Ex-Eagles expect BC rebound
Ryan, Kuechly see better days ahead
By Emily McCarthy
Globe Correspondent
No one would blame former Boston College football stars Matt Ryan and Luke Kuechly for keeping quiet during ACC trash-talking sessions in their respective NFL locker rooms last season. It isn’t easy to argue for a team that made history by going winless in conference play.
But the Atlanta Falcons quarterback and Carolina Panthers linebacker, whose jerseys will be retired at the Heights this season, are confident BC is headed in the right direction after its dismal 2015 campaign. The two still avidly follow the program and expect to see improvement when they check in on the Eagles during their hectic pro seasons.
“Oh man, Saturday’s our best day because it’s kind of our lightest day of work. Any time I can catch them on TV I am or I’m checking on my iPhone,’’ Ryan said Wednesday at a BC event celebrating the announcement of his jersey retirement. “There’s a lot of professional players from the ACC so there’s a good chance every week one of my teammates had played for the team [BC is] going against, so there’s going to be some trash talk, that kind of stuff, and that’s big in our locker room and it’s fun.
“So when our guys are successful up here, it’s good in the Falcons locker room.’’
The same goes for Kuechly.
“I think one thing that’s cool about what we do in Carolina is everybody’s got a lot of pride for their school,’’ the three-time All-Pro said on a conference call Wednesday. “Guys wear gear in on Saturdays when [their school is] playing, and we’ve got a lot of ACC guys in the locker room so a lot of banter goes on back and forth.’’
The 2015 season was the third for BC under coach Steve Addazio. The Eagles went 0-8 in ACC play and 3-9 overall, a far cry from the 11-3 record and ACC title BC won with Ryan in 2007.
“Obviously last year was tough, there’s no doubt about that,’’ Ryan said. “But I think Steve’s doing a good job, he’s moving things in the right direction. It takes time. It takes time to get things the way you want it. I think they’ve done a pretty good job recruiting and I know he feels really good about the team so I’m optimistic. I think they’re going to continue to improve.’’
The Eagles started last season by losing senior tight end Mike Giacone to a leg injury during an 11-on-11 drill in camp. Giacone missed the season. BC then lost starting quarterback Darius Wade to a season-ending ankle injury in the third game.
Standout running back Jon Hilliman fractured his foot in a win over Northern Illinois the following week. The school record-holder for rookie rushing attempts also was lost for the year.
“I think they play hard, they play tough, they play physical, and that’s what a BC football team is and we just need a couple more guys to get there and help them out,’’ Kuechly said. “And we had some injuries last year on the offensive side of the ball but defense got back to what we’re doing well and I think in the future, with Addazio’s mind-set and what he does, I think we’ll be in a good spot.’’
BC ranked first in the country last season in total defense, and Ryan noted that three of the Eagles’ losses were by 3 points or fewer.
“I think the defense has been outstanding, and they’re going to continue to be outstanding,’’ Ryan said. “I think the difference is going to come when those kids get a little bit more experience, a little bit more grit, a little bit more comfortable in being in those uncomfortable situations.
“I think that’s when they’re going to hit their stride and I’m looking forward to that because there’s a lot of bets that go on in those [NFL] locker rooms that you want to be on the right side of. You want to be on the right end of them and I really think we’re going to be as we move forward.’’
Emily McCarthy can be reached at emily.mccarthy@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @emilymccahthy.
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Ryan, Kuechly see better days ahead
By Emily McCarthy
Globe Correspondent
No one would blame former Boston College football stars Matt Ryan and Luke Kuechly for keeping quiet during ACC trash-talking sessions in their respective NFL locker rooms last season. It isn’t easy to argue for a team that made history by going winless in conference play.
But the Atlanta Falcons quarterback and Carolina Panthers linebacker, whose jerseys will be retired at the Heights this season, are confident BC is headed in the right direction after its dismal 2015 campaign. The two still avidly follow the program and expect to see improvement when they check in on the Eagles during their hectic pro seasons.
“Oh man, Saturday’s our best day because it’s kind of our lightest day of work. Any time I can catch them on TV I am or I’m checking on my iPhone,’’ Ryan said Wednesday at a BC event celebrating the announcement of his jersey retirement. “There’s a lot of professional players from the ACC so there’s a good chance every week one of my teammates had played for the team [BC is] going against, so there’s going to be some trash talk, that kind of stuff, and that’s big in our locker room and it’s fun.
“So when our guys are successful up here, it’s good in the Falcons locker room.’’
The same goes for Kuechly.
“I think one thing that’s cool about what we do in Carolina is everybody’s got a lot of pride for their school,’’ the three-time All-Pro said on a conference call Wednesday. “Guys wear gear in on Saturdays when [their school is] playing, and we’ve got a lot of ACC guys in the locker room so a lot of banter goes on back and forth.’’
The 2015 season was the third for BC under coach Steve Addazio. The Eagles went 0-8 in ACC play and 3-9 overall, a far cry from the 11-3 record and ACC title BC won with Ryan in 2007.
“Obviously last year was tough, there’s no doubt about that,’’ Ryan said. “But I think Steve’s doing a good job, he’s moving things in the right direction. It takes time. It takes time to get things the way you want it. I think they’ve done a pretty good job recruiting and I know he feels really good about the team so I’m optimistic. I think they’re going to continue to improve.’’
The Eagles started last season by losing senior tight end Mike Giacone to a leg injury during an 11-on-11 drill in camp. Giacone missed the season. BC then lost starting quarterback Darius Wade to a season-ending ankle injury in the third game.
Standout running back Jon Hilliman fractured his foot in a win over Northern Illinois the following week. The school record-holder for rookie rushing attempts also was lost for the year.
“I think they play hard, they play tough, they play physical, and that’s what a BC football team is and we just need a couple more guys to get there and help them out,’’ Kuechly said. “And we had some injuries last year on the offensive side of the ball but defense got back to what we’re doing well and I think in the future, with Addazio’s mind-set and what he does, I think we’ll be in a good spot.’’
BC ranked first in the country last season in total defense, and Ryan noted that three of the Eagles’ losses were by 3 points or fewer.
“I think the defense has been outstanding, and they’re going to continue to be outstanding,’’ Ryan said. “I think the difference is going to come when those kids get a little bit more experience, a little bit more grit, a little bit more comfortable in being in those uncomfortable situations.
“I think that’s when they’re going to hit their stride and I’m looking forward to that because there’s a lot of bets that go on in those [NFL] locker rooms that you want to be on the right side of. You want to be on the right end of them and I really think we’re going to be as we move forward.’’
Emily McCarthy can be reached at emily.mccarthy@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @emilymccahthy.
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