BC defense tackling remaining obstacles

The news had just been flashed to the Boston College football players. Ten-year coach Tom O'Brien, who had recruited all of them, nurtured them, consoled them, guided them through college, was leaving to take over at North Carolina State.

For the seniors and juniors on a perennial postseason team, it was a time for a quick assessment.

"We had a players-only meeting," said senior middle linebacker and cocaptain Jolonn Dunbar. "Matt [quarterback Matt Ryan], Josh [offensive guard Josh Beekman], and myself called it. We said that it wasn't the head coach, it's about us. It was probably a defining moment."

From that point on, the players adjusted -- to new coach Jeff Jagodzinski, a new offensive scheme, and a new philosophy that Dunbar said the players are now embracing with enthusiasm as they chase the goals this senior class has yet to achieve: a championship banner and Bowl Championship Series bid.

For Dunbar and a defense returning nine starters -- plus defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani and linebacker coach Bill McGovern -- the transition has been less complicated. "Our guys are running the same defense, the same terminology," said senior cornerback DeJuan Tribble, who led the Atlantic Coast Conference with seven interceptions last season. "In that sense, it was an easier transition. Guys are comfortable with it. They feel used to it."

"Having those guys [Spaziani and McGovern] back was definitely beneficial to our stability on defense," said Dunbar, the anchor of the defense.

Dunbar has taken over the role of defensive leader with Brian Toal redshirting this season. Dunbar has grown into his role for a defense that knows it has to play at a high level to give the Eagles a chance to reach the championship level.

Tribble has been giving it to -- and taking it from -- Ryan in training camp. "Matty said he's going to go up and over me a lot in practice," said Tribble, who picked off Ryan's first deep pass attempt in last Saturday's scrimmage.

"He got another one in practice on Monday," said Jagodzinski.

Tribble, one of the top cornerbacks in the league, added to the list by picking off another Ryan pass in Wednesday night's scrimmage and returned it for a touchdown.

It is that competition, the air of confidence the captains transmit through each practice session, that Jagodzinski tries to stoke with talk of championships that has the players feeling this could be their breakthrough year.

And halfway through training camp, the defense has its game face on, dominating the offense in a pair of scrimmages.

One thing different in practice is the tempo. "Everything is fast," said Dunbar, who had a team-high 92 tackles last season. "It's more like a professional camp. The tempo is faster."

Jagodzinski's message also is different. He knows what BC has done -- 10 wins last season, seven straight bowl victories, arguably one game from a BCS bid or a spot in the ACC title game three of the last four years.

"The tempo is quicker, there's more pressure, we're playing more in game conditions and I think that's going to help us," Jagodzinski said.

Dunbar and Tribble said there is another difference with Jagodzinski. "He expects us to have a great year," Dunbar said. "He talks about winning a championship. That's something that was never talked about before. From Day 1, Coach Jags talked about it. We end every meeting talking about it. It fires you up."

Dunbar said college has taught him a lot about the game, and other things. "It's so much different," he said. "In high school, you're a big fish in a small pond. In college, you're a small fish in a big pond. I came out of high school as a hot-shot running back. Those days ended faster than I knew how. College football is a lot different."

Tribble and Dunbar know the end of their college careers is near and they want to make a final statement. "I want to go out and play this season and have no regrets," Tribble said.

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.