August 4, 2017
Link: bceagl.es/MFnh30eaI3p
Boston College Preseason Practice Report No. 5
Eagles hit the field in full pads for the first time in preseason camp
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The fifth practice of preseason camp has been circled on the calendar for quite some time for the players and coaches – the first practice of the season in full pads.
With temperatures in the mid-80s and sunny skies, the Eagles were on the field for just over two hours Friday morning.
Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jim Reid returns for his second consecutive season leading the Eagles defense and third overall. Reid, who was also the 1994 defensive coordinator at Boston College, has led the two-best defenses in school history in sacks. The 1994 and 2016 squads both tied the school record with 47 sacks.
Reid knows his team lost some productive players from last year, including NFL draft picks John Johnson (LA Rams) and Matt Milano (Buffalo Bills), along with two anchors on the defensive line in Kevin Kavalec and Truman Gutapfel.
“We lose some really good players,” said Reid. “We’ve got a lot of really good players coming back, and we’ve got some — we’ll mention some that have been here, but there’s going to be some surprises, some really — you can see it develop on the field.”
The defensive line should be a strength for BC, especially with some of the best pass rushers in the country.
“Inside you’ve got Ray Smith and you’ve got Harold Landry coming back for his senior year, and Wyatt Ray,” said Reid. “Zach Allen has had like four great practices in a row, and he had a great spring. And we’re developing some depth there, as well.”
In the secondary and at linebacker, BC returns a host of players with a ton of playing experience under their belts.
“Isaac has done great. I already mentioned Kam and Mehdi and Taj Torres has really had — he had a great spring, and he’s had four great practices so far,” Reid continued. “Will, Lucas, I mean, you name all of them, and they’re all working extremely, extremely hard, not just on the football field but in the meeting room, as well, and on — it’s on display every day, so we’re really, really excited, and the guys that I coach, Connor Strachan, I can say this with surety: He’s in the best shape of his life. The guy is just terrific, and he’s leading very well. And you’ve got Ty Schwab, as well, and Kevin Bletzer is doing a terrific job out there. I’ll go through the whole roster and I’m just going to tell you that these characters are just working just as hard as they can. It’s terrific to watch.”
The Eagles return to the practice field Saturday and are set to scrimmage for the first time this preseason.
Practice Notes: Boston College men’s basketball head coach Jim Christian was on hand for Friday’s practice at Alumni Stadium … NFL scouts from the Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, and Washington Redskins were in attendance … while both the offense and defense each had their own moments during the 11-on-11 work Friday, the offense looked to finish the day with the upper hand. Redshirt freshman quarterback Anthony Brown found tight end Tommy Sweeney on a long gain and true freshman wide receiver Caleb Stoneburner hauled in a long touchdown reception from Brown … Graduate student quarterback Darius Wade showed his versatility on a big gain during the 11-on-11 period … junior wide receiver Jeff Smith scored on a 50-yard touchdown on the ground while senior wide receiver Thadd Smith also had a productive scamper Friday morning … true freshman Brandon Sebastian had an interception during 11-on-11 work Friday as well.
-BC-
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