Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
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128 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY BRYAN DRISKELL Boston College head coach Steve Addazio is nothing if not consistent. He has led the Eagles to seven wins in all but one season and four conference wins in four of his six campaigns. It remains to be seen if Addazio can get Boston College to another level, but that con- sistency earned the 60-year-old a contract extension during the offseason. If the Eagles are going to improve this season, it will re- quire junior running back AJ Dillon to be at his best. "The line will once again work to create holes for a Heisman Trophy candidate," Ath- lon Sports 2019 College Football Preview noted. "Dillon is back after rushing for 1,108 yards and 10 touchdowns and earning All- ACC honors despite missing two games to injury." Dillon is the grandson of former Notre Dame star wide receiver Thom Gatewood, and he has rushed for 2,697 yards and 24 touchdowns in his two seasons in Chestnut Hill. A 250-pound battering ram, Dillon will need the pass game to take some pressure off him this season. "Quarterback Anthony Brown is back to run the offense, and he has his top target returning in Kobay White, who emerged as a capable threat last season," Athlon added. "Brown has improved as a passer, but will need to be even better if the Eagles want to do some damage in the ACC." Defensively, Addazio demoted coordina- tor Jim Reid and replaced him with Bill Sheridan. The Eagles gave up at least 25.0 points per game in two of the last three sea- sons, a number that must be improved if they are going to win more contests. Sheridan's task won't be easy, however, because he must replace eight starters from last season. "Only five defensive players with at least one collegiate start return, and at the begin- ning of spring ball, Sheridan saw only four locks to be starters this season … the rest is wide open," Athlon noted. Losing All-ACC defensive ends Zach Allen and Wyatt Ray could be especially difficult. Allen racked up 30.5 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks during his career. Ray stepped into the starting lineup last season and produced 11.5 tackles for loss and a team-leading nine sacks. Boston College also lost three starters on the back end. "The Eagles have big shoes to fill in the secondary," Athlon stated. "Hamp Cheevers, who tied for the national lead with seven interceptions last year, declared early for the NFL Draft, and safeties Lukas Denis and Will Harris are gone." Reasons For Optimism • AJ Dillon • Experienced offensive line • Anthony Brown's potential Boston College lost three starters up front on of- fense, but four players with starting experience re- turn, which should help the Eagles continue to open up holes for big-time back Dillon … Quarterback Brown has shown flashes, and if he can be more consistent the offense could be potent. Reasons For Concern • Front seven losses • Inexperience on the back end • Challenging schedule The Eagles lost seven All-ACC defenders, and there isn't much experience returning on any level on that side of the ball … That could be problematic against a schedule that has Boston College traveling to Clemson, Notre Dame, Syracuse and Pittsburgh, and hosting Florida State, NC State and Virginia Tech. BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES GAME 11 • NOV. 23 • NOTRE DAME STADIUM X-FACTOR: Getting junior running back AJ Dillon rolling is vital to Boston College's success. The Eagles are 12-3 in games when the 6-0, 250-pounder rushes for at least 85 yards. PHOTO COURTESY BOSTON COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2019 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2018 Result Aug. 31 Virginia Tech — Sept. 7 Richmond — Sept. 13 Kansas — Sept. 21 at Rutgers — Sept. 28 Wake Forest W, 41-34 Oct. 5 at Louisville W, 38-20 Oct. 19 NC State L, 28-23 Oct. 26 at Clemson L, 27-7 Nov. 2 at Syracuse L, 42-21 Nov. 9 Florida State L, 22-21 Nov. 23 at Notre Dame — Nov. 30 at Pittsburgh — QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Notre Dame leads 15-9 Last Meeting: Notre Dame 49, Boston College 20 (Sept. 16, 2017; Chestnut Hill, Mass.) Head Coach: Steve Addazio, 38-38 at Boston College (7th year) and 51-49 overall (9th year) 2018 Results: 7-5 overall, 4-4 ACC Atlantic (4th) Returning Starters: 9 (6 offense, 3 defense) Prediction: Notre Dame 27, Boston College 17 RETURNING LEADERS Rushing: RB AJ Dillon (1,108 yards, 10 TD) Passing: QB Anthony Brown (2,121 yards, 20 TD) Receiving: WR Kobay White (526 yards, 3 TD) Tackles: LB Isaiah McDuffie (85) Sacks: DT Tanner Karafa (4) Interceptions: CB Brandon Sebastian (2)