Four Downs: Scrimmage No. 1

Photo by: John Quackenbos

August 12, 2018 | Football, #ForBoston Files

BC took to the field for its first game situation simulation on Saturday

By: Dan Rubin, BCEagles.com contributor

There is no way the first scrimmage of a preseason camp can ever quantify the rest of a season. Seven practices barely scratch the surface in comparison to the months ahead, and everything always seems to start with teams exhibiting the same rawness. It has to start somewhere, though, and for the first team units, 2018 began in earnest with Saturday's scrimmage.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, it also started with yellow handkerchiefs.

"We had too many penalties out there with the ones," head coach Steve Addazio said. "The ones took 69 snaps today, which is about 10 shy of a game, and we had 10 penalties out there. Last year, we were No. 2 in the country with four (penalties per game)."

The penalties threatened to overshadow BC's otherwise-strong performance. The Eagles saw success on both sides of the ball, especially in situational plays. Running back AJ Dillon cranked out a 30-yard touchdown run, and the offensive line plowed the road for touchdown after touchdown in goal line sets. But too many drives started with illegal procedure or contact penalties for Addazio's liking.

"This is the first Saturday we've had the officials out here," he said. "We've got to come back in here and make more of an emphasis to clean up the silly penalties. Throughout the day, the offense came out in first-movement periods and couldn't function because it was first-and-15 continually. Once they rectified that, they were able to move the ball well."

The positives will likely overtake the negatives over the course of a long season because they're more sustainable. John Phillips had a great day on the interior offensive line, and he blocked for both Travis Levy and Ben Glines in active period drills.

"I thought we did a good job in goal line and red zone and third down periods," Addazio said. "The penalties just put a bad taste in your mouth early."

The good news for BC is that all of the early mistakes can be easily rectified. Addazio pointed to the penalties as "operational" issues that don't show up until an officiating crew puts them under the microscope. The coaching staff will likely be upset in film review with any penalties called, but it's also a good thing in the long run if they're identified and corrected after just one scrimmage.

*****
First Down: The QB2 Competition

It's no secret that Anthony Brown will be the starting quarterback when BC plays UMass in September. Steve Addazio made that clear during Media Day last week, and he continues to reinforce the road back for his sophomore signal caller.

The backup position, however, is still up for debate. Saturday likely only made the decision tougher for the coaching staff as EJ Perry and Matt McDonald continued to compete with the first-team offense. Both enjoyed some success in a variety of situational football plays, though both also found tangible items on which to improve in the coming practices.

McDonald started the early theatrics by hitting tight end Hunter Long with a downhill pass right between the numbers that led Long with enough space to create a long gain after the catch. Later on, he hit Long again to extend a drive on third down, then did it again with a scramble before hitting wide receiver Jeff Smith with a sideline go route. He later scored on his own by using a quarterback sneak in a goal line situation.

"I have complete trust in my receivers, and they have complete trust in me," McDonald said. "So a lot of the time, I can get the ball thrown before they even break (to their spot). I can anticipate where they're going to be, and that's all on what we did in the offseason."

Perry, however, wasn't outperformed by any stretch. He threaded a pass to Michael Walker that found the end zone and had the offense humming in tempo drills early while crowd noise piped through the Fish Field House.

"This is my second go-round in camp," Perry said. "I've had two springs, and Coach (Scot) Loeffler is really good at getting us ready. It felt really good today. There were a few little things we need to clean up with penalties and whatnot, but it felt good (on Saturday)."

Both quarterbacks made some mistakes along the way, but that can be used as an opportunity. Both have now made quantifiable progress and are now ready to start identifying the next steps in their development as ACC-caliber quarterbacks.

"Everybody has unique skills," Addazio said. "Matt's unique skill is (that) he can anticipate throws. He doesn't have to see them open; he anticipates them and then is very accurate. EJ has got a tremendous arm, and he's got great athleticism. He, too, is starting to see the field. That's encouraging, but there is a learning curve to both of them and they're still in that learning curve."

*****
Second Down: Defensive Success

The second pass of the scrimmage wasn't necessarily a bad pass, but Lukas Denis turned it into one. He tipped the ball right in just the right position to linebacker Max Richardson, who picked it off for the first interception. It was the perfect read, and it's something the "No Fly Zone" defense is becoming dangerously effective at.

"It's always good to get into game-like situations and game-like environments," safety Will Harris, who also had a pass broken up, said. "When you suit up, it's to go, to take everything from practice and apply it (to a game)."

The defense saw its share of success thanks to its ability to make a play at the right moment. Nolan Borgersen, a converted wide receiver, made the play of the day when he came back to intercept a well-thrown ball. He sold the play, broke back and dove to undercut the route, catching the ball for an interception.

