Running Game Faces Tough Task vs. NC State

Coming off a spectacular 224-yard rushing day against Wake Forest, North Carolina had a grand total of three rushing yards against North Carolina State last week, shutting out its rival Tar Heels on Saturday. The Wolfpack are now coming to Chestnut Hill ready to stop the Boston College run game as well. It's going to take a huge turnaround from the performance against Florida State for the BC running game to get back on track.

North Carolina State's run defense thrives off movement prior to the snap and forcing fumbles.

"You've got to recognize the patterns and tendencies," said junior offensive tackle Emmett Cleary when asked about the pre-snap movement. "More of it is just a way of playing. You've got to be good with your eyes and good with your feet. You can't be leaning on anything because they're going to be moving every play."

The Eagle offensive line couldn't open up room for running back Deuce Finch to make progress up the field last Thursday. He was constantly swarmed by Seminole defenders every time he touched the ball. Cleary said that the struggles of the running game were more to BC's fault than FSU's credit.

"We didn't go a good job Thursday," Cleary said. "I feel like watching the tape from that game it was either miscommunication where we have two combinations working with the same guy or leaving a guy unblocked, but we kind of shot ourselves in the foot in that respect."

Cleary said the offensive line is ready to step up and fix the communication issues that hurt them against Florida State.

"We've got to be louder and more deliberate in our communication," Cleary said, "and then just be solid, especially this week against all this movement, we've just got to be solid with our combinations and just be real good with our feet and our eyes."

The fumble-prone Finch is going to face a huge test on Saturday. NC State is seventh in the country for forced fumbles with a total of 14 trailing six teams who all have 15. The Wolfpack attack runners relentlessly and Finch needs to break his habit of leaving the ball exposed to avoid deadly turnovers.

"Gotta put them out of my head," said Finch when asked about his fumbles. "I've been working in practice this week trying to get that fixed. Keep the ball high and tight, that's what I did. I never really like to keep the ball high and tight but that's something I need to start doing."

If for some reason Finch can't get going, the Eagles can further incorporate redshirt freshman quarterback Josh Bordner into the offense. Bordner got more playing time against Florida State because of injuries to the Eagle backfield, and he showed flashes of brilliant play.

"It's tough to leave a guy like that on the bench," said Cleary. "It makes our job easier because when you get a quarterback who can run, all of a sudden the box is nice and empty. There's nobody around when you're out in that spread so you can really get some seams open for him. It just adds another component to our offense that we can use to attack."

 Bordner gives the BC offense an opportunity to inject life into a struggling offense. While Chase Rettig should and will still get a majority of the snaps, working in Bordner for quarterback draws, reads, or straight-up runs should freeze the Wolfpack defense. Enough successful runs with Bordner should also open up big plays down the field.

After a few big runs against Florida State, Bordner threw a strike down field that set BC up in the red zone. Two plays later the Eagles fumbled at the goal line after Finch and Bordner mishandled a read play.

With more time to practice plays like that read, the duo can rejuvenate the Eagle rushing game and give this offense a much needed spark.