QB battle highlights BC's fall camp

Aug 14, 2017 - 3:53 PM Darius Wade or Anthony Brown?

The hope is one of them will emerge to run what should be a high-paced offense as the Eagles come off a 7-6 season that ended with three straight wins, including a 36-30 victory over Maryland in the Quick Lane Bowl.

After the team's second preseason scrimmage, it appeared the quarterbacks were even as the team progressed toward its Sept. 1 opener at Northern Illinois.

"I like our tempo offense because it's an advantage," Wade said.

"It's a lot of fun because you can run around, make calls at the line and just play football. That's something we did during my junior and senior years in high school. It fits my game because it gives me freedom to make my own checks and own calls of that nature."

Said Brown, a redshirt freshman: "We've been working at this for a good amount of time. Catching onto the speed of the game is getting easier and easier as we get going. ... It feels great (to make big plays), but we just have to keep doing it."

Wade has the experience edge, having started three games in 2015 before being injured and missing the rest of the season. He attempted 19 passes last season.

Coach Steve Addazio will continue to look for a healthy competition at quarterback in camp. He said he liked the way the team was progressing, even though the Eagles were picked to finish last in the ACC's Atlantic Division.

"I've got a great football team full of guys that love football, that work really hard at football," Addazio said.

"They love being at BC. Their degree and their education is extremely important to them, so I walk into work every day, and every day I'm just like smiling, having an opportunity to work with these guys. I think the talent level is the best we've had, and I think that will parlay into a great season for us this year."

And, make no mistake, there are stars.

Harold Landry, a defensive end/linebacker hybrid, is one of the best players in the country. On offense, versatile receiver Jeff Smith is always a threat on the outside, while Tim Sweeney is the Eagles' best tight end in years.

"I think we can have an amazing season this year on defense," said Landry, the 2016 national sack leader who passed up the NFL Draft for a shot at a senior year.

"The chemistry our defense has, specifically with like my senior class, leading the defense this year, we have so much chemistry. We all have one common goal, which is go out and dominate. We want to go three-and-out as much as we can to give the offense as many chances, so they can get the rhythm going so they can start clicking in every game."

Notre Dame visits for the second game of the season and, after Central Michigan comes to Chestnut Hill, the Eagles host open ACC play at home against Wake Forest.

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER: DE Harold Landry -- He led the nation in sacks, with 16.5, and also led the ACC with 22 tackles for loss. He's back for a senior season, with his eye on earning a first-round grade. He is rated the 39th-best player by NFLDraftScout.com. Landry is a hybrid who can play inside or out and is one of those guys who covers a lot of ground. Lindy's magazine rated him as the country's second-best defensive end in its 2017 preseason rankings.

BREAKOUT STAR: TE Tommy Sweeney -- He caught 26 passes for 353 total yards and three touchdowns last season as a sophomore. The junior is likely to get a lot of work in an offense that knows how to work the tight end and is expected to play at a faster tempo this season.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH: RB A.J. Dillon -- It didn't take long for this true freshman, a hometown product who de-committed from Michigan, to force his way into the crowded -- and talented -- running game. He was already listed on preseason depth charts. Coach Steve Addazio calls this the strongest backfield he's had in his five seasons with the school, with Dillon expected to fill out the rotation with junior John Hilliman and sophomore Davon Jones.

--DE Harold Landry was named preseason All-ACC and was on the watch lists for the Walter Camp (player of the year) and Nagurski (top defensive player) awards.

--LB Connor Strachan was working at both outside and inside linebacker and was all over the field in the scrimmages.

--K Max Schulze-Geisthovel, a senior soccer player at the school, has forced his way into the kicking battle, which had been between Mike Knoll and Colton Lichtenberg.

--OL Marcell Lazard, a transfer from West Virginia, is likely to start at right tackle.