"There's a really good, competitive atmosphere," linebacker Connor Strachan said. "A lot of guys are making plays, but a lot of guys are also in position to be making plays. We can elevate each other. If someone makes a play, you want to get one. If Wyatt (Ray) or Zach (Allen) comes off the edge to get a sack, you start trying to get one, too. The standard for what's acceptable on defense is just higher."

In a lighter moment, Denis almost had a pick for himself. A thrown ball came right at him and nailed him in the chest. He never got his hands up, though, and it fell to the turf. He immediately laughed, knowing that it's a rarity since he finished last season second in the nation with seven picks.

"Obviously we know Lukas is going to bring those down, so I wouldn't anticipate seeing that ever again," Harris said with a laugh of his own.

*****
Third Down: Tempo

The Eagles averaged over 76 players per game last year and ranked as one of the 25 fastest offenses in the Football Bowl Subdivision. On Saturday, the scrimmage reinforced tempo will return in 2018 as both the first and second units progressively got faster.

It was fascinating how everything needs to execute in sync as soon as a play ends. The sideline signals the quarterback, who relays the play as teammates are getting set. There's a quick read and an immediate identification of coverage against either the run or pass, all while teammates are hustling to the new line of scrimmage.

"The second the ball is handed off or thrown, I have to find the ball, find the hash and find the play," EJ Perry said. "Then I need to get up to the ball, make sure everyone's set and run the play. We had a bunch of great plays (in Friday's practice) where we snapped the ball before the defensive line was even set, (so) it's really good to get that tempo going."

On Saturday, the Eagles had their problems with illegal procedure penalties but ultimately excelled on offense after the ball was in the hands of the quarterback.

"You have to identify the coverage (before the snap)," Matt McDonald said. "Obviously you have the play and go through the progressions. The line was giving me a lot of the time, and I trusted the receivers to run great routes to get some completions out there."

It's easy to analyze the offense, but the tempo play calls had an equal impact on the other side. The defense had to substitute its package and identify the offense to get set in less time before the snap. It made the calls more efficient while improving communication between the players on the field.

"Tempo makes us better (too)," Will Harris said. "When we make the tackle and the play ends, we have to get to the sideline (for substitutions), get the next call and get lined up with adjustments with our motions and splits. And we have to do that on the fly. So it's something that makes the offense better, but it (also) makes us better."

*****
Fourth Down: Special Teams

Michael Walker returned the scrimmage's opening kickoff for a big gain. It was a literal way to start a solid battle between the offense, which connected on a half dozen field goals, and the defense, which prevented any serious runbacks after that moment.

Punter Grant Carlson boomed several kicks with enough hang time to allow his coverage gunners to get downfield at returner Jeff Smith. It was tangible progress for the redshirt sophomore tasked with replacing longtime specialist Mike Knoll.

"I thought Grant punted the ball well," Addazio said. "He has been punting the ball well, which is important to us this year and he continued that today. He had some great punts, and I'm really pleased with the way he has come on. I was concerned about that coming in. He has shown me that he's really taken a big step forward."

Carlson joined kicker Colton Lichtenberg in the early success. Lichtenberg hit a 44-yard field goal and was successful on a half dozen attempts before the break in play. He combined with John Tessitore's two field goals for a successful day for a unit continuing to grow in snapping and holding, in addition to kicking.

"I think (Grant) and Colton (Lichtenberg) have each upped their game," Addazio said. "Jimmy Martin is snapping the ball really well, too, which is helping them. Jimmy's snaps have been pinpoint, which is a big improvement from a year ago."

*****
The Point After: The Chairman of the Board

I'm always a fan of watching warmups, and I especially love player reactions to certain songs. It's always fun to watch personalities shine. It's a wide range of the serious, no-nonsense approach to linebacker Kevin Bletzer's dance moves to a Drake song.

But I'll never forget the reaction - or lack thereof - when the playlist hit Frank Sinatra. The first notes of "My Way" had barely started when everyone's reaction ground to a certified halt.

Then there was Steve Addazio. He stood in the middle of the stretch line with a gigantic, beaming smile across his face.

"It was completely (my decision)," Addazio said. "Wasn't it nice? It just had a great, nice feel. It makes you feel great."

Asking Addazio about Sinatra after the scrimmage broke him into just as big of a smile as he had during warmups. I don't really blame him; I married into an old-fashioned, Italian family, and the classics are always primed in my in-laws' household.

I cooked dinner on Friday night with Sinatra, Dean Martin and Bobby Darin filling my kitchen. It's music that reminds me of homemade arancini, cacciatore and carbonara. It echoed the memory of the look on my mother-in-law's face (a combination of shock, horror and anger) when I told her I preferred my wife's meatballs and sauce (not gravy, per that same mother-in-law).

Coach, take it from a guy who knows the value of saying this. More Sinatra is always welcome.