Addazio Cites Youth As Reason For Defensive Struggles

It was another rough day for the much maligned Boston College defense, as Florida State moved the ball at will on route to a 38-31 win in the Red Bandana Game at Alumni Stadium.

For the fourth time this season, Boston College allowed over 500 total yards on defense, while allowing four touchdowns of 30 yards or more. The Seminoles offense did whatever they wanted against the Eagles, quarterback James Blackman threw for 346 yards including two touchdown passes of over 50 yards each. Wide receivers Tamorrion Terry and DJ Matthews combined for 10 receptions and over 240 receiving yards while Cam Akers and Jordan Travis rushed for 153 yards.

For anyone watching the game the issues with the defense were consistent with the problems that have plagued them all year. "We've got to get better at tackling" Addazio explained, "and continue to work at, our angles on our tackles". Tackling and angles were certainly issues, but the Eagles also didn't get a sack for the fourth time this season, and didn't get a turnover something that has been so crucial for the Eagles.  

And of course there is the problem with third downs where the Eagles allowed FSU to complete 6 of 12 of their attempts.  Boston College seemingly stayed in their base 4-3 throughout the game, even on obvious passing downs instead of going to a nickel or dime package to get quicker players in to defend against receivers. Instead they stayed in 4-3, which forced slower linebackers like John Lamot and Joseph Sparacio to chase receivers, which has been a recipe for disaster all season.

However when asked about his team's struggles head coach Steve Addazio cited the youth of his team, something the coach brought up multiple times today. "Listen, you know, this isn't complicated" he told reporters after the loss "we lost a fair number of players on defense, and we've got some very talented young players that we're trying to plug in on defense right now, and they're young." 

But linebacker John Lamot disagreed with Addazio's youth explanation "We've got guys that haven't started previously, but they've had enough playing time and experience to limit that excuse." the linebacker told reporters after the loss. "I feel like that shouldn't be an excuse anymore. It's not really an excuse in the first place...I feel like we've just got to play better."

The Eagles will have two weeks to get some of these issues worked out as they face off Notre Dame on November 23.