BC vs Rutgers: Scarlet Knights Offense/Defense

On October 7, 2016, the Boston College Eagles faced off against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a week 1 loss for both teams. However, the quality of opponents differed, making this game a must-win for both sides. The Scarlet Knights made adjustments after losing their starting quarterback, Dylan Lonergan, who left the game with an injury.

Junior AJ Surace made his first career start and orchestrated an impressive 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, which ended with a touchdown pass to KJ Duff, who had an outstanding game with nine catches for 196 yards and three touchdowns.

The Rutgers offense threw for over 300 combined yards between the two quarterbacks, but they struggled with turnovers and failed to establish the running game. Antwan Raymond was the leading back with 42 yards on 14 carries, but he was significantly less effective than he was last season when he had nearly 1500 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The Rutgers defense allowed over 200 yards on the ground and 37 points, with UMass scoring 30 straight points after falling behind early. The run defense was a major issue for the program last season, and the changes made under the first-year defensive coordinator were not promising.

For Boston College, the ground game between Dickens, McCormack, and McKenzie should be a focus, as it was successful against the Scarlet Knights. They will need to maintain pressure on the pass rush, as the Rutgers offensive line allowed five sacks against UMass. Linebacker Sean Allison and linebacker Ty Morris struggled in the tackling department. The secondary also had coverage issues, frequently leaving receivers wide open.

The Eagles' best chance to win is to win the lines of scrimmage, particularly on the run. If they can run effectively against the Rutgers defense that struggled against UMass, they can force long-yardage passing situations for their secondary to target. Rutgers, on the other hand, will try to establish Antwan Raymond to give Surace some breathing room in his first start and keep the game manageable.

However, BC's defensive line will need to impose its will, especially since the incoming transfers struggled against Rutgers' pass rush. BC's emotion on Red Bandana Day, a day to honor Welles Crowther, will add to the intensity of the game.