Heights Football Preview 2014

The Heights 2014 Football Preview

CHANGING OF THE GUARD MYLES WILLIS CHASING THE INEVITABLE

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ABDESMAD’S PEACE UNDER PRESSURE AND

MURPHY’S LAST RUN

2 THE HEIGHTS SEPT. 4, 2014

FOOTBALL PREVIEW OPPONENT OUTLOOK

PITTSBURGH 9/5

The Eagles are facing familiar foes and a few uncommon enemies in 2014. Here’s what’s coming up.

The Panthers had two running backs gain more than 750 yards in 2013.

Freshman James Conner rushed for 799 yards and eight touchdowns, while his backfield mate, junior Isaac Bennett, rushed for 797 yards and seven touchdowns. As a team, the Panthers rumbled to the tune of 1,634 yards in 2013, the team’s first year in the ACC, while facing powerhouses such as Navy, Old Dominion, New Mexico, and Virginia. Meanwhile, in Chestnut Hill, Andre Williams was busy finishing up a Heisman Finalist campaign, rushing for 2,177 yards. Pittsburgh’s top defender, DT Aaron Donald, the 13th overall pick in this year’s draft, racked up 28.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks for the Panthers, winning nearly every major defensive award: ACC DPOY, the Lombardi Award, the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award, and the Outland Trophy. An impressive haul, it comes close to matching former BC linebacker Luke Kuechly’s trophy case from 2011-12, when he became the ninth-overall pick of the draft.

WORDS TOMMY MELORO

MAINE 9/20

USC 9/13

The Black Bears went 10-3 in 2013. One of those wins came against UMass, while two of their three losses were against the University of New Hampshire. While the Black Bears beat out the Wildcats for the Colonial Athletic Association regular season crown, the Wildcats defeated the Black Bears in both their regular season finale and in the FCS playoffs. Overall the Eagles are just 4-3 all-time against the Black Bears, but their last meeting was a lopsided affair that ended without the Black Bears scoring a touchdown in a 34-3 victory for the Eagles at Alumni Stadium.

Last year, the Trojans had a revolving door at their head coaching spot.

Beginning the season was Lane Kiffen, who was fired (reportedly at the airport) after going 3-2. D-line coach Ed Orgeron was promoted to the head gig and went 6-2 over the final eight games. When he was passed over for the job in favor of Steve Sarkisian, Orgeron quit rather than coach the Trojans’ bowl game. While Sarkisian was named coach on December 2, almost three weeks prior to the team’s bowl game, Clay Helton, offensive coordinator, was the interim head for the game.

For a little perspective, BC hired Tom O’Brien in December 1996, and has hired just three other head coaches since.

COLORADO STATE 9/27

CLEMSON 10/18

NC STATE 10/11

Former leading rusher Kapri Bibbs compiled an impressive 1,741 yards on just 281 carries last year, an average of 6.2 yards per rush. In an early-season game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, however, Bibbs was only able to gain 12 yards on five carries for 2.4 yards per carry as the Crimson Tide completely stifled the Rams’ rushing attack. Meanwhile, in its two games against ranked competition, BC rushed for 321 yards on 66 carries for an average of 4.9 yards per carry, and the Eagles return both Myles Willis and Tyler Rouse while adding a number of highly touted freshman backs.

In 2013, the Wolfpack finished a miserable season with a record of 3-9, going 0-8 in ACC play. The Wolfpack had a day to forget (or remember, for BC fans) at Alumni Stadium in 2013. Andre Williams rushed for 339 yards and two touchdowns on the day. In this performance, Williams secured BC’s single-season and single-game rushing records, tied the school record for carries in a single game, and set the ACC single-game rushing record. Meanwhile, Nate Freese’s three field goals and three extra points on the day gave him the title of BC’s all-time leading scorer, and, as an exclamation point on the day, BC became bowl-eligible for the first time since 2010 with its 38-21 handling of the Wolfpack.

Clemson was an offensive juggernaut in 2013, scoring 40 or more points in eight games, five of which were over 50 points. The Tigers were only trailing at halftime in four games on the year, against Florida State, South Carolina, Ohio State, and BC. The Tigers came back against the Buckeyes and Eagles, but fell to the Seminoles and Gamecocks. Clemson lost its top four offensive skill players—quarterback Tajh Boyd to the New York Jets (he has since been cut), wide receiver Sammy Watkins to the Buffalo Bills, wide receiver Martavis Bryant to the the Pittsburgh Steelers, and running back Roderick McDowell, who has yet to stick with a team in the NFL.

VIRGINIA TECH 11/1

WAKE FOREST 10/25

The Hokies had the third-best defense in the nation in 2013, including the ninth-best rush defense. That did not stop Andre Williams from continuing his torrid pace—rushing for 166 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Logan Thomas led a passable offense that got the Hokies to an 8-5 record, including a bowl loss to the UCLA Bruins. The Hokies also forced 26 turnovers last year, while only losing 19 of their own. Four of those turnovers came against the Eagles—two interceptions from Thomas and two lost fumbles—helping the Eagles upset the Hokies at home.

Wake Forest allowed the 14th-fewest yards in the nation in 2013 on defense, an average of just 366 yards per game. On the flip side, the Demon Deacons finished 121st in the nation on offense, gaining just 291 yards per game and scoring an average of only 18.3 points per game. Wake actually outgained BC in 2013 through the air, 2,359 yards to 2,012 yards, but the Eagles were far more effective on the ground while Wake Forest struggled mightily—the Demon Deacons put up a total of 1,129 yards on a painful 2.9 yards per attempt. Offensive issues doomed the Deacons to a 4-8 record in 2013.

LOUISIVILLE 11/8

FLORIDA STATE 11/22

SYRACUSE 11/29

Louisville allowed the fewest yards in the nation last year, and gave up the second-fewest points per game, at 12.2 points per game. Led by first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater and now-Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong, Louisville went 12-1 in 2013, including a bowl win in the Russell Athletic Bowl over the Miami Hurricanes.

