Boston College Eagles College Football Preview 2021: Keys To The Season
Boston College Eagles Biggest Key: Offense
There’s got to be something for the running game. This main mode of transportation will still be through the air, but when the ground attack worked, BC won.
3-0 when running for more than 100 yards and 1-4 when going under 85, it’s more than just about the bulk yards. Yeah, when the Eagles were able to run well they stuck with it and controlled games, but they were also able to rip off enough big yards to make it worthwhile.
After averaging a pathetic 3.1 yards per carry, they have to raise that up to around five yards per pop and get more bang out of their buck. It’s inexcusable to not be able to hit four yards per carry eight times again.
Boston College Eagles Biggest Key: Defense
Get behind the line already. The Eagles generated a paltry 54 tackles for loss and a good chunk of the 25 sacks of production are gone.
Yeah, the coaching staff didn’t get too crazy with the alignments and packages and now they’re about to have some more fun, but it’s a big deal when a defense couldn’t get behind the line as the season went on.
To be fair, the Eagles had the most problems against Clemson and Notre Dame – they were pretty good – but it was all part of the problem for the run defense when it got gouged.
Again, the Tigers and Irish were obviously elite, but it’s no coincidence that those two and Virginia were able to run wild on the BC in the three worst games the D had at getting into the backfield.
Boston College Eagles Key Player To A Successful Season
DT Chibueze Onwuka, Sr.
The line isn’t exactly smallish, but there aren’t any massive Coke machines up front to take up a ton of space. The 5-11, 285-pound Onwuka should work in a rotation with 6-0, 290-pound TJ Rayam to try holding down a defensive front that has to do a whole more to get behind the line. It starts with the anchors being terrific.
Boston College Eagles Key Game To The 2021 Season
NC State, Oct. 16
Unless something crazy happens against Colgate, UMass or Temple, Boston College will be 3-0 before hosting Missouri. The ACC opener at Clemson follows that, and while last year was a whole lot of fun – a close call with the Eagles hanging around in a 34-28 loss – forget about it this time around.
There’s a week off before dealing with NC State at home in a pecking order game before the manageable second half of the season kicks in. Win against the Wolfpack, and all of a sudden the No. 2 spot in the Atlantic isn’t a crazy goal.
– Boston College Schedule Analysis
2020 Boston College Eagles Fun Stats
– 1st Quarter Scoring: BC 104 – Opponents 100
– Fumbles: Opponents 17 (lost 12) – BC 13 (lost 6)
– 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 13-of-16 (81%) – BC 9-of-14 (64%)