A look across the field to the other sideline
The Syracuse Orange and the Boston College Eagles meet for the first time as permanent rivals in the new 18-team ACC football schedule. The two northeast schools have new head coaches and heightened expectations for the 2024 season. With another important game coming up for both programs, it makes sense to learn more about the next opponent for the Orange.
Luckily for us, Kieran Wilson is part of our friends at BC Interruption and he can help us answer some of our questions about the current Eagles team. We also gave answers to Kieran’s questions here! Thanks to Kieran for his insight!
Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician (TNIAAM): We can’t do a BC Q&A this season without talking about the new man leading the team. What’s the Bill O’Brien era been like?
BC Interruption (BCI): Well the BoB era started with a bang after beating FSU. But since then, BC has certainly come back to earth. They’re 4-4 and have a few tough games left on their schedule. I think people are still excited about what O’Brien can do, but if he goes 5-7 or 6-6, the fan base is going to start having flashbacks to BC’s previous coaches. I still believe in O’Brien, but his success is going to be predicated on how well he recruits, and we’ll just have to wait and see on that.
TNIAAM: BC is 4-4, but on a three-game losing streak. All three of those losses have been to ACC teams. What have been the reasons for those losses and what are your biggest concerns from those losses?
BCI: Unfortunately, BC has just been inconsistent this year. Sometimes the defense is on and the offense isn’t, and vice versa. My biggest worry is the offense, specifically Thomas Castellanos. He hasn’t been bad by any means, but I certainly expected him to reach new heights with BoB in his corner. But I will say, this is just year 1 for O’Brien and his staff, so maybe finding consistency will just take some time.
TNIAAM: BC comes off a bye week for this game against Cuse. Orange fans hate games after bye weeks in recent memory. What’s the temperature of the team after this bye?
BCI: Well I think people are ready to see BC win another game. Their last win came on September 28, so it’s been well over a month since we could celebrate a victory. Bowl eligibility is just two games away, so it’s time to see this team make a push.
TNIAAM: From an outsider’s perspective, what has your reaction been to the noise around the Syracuse program since the Fran Brown hire?
BCI: Personally, I thought it was super cool that Syracuse was able to hire Fran Brown. It was a move that I wouldn’t have expected him to make. I think he’s done well so far and I’m interested to see if he can turn his Georgia ties into wins on the recruiting trail.
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TNIAAM: What improvements has Thomas Castellanos made in his second year as BC’s starting QB?
BCI: While Castellanos hasn’t made as many crazy, out-of-the-pocket plays as he did a year ago, he has seemed more like a traditional quarterback. His completion percentage is up nearly 6 percent and he has been remarkably careful with the football. He only has four INTs this year compared to 14 last year! He’s also running much less; he has 204 rushing yards and 1 score compared to the 1,113 yards and 13 scores he had in 2023. I’d love to see him take a few more risks through the air and run the ball more, because when he’s a running threat, that’s when the BC offense is at its best.
TNIAAM: As you know, BC will use Kye Robichaux and Treshaun Ward along with Turbo Richard if he’s healthy. What are the strengths of each running back?
BCI: It’s been really great to see BC utilize its running backs well this year. Robichaux is a holdover from the previous regime and is the team’s big bruiser. He’s leading the team with 4 rushing touchdowns and is more than happy to run somebody over just to get a yard or two. Treshaun Ward is a transfer from Kansas State and he’s been the Eagles’ most explosive playmaker. He’s leading the team in rushing yards (with 369) and is second in receiving yards (with 251), while averaging 5.3 yards per rush and 19.3 yards per reception. Turbo Richard is 5’8, 200 lbs, true freshman who has provided a good change of pace from Robichaux and Ward. He’s not the receiver that Ward is, but he’s hard to tackle and has good vision and speed.
TNIAAM: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the BC defense?
BCI: As a team, BC is allowing 22 points per game, which is third-best in the ACC and Donovan Ezeiruaku has been the most impressive player on that side of the ball. After a down year in 2023, he’s bounced back with a team-leading 9 sacks and 55 total tackles. But the rest of the team has 4 sacks combined, so if teams can neutralize Ezeiruaku, the rest of the BC pass rush will struggle to get home. I also think their pass defense as a whole is a bit suspect, from the safeties to the linebackers, but they’ve also picked off 11 passes this year.
Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
TNIAAM: Who is the unsung hero on each side of the ball?
BCI: On defense it has to be Ezeiruaku. He’s leading the conference in sacks but hardly ever gets mentioned as being one of the best defensive ends in the ACC. Without him, BC’s defense might be in a sorry state. On offense, it’s harder to choose. But I’ll go with Treshaun Ward because he’s been a very good player for the Eagles this year and, again, without Ward, BC’s offense would really struggle to find easy yards.
TNIAAM: How much of a “rivalry” do you see in Syracuse-BC given the two teams will play each other every year in the new ACC schedule?
BCI: To be perfectly honest, I don’t see Syracuse as much of a rival. Maybe that’s just how it seems to me, but I think for a rivalry to exist, both teams have to be really good and be competing for similar things, which hasn’t been the case recently. That said, I sincerely hope both of these teams level up with their new head coaches and that this becomes a bitter rivalry that consistently has ACC title implications.
TNIAAM: Score prediction time. Who’s leaving Chestnut Hill happy?
BCI: If BC has its way, Syracuse will be leaving the Heights bruised, battered, and beaten. Whatever the final score is, I expect an extremely physical, close game that is focused on the defenses. I’ll take the Eagles to win, 21-17.
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Thanks once again to Kieran! As a reminder, you can find our responses to his questions here!