Jason Haskins's Blog, page 15

Boston Celtics 2023-24: Fresh faces to reinforce old guard

 

The quest for banner no. 18 begins again for the Boston Celtics, hoping to finally climb that mountain and run under the confetti in June.

A single statement that has appeared with variations every autumn since 2008.

Hopes for the upcoming 2023-24 season are no different. The offseason saw star players retained and valuable contributors said good-bye to. Key veterans remain while fresh faces were brought in hopes that another banner can finally be raised to the rafters.

In the 16th season since Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and company defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to claim title 17, the Celtics have remained competitive. Twice they have nearly tasted a World Championship in this span. Five times Boston has reached the Eastern Conference Finals and three times the semis have been their final destination. 

During this time, the Celtics have failed to reach the playoffs only once, in Brad Stevens debut season as head coach in 2013-14.

Last season ended in disappointment for the Celtics, falling to a Miami Heat team playing their best basketball. Boston, however, was not. And Stevens, president of basketball operations, has dug deep to make sure this season ends much differently.

Boston Celtics: Change is afoot

At first blush, in failing to overcome their shortcomings in 2022-23, the Celtics overcorrected this offseason to get better. Help on offense was needed and secured with the arrival of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. This meant saying good-bye to key defensive cogs in (traded to Memphis Grizzlies), Robert Williams III (traded to Portland Trail Blazers), Malcolm Brogdon (traded to Portland), and Grant Williams (signed with Dallas Mavericks).

Okay. The Grant Williams one I'll give you. I was a fan of his, even advocated for keeping him around. Then, after the trade deadline, Williams was ineffective and disinterested. He'd still pop-off on occasion as a reminder of his talent. But as the season progressed, minutes dwindled and the playoffs held a lot of DNP - CD next to his name in the box score.

Smart, Williams III, and Brogdon will all be missed. Smart was one of those players I imagined finishing his career in Boston. While there's still that chance, Smart's leadership, intensity, and defensive play will be missed.

The Celtics did make the smart move in signing Jaylen Brown to a long term deal. Tatum is the obvious superstar but Brown is not too far off. They form one of the best scoring duos in the league and are coming off a season in which they combined to average 56.7 points per game.

One of the main aims with the Celtics during this duo's tenure is surrounding them with the right teammates. Holdovers include Derrick White, who was as stellar as they come the last two months and into the playoffs last season. And Al Horford, trucking on for another steady season in the green and white.

Sam Hauser made strides last season and Payton Pritchard is ratcheted up to contribute much more this season. 

Rookie Jordan Walsh could make a surprise impact, especially on the defensive end. Newcomers Oshae Brissett and Dalano Banton are expected to provide valuable minutes, too. 

It is the arrival of Porzingis and Holiday, however, where the biggest impact is expected.

The Porzingis effect

At his best, Porzingis is a volume scorer and can provide the offense in the paint Boston has sorely needed in the last decade.

The hard part? Keeping Porzingis healthy and on the court.

The same can be said of players who Porzingis is replacing, with the upside being the offense the big man can contribute. I was already worried about it when the trade was announced and even more so when Porzingis had to miss the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Porzingis is coming off one of his best seasons, in which he averaged 23.2 points per game for the Washington Wizards. His 8.4 rebounds can help alleviate some of that from Tatum, who averaged 8.8 for the Celtics in '22-23.

There's also the 1.5 blocks Porzingis notched while playing in 65 games, his most since the 2016-17 season.

To me, Porzingis is not the lock to uplevel the Celtics that many think he will be. With Time Lord's trade, Porzingis is sort of out there to roam the middle on his own at the moment (unless Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta can make some strides). 

Part of what I loved about the possibility of Porzingis and Williams both being present is that it would hopefully take some minutes away from Horford (who can be still looked to for the occasional double-double). It will be interesting to see how minutes are delegated for Horford and Porzingis but a healthy, engaged season from both will do wonders for the Celtics.

The same can also be said for Boston's newest acquisition.

On a Holiday

Holiday had quite the tour of the United States in the last week, traveling from the upper Midwest to the west coast and back across the country to the northeast. 

Okay, so maybe he didn't physically do all that traveling but it's been a whirlwind for the 14-year veterans. The initial push was being involved for the Milwaukee Bucks trade for Damian Lillard. Then, the Celtics made their move, bringing Holiday to Boston.

Holiday brings even more scoring to the Celtics, coming off a season in which he averaged 19.3 points per game. He can heat up in a hurry and is able to dish the ball, too, averaging 7.4 assists last season.

There is also the defensive aspect of Holiday's game, and he will provide adequate efficiency to make up for Smart's loss.

Injuries are also a concern with Holiday, who has played in only 70 or more games four times in his storied career. But, perhaps his minutes can be managed to an extent he is best used down the stretch and into the playoffs (which can happen if Pritchard and even JD Davison contribute productive minutes at the guard position).

At the end of last season, I was in the mindset for the Celtics to have one last go-around with the team they had in place. I haven't come around fully yet, especially on the Porzingis trade but tides are slowly starting to turn in my mindset.

The fresh faces brought in to complement the two stars should allow Boston to keep pace in the East. The Celtics and Bucks must be favorites but teams like the Heat and Sixers are always lurking and the Cavs are ready to make a push. Boston's offense will be better and they should stay at least steady on defense. Do that, and the franchise can move on, talking in the future about banner 19, rather than another year of blathering on about title 18.

photo credit: Flickr

5 quarterbacks from 2018 1st round NFL draft: Quarter report in year six

 

The five quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft have basically dwindled down to three. At least, in terms of seeing the field consistently through the first four weeks of the 2023-24 season.

Yes, a fourth in Sam Darnold is still active every week. His role as backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers is cemented. Especially as quarterback Brock Purdy and the Niners are scoring over 30 points per game.

Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Baker Mayfield have their teams off to a combined 9-3 start. Each are playing well, and their teams are currently atop their respective divisions.

Aspects of what have plagued the trio in their careers, from untimely turnovers to batted balls, and multiple injuries to key players, are still present. However, they have risen above these and are off to fast starts, posting impressive numbers through the season's first four weeks.