Louisville scored an average of 32.2 points per game, outscoring its opponents by an average of 20. Now in their first season in the ACC, the Cardinals have already secured their first ACC win, defeating Miami in their home opener by the score of 31-13. The Cardinals cue the start of the roughest portion of BC’s season when they come to Alumni in November.

The Seminoles, in case you hadn’t heard, are the defending ACC and National Champions. In 2013, they went undefeated en route to beating the Duke Blue Devils in the ACC Championship game and the Auburn Tigers in the National Championship Game. The Seminoles were fourth in the nation in total offense and seventh in the nation in total defense, a potent combination. They dropped 80 points on Idaho in late November, and their lowest point output of the year was in the National Championship game, when they scored 34 points. Apart from Auburn, the Eagles put up the best fight of any team on FSU’s schedule—BC scored 34 points, the most FSU gave up in a single game, and lost by 14 points, second to Auburn, which kept the game within a field goal.

In its first year in the ACC, Syracuse had its ups beating Maryland, NC State, and Wake Forest, and its downs losing to Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Clemson by a combined score of 164-17. The Orange snuck past the Eagles by a score of 34-31, becoming bowl eligible in the process.

After recovering a late turnover, the Eagles were forced to settle for a chip-shot field goal by Nate Freese, allowing the Orange to drive down the field and score the winning touchdown with just six seconds remaining on the clock, dashing BC’s hopes for an eight-win season. Losing starting RB Jerome Smith to the NFL is a blow, but most of the team’s other offensive weapons will return, including QB Terrel Hunt, who is hoping to help the Syracuse offense pack a little more punch than it did in 2013.

SEPT. 4, 2014 THE HEIGHTS 3

FOOTBALL PREVIEW FEATURE

A RUN WITH THE EAGLES

WORDS ALEX FAIRCHILD PHOTOS EMILY FAHEY

WITH BOSTON COLLEGE, TYLER MURPHY GETS HIS LAST RUN AS A DUAL-THREAT

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f you’ve followed Boston College football for the past decade, you were probably caught off guard when, on his second snap as quarterback, Tyler Murphy ran for 13 yards. By the end of the game, he ran 12 more times for 118 yards and a touchdown.

Of course, the hype for Murphy was already there.

Even though everyone knows his pedigree, it was still strange to see a BC signal caller get out of the pocket and look comfortable.

The Eagles have not had a quarterback that can air it out and gain yardage on the turf since Dominique Davis in 2008. Murphy went to Florida for four years, but was redshirted as a freshman and is now a graduate student at BC with one year of eligibility remaining. Head coach Steve Addazio recruited the Wethersfield High School football star when he was the offensive coordinator for the Gators. To build a relationship with his offensive line, he baked them cookies and played video games. He saw the field at Florida last year, but his season ended due to a shoulder injury. During the spring, he established himself as the starting quarterback—but here’s something you don’t know about his past.

In the 8th grade, Murphy’s Pop Warner team played in the national championship for American Youth Football, which was held at the University of Arizona. His team lost to Dale City, Va. by three points.

If he were less humble, he would pin the loss on a lack of preparation, because in middle school, there’s very little tape. The looks Dale City threw his way may have confused him.

At the collegiate level though, Murphy has a bit more access to film. Even as a backup at Florida for three seasons, he would watch tape of the opposition.

“Enough to the point where I was comfortable, and usually, I would always be paranoid until warmups,” Murphy said. “There’d be nerves, jitters, I’d be anxious, but to give you a time limit—I’d be a liar no matter what I say.”

The Wethersfield, Conn. native watches at least an hour of film each day to get a grasp on what the opposition does on each down. Playing against

UMass meant little tape was available for him to study. The Minutemen changed coaching staffs, and while Murphy watched tape of their spring game, little could be taken from it.

A non-conference matchup is an opportunity to prepare for ACC competition, though, and for Murphy, a better way to get acquainted with his offense. While the offense seemed to click against the Minutemen’s defense, it was never that simple.

In the spring game, Murphy traded time with quarterbacks Darius Wade and James Walsh, who has since left the football program. Murphy was the best of the bunch. Smooth in the pocket and at ease when forced to roll out, his footwork and vision down field gave Addazio no choice but to name him the starter.

Over the summer, he has been perfecting the playbook and watching himself on film to account for the details.

“I try to make sure my footwork is perfect, whether it’s handing the ball off or a running back-quarterback exchange,” Murphy said. “I try to make all my play fakes look as if it’s play-action, and my play-action is looking as if I’m handing the ball off to run.”

He gave the ESPN camera crew at Gillette Stadium on Saturday a tough time, faking them out on multiple occasions. Murphy’s versatility lends Addazio’s offense another dimension. What was a handoff to Andre Williams or pass to Alex Amidon game plan has turned into a multi-pronged and unpredictable assault going forward—which defined Murphy’s role at Wethersfield High School.

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s a quarterback, running back, and kick returner in high school, not to mention a school-record holder in the triple jump, he leaned on the athleticism that he developed at 6:30 a.m. workouts to own opposing defenses. He was an all-state return man, who once scored six touchdowns in a game, which included taking back a kick and a punt for a score. His high school head coach, John Campanello, let Murphy do his thing in high school, though that had to

change in college.

“I kind of became a run-first quarterback, throw second,” Murphy said. “When I got down to Florida, that’s when things had to switch up, because everybody’s just as fast as you, if not faster.”

Murphy has adapted to pocket passing. Over the summer, he picked up the tendencies of some of the professional quarterbacks he emulates from watching film of Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, and Drew Brees.

“Tom Brady’s so smooth in the pocket,” Murphy said. “He doesn’t panic if there’s a rusher coming at him. He’ll just step out of the way and let his line pick them up. His delivery—he always has his shoulders level.

