On BC’s Thanksgiving Win

It was an impressive win.  It wasn’t miraculous, like last week at Wake Forest.  It wasn’t dominating, like the week before at Florida State.  But the victory sure was methodical, the defense dominating, the offense sufficient, converting two turnovers while committing none, and the coach making aggressive calls.  It wasn’t an easy win, but it was a hard fought one in which Boston College always seemed to be in control.

The game says a lot about a team that I had picked at best to go 8-4, likely 7-5 and bracing for 6-6.  The offense, which was managed well by a backup quarterback, has come a long way since its first loss against Georgia Tech when it couldn’t score a 6 if it was given the ball on the opponent’s 10.  I was impressed by three drives on the offense:  the opening drive, in which it marched right down the field and got a touchdown, the one-play touchdown drive after the interception, and the last drive that started at the 5 and ended with a punt at the 45.  The last one burned nearly 5 minutes off the clock by successfully running the ball when everyone in the stadium expected it and converting several third downs.

Everyone contributed to the offensive success against a defense which, I’ve been told, is fairly good.  We’ve become used to Harris turning a 2 yard gain into an 8, but we shouldn’t overlook Harden, who had his share of impressive carries by gaining 49 yards on 8 tries.  Davis did his part, throwing for two touchdowns and no interceptions.  What impressed me, though, was his decision-making.  I saw one bad pass that could have easily been a turnover, but otherwise, he didn’t force any throws and never looked to be in danger of fumbling the ball away.

And Steve Logan?  I’ve said this before and I’ll repeat it again.  The biggest improvement of Coach Jags’ team over O’brien’s is in the playcalling by the offensive coordinator.  Yes, the offense occassionally stalled, but there wasn’t the feeling the offense wasn’t going anywhere.  Logan did a nice job of mixing things up while tailoring the plays to the players he had.  I would’ve liked to have seen more screen passes and play action, but that playaction touchdown pass after the interception?  Exactly as I’d called it in the stands.  (which, come to think of it, may mean that Logan didn’t do a good job).

As for the defense, what really can you say for the group that consistently scores points (six games and counting).  By holding Maryland to -6 yards rushing, the Terps’ offense became strictly one dimensional (although, to their credit, they really never abandoned it).  Sure the defense was torched in the air, troublingly allowing Turner to convert several third-and-longs, but one dimensional offenses have a tendency to stall; eventually, the pass will be dropped if the defense plays it.  Much like against FSU, stopping the run proved to be enough.

I also can’t say enough about the coaching, not just in this game but throughout the season.  Fake field goal said, “we going for the win,” not “we’re not going to lose.”  That Davis successfully managed the offense despite being the starter for only one week said Davis was coached well during the past week and the playbook was appropriately adjusted.  That the team stands at 9-3 instead of 6-6 as pundits predicted says the coaching staff gets the most out of the players who are, let’s be honest, the leftovers of the recruiting efforts by the southern schools.  That Coach Jags stood on the sidelines with the mic and rallied the fans with his seniors says he’s got charisma and passion, something solely lacking with O’Brien.

What impressed me most about this season is that the team finished with four straight victories, three in the conference.  It’s easy enough to say the team is in control of your own destiny.  That’s always true at some point in the season (I recall saying that every year with O’Brien).  The question is whether the team can fulfill the destiny and I would not have thought three straight victories against Florida State, Wake Forest, and Maryland was even in the realm of possibility.  It’s not that I think BC is bad; it’s just that I think all teams in the ACC are good enough to beat BC even on its good day.

I will not be going to Tampa for the ACC championship.  The record six and a half hour round-trip to Boston on Saturday was tough enough.  But I will be watching, with greater confidence than last year that this team is going to go to the Orange Bowl.  And you know what?  I think this team led by Coach Jags has a shot at being good for many years to come.

P.S.  For all the knock on the ACC, no conference has come close to producing 10 bowl eligible teams with another having a shot until the season finale.  It also went 3-1 against the SEC on Saturday.  The conference may not have one dominating team, but everyone (including Duke) has the ability to beat another on any given Saturday.  That should count for something.