Josh Allen

A shaky start to the season for Allen and the Buffalo Bills is not what was envisioned. Sure, it was a road game against the New York Jets, a team pulsating with excitement around the arrival of Aaron Rodgers.

Even after Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles tendon after only four snaps, the Jets found a way to pull off a 22-16 overtime victory over the Bills. 

Contributing to the loss was the somewhat careless play of Allen. Allen was sacked five times and had four turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble) in going 29-41 for 236 yards.

Suffice to say, it's been smooth sailing for Allen and the Bills since.

In three straight victories, Buffalo is averaging 41 points per game. The most recent was a 48-20 division shellacking of the Miami Dolphins, who were fresh off scoring 70 points the previous week against the Denver Broncos. 

Allen has settled down, with only one turnover since game one. He's only been sacked four times in the three wins and the offense is clicking from top to bottom. Allen has been smooth, finishing two of those games with a completion percentage over 80.

He was at 84 percent against Miami, throwing for 320 yards and four touchdowns.

On the season, Allen is completing 74.8 percent for 1048 yards. He has nine touchdowns against four interceptions and is doing work on the ground, too. This aspect hasn't been too heavy of a burden so far this season but Allen has 16 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

The way the Bills are playing, they look unstoppable. NFL games have their surprises and close games, but Allen and the Bills could very well be 8-1 after these next five weeks if their solid play continues.

Weeks 5 - 9: vs JAX in London (10/8), vs NYG (10/15), @ NE (10/22), vs TB (10/26), @ CIN (11/5)

Lamar Jackson

In his sixth season, the hope for Jackson was not only for his own health but that the Baltimore Ravens finally had a full complement of players to help the offense.

That dream ended, or was delayed, in week 1 with the torn Achilles suffered by running back JK Dobbins. Since, the Ravens have continued to take hits and lumps on the roster.

Running backs have been banged up, missing games, or parts of. In Baltimore's one loss, they were down to Melvin Gordon after injuries to Gus Edwards and Justice Hill (both are back). And the receivers took a hit, with Odell Beckham Jr. missing time, though rookie Zay Flowers has impressed, leading the team in receptions (24) and yards (244).

Jackson has been controlled and conservative in the passing game, nipping at Allen's heels in completion percentage (74.3). Jackson has also thrown one interception, in week 1, and has thrown for 794 yards and four touchdowns.

His impact continues to be in the ground game, where Jackson has again forced to be the main option. Yards per carry are under six but Jackson has 220 yards and four touchdowns. In Baltimore's lone loss, a bad-weather affair to the Indianapolis Colts, Jackson ran for 101 yards but also had a fumble, one of three he's lost on the season.

Jackson and the Ravens have a slightly tougher upcoming stretch than the Bills do. Baltimore takes a tour of the NFC, with three games against that conference. A 3-2 or 4-1 stretch should position the Ravens well in an up-for-grabs AFC North. 

Weeks 5 - 9: @ PIT (10/8), vs TEN (10/15), vs DET (10/22), @ ARI (10/29), vs SEA (11/5)

Baker Mayfield

Fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have been expecting the worst in the quarterback picked to replace Tom Brady. Instead, through four weeks, they have been treated to the best version of Baker Mayfield.

Old struggles did appear in parts of the Bucs loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. But protection and ball control have highlighted Mayfield's 3-1 start with the Tampa Bay franchise. 

The schedule hasn't been exactly the toughest, with the three teams Mayfield defeated holding down a combined 3-9 record. Mayfield has been handling business, including last Sunday's division victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Mayfield is delivering the best completion percentage (69.6) of his career, a good six points better than his career-best during his rookie season. He already has one 300-yard game to his credit, his first since a week 5 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021

Mayfield has tossed for 882 yards and seven touchdowns, with only two interceptions.

He's also been active in the ground game, an area where the Bucs struggle. Mayfield has 23 carries for 61 yards.

After a bye week, Tampa Bay and Mayfield will face some adversity alongside some winnable games. One of those circled matchups is against Allen and the Bills. Another 3-1 stretch might be a lot to ask for but even going 2-2, the Bucs should be in a good spot in the NFC South.

Weeks 5 - 9: BYE, vs DET (10/15), vs ATL (10/22), @ BUF (10/26), @ HOU (11/5)

Sam Darnold

One of Darnold's main issues in staying employed as a starting quarterback has been his ability to stay healthy. When he's been out on the field for long stretches, he's shown the ability to lead and even win a few games.

Darnold will likely remain in the no. 2 spot in San Francisco, barring a major injury to Purdy. Purdy, who is coming off a 20-21, 283-yard performance, has thrown for 1019 yards and five touchdowns without an interception in four games this season. (It also helps the Niners have Christian McCaffrey, who scored four touchdowns in Sunday's victory over the Arizona Cardinals). 

Darnold has seen mop-up action in three weeks, notching four carries for negative four yards. (The beauty and disgust of taking a knee, friends).

Weeks 5 - 9: vs DAL (10/8), @ CLE (10/15), @ MIN (10/23), vs CIN (10/29), BYE

Josh Rosen

Josh Rosen remains unsigned. Not sure if he's looking to keep playing. I imagine he has no plans to give up on the dream yet and hey, maybe he can go the Colin Kaepernick route and write a letter to the New York Jets inquiring about leading their practice squad.

Be sure to check in after week 9 to see how these five quarterbacks are progressing along.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

5 QBs: Gliding into year six

Boston College Eagles: 2023 four-game report

 

A couple less penalties here. Better execution on plays there. Safe to say, four games into the 2023 season, the Boston College Eagles could easily be 3-1.

The harsh reality is those things didn't happen and a 1-3 start has disappointment again settling in over Chestnut Hill.

The good news is that Boston College has a decent chance to add to the win column on September 30, hosting a Virginia Cavaliers squad who is winless in four games this season.

One third through the '23 season, results have not gone quite as expected.  Boston College has been competitive, with two of three losses by a combined five points, including that near upset over Florida State.

It's been a mixed bag across the board for the Eagles, who held optimism heading into the season.  The struggling areas of their game can be fixed, hopefully leading to a productive rest of the season.