He’s always using his hips to help with his throwing, he doesn’t really throw with his arm much.

He uses his body, which allows for prettier balls and more accurate balls.”

Murphy admires Russell Wilson’s knack for extending plays and throwing on the run, because as good as Murphy’s legs are, there is a lot of emphasis on playing within the pocket. In practice, one drill sticks Murphy in between four cones with a coach in front, who points in different directions, so that he can become a great passer. So much work on that makes it easy to forget that he has his legs to scramble. There are times that Addazio has to remind Murphy about the extra piece of his game.

Tips and reminders like that are free flowing among BC’s offense, especially with the quarterbacks. The trio of signal callers study the playbook together to make sure everyone is on the same page. Murphy’s football IQ and experience helps him teach his freshmen how to be leaders—something Murphy is still learning.

“Your quarterback has to be a captain-leader, regardless. Make no mistake about the fact that he’s got to be the most dominant leader on the field, and right now, he is.” — Steve Addazio, Head Coach

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“The quarterback still has to be one of the biggest leaders on the team. He has to be able to run the offense.” — Darius Wade, Quarterback

have.

“I try to be an extension of the coaching staff in a way,” Murphy said. “If guys don’t feel like going to the coaches about something or they want to talk about something or vent about something, I try to

eadership is complex, though.

There are those who approach situations with a flamboyant confidence, like Jameis Winston, and those who use character, hard work, and a win-first mentality to get things done, like Tom Brady. The best leaders do it all, but most importantly, if they tell someone to do something, they will do it.

“I’m not one of those big rah-rah guys, and coach Addazio’s gotten onto me about that,” Murphy said. “When it’s time to be a rah-rah guy, I have to step up and do that.”

As a field general, Murphy must deliver instructions to teammates and motivate those around him. Murphy did not meet the criteria of an official team captain, which required players to be in the program for at least a season, but he’ll have to act like one.

Even though sophomores like Myles Willis and Tyler Rouse have been at BC longer than he has, Murphy has been a student-athlete in a major football conference longer than they

be a guy that’s there that they can talk to.”

The above pertains to the aforementioned Wade and Flutie. While Murphy did not have the experience of training his successor in high school, who was a slot receiver, he did have to compete with Wade in the spring, and he now mentors both in a two-way relationship.

“Anytime, they’re willing to say something, I’m definitely open to listen, and evaluate, and watch the film, and really just take it as if they were Coach Day telling me something,” Murphy said.

There is little time left for learning, though, and Murphy will be the first to tell you that the season goes by in a flash. For a young team with dreams of Charlotte, N.C., it will need a quarterback, who has running backs behind him that have been on Chestnut Hill longer, to step up regardless of a squad status. Murphy not only has to run the offense, but control it. When necessary, he’ll have to crack down on teammates to get them in the right position. At BC, the all-state returner will lead a young offense, and with a bit more preparation available to him, perhaps he won’t come up three points short in his next championship game. 

4 THE HEIGHTS SEPT. 4, 2014

SEPT. 4, 2014 THE HEIGHTS 5

FOOTBALL PREVIEW FEATURE

SHIFTING LANES WORDS CONNOR MELLAS PHOTOS EMILY FAHEY

llege

ton Co s o B o t n i d e d lis explo

il W s e l y M , r e b Last Septem ms supernova, ia ill W e dr An e th of st id m e th in y nc va football rele playing a breakout game a gainst FSU. Willis quickly became the No. 2 back, suprisin g defenses wi th his dynami a lowered sm and speed shoulder . Now, with , Willis is trying to go from s urprise g uy to the guy.

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t’s a perfect day for football. Autumn will follow the Boston College football team to South Carolina eventually, but on this October Saturday, summer rules. Grills are firing by the thousands, Friar’s Tavern readies gallons of Jet Fuel for the thirstiest breed of tailgaters, and the baby-blue sky creates a striking contrast with the tens of thousands of orange-clad Tigers fans swarming Death Valley.

BC is playing Clemson, the No. 3 team in the country, and to the horror of the increasingly frustrated horde of home-team fans, an entire quarter has elapsed—but the scoreboard still reads 0-0. That’s about to change.

Second and 10, Chase Rettig takes the snap—it’s a draw. Rookie running back Myles Willis takes the handoff, gets a diving block from his tight end, and turns on the jets, bursting into wide space. Nearly 400 ecstatic BC fans, assuming Andre Williams is barreling down the field, holler a variation of “Dre” or “Andre” as Willis shrugs a freshman defender and finishes his 38-yard trip to the end zone. Later in the day, they’ll realize that No. 44 was on the sideline. Right now, though, they’re simply savoring BC’s unexpected lead. In the end zone, as the rumbling boos of the Clemson faithful score the aftermath of his first career rushing touchdown, Willis does the same.

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lmost one year, 16 pounds of muscle, and countless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches later, it’s inevitable. Well, actually, he’s inevitable.

“If the shoe fits, you gotta wear it, and I just beat everybody constantly,” Willis said, stifling a laugh.

“I mean, it gets to the point now, like I feel bad,” he continued. “I started nicknaming myself ‘The Inevitable.’”

Willis is, of course, referring to the now defunct college football video game, NCAA 14. According to the sophomore running back, he’s the best on the team— and quarterback Tyler Murphy is often a victim of his expertise, allegedly. Willis hates playing as himself or as BC, though—his superstition means that a fumble or bad performance on the screen spurs fears of similar problems

on game day.

Ever since Williams played the last down of his record-obliterating senior season in Shreveport, L.A., Willis has been tapped as a leader of BC’s running back hydra. With 346 yards and two touchdowns off of 60 carries last year, the Georgia native excelled when called upon, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He posed a threat in the air, recording five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown, and returned 30 kickoffs over the course of the season. Not much has been said about who Willis is, though. Most stories tend to circle back to comparisons with Williams—played-out discussions of the passing of wisdom and talent from the Doak Walker Award-winner to his understudy. To begin understanding Myles Willis, it helps to look backward.

