Boston College defense failed by offense again in loss to Notre Dame
In an electric atmosphere at historic Fenway Park on Saturday night, the Boston College defense did its job once again, but the Eagles were unable to take advantage offensively in a 19-16 loss to Notre Dame.
It's been the theme of the season for Boston College: the defense keeping the team in games while the offense is unable to move the ball with any form of consistency.
No. 4 Notre Dame (10-1), who was the designated home team despite the game being played in Boston as part of the Shamrock Series, turned the ball over five times in the game -- with three of them coming inside of the BC five-yard line. The Eagles were unable to score a single point off of any of the turnovers.
Behind 16-3 heading into the fourth quarter, Boston College (3-8) was able to get into the end zone twice in the final 11 minutes, but it wouldn't be enough to overcome the hole created thanks in part to the BC offense gaining 130 total yards of offense in the first three quarters.
That total should come as no surprise, as Boston College has struggled to move the ball all season despite fielding one of the top defenses in the nation. Going into the Notre Dame game, the Eagles ranked close to the bottom in the country in nearly every offensive category:
Total offense -- 126th in nation, 276.6 YPG
Scoring offense -- 120th, 17.3 PPG
Yards per play -- 125th, 4.32 YPP
Third down conversion -- 124th, 29 percent
First downs -- 127th (last), 152
Passing offense -- 124th, 123.4 YPG
Rushing Offense -- 90th, 153.2 YPG
Tackles for loss against -- 127th, 91
Flip sides of the ball, and the results flip as well. The Eagles have built off a 2014 season where they were 11th in the nation in total defense and arguably become the best in the country in 2015.
Total defense -- 1st in nation, 236.5 YPG
Scoring defense -- 3rd, 14.4 PPG
Yards per play allowed -- 1st, 3.9 YPP
Third down conversion defense -- 2nd, 23 percent
First downs allowed -- 1st, 127
Passing defense -- 5th, 164.8 YPG
Rushing defense -- 1st, 71.7 YPG
Tackles for loss -- 1st, 98
Based on strictly defensive numbers, Boston College looks like it could be one of the elite teams in the nation, yet a 3-8 record indicates the complete opposite. The struggles for the Eagles this season will likely break a decade-long streak where the top-ranked defense in yards allowed had successful seasons:
2014: Clemson (10-3)
2013: Louisville (12-1)
2012: BYU (8-5)
2011: Alabama (12-1) National Champions
2010: TCU (13-0) Rose Bowl Champions
2009: TCU (12-1) Fiesta Bowl loss
2008: USC (12-1) Rose Bowl Champions
2007: Ohio State (11-2) National Championship loss
2006: Virginia Tech (10-3)
2005: Alabama (10-2)
In those 10 seasons, the top-ranked defense in total yards combined for a 110-19 record with a national championship, two Rose Bowl wins and five BCS bowl appearances. Boston College will be the first team since NC State (5-6) in 2004 to miss a bowl with the least total yards allowed in the nation. Before NC State, you have to go all the way back to Mississippi State (5-6) in 1993.
The offensive problems can be attributed in part to key injuries sustained by BC starters early in the season. Starting tight end Michael Giacone was lost for the year in preseason camps, starting quarterback Darius Wade was lost for the season in the third game of the year against Floridat State, and starting running back Jon Hilliman was lost for the year the next week against Northern Illinois.
All of those losses have helped contribute to a Boston College offense that has had all of the opportunities in the world thanks to a dominant defense, but has been unable to convert them into points and into wins.
On the opposite side of the field on Saturday night stood a Notre Dame team that has suffered similar injuries in 2015, but the difference was evident at Fenway Park. The Fighting Irish have had the guys to step up and succeed in the roles they needed to ... Boston College hasn't.
Next week, Notre Dame will be heading to Stanford with a potential playoff berth on the line; Boston College will be heading to Syracuse hoping for a fourth win with one of the best defenses in the country.