Boston College Eagles: The good

Averaging 28 points per game, the offense, despite some hiccups (and pre-snap penalties that hopefully are a thing of the past), has been solid so far in 2023.

It is an attack spearheaded by the dual threat capability of quarterback Thomas Castellanos. 

Given the opportunity to see the field in the opener against Northern Illinois, the transfer from UCF took the reins and ran. So much, in fact, he has not relinquished them since, outside a handful of drives here and there.

Castellanos has started the last three games and continues to get better each time out. A 57.3 percent completion isn't the rosiest of numbers but part of that can be attributed to multiple drops by receivers each game. The positive aspect of that is Castellanos has thrown only two interceptions.

He has thrown for 909 yards and eight touchdowns and has been electrifying in the ground game. Whether by design or improvised, Castellanos has been brilliant in rushing for 280 yards and three touchdowns.

Castellanos has been able to spread the ball around in the air but three receivers are pulling away from the pack in terms of production.

Lewis Bond has been at it since game one this season and hasn't slowed down. Bond is tops on the team in receiving yards (246) and touchdowns (4), trailing only Ryan O'Keefe in receptions, with 16. 

O'Keefe has been a little slower out of the gate but has come on in recent weeks. Each game is better than the last for him and he leads Boston College in receptions with 20. O'Keefe hauled in his first receiving touchdown last week against Louisville, and is second in receiving yards with 214.

Joe Griffin Jr. is the third member of this trio. Though Griffin has yet to find the end zone, his specialty last season, he has 11 catches for 174 yards.

Though they haven't been targeted as much, Jaden Williams and Dino Tomlin have proven to be adequate deep threats for the Eagles. The two have combined for 10 catches, with each averaging over 20 yards a reception.

None of this would be possible without the cohesive play of an improved offensive line. To be fair, it couldn't get much worse than last season's injury-riddle unit. Through four games, this season's unit is playing at a high level, allowing only six sacks and paving the way for 161.8 rushing yards per game.

Much of that is Castellanos but the contributions of Kye Robichaux are exceptional. Robichaux entered the season as fourth on the depth chart. Injuries vaulted him to the top and he responded in kind. 

Robichaux, who first handled the workload against Holy Cross, has 206 yards and two touchdowns and is a fourth-down specialist vowing not be stopped. With Pat Garwo III, Alex Broome, and Cam Barfield getting back into the mix, it will be interesting to see what this unit does going forward.

The offense earns a passing grade so far. The defense, on the other hand, as a lot of kinks to work out.

Boston College Eagles: The disappointing

Sticking up for the defense is a hard task in the early going this season. Sure, they were average the first three games, finding moments of big plays. But in a blowout loss to Louisville, Boston College was exposed in all areas.

Thanks to those 56 points scored by the Cardinals, Boston College is now allowing 35.5 points per game. The Eagles are allowing 417 yards per game, 189 of which are coming on the ground for opponents.

The secondary, feeling the hit of being on the low-end of key returners from last season, was expected to face struggles in 2023. Experienced depth was going to be the main issue, and that took a hit even more when Alex Washington entered the transfer portal earlier this week.

Elijah Jones and John Pupel, second on the team with 28 tackles, each are doing their part in the secondary. But the defense has a whole does not have an interception through four games.

The front seven was to provide a lot of experience and hopefully take some of the pressure off the secondary. They've been about average and could really use a bump in stopping the run. Individual efforts have been there, it's simply about putting it all together to create a cohesive effort.

Vinny DePalma is having a good season, leading the Eagles with 34 tackles. And Neto Okpala up front has shined, collecting two of the team's four sacks.

Away from the defense, disappointment can be placed in the tight end position. Normally old reliable over the years at Boston College, tight ends are lacking (at least in the passing game). George Takacs and Jeremiah Franklin combined for only six catches and 36 yards.

Getting them going is a must, and hopefully something seen in the coming weeks.

Outlook for next four games

One major concern heading into the next four games is facing teams with a run-heavy focus.

That said, with games against Virginia, at Army (2-2), at Georgia Tech (2-2), and at home against the Connecticut Huskies, Boston College has an opportunity to go 3-1 or 4-0 in this stretch.

The toughest matchup is against Georgia Tech, who lost by only five to Louisville. The Yellow Jackets also picked up a conference win against Wake Forest.

If the offense keeps rolling and the defense finds its footing, a month from now the Eagles could be on the verge of becoming bowl eligible. If not, well, Boston College will be one step closer to seeing the Jeff Hafley period come to a close.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Boise State Broncos football: The Ashton Jeanty show rolls on

Thrills and excitement have left a lot to be desired for the Boise State Broncos offense so far in the 2023 season. Injuries and a new offensive coordinator have played their part but through four games, inconsistency has been an issue.

Running back Ashton Jeanty, however, is doing his fair share to keep the express going.

Jeanty's performance has been Heisman-worthy for the Broncos (2-2). Breaking tackles, eluding defenders, running with style, and catching passes, Jeanty is delivering on all levels for Boise State.

Part of the reason for an extended workload is injuries to running backs George Holani and Tyler Crowe, and an offseason injury to top receiver Latrell Caples. These have also contributed to why the offense is struggling to find its footing.

With Holani and Crowe out, and Jambres "Breezy" Dubar possibly still getting acclimated to the entire playbook, offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan has had to adjust. A plan for the three-headed monster of Jeanty, Holani, and quarterback Taylen Green has been temporarily put on hold. The ground game of these three were projected to spearhead a frightening ground game.

Opposing teams have had a year to game plan for Green's effect in the running game, slowing down this aspect of his game.

Thankfully, Hamdan and Boise State have the multi-faceted Jeanty at their disposal.

Plowing the opposition

Four games into Boise State's season, Jeanty has done more than simply improve on an impressive freshman year.

Jeanty has burst out of the gates in both the running and receiving game, making him a dual threat. So much, in fact, that Jeanty leads the nation in all-purpose yards.

Against San Diego State last Friday, Jeanty had perhaps the best performance of his young career. It was an effort (205 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns, 4 receptions for 49 yards) that garnered Jeanty Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. 

