Boston College Football: Projecting The Depth Chart For This Week's Game

One of the more fascinating moments of the year is when the coaching staff, after months and countless hours of preparation releases a depth chart that shows who will be playing where. This year especially we will be going into the season with lots of questions, so to get us ready I am going to put on my Carnac The All Knowing Hat and see if I can predict who will be on the two deep.Offense

QB
1. Tyler Murphy (6-2, 213, GS)
2. Darius Wade (6-0, 201, Fr.) OR Josh Bordner (6-4, 230, GS)

Going into the opening game there is no doubt that Tyler Murphy is going to be quarterback, heck Addazio even announced it before summer practices. However the backup role is going to be the position to watch. From all reports, Addazio is going to use Wade as the backup and Bordner in an emergency situation. That means that Troy Flutie most likely will not be on the two deep going into the UMass game.

TB
1. Myles Willis (5-9, 203, So.)
2. Tyler Rouse (5-8, 194, So.)

From all signs coming out of camp it appears that the two sophomores are going to be the featured backs going into UMass. Now that certainly does not mean that Marcus Outlow, Richard Wilson and Jonathan Hilliman will be absent on Saturday. Far from it. However I think the game situation will dictate who will play and who won't. Also don't be surprised if Addazio sticks with one back if he gets hot.

FB
1. Bobby Wolford (6-2, 248, So)
2. Sean Burke (5-11, 234, Jr.)

Wolford has been banged up this summer, so it will be interesting to see if he is healthy enough to play this fall. Also what did Addazio put in the Wheaties this offseason. Both of these kids have put on 15+ pounds.

WR
1. Shakim Phillips (6-2, 206, GS.)
2. Jeffrey Jay (6-2, 197, Sr.)

WR
1. Charlie Callinan (6-4, 220, So.)
2. Thadd Smith (5-9, 168, Fr.)

WR
1. Gabe McClary (6-3, 185, Fr.)
2. Sherm Allston (5-6, 163, Fr.)

This position may be the biggest question mark going into the first release of the depth chart. From what I have heard, the freshmen have been getting a lot of playing time so far in summer practice. Smith, McClary and Allston all have made big plays. I am going to go ahead and project that Bobby Swigert misses this game, it sounds like his rehab is going fine, but I haven't heard his name come up in terms of the scrimmages. Jeffrey Jay was on the two deep last year and I expect he will be there this year again.

Y
1. Michael Giacone (6-5, 262, JR.) 
2. Louie Addazio (6-3, 253, So.)

H
1. Josh Bordner (6-4, 230, GS)

I actually hope this is the way this sets up because the Y back would be the quintessential blocking ends, with Bordner filling in as the receiving tight end. I know earlier in the summer it was announced that Bordner would be a wide receiver, but the more I read the more I see his name popping up with the tight end crew, and given his size it would make sense.

LT
1. Seth Betancourt (6-6, 300, Sr.)
2. Dave Bowen (6-7, 291, Jr.)

LG
1. Bobby Vardaro (6-5, 299, Sr.)
2. Frank Taylor (6-6, 304, So.)

C
1. Andy Gallik (6-3, 304, Sr.)
2. Paul Gaughan (6-6, 302, Sr.)

RG
1. Harris Williams (6-3, 299, Sr.)
2. Aaron Kramer (6-7, 293, Sr.)

RT
1. Ian Silberman (6-5, 294, Gs)
2. Jim Cashman (6-7, 297, Jr.)

The senior offensive line will be in tact with solid experienced depth behind them. Two interesting notes that came up from researching the depth chart. One, Addazio appeared to have his guards slim down over the off season. Last season they all were 300+, but this year almost across the board they lost 5-10 pounds. Have to wonder if that has to do with an emphasis on having them be big and physical, but still mobile enough to engage second level defenders. Finally, Frank Taylor wasn't listed as a center anymore, which he was for most of last year. Hence why I shifted him over to guard, while Gaughan who was a guard was listed as a center on the BC depth chart.

Defense

DE
1. Brian Mihalik (6-9, 295, Sr.) 
2. Nick Lifka (6-2, 284, Jr.)

LT
1. Mehdi Abdesmad (6-7, 297, Sr.)
2. Truman Gutapfel (6-3, 289, So. )

RT
1. Connor Wujciak (6-3, 300, So.)
2. Noa Merritt (6-0, 268, Fr.)

DE
1. Malachi Moore (6-7, 274, Sr.)
2. Kevin Kavalec (6-3, 242, Fr.)

Again, want to see a guy that bulked up this offseason, look at Truman Gutapfel who put on almost 25 pounds since the last time we saw him. He's getting to be a big boy. Most of these positions seem pretty straight forward other than the backup right tackle position, I put Merritt in there because I heard he been doing some good things in the scrimmages. I also kept Harold Landry off this due to coming back from injury.

SLB
1. Josh Keyes (6-2, 223, Sr.)
2. Matt Milano (6-1, 220, So.)

MLB
1. Sean Duggan (6-4, 241, Sr.)
2. Mike Strizak (6-2, 229, So)

WLB
1. Steven Daniels (6-0, 249, Jr.)
2. Mike Strizak (6-2, 229, So.) OR Tim Joy (6-2, 229, Jr.)

I think the starters are pretty straight forward, though it will be interesting to see if Daniels gets pushed down (maybe to light a fire under his rear). The backups will be the biggest question. Milano has stood out as he transitioned from safety to linebacker (again the type of player Don Brown covets). The biggest question will be whether any of the freshmen LB's make the two deep or if they stash them away and redshirt them if possible.

LC
1. Manny Asprilla (5-11, 177, Sr.)
2. Allen Dawson (6-0, 193, Fr.)

SS
1. Dominique Williams (6-0, 212, Sr.)
2. Ty Meer Brown (6-0, 201, GS)

FS
1. Sean Sylvia (6-0, 208, Sr.)
2. Justin Simmons (6-3, 188, Jr.)

RC
1. Bryce Jones (6-1, 178, Jr.)
2. John Johnson (6-0, 180, So)

Two quick points about the secondary. First the Eagles are for the most returning most of their depth here from 2013 (minus Al Louis Jean and C.J. Jones), so most of these players listed are slotted in where they left off last year. Secondly, Ty Meer Brown is a bit of a question mark. Again, he's coming off injury that seemed to end his football career, but he has played since during summer practice, so it will be something to watch

Specialists

K
1. Alex Howell (6-5, 206, Jr.)
2. Mike Knoll (6-0, 214, Fr.)

P
1. Alex Howell (6-5, 206, Jr.)
2. Mike Knoll (6-0, 214, Fr.)

S
1. Leonard Skubal (5-10, 201, Jr.)
2. Mike Fischer (6-0, 217, Jr.)

PR
1. Bryce Jones (6-0, 178, Jr.)

KR
1. Bryce Jones (6-0, 178, Jr.)
2. Sherm Allston (5-6, 163, Fr.)

There has been a lot of talk about Myles Willis possibly returning kickoffs, but I have to think that Allston is the most explosive back there and will be a nightmare to true and tackle. Plus you don't want to risk hurting your starting running back if you can help it. Howell will get the start on both punts and kickoffs given what I have heard. Leave your thoughts below and go Eagles!