including Dillon's infamous 75-yard stiff arm run to glory.
This week, the shoes are reversed. Boston College enters a game one week removed from a disappointing loss to NC State, and the 4-2 Eagles are hosting a 2-4 Louisville team loaded with talent but still in danger of losing its season.
"We're getting ready this week for a talented Louisville team that's athletic and quick," head coach Steve Addazio said. "Great coaching staff, great program and a lot of playmakers are on their field. We've had a good week of practice. I thought our kids are working hard fundamentally and schematically with great attitude, great work ethic and looking forward to the challenge."
Louisville comes to Chestnut Hill as a vastly different team than the last couple seasons. Lamar Jackson posted video game statistics against BC in both 2016 and 2017, accounting for three touchdowns in last year's fourth quarter alone. His 41-yard touchdown run with 5:03 remaining in the fourth quarter completed a Cardinal rally from down 14 points, capping a day where he led his team to 625 yards of total offense.
Jackson's now gone and playing on Sundays with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens as a first-round draft pick. In his place is a team that's continued to develop even as it's struggled to win football games over 2018's first half. Quarterback Jawon Pass in particular is finding his way, having thrown for 605 yards in Louisville's last two games. He completed 23-of-35 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns last week against Georgia Tech. It marked the first time in five games he also didn't throw an interception.
"You're talking about a big, talented guy," Addazio said. "He's athletic. I'm not there to tell you exactly what his special talents are but he certainly has real good talent. I think trying to adapt your system to what you want to do with your guys, I'm sure there is a lot of that going on."
Replacing Jackson with Pass is a necessity in college football. The game operates on three or four year cycles as opposed to the decade of contracts in pro football. Players are like lightning bolts because they can disappear as quickly as they first show up. Louisville had to start planning for life after Jackson almost as soon as he broke out as the starter, which in turn can be difficult for any program. It's something Addazio related to with how his program had to replace players like Andre Williams almost immediately after a breakout performance.
"There is an adjustment to all of that," he said. "These are talented guys that are playing hard. They have good ability. There is a new normal there. (Lamar Jackson) made up for a lot of ails. He made a lot of people right. I've been around guys who can do that. They are out there in the country right now. When you have an eraser like him, it makes people real smart. You could have the perfect defense called, and he could go 90 (yards) on you."
That creates an adjustment period as the offense competes against live action in the first few weeks of the season. Pass only has 1,059 yards on the season with six touchdowns compared to a 54% completion percentage and seven picks, and he continues to develop as a passer. He reached 300 yards passing against Florida State, a career milestone even though the Cardinals ultimately lost the game.
Jaylen Smith's presence at wide receiver helps, especially given that he posted 123 yards receiving against BC in 2016 and 118 last season. Earlier this season, he had five catches for 100 yards against Florida State. He pairs with Dez Fitzpatrick, who had 127 yards last year against the Eagles.
But it contrasts with a rushing attack that ranks second-to-last in the conference. There's a lack of balance there that's hurt the overall statistics. So even though the offense scored 55 points against Florida State and Georgia Tech, it remains last in total offense and scoring offense.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Malik Cunningham is capable of spotting a few run-pass option plays, and he broke off a 34-yard run against the Yellow Jackets last week. He's also the only player with a 100-yard rushing game this year, having gone for 129 against Western Kentucky. No running backs broke through in the season's first half, however; Trey Smith is listed as the team's starter with 137 yards on 29 carries for a team averaging less than 120 yards per game.
That doesn't mean Louisville can be taken lightly. BC was in a similar situation last year, and this game provided the springboard for the Eagles to become extremely dangerous to play against. It's something of a first-hand warning that a team can struggle with statistics in the first half before becoming a certified wagon in the second half of the year.
"This time of year, all of a sudden teams come out of their malaise a little bit," Addazio said. "It happens. All of a sudden the light goes on, (players) start to get a little experience. It's amazing how everything comes together all of a sudden."
Boston College and Louisville will kick off at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at Alumni Stadium. The game will be televised on the ACC Network RSN, which can be seen locally on NESNÂ Plus, and Fox Sports Go. The game can be heard on the BC IMG Sports Network and on satellite radio via Sirius channel 133, XM channel 194 and Internet channel 956. Streaming options are also available via the TuneIn app on mobile devices.
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