Jeanty averaged 8.9 yards per carry and was a force all game in the Broncos 34-31 victory.

This came a week after, despite a three-touchdown performance, Jeanty had trouble with a handful of fumbles against North Dakota.

For the season, Jeanty has 73 carries for 407 yards, good for 13th-best in the nation. He has scored six touchdowns on the ground and added another two through the air. Jeanty's 18 receptions and 285 yards are good for second-best on the team.

Jeanty gave fans and the program a glimpse of his true ability in last season's bowl game against North Texas, where he ran for 178 yards and a touchdown. This capped off a freshman year where Jeanty finished with 821 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

Carrying the load so far, Jeanty has been a delight, with help beginning to crop up as the meat of the season approaches.

Offense coming together

In losses against the 7th-ranked Washington Huskies and UCF, it appeared Jeanty was the most productive option in the receiving game for Green. While Jeanty did have nine receptions for 206 yards and two scores in these games, Stefan Cobbs and Eric McAlister contributed as well.

Cobbs had 10 receptions for 124 yards and one touchdown in those games and McAlister had seven catches for 69 yards against the Huskies.

After a quiet game in the loss to the Knights, McAlister erupted in the last two games. 

Stretching the field with deep routes, while also turning short passes into long gains, McAlister has proven himself to be reliable. In the last two games, the redshirt sophomore has 11 catches for 233 yards and two scores.

McAlister leads the Broncos with 20 catches, 328 yards, and three touchdowns. 

Green, after starting the year 28-58 with three touchdowns and two interceptions, has been better the last two games (30-51, 1 int, 2 TDs). And indications are the freedom for Green to run is growing, whether by design or on his own. He carried the ball 11 times against the Aztecs and has scored two touchdowns in the last couple of games.

Boise State's offensive line has been strong this season and the offense game plan is getting smoothed out. Production has followed and, even with (hopefully) Holani's return soon, I don't foresee Jeanty moving down the depth chart. It's clear he's option one and, even if the workload lessens thanks to contributions from others, Jeanty's production will not, giving him a clear path to a Mountain West Player of the Year award come season's end.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Boston College Eagles: 4 high flyers in abysmal loss to Louisville

 

When Neto Okpala sacked quarterback Jack Plummer on the first defensive snap for the Boston College Eagles, there was hope the high-octane offense of Louisville would be contained.

The bad omen happened plays later, when the Eagles were called for a face mask penalty after stopping the Cardinals on third down.

Louisville (4-0) followed that with a 33-yard touchdown run by Jawhar Jordan, scored on their next six possessions, and Boston College (1-3) fell 56-28 on Saturday afternoon.

Boston College's defense drowned all day, allowing big play after play. Quarterback Plummer was 18-21 for 388 yards, averaging nearly 21.6 yards per completion. Louisville racked up 585 yards of offense, with Plummer accounting for six touchdowns (five passing, one on the ground.)

Jordan was as advertised, totaling 134 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with a 75-yard touchdown reception off a screen pass.

Even when the Eagles did find ways to get the Cardinals to third down, Boston College couldn't get them off the field. Louisville was 8 of 12 on third-down attempts.

The defense had been slightly above mediocre in the season's first three games but never found an answer all game. Despite finding ways to pressure Plummer, they came up just short in getting to him. The secondary was somewhat successful in containing Louisville star wideout Jamari Thrash but others stepped up around him.

Boston College also had an interception negated because of an offside call.

Rightfully so when allowing 56 points, there were very few bright spots for Boston College on defense. John Pupel led the way with eight tackles (six solo) and redshirt sophomore Sione Hala had his best game, making seven tackles and collecting a sack.

Overall, penalties and mistakes were limited, especially compared to the season's first three games. The Eagles had seven penalties and only a handful occurred on offense, which had been a major problem.

The offense looked in sync on the first drive before stalling in Louisville territory and didn't get on track again until the second quarter. A decent running attack was underutilized but much of that was due to be down by so much.

Kye Robichaux had nine carries for 40 yards and Pat Garwo III saw his first action since the opening minutes of the season opener against Northern Illinois. Garwo had three carries for 15 yards and two receptions for 10 yards, all in the second half. 

The passing game provided the highlights, with these four players standing out.

Trio shines for Boston College

Depth at wide receiver is one issue Boston College hasn't faced thus far in 2023. The real question heading into the season was who was going to rise to the top.

Three have risen to the task and all three were tops on Saturday.

Lewis Bond again gave a riveting performance with four catches, 71 yards, and two touchdowns, bringing his season total to four.

Bond proved to be hard to tackle, too, with a 36-yard scamper after breaking tackles on a wide receiver screen.

Bond is tops in receiving yards and touchdowns but tops in receptions is Ryan O'Keefe. O'Keefe had five more on Saturday and continues to be more involved. He notched 86 receiving yards and hauled in his first receiving touchdown as an Eagle with a 30-yard score in the second quarter.

Joe Griffin was again productive, with five receptions for 76 yards, including a highlight-worthy one-hand grab in the fourth quarter going for 26 yards.

Drops continued to be an issue, with Bond, Dino Tomlin, and Jaden Williams all having at least one. But the unit has adapted well in adjusting routes, especially with quarterback Thomas Castellanos finding ways to keep plays alive.

Growth, progress at quarterback

Castellanos struggled early to connect in the passing game. But once he got rolling, he was hard to stop.

And again, it was the legs of Castellanos that energized his game.

Castellanos provided Boston College's first score of the game on a 39-yard touchdown run. His rushing productivity after was a little lackluster, finishing with 10 carries for 49 yards. But part of that can be attributed to sacks and twice tripping his own lineman's feet while trying to hit a hole.

Completion percentage (17-33) was again hampered by drops and some near-mises. Castellanos threw for 265 yards and three touchdowns, multiple times extending plays and finding third or fourth options on routes.

In only his third start, Castellanos is showing fantastic signs of growth. There are still some hiccups, like the errant backwards pass recovered by Louisville (but thankfully overturned because Castellanos was down). But more and more, his upside is prevailing as Boston College's quarterback.