“I mean he just absolutely is like a little kid on Christmas morning, every day,” drawled Willis’ high school football coach, Marist’s Alan Chadwick, over the phone one afternoon.

Chadwick was eager to talk about Willis— just about everyone is. The coach affirmed an interview request with instructions to call anytime and noted that Marist Football still loves Willis to death.

“He’s worked my camps every year that I have for little kids,” Chadwick said. “And I’ll be up there speaking in front of the kids and all the other coaches are back in the background kind of jerking around and all that stuff, but Myles is right up there next to me hanging on every single word.”

Since he began playing football in kindergarten, or whenever the earliest age he was allowed to play was—he can’t remember anymore—Willis has played for just three head coaches and occupied almost every position on

gets to the sideline. Breaking into fourth gear, he crosses into the end zone for his first touchdown.

His father runs with him along the edge of the field, jumping up and down and celebrating his son’s moment.

How important are these two memories? It’s not completely crazy to think they may represent two forces swirling and battling, pushing Willis forward: a love of the game and fierce desire to compete, and a lurking fear of what could happen if he doesn’t do everything in his power to succeed.

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hen you really break it down, the difference between a five-yard run and an 80-yard touchdown, a lot of times it’s the little things,” Willis explained. “But if you’re consistent in what you do on every play, then you never know which play’s gonna be the 80-yard touchdown. You never know if that back side safety’s gonna make a wrong move, and that’s gonna open up the front lane, and you’re gone.”

BC officially lists Willis at 5-foot-9, 203 pounds—he ate and worked his way up from 187 pounds over the course of the year, and now that his body is capable of withstanding more punishment, he’s focusing on consistency. That means thinking about football constantly and finding moments of relief only when the game is over.

“I wake up, heart beating fast, because I was

Willis scored his first career rushing touchdown against Clemson, reaching the end zone on a 38-yard run.

GRAHAM BECK / HEIGHTS SENIOR STAFF

the field other than kicker. During his high school years with Chadwick, he spent time on both sides of the line of scrimmage, playing in the secondary his sophomore year before becoming the team’s starting quarterback for his junior and senior seasons.

As quarterback and captain, Willis spearheaded a predominantly option-based offense and became acquainted with different defenses and the art of making lightning-quick decisions—invaluable skills for a college running back. What Willis still considers his most valuable trait—his competitive nature—was there long before high school, though.

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illis brings up two diametrically opposed football memories. In the first he is 10 or 11 years old.

It’s the first thought that comes to his mind. His team is 2-0,

heading on its first road trip. There’s music playing in the background, and it’s a sizeable crowd for a little league game. Willis and his team are so nervous they can barely warm up, let alone play. Before long, they’re losing badly. It’s 40-something to nothing and the clock is winding down, but Willis is still running, chucking up passes, and acting like his team can claw back into the game. They lose, but he never stops competing, and Willis’ dad, his coach, is proud of him. Willis believes this is the moment his dad realized he was a true competitor. This is his most lasting memory of football growing up.

The second memory is a happier one. Willis is wearing No. 18 and playing for the Colts. It’s his first year at quarterback. He favors the run significantly more than Peyton Manning. Naked bootleg, 18-sweep—Willis feints to the right and

THE REST OF THE RUNNING BACK CREW

Height: 5’8” Weight: 194

Tyler Rouse

Height: 6’0” Weight: 215

John Hilliman

Height: 5’10” Weight: 207

Marcus Outlow

Height: 5’10” Weight: 212

Richard Wilson

dreaming about scoring a touchdown, or preparing for whatever blitzes they might come at and how to attack the defense,” Willis said, describing his nights leading up to a game. “I’m always that type of person thinking about the game, and it’s almost like a relief once the game is over, because you can take a rest—because you spent so much time with your mind circled around the game that it’s ridiculous.”

Last Saturday, Willis 2.0 premiered in BC’s 30-7 win over UMass at Gillette Stadium. As one of the fastest players on the team and a possessor of “competitive speed”—the ability to run his best when chased by defensive backs looking to rip his head from his shoulders—Willis always poses a breakaway threat.

At his core, Willis remains a flashy one-cut, outside speed runner. Just get north and go, try to book it past everybody. Attempting to become BC’s serviceable every-down back means developing a bigger power running game, though, which is exactly what Willis has done. It’s this combination of style—speed, flash, and power—that can turn Willis into a deadly threat on all four downs.

While the big run never came on Saturday, Willis showed he’s capable of making the transition from a fleet-footed sprinter to a barreling northsouth runner. Splitting carries with his classmate Tyler Rouse, Willis picked up a touchdown and 57 yards on 16 carries and took a bruising rushing and blocking up the middle.

So, what happens next? Can Willis become

the guy for B C? Does BC even need the guy?

Addazio’s running back pipeline is loaded with young talent. Between the sophomores,—Willis and Rouse—and the freshmen—Jon Hilliman, Marcus Outlow, and Richard Wilson—there are some seriously big bodies in the mix and a variety of running styles at BC ’s disposal.

One thing is certain, though—when Williams graduated, Willis’ place on the team began to change.

H

ome never drifts Quarterback Tyler Murphy and Willis have developed a close relationship. too far from fight against is, he and Rouse, they’re so accountable, Willis’ mind. Any chance he gets to hook up his iPod in they’re so determined that they almost try too hard the locker room means two things: Atlanta rap, and sometimes,” Addazio said. “They want everything groans from teammates who are sick of Willis’ Atlanta perfect, they’re like that. Just relax and go play a little rap. He talks to his family constantly, leaning on them bit.”

The perfectionism goes back to the very beginfor support as he attempts to shoulder the stress of ning. With his dad as his coach, Willis grew up trained becoming a leader.

