Limited by leg issue in Ireland, Harold Landry ready for UMass
Mark L. Baer/USA Today Sports/File 2015
Boston College defensive end Harold Landry (8) says he’ll be ready for Saturday’s game against UMass at Gillette Stadium.
By Julian Benbow Globe Staff September 06, 2016
While Georgia Tech put together an 11-play, 59-yard, fourth-quarter scoring drive that punched Boston College in the gut, and sent the Eagles to a 17-14 loss Saturday in Dublin, Harold Landry watched from the sideline, powerless to stop them.
A “minor leg injury” that kept Landry out for most of the BC’s preseason camp limited the junior defensive end to just four snaps all game.
Landry had confidence the Eagles defense could keep the Yellow Jackets’ triple option contained, but he said staring from the sidelines while the game was in the balance was painful.
“It hurt being on the sideline, especially in the fourth quarter watching that drive,” said Landry. “It was hard. We had a real good game plan going into that game. We had it all figured out. Just minor things ended up turning into big things and we just didn’t get it done.
“But we have a good group of guys on the D-line, linebackers and safeties and corners. They could’ve got the job done without me anyway, but that’s just not the way the cards folded.”
Landry was cleared the week leading up to the Eagles’ season opener, but coach Steve Addazio wanted to be cautious with a player who will be crucial to the success of the team’s defense. Zach Allen and Kevin Kavalec anchored the defensive line to start the game.
Landry practiced at full speed Tuesday and is expected to play a larger role in the Eagles’ matchup against UMass Saturday at Gillette Stadium.
“I actually feel a lot better today,” he said. “I feel real good today, obviously practicing. I was full-go. I felt fine today. So I’ve just got to keep treating it, taking care of my body, I’ll be fine.
“Coach is just trying to ease me back into it, trying to take care of me the best way possible,” Landry said. “This week it should be way different though. I’m expecting a real good game at UMass.”
Landry has played in all 26 games since coming to BC in 2013. He started 11 of 12 games a year ago. He recorded a tackle in 13 straight games before going without one against Georgia Tech. Not showing up on the stat sheet was admittedly strange.
“You ain’t lying,” he said. “But it’s not about stats. If we had came out with that [win], I’d have been all smiles, but we didn’t. And that’s what it’s all about.”
Smith catching on
When BC quarterback Patrick Towles saw sophomore receiver Jeff Smith breaking on a deep in-route early in the second quarter Saturday, his eyes lit up.
He could see a big play unfolding. Smith found a window between Georgia Tech’s safeties and made a 14-yard catch, good for a first down. But Towles said if he had been more accurate with his throw, and not thrown behind Smith, the play could’ve gone for more yardage.
“If I wouldn’t have underthrown him — I’m thankful we got the 14 yards — but it should’ve been a touchdown,’’ Towles said. “I just missed the throw.”
Towles targeted Smith on three of his 17 pass attempts and Smith grabbed all of them. Smith, in his first game since making the transition from quarterback last season to receiver this year, became an immediate go-to for Towles.
“He’s our long-ball threat,” Towles said. “And it’s genuine.”
A hyperextended right knee cost Smith two weeks of preseason camp, but the transition was a process that started with a rough spring.
“He worked super hard all summer long,” Towles said of Smith. “Spring was a little shaky and he’ll tell you the same thing. It was a quick transition in spring. In the summer, he worked tirelessly, he was out all hours catching jugs and catching balls and asking me to throw. You can tell the work paid off in camp.”
Knoll gets his kicks
Sophomore Colton Lichtenberg was still listed as the starting kicker when the Eagles’ depth chart was released Monday, but his status was not certain after he wore a red jersey in practice Tuesday while junior Mike Knoll kicked field goals at the end of practice.
Lichtenberg, who went 3 for 6 last season, had his first kick of the season blocked and missed his second against Georgia Tech. Last season, Lichtenberg made his debut four games into the season, missed three of his first four kicks and was eventually replaced by Knoll in the seventh game of the season.
Knoll went 2 for 3 last year. His longest field goal was a 29-yarder against Virginia Tech.
Julian Benbow can be reached at jbenbow@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @julianbenbow.