After a close loss to Florida State, it was disappointing to see this result against Louisville. It was a difficult road test that Boston College did not handle well. The offense is rolling along and only getting more efficient. Let's hope this is only a blip for the defense, or else fans best buckle up for a wild ride each week.

photo credit: Flickr

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Boston Red Sox: Winding down 2023 season with eyes to the future

 

The marathon of the 2023 season for the Boston Red Sox is gasping to an end, with the team walking the final two miles of the 26-mile trek.

Officially eliminated from '23 postseason consideration, and unofficially gone weeks ago, the Red Sox have only won three times in their last 15 games. With a chance to surprise many heading into September, a culmination of all the things that hampered Boston throughout the season (and some that didn't) sealed the team's fate.

In what was mostly a season playing above expectations, the Red Sox (75-78) are on track for a fourth or fifth place finish in the A.L. East. Their GM Chaim Bloom has been let go and the Red Sox have holes to fill before 2024.

On the bottom of that list is an offense that was solid in '23.

Boston Red Sox offense

Behind a core of Rafael Devers, Triston Casas, Jarren Duran, and Masataka Yoshida, the Red Sox are in a good place for 2024.

Getting a full season from Trevor Story will help and hopefully Connor Wong will continue to get better. Tossing in a return of Justin Turner, who has a player option for next season, at DH will also cement an offense that was on the better scoring teams in '23.

Turner is finishing up one his better seasons, hitting .280 with 23 home runs and 95 RBI.

Casas, whose season ended prematurely September 14 with a shoulder injury, turned in a fine rookie season. Struggles early on gave way to a season in which Casas was one of the best hitters in baseball the last three months.

Back in June, Casas was only hitting .197 but he went on to finish the year with a .263 batting average. He hit with power to all fields, finishing with 24 home runs, 65 RBI, and 21 doubles.

Yoshida, for a while, flirted with the league lead in batting average and currently sits at .285 in his first MLB season. 

Devers has had fits of hot and cold throughout the season but leads the team in home runs (33), RBI (98), and hits (152)

The future looks bright at the plate, with Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu both getting playing time and good at-bats the last month or so. And next season should see the arrival of shortstop Marcelo Mayer, who currently tops Boston's top-30 prospect list.

Some questions do remain, especially with Alex Verdugo, who has one more season left on his contract. And there's also the pursuit of Shohei Ohtani to consider, which would alter things for the Red Sox if Boston were to acquire him.

Ohtani or not, the future on offense looks in prime position to again carry the team in '24. Now, if only they can shore up their rotation and defense.

Pitching struggles

Dreams of having a deep starting rotation all playing to the best of the capabilities did not come to fruition. Corey Kluber was rocked from the start. Chris Sale started decently, was injured again, and was hit-and-miss after his return but with indications he can still help this team.

Injuries sidetracked the development of Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock, with the latter moved to the bullpen. And there was no real help to be sought from the minors.

There were bright spots. Kutter Crawford was no ace but provided the Red Sox with consistency. James Paxton (7-5) made 19 starts in his triumphant return before fatigue set in. 

The 2023 season did give the Red Sox the ace of the future (and the now) in Brayan Bello. 

Bello is 12-10 with a 4.11 ERA and 129 strikeouts. He has given up 17 runs in four September starts and has had a few hiccups the last couple of months. But Bello's ERA was near 3.00 in early July and has all the makings of a top notch pitcher for seasons to come.

Bullpen wasn't too much of an issue and a highlight for the pitchers. Injuries did keep things interesting at times and overuse to set in down the stretch. Special shoutout to Chris Martin (1.07 ERA, 2 saves) who has not allowed a run in 19 straight appearances, dating back to a July 28 game against the San Francisco Giants.

A rotation comprised of fourth-and-fifth starters spelled doom for Boston. Surprises might occur from top minor league pitchers for the Red Sox but they will be best served tracking down a top free agent or two to try to balance things out. Bello will be there but the main question remains as to who he will be surrounded by.

Finishing out this season strong to reach .500 is still in sight. The task is tough, however, with six of their nine games against Tampa Bay and Baltimore, two teams heading to the playoffs. Even if that .500 mark isn't reached, there is a lot to take away from this season to build on in turning this franchise into a World Series contender once again. 

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Boston College Eagles: Too much yellow in narrow Red Bandanna Game loss

 

One final mistake proved to be the last dagger in upset hopes for the Boston College Eagles on Saturday.

One less mistake would have given the Eagles a chance to win. Two to three less mistakes might have given Boston College a victory over third-ranked Florida State at Alumni Stadium.

Instead, a massive victory in the 10th rendition of the Red Bandanna Game fell just short as Boston College (1-2) fell to Florida State (3-0), 31-29.

A spirited, valiant effort was on display by Boston College from the get-go. This was to be expected on this day honoring the sacrifice and heroism of former BC lacrosse player Welles Crowther, who helped save so many lives on 9/11.

Down 31-10, big plays and timely stops brought the Eagles to within two with 5:19 left. A missed extra point forced a couple of missed two-point conversions, which might have easily made this a tied game. Boston College had to also climb the mountain of a program record 18 penalties in this game.

Despite it all, the Eagles forced a three-and-out, taking control of the ball with 4:37 left. After moving the ball, the drive ultimately stalled before punting the ball back to Florida State with 2:16 left.

Boston College had the stop, too, on a Florida State third down. But the laundry on the field again was pinned to the Eagles, with a face mask call on John Pupel ending the Eagles chances at a comeback.

A heartbreaking loss aside, there was plenty of good that happened on the field for Boston College on Saturday.

Thomas Castellanos spearheading offense

Three games into the 2023-24 season, transfer quarterback Thomas Castellanos has cemented himself as the starter for Boston College. 

One can only hope the stats, excitement, and thrilling plays translate to more victories for this Eagles squad.

Castellanos, on the big stage against Florida State, took another step in his progression. Decision making was improved and accuracy was better, helping Boston College get off to a hot start.

And huge plays on third and fourth downs throughout the game by Castellanos gave Boston College a chance at the upset.

Castellanos showed patience in letting plays develop, as evident on a 32-yard passes to Joe Griffin and Lewis Bond on the game's first drive. 