“It’s different because you feel a lot older than to think like a coach, correcting mistakes in his mind you actually are,” Willis said. “A lot as soon as they happened, and making adjustments of the times, I feel, I feel like a senior. even before he could be told. To this day, when he lets Andre left, and I’m stepping in his down a coach, inside he feels like he’s letting down spot, but really you gotta remember his dad. you’re only a sophomore, and everyt’s a perfect day for football if your name is thing’s different for everyone.”

Myles Willis. The sky is clear and the late-sumWillis speaks like a leader almer sun is baking the Alumni Stadium turf ready. Describing the strengths deep into the 80s, but it doesn’t come close to and styles of his teammates and the fazing the kid from Georgia. Willis is sweatpotential of the running back unit, Willis comes off as humble yet con- ing from top to bottom. Friday night’s ACC match fident, flattering but utterly sincere. against Pittsburgh is on the mind—it has been ever Rouse? He’s a really well-balanced since he ran back into the tunnel immediately after type of runner. Hillman and Wil- the UMass game.

For Willis, Friday’s home opener presents son? They are two big, strong kids.

Outlow? Well, Outlow reminds another chance to explode on the field. It’s another Willis of Willis, nice feet and really opportunity to break tackles, hit the open lane, and nice hips. unleash his competitive speed. It’s another 60 minutes The growth isn’t lost on Addazio, of the game he’s played for as long as he can rememwho called Willis a veteran and not- ber, the game capable of making him nervous simply ed his confidence, but also pointed because he’s worried that he’s not already nervous. It’s out the double-edged sword of another day of doing what he loves, and making his Willis’ obsession with detail. family and friends proud in the process. It’s another Willis’ sophomore debut against UMass was solid if unspectacular, he recorded a touchdown and 57 yards on 16 carries.

“I think the thing Myles has to chance for Myles Willis to become The Inevitable. 

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“

As a player you want to surround yourself with guys like Myles. So I’m looking forward to playing with him this season, he’s going to have a great season, and I think teams are gonna really be surprised at how fast he can be, how elusive he can be, and [how] if he needs to, he can put his shoulder down.” — Tyler Murphy, Quarterback

6 THE HEIGHTS SEPT. 4, 2014

FOOTBALL PREVIEW RECAP

DIVERSIFIED RUN GAME UNLOADS ON MINUTEMEN IN OPENER MARLY MORGUS Last year, Boston College fans grew accustomed to a certain level of consistency: Andre Williams rushing again and again, racking up a significant portion of the Eagles’ offense through his powerful run game.

On Saturday, observers of the BC-UMass game didn’t get what they were used to, though.

With Williams suiting up in blue for the New York Giants this season, replacements needed to come along and fill his 2,000-plus-yard gap. While many expected sophomore Myles Willis to take the lead, Saturday’s game turned into a multi-part effort as Tyler Rouse, freshman Jon Hilliman, and transfer quarterback Tyler Murphy bolstered the Eagles to a 30-7 win.

The BC offense dominated the first half, though it didn’t immediately show on the scoreboard. While Alex Howell and Joey Launceford each posted a field goal, six points were all the Eagles had to show for their 276 yards of total offense on 45 plays—blowing UMass’ 84 yards and 24 plays out of the water.

On two occasions, the Eagles got in their own way and took costly holding and false-start penalties that pushed them back a total of 55 yards in the game.

“Thought our team played a strong, hard, pretty clean game … a couple early penalties cost us in the red zone,” said head coach Steve Addazio.

All of the numbers besides the most important ones—the score—were there. Willis had 11 carries for 63 yards in the first half and was followed closely by Rouse, who had nine carries for 57 yards. Eclipsing both was dual-threat Murphy, who had more yards on his feet than he did through the air in the first half—running for 92 yards on nine carries and passing for 65 yards on 15 attempts.

“I don’t want to get in the habit of just relying on my feet,” Murphy said. “I want to take what the defense gives me … if somebody’s open, take it … that’s something I want to do, but

“

sometimes a gap opens up, it might be third and short, it could be a close throw, and I really just want to get that first down. I don’t want to rely on my feet, but if it’s there, Coach always says don’t be afraid to take off and get the first down.”

While Willis and Rouse acted as workhorses, neither of them managed to break through coverage and put up longer runs—neither had a gain of more than 13 yards on one carry in the first half.

“We are a real strong, physical, kind of move-the-ball-down-the-field team,” Addazio said.

“But I would like to see if we can create big yardage explosives.”

The Eagles entered the second half with a significant statistical advantage, and from there they cracked through UMass’ defenses and started putting real points on the board.

On their first drive of the half, the Eagles moved more efficiently downfield. Hilliman took his first carry for seven yards, and Rouse and Murphy provided steady gains, including a 19yard pass completion to converted wide receiver Josh Bordner. After a pass interference call in the end zone put the Eagles on the 2-yard line, Willis took two handoffs for a yard each to score BC’s first touchdown of the season.

The Eagles would make it to the end zone on their next two possessions, settling for a field goal on their second to last possession of the game. The final statistics would show a shared load between Willis and Rouse, with 16 and 19 carries, respectively, for a total of 57 and 87 yards.

Ahead of both of them on the stat sheet was Murphy, who finished the game with 13 carries for 118 yards on the ground and one touchdown.

“We were extremely proud and excited about Tyler today,” Addazio said. “He managed the game like a veteran big-time player … he was strong, had a great look in his eye.” 

Thought our team played a strong, hard, pretty clean game—a couple early penalties cost us in the red zone.”

— Steve Addazio, head coach

EMILY FAHEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

EMILY FAHEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

A win’s a win, but bring on the weird CONNOR MELLAS

On the first Saturday of college football in 2014, Tyler Murphy sprinted and stutter stepped his way to 118 rushing yards, Myles Willis and Tyler Rouse bruised UMass’ defense with 27 bulldozing runs, Boston College’s secondary bent frequently but only broke once, and the Eagles picked apart the Minutemen 30-7 in a game that started a few minutes late because UMass students walked approximately 67 miles through a desert of fire to reach their seats.

