Just like a barbershop…..NEXT!!!
By: Neil Burnett
The Clemson Tigers took care of business last Saturday night against then 10th ranked NC State. Fans will celebrate all week while the Tiger football has already put that game behind them and is preparing for Boston College. Dabo always says “The most important game of the season is the next one.”
Boston College got off to a slow start to their season. QB Phil Jurkovich returned, opting to put the NFL on hold for one more season. The return of Wide Receiver Zay Flowers was supposed to give them one of the most potent duo’s in the country. What the war eagles did not anticipate was the injury bug hitting their offensive line. Through five games, BC QBs have been sacked 18 times. Through five games, the Tigers have sacked the opposing quarterbacks 11 times, including three sacks against Devin Leary. It could be a long night for Jurkovich.
On the season, Jurkovich has completed 96-150 (64%) passes for 1147 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. His favorite target is All-ACC WR Zay Flowers. Flowers has 34 receptions for 481 yards and six touchdowns. In his most recent game, he erupted for 151 yards on five receptions and two touchdowns. The Tigers will need to know where he is on every play. The next leading receiver is tight end George Tackacs with 17.
The BC run game has been pretty non-existent on the season through five games, averaging only 2.4 yards per rush and 76.8 yards per game. This does not bode well when facing a very hungry, very talented Clemson defensive line that might actually be getting two starters back. The Tiger defense held NC State to 34 yards rushing on 21 attempts last Saturday night. Clemson ranks 2nd in the country in rushing defense. Having said that, they rank 106th in passing yards allowed. However,
injuries have paid a big part in those numbers and the Tigers are getting healthier. Devin Leary passed for 245 yards, completing 28 of 47 passes, but for the most part, his success was limited to two series. Jurkovich/Flowers might get “theirs”, but it’s sort of like in basketball. “Mr. Big Time players is gonna get his, stop everyone else.”
Defensively, BC is led by their linebacker duo of Vinny DePalma (5-11 223) and Kam Arnold (6-1 227). As a unit, this defense is ranked 70th in yards allowed per game at 373.2, while the Tigers rank 48th in total offense with 437.6 per game.
The Boston College season has been like a roller coaster. They started out losing to Rutgers and Virginia Tech right out the gate. This was not a good look for BC OR the ACC as a conference. Florida State gutted them 44-14 in Tallahassee in week 4. However, at home last week against Louisville, the Eagles pulled out a 34-33 win on a last second field goal. BC is now 2-3 on the season but face a talented, focused Clemson team that is hungry to prove they are back in the hunt for the college football playoffs.