Then there was a 45-yard run on third and 14 from his own five-yard line in the second quarter. And a 52-yard pass to Dino Tomlin on a third-and-17 in the third quarter.

Big plays by the sophomore continued in the fourth, with a seven-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-two for the game's final score.

All told, it was the best effort of the season by Castellanos (in a season full of them, thus far). He finished 20-33 for 305 yards, connecting with eight different receivers. Castellanos did have one interception in the team's rough start to the third quarter.

Castellanos also carried the ball 16 times for 95 yards and a score.

The running game was not all him, as Kye Robichaux added 64 yards and a score. The backfield was thin again, with Pat Garwo III out, and Robichaux took full advantage, converting a couple of huge third-and-fourth downs himself.

Going against a stout defense, Castellanos was impressive, helped by a receiver corps hungry for the huge play. 

Lewis Bond and receiving corps

Bond, three games into the '23 season, is leading the pack as a top-favorite of Castellanos. And the redshirt-Sophomore continued to impress in Saturday's game against Florida State.

He only caught three passes but they were huge, going for 80 yards and the first quarter score. This production brought Bond's season totals to 12 catches, 175 yards, and two touchdowns, leading the team in receiving yards and touchdowns.

As more attention is paid to Bond, opportunities will arise for others to step up. Last week it was Jaden Williams. While Williams was held out of the stat book Saturday, other members of the unit came to play, including Ryan O'Keefe.

Heading into the season, O'Keefe was projected as the breakout who would slot in nicely for the departed Zay Flowers. The truly spectacular performance has not happened yet but if O'Keefe keeps going, that game will happen soon.

The transfer from Central Florida has his best game as an Eagle, hauling in six receptions for 64 yards, including a huge 28-yard reception on third-and-20 on Boston College's last drive of the game.

Despite the lack of "wow", O'Keefe does lead the team in receptions with 15. But, a lot of those have been short passes and today's yardage double his season total to 128.

In spreading the ball around, Griffin (3 catches, 65 yards) and Dino Tomlin (2 catches, 57 yards) also stretched the field.

There were still a couple of drops but overall, the unit had a solid game, with the tight ends also getting involved (with opportunities to get involved even more going forward).

Boston College Eagles: Defense and special teams

A tall task was at hand for the Boston College Eagles defense against Florida State. It wasn't always pretty, and Florida State still made things look easy at times. Even with the struggles, the defense made opportune stops.

None bigger than a fourth quarter forced fumble by Elijah Jones, leading to a touchdown by Khari Johnson.

Boston College held Florida State to 2-9 on third down conversions, which is great. Trouble was, when Florida State was rolling, Boston College had trouble even getting them to third down.

There were encouraging signs in holding Florida State to 340 total yards. Individual efforts were again fantastic and it was great to see the unit coming together more to contribute to the overall effort on defense.

Kam Arnold had nine tackles, seven all by himself. Pupel, despite the late mistake, also had nine tackles as he continues to have a solid season.

Vinny DePalma made seven tackles and Jones added six and a pass break-up to go along with the forced fumble.

Boston College added some oomph on special teams, with a fumble recovery by Victor Nelson Jr.

It feels like the Eagles are on the cusp of putting together a nice run. Their two losses have come by a combined five points and their offense is coming together (albeit one struggling with pre-snap penalties). Against one of the conference's top teams, the Eagles outperformed Florida State in almost every category.

Fix the mistakes and winning season will be had. A great place to start will be next Saturday against Louisville, where Boston College plays their first road game of the season.

photo credit: WikiMedia Commons

More Boston College Eagles football - 2023

Boston College defeats Holy Cross 3 standouts in loss to N. Illinois Receivers looking to replace production of Zay Flowers

Boston College Eagles survive Mother Nature, Holy Cross for first win in '23

 

Inclement weather did its best to prevent the Boston College Eagles from picking up their first win in the 2023 season.

Holy Cross did their best to pick up an upset victory, too. The Crusaders marched, crossing into Boston College territory in the final minute thanks to a running game that was rarely stopped.

Until the Eagles and their defense discovered the magic elixir, as created by Neto Okpala and Vinny DePalma. Okpala forced a fumble that was recovered by DePalma, sealing a 31-28 Boston College (1-1) victory.

A two-hour weather delay stopped the clock with 1:58 left in the game. With Holy Cross (1-1) having just received a punt and, with the defense struggling, things looked bleak. Plus, for the second week in a row, the Eagles made things difficult on themselves. Boston College had 10 penalties for 109 yards and found inopportune times to execute. Third down struggles continued (7-13), though they did convert on both fourth-down opportunities presented them.

Boston College's offense leaned into an identity in the ground game, rushing for 202 yards. Despite Pat Garwo III's absence the majority of the game, a transfer made an immediate impact to help pave the way.

Kye Robichaux

Garwo started out strong, knocking out back-to-back seven-yard runs. Unknown at this time is why Garwo didn't return to the game after this start, though he was on the sideline in street clothes and a walking boot later in the game. With Alex Broome already out with a minor injury, the run heavy game plan seemed set to take a back seat.

No worries, as Kye Robichaux announced his arrival.

Robichaux, the transfer from Western Kentucky, was handed the workload on Saturday and responded with authority. Helped by a dominant offensive line, Robichaux carried the ball 19 times for 94 yards and a touchdown.

He had a long of 13 on the day and was fairly consistent throughout. Given the unexpected amount of playing time, it was extraordinary to see zero of Robichaux's carries go for negative yards.

The junior also had two receptions for 15 yards and is line to see more snaps, no matter when (or if) Garwo and Broome return to the field in '23.

Cam Barfield (four carries, 20 yards) spelled Robichaux at times but it was quarterback Thomas Castellanos who helped shoulder the workload against Holy Cross. Castellanos, starting his first game for Boston College, was going to get his fair share of carries. Sixteen for 69 yards might have been more than expected but he was again solid throughout.

Struggles occurred early in the passing game for Castellanos and the Eagles but really settled as the game went along. There was a nice mix of route patterns in this game, not always going deep, as Castellanos finished 17-23 for 204 yards and two touchdowns (Sightings for tight ends George Takacs and Jeremiah Franklin, who combined for two catches for seven yards and two touchdowns). 