Despite the fact that BC somehow managed to rack up 276 offensive yards in the first half but hit the locker room with just a tenuous six point lead, Saturday’s strangest scene occurred midway through the fourth quarter.

With an uncomfortable combination of fascination and confusion, I watched as three grown men sporting black pants, black baseball caps, and burgundy No. 32 UMass jerseys pinned their arms to their sides and rolled back and forth behind the field goal like three pathetic hot dogs spinning on a shady turf hotdog roller.

For a time I managed to focus on the game again, but within minutes the terrific trio was back to their outlandish ways, lying on their backs and staring at the cumulus cloud-dotted New England sky, likely imagining a world in which UMass was not down 20 points and they did not have to imitate earthworms.

Finally, after waving their arms in unison and performing lackadaisical stretches, two of the worm impersonators got on their hands and knees to form a base, onto which the third hopped to provide the tip of a three-man pyramid. At that point, I determined that they were cheerleaders, and that I was not hallucinating, which I had secretly feared.

I bring this weird anecdote up for two reasons. One, it’s haunting

me, and two, its surreal bizarreness presents a perfect anti-metaphor for The Battle Of The Bay State.

Heading into BC’s season opener, there was a very slim chance the Eagles were going to fall to the Minutemen. And they never came close to losing—even when the score was tight, Steve Addazio’s team was firmly in charge of the game. The way BC won, though, was exactly how a team that lost key leaders in every skill position can be expected to win in its first game. Mistakes were made, new guys stepped up, and it took a while, but BC found its groove. It was a perfectly adequate and predictable game, and the only truly unexpected maneuvers came from those UMass cheerleaders.

After losing Nate Freese, who stayed perfect through 20 field goal attempts in 2013, BC missed a field goal and cycled through two kickers, neither of whom Addazio seemed particularly thrilled with after the game.

As predicted, Willis and Rouse stepped into the big-time running back gigs, averaging 5.6 and 6.3 yards a carry, respectively, and Murphy showed exactly why Addazio brought a veteran quarterback in from Florida—with the exception of one bad throw, the QB was a sharp decision maker and excellent on the day.

Defensively, Josh Keyes was a physical presence to be reckoned with, and BC pressured the hell out of UMass all day and held the Minutemen to 202 total yards of offense.

Overall, not too much was revealed about Addazio’s team on Saturday. The pint-sized thunderbolt Sherman Alston only got in on a few plays, Murphy never had to worry about falling behind and playing catch-up, and BC stuck with the same game plan all day— pound the rock until it breaks.

But come Friday night, perfectly average isn’t going to cut it against a Pitt football team that blew Delaware into the stratosphere with a 62-0 beatdown. BC’s second matchup was already vitally important, and last week it became significantly more interesting. I, for one, wouldn’t mind if it gets a little weird out there.

EMILY FAHEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

SEPT. 4, 2014 THE HEIGHTS 7

FOOTBALL PREVIEW FEATURE

WORDS MARLY MORGUS

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PRESSURE POINT

here is an innate contrast between Mehdi Abdesmad and the function that he serves on the football field.

In football, defense takes on a different nature. While on other fields you have a ball to protect or a goaltender to support, as a defensive lineman, the only thing that you have to protect is your field position.

Defense, in football, is an attack based on the aggression of the linemen, who do all they can to pin back the offense.

“I’m a firm believer that you play the game on the balls of your feet, not on your heels,” said defensive coordinator Don Brown when he was hired in 2012. “From day one, we’re going to be aggressive. We’re going to attack the line of scrimmage.

We’re going to get after the quarterback. We’re going to play with our hair on fire on defense. I’m a big believer in playing for tackles for loss and being disruptive and making life difficult for the quarterback. We’re going to attack. That’s the style of defense that I’ve employed. We’re going to fly around and attack the pass.”

Abdesmad’s job is all about pressure and attack. He takes the field, lines up opposite the center, and jumps as soon as the ball is snapped. The 6-foot-7 defensive lineman from Montreal is charged with applying enormous pressure to anyone who gets in his way and doing his best to transfer that pressure onto the opposing quarterback and wreak havoc on the opponent’s offensive plans.

Have a conversation with Abdesmad, though, and the pressure and aggression that he exerts on the field vanishes. He’s not loud or flashy, but rather is soft spoken and of few words. When he does speak, in his short sentences with a hint of a French-Canadian accent, there are two phrases that come out of his mouth most often.

“I want to go hard every game.”

“I have to just do my job.”

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rowing up in Montreal, football was not always the clear direction for Abdesmad’s athletic pursuits. As a young boy, his father encouraged him to play soccer, but it didn’t last for long.

“My dad wanted me to play soccer,” he said. “Then I didn’t like it, and one day I was walking and saw a poster like, want to try football? I saw the guys practicing, and I tried it and I liked it.”

While his father didn’t initially approve, when he saw his 9-year-old’s aptitude at linebacker, he came around. Although Abdesmad’s father passed away when he was just 16, he never let the family tragedy deter his athletic pursuits.

“Me and my family were always tight, and that just made us tighter—they’re always coming to the games,” he said.

Abdesmad says that it’s his family—his mother and two older sisters—that motivates him to this day.

“My mom, she’s a really strong woman,” he said. “Since my dad died, she’s stayed really strong, with my family and all that. She was there for all my rehab, and she comes to every home game.”

These strong family ties played a role in his decision to come to BC. While he knew that he was looking for a good academic school with a strong football program, those are characteristics that any player will look for. For Abdesmad, there was one more.

“It’s a good school, a good program, it’s always been known for a good defense, and it’s close to home,” he said. “My family can come to games, so that’s best for us.”

Upon his arrival at BC, the biggest adjustment for Abdesmad came in terms of the speed of the game.

