Tag Archives: Doug Martin

ACC 2012 Season Preview: Boston College Eagles

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If Boston College Hopes to Win in 2012, QB Chase Rettig and the Offense Will Have to Show Vast Improvement in a New System

Team: Boston College Eagles

2011 W-L: 4-8 (3-5)

Head Coach: Frank Spaziani (20-19; three seasons)

Returning Starters: 17 (10 Offense, 7 Defense)

After 13 years of successful football, rife with postseason berths, Boston College missed a bowl game in 2011. They posted a losing record for the first time since 1997, and experienced their fourth consecutive decline in overall wins from the year before. Of course, for any program, this usually means you’re in a free fall, and it’s time for the coach to be shown the door.

Yet up in Chestnut Hill, athletic director Gene DeFillippo decided that head coach Frank Spaziani and his mustache will get one more go-around to try and right the ship. Even with 17 starters returning this season though, can he do so successfully?

In 2011, the Eagles’ offense was absolutely abysmal. They finished 100th in the country in passing yards, 82nd in rushing yards and a ghastly 112th in scoring, with just 18.2 points put up per game. Quarterback Chase Rettig was largely unimpressive, the receivers were non-factors and the running game just never quite got going without the school’s career rushing leader Montel Harris (lost early in the season to injury). To fix this, Spaziani changed direction on offense, bringing in offensive mastermind Doug Martin. Continue reading →

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Early 2012 ACC Football Power Rankings (July 17)

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New Clemson Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables (Right) Believes He Can Fix the Tigers’ Multitude of Problems on That Side of the Ball

I can see kickoff on the horizon! (Almost) But nonetheless, the 2012 college football season is getting closer and closer, meaning more discussions about actual football. As we’ve done this entire offseason, below is a completely arbitrary ranking of all 14 ACC schools, taking into account all random happenings in and around each respective program. These are the final offseason rankings before we dive into our 2012 season preview. Then, once the season starts (!!!) they’ll be updated weekly, just as they were last year.

1. Florida State Seminoles (LW: 1): Can Florida State finally make good on the lofty preseason expectations that have accompanied them these past few years? The pieces are all there — 10 returning starters on defense, an experienced, veteran QB in E.J. Manuel, and a very manageable schedule. Now it’s up to the ‘Noles to deliver.

2. Clemson Tigers (LW: 2): Complain about the defense all you want, but I’ve got a great feeling about new coordinator Brent Venables and his ability to make an immediate impact. Plus, how can you honestly bet against the team’s three-headed monster on offense? You saw how they manhandled talented defenses last year. Who’s to say they can’t do so again?

3. Virginia Tech Hokies (LW: 3): There is a boatload of hype surrounding Hokies quarterback Logan Thomas. But the only way he’ll be able to deliver on it is if a) his inexperienced offensive line can adapt quickly, b) the running game can take some of the load off his shoulders (dependent, in part, on the offensive line), and c) his receivers are ready and able to make an impact. Wideout D.J. Coles appears ready to become a bigger part of the offense in 2012. He’ll be called upon often to prove it.

4. NC State Wolfpack (LW: 4): The expectations are growing down in Raleigh, especially with a manageable schedule laid out in front of the Wolfpack. So long as Mike Glennon and David Amerson are healthy, there are very few squads in the ACC that can truly hang with these guys on either side of the ball.

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ACC Football Chat: What’s Wrong With Boston College Athletics (Specifically Football)?

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Who’s to Blame for the Decline of Boston College Sports?

Always looking to expand our content around here, we’ve started up a new weekly feature. Mike and I will be discussing different topics pertaining to ACC football and then posting up the conversation here. Disagree with us? By all means, share your thoughts below. Happy to continue to the debate.

This week’s topic: What’s Wrong With Boston College Athletics?

John: Okay, opening it up — what’s the issue with the Boston College athletic department right now? (we’ll get to football later)

Mike: Gotta say, I’m excited about the hockey team right now.

John: And the rest of the department?

Mike: Football and basketball have definitely left something to be desired…

John: I’d agree, but I’m outside for the most part. Comparing the basketball and football teams now to four years ago, what’s wrong? Feel free to expand as much as needed.

Mike: As far as football goes, they’ve gone from a potential top-10 team to an ACC cellar-dweller. Basketball is a different story. BC’s never really been a basketball school, but they did have some solid seasons in the early 2000s. They got a new coach before last season (which was LONG overdue), so I can understand them having to adapt to a new system, but 9-22 is BAD.

John: Not at all up to Syracuse (basketball) standards, obviously. Given the state of things for both sports — now and historically — would you say the period from ’97-’08 was the fluke, or is this the fluke? Continue reading →

ACC 2012 Spring Practice Expectations: Boston College

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Montel Harris's Health Is One Of Many Concerns For Boston College This Spring

As spring practices get under way, we’ll be previewing what needs to happen for the teams and players of the ACC, culminating with notes on all 14 spring games.

Today’s featured team: Boston College Eagles

For the Eagles, spring practice promises to be an intensive struggle to break old habits on offense, along with learning how to get along without defensive standout Luke Kuechly. For those unfamiliar, Boston College’s offensive attack was downright putrid last year. The team finished 100th overall in the FBS in passing yardage, averaging just 167.8 per game. They were 82nd in rushing yards, with 130.9 per game. And worst of all, the team finished 112th overall in scoring, at just 18.2 per game. Lucky for them, they’re experimenting with a new offensive coordinator for 2012, Doug Martin. Now, Martin was definitely instrumental in improving production in New Mexico State‘s passing game last season, with the Aggies finished 26th in the FBS in passing yards per game. But will he have the same effect on BC? And was his effect on New Mexico State really as great as the yardage figure advertises? While passing yardage went up, scoring was still poor (just 24.5 points per game) and the team only won four games. Now, the Eagles probably have better athletes than the Aggies, but they’re also facing better competition. Martin may be a great offensive coordinator, but he’ll have to prove himself against ACC competition to prove it. Continue reading →