BC Athletic Communications
Two weeks out from the 2016 opener, the Boston College football team was focused on Georgia Tech when the team took to Shea Field for its second preseason scrimmage on Saturday morning.
The Eagles spent considerable time honing the defense for Georgia Tech's triple-option offense, which they'll face on Sept. 3 when the teams meet at Dublin's Aviva Stadium at 7:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2.
"We're getting ready for Georgia Tech," head coach Steve Addazio said. "We've been working on it all summer. We are running their offense; we have it installed. Really, Myles Willis has been running the show.
"We've been working on that and it's been really fun. The guys have really embraced it. Guys like (Tyler) Rouse, (Myles) Willis. We have starters running that offense right now so that we can mimic the speed (of Georgia Tech)."
While the defense got a healthy dose of the Rambling Wreck's offensive tendencies, the Eagles' offense also got off to a fast start when they took the field.
Whereas the first scrimmage one week ago featured late scores – two offensive and one defensive – this week's edition got off to a flying start when sophomore defensive back Taj-Amir Torres took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown.
Soon after, redshirt freshman running back Davon Jones scampered 70-plus yards from scrimmage and was pulled down at the one before he plunged it in for the offense's first score of the day.
Graduate quarterback Patrick Towles added a 50-plus yard run from scrimmage as he broke into open space before the play was whistled dead and sophomore kicker Colton Lichtenberg later connected for a 35-yard field goal. Towles then found Rouse with the short pass, and the running back spun from his defender for the 45-yard touchdown completion. Redshirt freshman receiver Ben Glines wrapped up the scoring with a 20-yard sweep play.
Before Glines' score, the Eagles worked on several goal-line plays in quick succession where sophomore running back Richard Wilson added a pair of one-yard scores. The offense had a chance for two more touchdowns in the drill when Towles had sophomore tight end Tommy Sweeney open on one side of the end zone and senior fullback Bobby Wolford open on the other side. He overthrew both.
"I've just got to be sharper," Towles said. "There's no excuse for that. I've got to make those throws, and I will. I have no doubt that I'll make those throws. I'll just keep going to work. I'll work with Tommy (Sweeney) and Bobby on those and we'll make them when we have to."
Addazio agreed on his quarterback's assessment and added that it was a product this point of camp.
"It was not very good today, in my opinion," he said. "We had a lot of drops, though. We are in the two-week mark of camp and it was like everyone had the ankle weights on today. Everyone was tired and we didn't look crisp.
"(Towles and Darius Wade) have had a great camp. They have thrown the ball really well and have done a great job. They threw some great passes today, but the consistency at the position – we have bobbled some snaps and were just doing some things today that didn't look good to me," Addazio said.
While Addazio had a critical eye on his offense, he noted the most positive aspect of this morning's two-and-a-half hour scrimmage: "Here is the great news: no one got seriously hurt today. That's what makes me feel the best when you get to this Saturday after two weeks. This is the time when you usually have your issues. I shouldn't even say anything … I need wood to knock on."
The Eagles spent considerable time honing the defense for Georgia Tech's triple-option offense, which they'll face on Sept. 3 when the teams meet at Dublin's Aviva Stadium at 7:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2.
"We're getting ready for Georgia Tech," head coach Steve Addazio said. "We've been working on it all summer. We are running their offense; we have it installed. Really, Myles Willis has been running the show.
"We've been working on that and it's been really fun. The guys have really embraced it. Guys like (Tyler) Rouse, (Myles) Willis. We have starters running that offense right now so that we can mimic the speed (of Georgia Tech)."
While the defense got a healthy dose of the Rambling Wreck's offensive tendencies, the Eagles' offense also got off to a fast start when they took the field.
Whereas the first scrimmage one week ago featured late scores – two offensive and one defensive – this week's edition got off to a flying start when sophomore defensive back Taj-Amir Torres took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown.
Soon after, redshirt freshman running back Davon Jones scampered 70-plus yards from scrimmage and was pulled down at the one before he plunged it in for the offense's first score of the day.
Graduate quarterback Patrick Towles added a 50-plus yard run from scrimmage as he broke into open space before the play was whistled dead and sophomore kicker Colton Lichtenberg later connected for a 35-yard field goal. Towles then found Rouse with the short pass, and the running back spun from his defender for the 45-yard touchdown completion. Redshirt freshman receiver Ben Glines wrapped up the scoring with a 20-yard sweep play.
Before Glines' score, the Eagles worked on several goal-line plays in quick succession where sophomore running back Richard Wilson added a pair of one-yard scores. The offense had a chance for two more touchdowns in the drill when Towles had sophomore tight end Tommy Sweeney open on one side of the end zone and senior fullback Bobby Wolford open on the other side. He overthrew both.
"I've just got to be sharper," Towles said. "There's no excuse for that. I've got to make those throws, and I will. I have no doubt that I'll make those throws. I'll just keep going to work. I'll work with Tommy (Sweeney) and Bobby on those and we'll make them when we have to."
Addazio agreed on his quarterback's assessment and added that it was a product this point of camp.
"It was not very good today, in my opinion," he said. "We had a lot of drops, though. We are in the two-week mark of camp and it was like everyone had the ankle weights on today. Everyone was tired and we didn't look crisp.
"(Towles and Darius Wade) have had a great camp. They have thrown the ball really well and have done a great job. They threw some great passes today, but the consistency at the position – we have bobbled some snaps and were just doing some things today that didn't look good to me," Addazio said.
While Addazio had a critical eye on his offense, he noted the most positive aspect of this morning's two-and-a-half hour scrimmage: "Here is the great news: no one got seriously hurt today. That's what makes me feel the best when you get to this Saturday after two weeks. This is the time when you usually have your issues. I shouldn't even say anything … I need wood to knock on."