“As a freshman you have to learn to be fast and play strong, and you get used to the game and just get into it,” he said. “O-Lines here, if you don’t go hard they’ll knock you off the ball, so you have to go hard.”

Abdesmad played in 19 games over the course of his first two years, operating as a defensive end in Frank Spaziani’s system. The arrival of the Addazio era, however, brought a literal shift for Abdesmad. They moved him inside to defensive tackle. All of a sudden, not only did he have to learn a new playbook—he had to learn a new position.

The decision made sense. Abdesmad had gotten bigger, and at 6-foot-7, 297 pounds, the only defensive player for the Eagles that surpasses Abdesmad in height is Brian Mihalik, and no one on the defensive line weighs more than him.

With the transition to defensive tackle going smoothly, 2013 was gearing up to be a break-out year. At his new position under the new coaching staff, Abdesmad was adjusting and building in the opening weeks. He had two solo tackles against Villanova, then two solos and three assisted against Wake Forest.

Those two solid performances led Abdesmad and the 2-0 Eagles up to a big test at USC, and while Abdesmad put up one of the best performances of his career with seven tackles and a sack for a loss of eight yards, the Eagles did not, losing 35-7.

“I’m trying to go hard every game,” Abdesmad said. “It’s not like if the team is losing, it isn’t anything, you have to go hard and try to help the team win. If I have a big game and we lose it doesn’t mean anything.”

BC faced another test the next week, this one against the eventual National Champion Florida State team. Despite most expectations, BC hung with the ’Noles for the better part of the game, and Abdesmad put together another powerful performance through the first half and into the second. In the third quarter, though, he rushed from the line, applying his pressure to Jameis Winston, and he was blindsided, the hit coming at a time when his foot wasn’t planted right—his left patellar tendon was torn.

The injury was season-ending, and Abdesmad had to watch from the sideline as the Eagles finished their first 13-game schedule since he arrived at BC. “At first I was angry, but you just have to move on and get back,” he said. “It was hard. I came here to play football, so when I was off and seeing my team playing it sucked. I was staying in the booth and watching the guys playing.”

The road to recovery was a long one. Unable to play any spring ball, Abdesmad had to stay on the sidelines until the Eagles’ summer camp, focusing on rehab and assisting his teammates in whatever ways he could. Come camp, though, he was able to play, and with each day of practice he felt a steady improvement in his condition.

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We’re going to attack. That’s the style of defense that I’ve employed. We’re going to fly around and attack the pass.”

— Don Brown, Defensive Coordinator

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ith a new season comes a healed knee, and Abdesmad played in the Eagles’ first game last Saturday against UMass in which the BC defense held UMass with a firm grip, limiting the Minutemen to just 202 yards of total offense.

As a senior on a team that lost a significant number of its weapons on both sides of the ball, he sees it as his duty to transition into a leadership role, which is split an even 50-50 between upperclassmen and underclassmen. Once again, though, he does not take his leadership role with the aggressive, attacking nature of his position.

“I have to be a leader and just go hard and show the guys how to make plays,” he said. “I’m not a verbal leader. If I need to do it, I’ll say something, but usually I’m more like doing things.”

The example that he sets is one of calm focus before the snap and quick aggression after it. While he admits to feeling nerves on game day, he never lets those nerves get the best of him—especially when he steps on the field.

“In the locker room, I’m trying to make jokes and stuff, but on the field I’m more focused,” he said. “I’m not thinking too much, I’m just trying to do my job, that’s it.”

His expectations for this season are simple. While some have jumped to make a comparison between his season this year and Kasim Edebali’s breakout last year, he shrugs off any of the pressure that may put on him, sticking to his guns and saying that all he expects from himself is to do his job and do it well. If he does that, he says, other good things will come for the team.

Abdesmad is not daunted by the Eagles’ first big test on Friday against a powerful Pitt run game. When he steps onto the field, it’s going to be another game day, and his calm focus will not be on expectations of a breakout season, but simply on doing his job, and his job isn’t to focus on dealing with pressure—it’s all about applying it. 

ALEX GAYNOR / HEIGHTS SENIOR STAFF

8 THE HEIGHTS SEPT 4, 2014

FOOTBALL PREVIEW STATS

BURNING

NUMBER OF STARTING QUARTERBACKS? Well, Tyler Murphy was one horrible throw away from a fairly perfect debut, and he owned that interception like a pro after the game. Still, expect to see Darius Wade start a game at some point this season.

The freshman quarterback isn’t going to steal the spot from Murphy, but it’ll be a near-miracle if BC can start the quasi-veteran in all 12 or 13 games. He rushed all over the field against UMass—mainly out of necessity.

If his legs are BC’s best weapon, he’s going to be a serious injury risk, especially considering he had to miss time at Florida last season. Don’t expect Troy Flutie to make it three starts, though. Flutie flashed some great play during preseason camp, but Wade is planted firmly ahead of him on the two-deep. BC would love to redshirt Flutie and separate the two QBs’ graduation dates, which could open up the potential for Josh Bordner to play if needed.

QUESTIONS WORDS | AUSTIN TEDESCO

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hen ESPN asked Boston College football head coach Steve Addazio to describe his team in one word, he chose “young”—and that makes sense. Even after one game, this Eagles squad is pretty much a mystery.

We’re here to help you out with answers to nine burning questions you didn’t even know you had about the Eagles.

WHAT IS AN ACCEPTABLE NUMBER OF WINS?

1-

9 7-

2

3-4

WILL THEY HAVE A 500-YARD RECEIVER? In each of the last 10 seasons, BC has always had a 500-yard receiver. Colin Larmond, Jr. put up 528 yards in 2011, and Bobby Swigert snuck above the cut with 504 yards in 2010. So, it’s been close a few times, and the Eagles have the potential to finally break this made-up streak in 2014.

