Boston College Football: Using the bye week to clean things up

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Three weeks into the college football season, the Boston College Eagles find themselves at a crossroads. Following a 30-20 road loss to Stanford, the Eagles are now 1-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play. With a crucial bye week ahead, the team has an opportunity to address its weaknesses before a September 27th showdown with the California Golden Bears.

Offensive Struggles Are a Tale of Two Halves

The most glaring issue for the Eagles has been their inconsistent offense, particularly after halftime. In their last two losses to Michigan State and Stanford, the Eagles’ second-half production has been anemic. After putting up 19 second-half and overtime points against the Spartans, BC was completely shut out in the final 30 minutes at Stanford. This is a stark contrast to their red-hot second quarters, where they have scored a combined 41 points in their three games.

Compounding the problem is a nonexistent running game. Through three games, the Eagles have yet to eclipse 100 yards as a team. Their best outing was a 97-yard performance in the opener against Fordham, followed by just 67 yards at Michigan State and a season-low 56 yards at Stanford. At an average of only 2.5 yards per rush, the ground game is a significant liability, making the offense far too one-dimensional to be successful at the highest level of college football. Coach O’Brien and his offensive staff will need to find a running game during the bye week.

A Silver Lining at Quarterback

Despite the team’s struggles, the quarterback position is in great hands. Sophomore Dylan Lonergan has been a revelation at the controls, averaging 393.7 yards per game. Lonergan has thrown for over 300 yards in his last two games—both on the road—and has been remarkably efficient, completing 95 of 126 passes with just one interception. He has consistently moved the offense down the field, proving himself as the undisputed leader of the unit.

Defensive Bright Spots and Red Zone Woes

On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles have not been without their moments. They have recorded eight sacks and 19 tackles for loss in three games, with Owen McGovern (3 TFLs for 15 yards) and Omar Thornton (5 TFLs for 13 yards) leading the charge.

However, the unit has struggled with two critical aspects: stopping the run and turning opponents over. In their two games against FBS opponents, the Eagles have allowed over 100 rushing yards (149 to MSU and 213 to Stanford), averaging nearly four yards per carry for the season. The defense has also had a difficult time forcing turnovers, managing just one interception and one fumble recovery. Even when they’ve forced a fumble, their opponents have recovered it.

The biggest issue for the defense, though, has been in the red zone. Opponents have been a perfect 10-for-10 in scoring opportunities inside the 20-yard line, with six of those scores being touchdowns. These are crucial momentum-shifting stops that the BC defense has simply been unable to get.

With plenty of time left in the season, Coach O’Brien and his staff have a real chance to turn things around. The path to a better season begins with a productive bye week and a renewed focus on getting the little things right before facing Cal on the 27th