The deep ball did have success in the form of Jaden Williams, who hauled in two catches for 70 yards. Williams also drew a pass interference call against Holy Cross on a deep pass in the first half.

Two games in and the wait continues for a Ryan O'Keefe breakout game, though he did have four catches for 29 yards and 14-yard touchdown run. It was Lewis Bond who continues to be a favorite target, finishing with five catches for 55 yards.

Still, the offense really built off that second half last week and did a lot of good things. An identity around this unit is forming and special things could be on the horizon.

Now, if only the defense could batten down the hatches a little more.

Boston College defense

Sometimes, a team defense only needs one big play to turn the tide of the game. For Boston College, the forced fumble and subsequent recovery happened at the most opportune time.

It's too bad, aside from individual efforts and the victory, struggles continued, especially against the run.

Holy Cross did most of their damage in this aspect, rushing for 264 yards (on an impressive 6.8 yards per tote). Jordan Fuller carried the ball 13 times for 109 yards and two touchdowns. More impressive was quarterback Matthew Sluka, who accounted for 131 yards on the ground and the Crusaders two other touchdowns.

Sluka was also efficient in the passing game, going 10-15 for 130 yards.

Pressure up front was again an issue, with the Eagles collecting only one sack (Shitta Sillah) and three tackles for loss. Boston College was better in the third down department than last week, holding Holy Cross to converting 4 of 9. However, the Crusaders converted on both of their fourth down attempts.

Veterans across the unit continue to lead the Eagles. DePalma was tops in tackles, with nine and fellow linebacker Kam Arnold added eight. Elijah Jones had five tackles, all the solo variety.

A much better effort will be needed from the top down on this side of the ball. Two games in, there is still a lot (understandably) being worked out. But a complete execution of the game plan will need to form really quick, on both sides of the ball.

That's because next week, in playing their third-straight home game, the Boston College Eagles play host to what will likely be a top-3 team in Florida State. A massive undertaking is on the agenda to knock off their rivals but it is the Red Bandanna Game and, for Boston College, an upset of this proportion would be the perfect to honor the legacy of the man behind the bandanna, Welles Crowther.

photo credit: PublicDomainPictures

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The great unboxing post of 2023: Part 2

 

Spending more days at my childhood home in recent years has meant more pockets of time spent digging through closets. This leads to trips down memory lane, a mix of nostalgia and cringe taking root in the heart.

Whelp, after February's unboxing post, I decided now was the perfect time to dive in with another adventure into an unknown treasure. It's the great unboxing post part two, y'all!

This magical journey in the time machine involves the opening of a time capsule, once securely sealed in the sixth grade (I'll let you guess the year). 

Out of respect to you, the reader, I will admit this capsule has not remained sealed all these years. At some point, likely in my late teens, I added a few items from my high school years. And it was opened three years ago when it was discovered by my nieces and nephew as they explored the lost toys of my youth.

So, in opening this blast from the past, I had a vague recollection of what glorious items I deemed necessary for future generations to discover. In the end, however, moments of casting quizzical looks to the sky took over in asking "Jason, what were you thinking?"

Collection of nostalgia

Lid off, my first grab is a handful of ribbons from Track & Field Day. This day was always a favorite of mine in those elementary years, and I suppose I have the ribbons to prove. Can I tell you what events I won, placed, or showed in? Nope. Egg tossing? Maybe. Potato sack race? Your guess is as good as mine. 100-yard dash? Doubtful but possible, in any given year.

Other items are fairly standard. A school photo from that year. A $2.50 general admission ticket to a San Francisco Giants game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Candlestick Park. (Where I recall my first real taste of a heckler, in which a Giants fan yelled out, singing to Vince Coleman, "What's a matter with Coleman? He's a bum!"

Throw in a bookmark that reads "Save the Earth" and we're all set.

Into the next round, things get interesting.

We start off normal, with ten carefully selected baseball cards. I say "carefully" but I couldn't tell you one way or another how I selected these players. In the grand scheme of things, I probably held secret wishes they'd worth be millions of dollars. Ken Griffey Jr., Nolan Ryan, Orel Hershiser, and Kevin Mitchell are among these cards. A couple of spectacular careers and a couple of decent careers represented in that sample but I doubt they will net me enough money to send me into retirement.

A golf ball, tee, and single dice represent a nice mix of my love of golf and shooting dice. Okay. I don't love either of those things but I did enjoy playing golf back then. And board games were a passion.

The coolest thing is a pair of Kool-Aid™ sunglasses, which I scrimped and saved Kool-Aid™ points to send away for those bad boys. Just waiting for them to come back in style...

For an inexplicable reason known only to 12-year-old me, this time capsule included Starburst wrappers. Those, too, are likely worth a million dollars.

With the next batch, I find two pieces of folded notebook paper. My first thought is that these are notes saved from classmates (which, somewhere, I believe I still have a box of notes and letter saved from those years. That will be an interesting unboxing post). Nope, these pages I filled out myself.

The first is a one-page bio, with a baby photo taped in the bottom right corner. The second fills up approximately lines, in which I proclaim I want to be an archeologist or a basketball player when I grow up. Prophecy not fulfilled, so I moved onto the final items.

Newspaper clipping and the random high school items

One of the final items from that sixth-grade year I'll speak about is a newspaper clipping, in which I was captured in a photo by the Elko Daily Free Press at a Elko High School basketball game.

Many of us in this photo, plus I am guessing a few outside the frame, ended up playing on this very court in high school. Though, for myself and at least two others, we arrived as the visiting team, thanks to a splitting up of the school population after my eighth-grade year. (*Note, I am unsure if Elko High still uses this specific mascot costume. Their mascot remains the Indians, with the county voting in 2022 to keep the name, with the backing of a resolution from the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone. A resolution stipulation does read, in part, "The Te-Moak Tribal Council hereby approves the Elko County School District request to retain the name ‘Indians’ as their Elko High School mascot as long as all terms agreed to are kept and that all and any future stereotypes, derogatory, and offensive symbols and materials shall be removed and an the Educational Curriculum of the Native Americans History shall be incorporated within the School American History Curriculum.")