Dan Crimmins had 52 yards in the opener and Josh Bordner had 81, so they’re both on pace for 500, but pump the brakes a bit. The BC passing game should attack differently from week-to-week, with the speedsters like Shakim Phillips, Sherman Alston, and Thadd Smith contributing some weeks, and the tree-sized giants Bordner, Crimmins, and Callinan matching up better against other teams. Combine that with the run-centric offense, Murphy’s quick feet, and some solid passing defenses, and it doesn’t look like any one receiver is going to break through with 500 yards this year.

Anything between one and three wins is going to cause grumblings among the fan base, because that would mean BC is not able to take care of Colorado State, Maine, and Wake Forest. The Eagles looked solid in the second half against UMass. Not being able to pull out those three games to get to four wins would be a major step backward for the program.

If the Eagles handle the four teams they are supposed to beat and they grab another win, there should be mild acceptance, given the youth and potential of the team. Another bowl appearance and potentially a bowl win would be enough to give plenty of excitement heading into 2015.

If Steve Addazio can take this team to eight wins or more, it’s probably time for Brad Bates to renegotiate his contract so he doesn’t take off for Gainesville (no, that’s not a joke). The margin for error to hit that number is incredibly slim, but BC can get there if the freshmen come along quickly enough.

DO THEY WIN IN NOVEMBER? DO THEY ALLOW MORE OR FEWER SACKS THAN LAST YEAR? Zero sacks is a pretty good start for this offensive line, even after losing Harris Williams for the rest of the game with an ankle injury. He’ll be out for a while, according to Addazio, but Aaron Kramer is a solid substitute.

This offensive line could be better than last year’s, and it helps that Murphy is at the quarterback position instead of Chase Rettig.

Murphy appears to be better than Rettig at getting rid of the ball when there’s pressure, and he’s much better with his feet. As long as he uses them right and does not get himself into trouble, there isn’t much holding this group back from allowing fewer than 22 sacks this year. The young backs will need to improve their pass protection, though. That’s their only real weakness.

The last month is the toughest stretch of the season for the Eagles, with the only break coming in the form of a bye week before a trip down to Tallahassee for a matchup with the Seminoles. Heading into the season, even one win during these last four games seemed questionable. Syracuse needed double overtime to beat Villanova in Week One, though. The Orange were missing quarterback Terrel Hunt for most of the game, but it stills bodes well for BC. As long as the Eagles have injury luck, they should be able to close the regular season out with a win.

Louisville looked great against Miami. It’s the perfect offense to take advantage of Don Brown’s defense with big plays, and Florida State won’t be surprised like it was last year. With the Hokies also looking for revenge, anything more than one November win would be incredibly impressive.

NOVEMBER

DOES WILLIS ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 50% OF THE RUNNING BACKS’ CARRIES? Andre Williams had more than 75 percent of the carries among running backs last season. It would be a stretch to think Willis will also dominate the touches. He and Tyler Rouse were essentially interchangeable in the opener, with Rouse taking 19 carries to Willis’ 16. Once you factor in freshman backs Jon Hilliman, Marcus Outlow, and Richard Wilson slowly eating up more touches, as well as Sherman Alston’s touches on sweeps and reverses, there’s pretty much no way that any of the backs—including Willis—will consume a majority of the carries.

This is the one place BC can afford an injury, because there’s a ton of depth in the backfield.

Willis is the best overall back right now, but no matter how well he plays, he’s unlikely to star in the backfield the same way that Williams did.

Hypothetical percentage of carries

Andre Williams’ 2013 percentage of carries

HOW MANY FRESHMEN LOG STARTS? There are 18 true freshmen listed on the two-deep. We’ve already projected that Wade will get at least one start, and a freshman is almost guaranteed to take over the return duties by the end of the year once they gain the coaches’ trust. So, who else has a chance?

Harold Landry, one of the top recruits in the class, definitely has an opportunity to work his way ahead of Kevin Kavalec by year’s end. But besides that, most of the other starters are firmly cemented in their places. Injuries could put a freshman back atop the depth chart, and different matchups could swap a rookie into one of the three wide receiver slots, although that might be more information than Day and Addazio would be willing to give away to an opponent prior to kickoff.

WILL THEY HAVE A POSITIVE TURNOVER MARGIN ?

The Eagles finished with a plus-three turnover margin in 2013, largely assisted by Williams’ ability to hold onto the football and Rettig’s decently low interception rate. Another year under Brown should help this defense create more chaos leading to fumbles and interceptions, so the real pressure falls on the offense.

BC balanced out Murphy’s pick on Saturday with an interception by Justin Simmons, so they head into the rest of the year even on the plus/minus. Murphy hasn’t proven that he can safely deliver tough throws.

Even worse for the offense, some freshmen are going to have to handle the ball. The ball mostly remained in the hands of Rettig, Williams, and Alex Amidon last season, but now any number of players can cough it up. Given that, the Eagles should slide into the negative.

CAN THEY HIT A TWO SACKS PER GAME AVERAGE? Don Brown has never coached a defense that put up fewer than two sacks a game since he’s been in Division I. The Eagles had 36 sacks in 12 games last year in Brown’s debut, and they got a head start with three sacks against UMass.

But 65 percent of the sacks created last year are gone, with Steele Divitto, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Kasim Edebali, Kaleb Ramsey, and Jaryd Rudolph all moving on. Josh Keyes, Steven Daniels, and Mehdi Abdesmad are going to have to lead the charge this year if the Eagles are going to get to 26 or 24 sacks to keep the two-per-game average. Manny Asprilla and Bryce Jones will need to sneak into the backfield on occasion, and some help from the likes of Malachi Moore, Kevin Kavalec, Truman Gutapfel, and Harold Landry wouldn’t hurt either.

Anything fewer than 25 sacks could spell serious trouble for this defense. If they’re not getting to the quarterback, that likely means the quarterback is getting the ball to the end zone.