Boston College

It is hard to say I'm sorry. Especially for a Head Coach. But make no mistake, Jimbo said he was sorry all night Saturday. Just not out loud. Yeah Coach, we "executed" pretty well this week, especially early when we threw it the first 9 times we snapped it. He was so conservative last week that Paul Ryan was sending him donations.  To come out slinging was as strong a statement as he could make that his self-scouting report came back with some sledgehammer subtle hints. Factually, there is not a team in America outside of Tuscaloosa that can hang with our crew of wideouts, so using them on a regular basis might not be a bad idea.

EJ had a record night. The most yards in his personal career and the first 400-plus yard passer since a dude named Weinke a dozen years ago. Oh, and he had already checked in for his massage by the time the third quarter ended. So why did it feel like we are at the deli taking a number - getting great samples - only to see the last of the honey ham going to the professional aerobics mom in the eight wheel cart. Back to back plays on the first drive are illustrative. He missed a ridiculously open Rodney Smith 20 yards in front of him and then on the next play hit a streaking Kenny Shaw in stride over his shoulder for a 77 yard TD strike. Next series, Kelvin was once again seemingly the only dude on the field (including the Eagles) who got the memo that he was going out for a deep ball and EJ showed his prodigious talent by managing to overthrow our 6'6" freak on a dead run for the second week in a row. Then, he dropped another dime to Shaw to set up a score. This is why Jimbo wears a hat; so he does not rub his remaining follicles to nubs. Also loved some of the other changes that the staff made on offense.  JWJ and Devonte got multiple touches and Devonte looked hungry blowing through arm tackles. We saw again how much we missed Watson at RT, because he flat out erases the DE on that side.  I especially loved on the first Lonnie score when the mouthy BC linebacker that verbally challenged us this week  in the press was lifted off the turf and buried in the back of the end zone by Josue Matias so that his white jersey was a gorgeous shade of garnet for the last 55 minutes of the game.

Jimbo was not the only coach on the Nole sideline to realize that changes needed to be employed. First series of the game, Stoops went to a dime defense on third down. Sheesh, where was that last week? Well, getting Karlos Williams on the field for 15 more plays a game means one thing - pain for opposing wide receivers. He is still a little slow to diagnose plays, but yowza did he send some Eagles back to the nest with some broken wings.  Continue to be impressed with our young corners. As we guessed preseason, teams are avoiding Xavier Rhodes like Brussels sprouts. Waisome and Darby have answered the bell. On one corner blitz, Darby came around the backside like a missile and lit up Rettig just as he let the pig fly. As other teams get incredibly comfortable hugging and holding our ends like nervous 8th grade co-eds under the bleachers, our interior boys are getting more and more aggressive. Sacks are coming in bunches for our big uglies and that is great because I am underwhelmed by every DE not either German or named after an armored vehicle. With this one out of hand early, we got to see some of our talented youngsters. Eddie Goldman impressed as did Reggie Northrup.  In fact, watching young Reggie tackle pointed out what bad technique our current two MLB's take. Think how many times Vince or Telvin go up high and get dragged downfield. We need a little more Shade Tree you-are-stopping-right-there punk.  Mark substituted much more freely in the first half when the end was in doubt this week, and that pattern should help if he has the guts to do it in big games later on.

Huge congratulations to Dustin on grabbing the ACC scoring record, and with the way this team is throwing points on the dartboard, maybe you can set a record that will never be broken young man. It did not go unnoticed that the FG that #18 hit just before the half that broke the mark was (say it ain't so) the exact distance that Jimbo eschewed last week to punt in the 4th. Ugh. Nope, I am not over it yet, but I do feel a smidge better...

So, coaches, we accept your apology. Now, best of luck with the International trip this week, and beat down maybe the last Bowl-eligible Hurricane squad for the next four years or so. Again, we would not have expectations without your incredible efforts in high school hallways all year, so a couple more blowouts and a full pardon may be in order soon now that your contrition has been noted...