Mark L. Baer/USA Today Sports/File 2015
Boston College defensive end Harold Landry (8) says he’ll be ready for Saturday’s game against UMass at Gillette Stadium.
By Julian Benbow Globe Staff September 06, 2016
While Georgia Tech put together an 11-play, 59-yard, fourth-quarter scoring drive that punched Boston College in the gut, and sent the Eagles to a 17-14 loss Saturday in Dublin, Harold Landry watched from the sideline, powerless to stop them.
A “minor leg injury” that kept Landry out for most of the BC’s preseason camp limited the junior defensive end to just four snaps all game.
Landry had confidence the Eagles defense could keep the Yellow Jackets’ triple option contained, but he said staring from the sidelines while the game was in the balance was painful.
“It hurt being on the sideline, especially in the fourth quarter watching that drive,” said Landry. “It was hard. We had a real good game plan going into that game. We had it all figured out. Just minor things ended up turning into big things and we just didn’t get it done.
“But we have a good group of guys on the D-line, linebackers and safeties and corners. They could’ve got the job done without me anyway, but that’s just not the way the cards folded.”
Landry was cleared the week leading up to the Eagles’ season opener, but coach Steve Addazio wanted to be cautious with a player who will be crucial to the success of the team’s defense. Zach Allen and Kevin Kavalec anchored the defensive line to start the game.
Landry practiced at full speed Tuesday and is expected to play a larger role in the Eagles’ matchup against UMass Saturday at Gillette Stadium.
“I actually feel a lot better today,” he said. “I feel real good today, obviously practicing. I was full-go. I felt fine today. So I’ve just got to keep treating it, taking care of my body, I’ll be fine.
“Coach is just trying to ease me back into it, trying to take care of me the best way possible,” Landry said. “This week it should be way different though. I’m expecting a real good game at UMass.”
Landry has played in all 26 games since coming to BC in 2013. He started 11 of 12 games a year ago. He recorded a tackle in 13 straight games before going without one against Georgia Tech. Not showing up on the stat sheet was admittedly strange.
“You ain’t lying,” he said. “But it’s not about stats. If we had came out with that [win], I’d have been all smiles, but we didn’t. And that’s what it’s all about.”
Smith catching on
When BC quarterback Patrick Towles saw sophomore receiver Jeff Smith breaking on a deep in-route early in the second quarter Saturday, his eyes lit up.
He could see a big play unfolding. Smith found a window between Georgia Tech’s safeties and made a 14-yard catch, good for a first down. But Towles said if he had been more accurate with his throw, and not thrown behind Smith, the play could’ve gone for more yardage.
“If I wouldn’t have underthrown him — I’m thankful we got the 14 yards — but it should’ve been a touchdown,’’ Towles said. “I just missed the throw.”
Towles targeted Smith on three of his 17 pass attempts and Smith grabbed all of them. Smith, in his first game since making the transition from quarterback last season to receiver this year, became an immediate go-to for Towles.
“He’s our long-ball threat,” Towles said. “And it’s genuine.”
A hyperextended right knee cost Smith two weeks of preseason camp, but the transition was a process that started with a rough spring.
“He worked super hard all summer long,” Towles said of Smith. “Spring was a little shaky and he’ll tell you the same thing. It was a quick transition in spring. In the summer, he worked tirelessly, he was out all hours catching jugs and catching balls and asking me to throw. You can tell the work paid off in camp.”
Knoll gets his kicks
Sophomore Colton Lichtenberg was still listed as the starting kicker when the Eagles’ depth chart was released Monday, but his status was not certain after he wore a red jersey in practice Tuesday while junior Mike Knoll kicked field goals at the end of practice.
Lichtenberg, who went 3 for 6 last season, had his first kick of the season blocked and missed his second against Georgia Tech. Last season, Lichtenberg made his debut four games into the season, missed three of his first four kicks and was eventually replaced by Knoll in the seventh game of the season.
Knoll went 2 for 3 last year. His longest field goal was a 29-yarder against Virginia Tech.
Julian Benbow can be reached at jbenbow@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @julianbenbow.
