BC hits the holes in spring scrimmage
Questions. So many questions for the Boston College football team, which yesterday closed its spring drills with the annual Jay McGillis Memorial game.
New quarterback. New running back. Holes to fill on the offensive line. Wide receivers looking for new leaders. Kicking game still in a state of flux.
And, with the season still four months from beginning, not that many answers.
And that's just on offense.
Defensively, the talent is there, and there will be two old/new faces in linebacker Brian Toal and defensive tackle B.J. Raji, who were spectators last season. But leadership is an issue on that side of the ball, too, with linebacker JoLonn Dunbar and defensive backs DeJuan Tribble and Jamie Silva gone. And last week defensive end Brady Smith was dismissed from the team after being arrested and charged with sexual assault.
Add it all up and you have a team that is in transition as it ended its spring drills with what was more of a controlled scrimmage, as second-year coach Jeff Jagodzinski had to deal with the issue of depth.
"We couldn't afford to get anyone else hurt," said Jagodzinski, who used two 30-minute halves with a running clock to give fans a taste of what to expect when the 2008 season opens at Kent State Aug. 30.
The defense won the scrimmage, 48-34, as points were awarded for offensive and defensive plays.
Senior Chris Crane will move in at QB as a replacement for Matt Ryan, which is a tough job for anyone, but the 6-foot-4-inch, 236-pounder has served his apprenticeship well.
"I learned a lot from him," said Crane, who was 18 of 35 for 155 yards with 1 TD and 1 interception yesterday. "Nothing has changed physically, but a lot has changed mentally. Today was the first step in a long process."
Jagodzinski said one difference at QB will be mobility.
"There will be a lot more rollouts," the coach said. "The mobility of our QBs will help us make plays. And I think Chris will improve every game."
True freshman Josh Haden, the No. 1 prospect in the Eagles' recruiting class, already has moved into the primary running back slot. But Haden, who enrolled in January, is 5-8 and listed at 190 pounds. It is doubtful that he will be used for 20 carries per game.
Who can help?
Yesterday, Jagodzinski announced that Jeff Smith could be returning. Smith has dealt with a series of health issues, primarily caused by two concussions he suffered last season, the second knocking him out for the season and presumably ending his career.
"We're going to make sure everything is OK," said Jagodzinski. "And if he clears those hurdles, he will be back."
After a winter of recuperation, with no post-concussion symptoms in the last two months, Smith wants to give football one more shot.
"I really missed it," he said yesterday. "I want to give it another shot. If I get the doctors' OK, I will start working out with the team right away."
Smith met with Jagodzinski Friday.
"He was surprised," said Smith, who suffered a concussion in training camp last summer that limited his action in the first month of the season and then suffered another concussion in practice before the Clemson game in mid-November.
"After the second one, the doctors told me to shut it down," said Smith. "But I thought about [coming back] all the time."
Smith expects to meet with his doctors soon, and if he gets the OK, he will resume workouts with the team.
"I can't wait," he said.
Raji and wide receiver Brandon Robinson, both recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, didn't play yesterday. Cornerback DeLeon Gause and defensive tackle Ron Brace both sat out with minor shoulder injuries . . . Kicker Steve Aponavicius handled punt duties . . . Toal, coming off a medical redshirt season, was ecstatic about returning to action. "I feel great," he said. "It's the first time in two years I've been pain-free." . . . Strong safety Paul Anderson was this year's winner of the Jay McGillis scholarship.
Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.
