| BC Offense |
Season Avg. Yds/Play |
Yds/Play vs. NCSU |
Season Avg. Yds/PassAtt | Yds/PassAtt vs. NCSU |
Season Avg. Yds/Carry | Yds/Carry vs. NCSU |
| 2007 |
5.5 |
5.1 |
6.9 |
4.2 |
3.4 |
5.9 |
| 2008 |
4.6 |
7.1 |
5.5 |
8.4 |
3.9 |
5.0 |
| 2009 |
5.1 |
7.1 |
6.9 |
7.5 |
3.8 |
6.8 |
The odd thing about that table: since TOB came to Raleigh, Boston College's worst offensive performance against NC State came with Matt Ryan under center. We made NFL starting quarterback Matt Ryan look like Chris Crane and Dave Shinskie and spent the next two seasons making Crane and Shinskie look like NFL starting quarterback Matt Ryan. (Okay, Shinskie wasn't exactly brilliant in 2009, but he did have an above-average day.)
Shinskie began 2010 as Boston College's starter but lost his job to Chase Rettig after a dreadful 11-25, two interception performance in a 19-0 loss to Virginia Tech two weeks ago. Rettig injured an ankle against Notre Dame and may not be able to play on Saturday, which brings us back to our man Shinskie, poised again for an occasionally-poised-but-triumphant performance against the Wolfpack. (He used up most of his poise in getting poised for the start.)
The real story, though, has been Boston College's powerful offensive line, the gift past TOB left for future TOB that just keeps on giving. Past TOB was a twisted son of a bitch. The Eagles' QBs have always had strong support from the running game, last year's debacle being the saddest instance of that. The pass protection's been good as well, most notably in 2008 when Chris Crane completed his Spanish minor, a rock opera, and 34 of 51 pass attempts. In retrospect, it was an absurdly aberrant day.
That's how it's gone the last couple of years. Up is down, mediocrity is excellence, Montel Harris is Tecmo Bo. (That last part's not so strange.) I couldn't believe we opened the week as ten-point favorites. No matter how much Boston College has struggled before facing the Wolfpack, they've brought the terror.