I think I have attended or watched almost every BC game since Addazio became our head coach. I also read this board daily. These our my observations and are not based on inside information. (Yes, I have a strong stomach.)
Addazio did a pretty good job his first year not overworking Williams in practice. Eventually, he got injured at the end of the season but he rode that horse as far as he could. He inherited a good offensive line and a decent defense. We go a respectable 7-6. In selecting Day as his Offensive Coordinator and Brown as has Defensive Coordinator, he did a good job of picking coordinators. He inherited a down program, and actually did a decent job with it. This led to a pretty strong recruiting class who already have begun asserting themselves particularly on defense and at running back.
In year two, he did a great job picking up Murphy and the Offensive tackle from Florida. The defense continued to improve but the offense became more one dimensional. We go 7-6 again. I excused this because it felt reasonable based on Murphy's poor passing and great running abilities. Recruiting continued to be decent but there was no marked improvement. Day left at season's end but it wasn't clear where Day ended and Addazio began with the offenses so I wasn't that concerned.
Year three Addazio replaces Day with Fitch. No 5th year guys are brought in for the Offensive Line or Quarterback. Addazio makes the decision that he is the brains behind the offense and does not replace Day with a guy from the outside. He also likes Wade and his other QBs and decides to go with them believing that he can get his offensive line and tight ends up to bar with guys already on campus and a strong recruiting class. His son is a senior tight end and he is probably looking forward to his swam song.
Unfortunately, his top QB, running back and tight end all have season ending injuries. With very few weapons on Offense, his decision to not hire an Offensive Coordinator from outside exposes his own weakness as an Offensive Coordinator. Brown's ability as a Defensive Coordinator is also magnified by Addazio's ridiculously bad Offense. His son's failings are also magnified by the starting tight end's injury. The team goes 3-9. Adding insult to injury, Brown is lured away be Michigan and we lose two top recruits. The program appears to be starting to implode.
The beginning of year four, Addazio replaces Brown with what appears to be a pretty skilled 65 year guy from Iowa. He then goes to his past, and hires a new Offensive Coordinator who he had worked with successfully at Temple. He also brings in a moderately successful 5th year QB from Kentucky. (I believe that the new Offensive Coordinator was told he would get to run the offense as a condition before coming to BC.) In addition, BC dumbs down its out of conference schedule and institutes a pro style offense.
Looking to the future, if the star running back and tight end are again healthy and the new Defensive Coordinator can keep the defense clicking, a winning season and a return to a bowl next season is likely. I think that last year's recruiting class was actually pretty deep on the offensive line and we are going to begin to see these guys take over. I also think some of the wide receivers with this new QB are going to start showing some promise. Mos importantly, I think Addazio is going to take a back seat to the new Offensive Coordinator and focus on administration, promotion and recruiting which appear to be more his strengths.
In conclusion, Addazio is not a good Offensive Coordinator. At the same time, he is skilled in other areas. If he has the wisdom to know his own limitations, we may be alright. He has actually shown the ability to surround himself with good people and in the case of Don Brown, leave him alone. He and his staff have also done some good recruiting over the years at Florida, Temple and BC so he has some skills. It is certainly easy to condemn everything around the football team right now but that is not entirely accurate.
Addazio did a pretty good job his first year not overworking Williams in practice. Eventually, he got injured at the end of the season but he rode that horse as far as he could. He inherited a good offensive line and a decent defense. We go a respectable 7-6. In selecting Day as his Offensive Coordinator and Brown as has Defensive Coordinator, he did a good job of picking coordinators. He inherited a down program, and actually did a decent job with it. This led to a pretty strong recruiting class who already have begun asserting themselves particularly on defense and at running back.
In year two, he did a great job picking up Murphy and the Offensive tackle from Florida. The defense continued to improve but the offense became more one dimensional. We go 7-6 again. I excused this because it felt reasonable based on Murphy's poor passing and great running abilities. Recruiting continued to be decent but there was no marked improvement. Day left at season's end but it wasn't clear where Day ended and Addazio began with the offenses so I wasn't that concerned.
Year three Addazio replaces Day with Fitch. No 5th year guys are brought in for the Offensive Line or Quarterback. Addazio makes the decision that he is the brains behind the offense and does not replace Day with a guy from the outside. He also likes Wade and his other QBs and decides to go with them believing that he can get his offensive line and tight ends up to bar with guys already on campus and a strong recruiting class. His son is a senior tight end and he is probably looking forward to his swam song.
Unfortunately, his top QB, running back and tight end all have season ending injuries. With very few weapons on Offense, his decision to not hire an Offensive Coordinator from outside exposes his own weakness as an Offensive Coordinator. Brown's ability as a Defensive Coordinator is also magnified by Addazio's ridiculously bad Offense. His son's failings are also magnified by the starting tight end's injury. The team goes 3-9. Adding insult to injury, Brown is lured away be Michigan and we lose two top recruits. The program appears to be starting to implode.
The beginning of year four, Addazio replaces Brown with what appears to be a pretty skilled 65 year guy from Iowa. He then goes to his past, and hires a new Offensive Coordinator who he had worked with successfully at Temple. He also brings in a moderately successful 5th year QB from Kentucky. (I believe that the new Offensive Coordinator was told he would get to run the offense as a condition before coming to BC.) In addition, BC dumbs down its out of conference schedule and institutes a pro style offense.
Looking to the future, if the star running back and tight end are again healthy and the new Defensive Coordinator can keep the defense clicking, a winning season and a return to a bowl next season is likely. I think that last year's recruiting class was actually pretty deep on the offensive line and we are going to begin to see these guys take over. I also think some of the wide receivers with this new QB are going to start showing some promise. Mos importantly, I think Addazio is going to take a back seat to the new Offensive Coordinator and focus on administration, promotion and recruiting which appear to be more his strengths.
In conclusion, Addazio is not a good Offensive Coordinator. At the same time, he is skilled in other areas. If he has the wisdom to know his own limitations, we may be alright. He has actually shown the ability to surround himself with good people and in the case of Don Brown, leave him alone. He and his staff have also done some good recruiting over the years at Florida, Temple and BC so he has some skills. It is certainly easy to condemn everything around the football team right now but that is not entirely accurate.