In finishing out this great unboxing, there were few items saved throughout high school. Impatience at keeping the capsule closed for 20 years got the best of me as I grew. I added a small stuffed animal (won at Circus Circus in Reno, on a trip for FBLA), 3D glasses used on a motion ride from that same trip, a necklace, and my senior picture to the collection. Specific events and memories are tied to each item in this last batch, except for the necklace. Perhaps that answer will arrive in my dreams.

Did I find what I expected in this time capsule? Sure. Not all of it made sense and not all of it was perfect but that's who I was at 12 years old. There was no grand secret to be unearthed or spectacular revelation to behold. However, the items found provided a direct line to the past and, if anything, a reminder that a little quirkiness is good for the soul.

Boston College Eagles: 3 standouts in opening loss to Northern Illinois

 

A new season, and a new set of coaches, arrived with the promise of something better for the Boston College Eagles. Instead, a week one result was more of the same for this program.

The arrival of an exciting, energetic quarterback, however, sparked hope in an otherwise frustrating game.

A comeback spearheaded by UCF transfer Thomas Castellanos fell just short, with the Eagles falling to the Northern Illinois Huskies in overtime, 27-24. 

Playing at home to begin the season brought hopes of a 1-0 start for Boston College. Too many mistakes and penalties did the Eagles in and, for the first time in program history, led to a loss to a team from the MAC.

It was also the first loss in four games to the Huskies and a game the Eagles were just missing extra zip and execution through the game's first 2.5 quarters.

The offense, with solid returners at key positions and a revamped offensive line (with the return of all-conference performer Christian Mahogany), was expected to make waves. The offensive line did its part, paving the way for 146 rushing yards and providing adequate pass protection. Still, the team lacked an identity on what it wants to be (with maybe some answers in the second half) and starting quarterback Emmett Morehead struggled before ultimately giving way to Castellanos.

Not helping were no less than six dropped passes as the Eagles failed to find much rhythm in the passing game.

The defense was decent in spots but let major penalties keep drives for the Huskies alive. They allowed one touchdown drive where Northern Illinois ate up over seven minutes on 12 plays, in which all were run plays. Boston College did allow 166 rushing yards but only 3.5 yards per attempt, so it wasn't all horrible.

But the line failed to put much pressure on the quarterback. The defense, overall, gave up too many chunk plays on first down and allowed Northern Illinois to convert 10-18 on third down.

Positives can be found, however, and here are three Boston College standouts from the loss.

Thomas Castellanos

Castellanos entered the game on Boston College's third drive and immediately made an impact, ripping off a 29-yard run on his first play.

The sophomore brings a different pace to the position and is an obvious upgrade in terms of being dynamic in the run game. Morehead was a tough 3-6 for 14 yards in the first half and Castellanos wasn't much better in the passing game with a 5-12 performance, for 31 yards.

After Morehead again struggled, Castellanos made the most of his return and, with it, perhaps the new starter for Boston College. 

Down 14-0, he led the Eagles on their first touchdown drive of the season. Playing with a short field thanks to a fumble by Husky quarterback Rocky Lombardi (pressured by Neto Okpala, with a recovery by Khris Banks), Castellanos found Lewis Bond for a 12-yard touchdown pass.

Castellanos later added a two-yard touchdown run for the Eagles second touchdown. Impressive as his legs were (nine carries, 67 yards), it was a scrambling drill earlier on that drive that made the day.

On a fourth down and five from the BC 46, Castellanos rolled out and initially found nothing. Pressure forced him from the pocket. And then from another as he backtracked and sidestepped defenders, taking him all the way back to his own 10-yard line. Still, he avoided defenders and eventually connected with Bond for 10 yards and first down.

A 30-yard touchdown to Jaden Williams tied the score at 21 with 1:44 left. Though no magic was to be found in overtime, Castellanos finished with 138 yards passing, completing 13 of 28. He did have one interception on a ball he forced into double coverage.

Starting quarterback is no easy position to handle and I thought Morehead, with his experience from last season, would slide right in. In going 4-10 for 30 yards, he often looked the more inexperienced of the two quarterbacks. Dropped passes hampered the offense and production of both quarterbacks. But, if Castellanos can continue to provide that dynamic edge, the job will be his going forward.

Lewis Bond

A handful of receivers were set to replace the production of Zay Flowers. And while the heir apparent Ryan O'Keefe (5 catches, 38 yards) didn't burst out the gate, plenty of others had fine games.

The best was Bond, who had four receptions for 40 yards and a score. He was consistently relied upon in key situations and gave the Boston College offense an added dimension. 

Bond was talked about a lot during camp about a player who could make an impact this season for the Eagles. One game in, it certainly looks like he will be a main option going forward.

Eight different receivers hauled in a catch for Boston College and it feels like all had a drop, too. Each also had key receptions, whether it was a 22-yard haul by O'Keefe on the final touchdown drive or a 16-yard reception by Joe Griffin on a third down earlier in the game. 

Tight end George Takacs had his struggles, with a drop that nearly led to an interception and finishing with only one catch for two yards.

There didn't seem a whole lot of effort to get Takacs involved. Game planning is part of it and I still believe there is something to be said about not trying to get 15 yards with every pass play. Rather see some shorter routes and build momentum down the field, which should allow the running game to grow even more.

Vinny DePalma

Individual efforts for the Boston College defense were mostly from the expected sources. The top of the list was linebacker Vinny DePalma, who played like the experienced veteran he is.

DePalma had 12 tackles (six solo) and came up with a key stop late in the game. The linebacker held down the linebacker fort, with Jaylen Blackwell adding seven tackles.

Donovan Ezeiruaku collected eight tackles, starting the game off with a tackle-for-loss. He was held without a sack and had a roughing the passer call that kept a Northern Illinois drive going in the fourth quarter. 

The secondary did some nice things, considering the number of faces seeing their first extended playing time. Safety John Pupel looked good in collecting seven tackles and both Elijah Jones and Jalen Cheek played well with a combined seven tackles and four pass break-ups (though both had costly pass interference calls to extend drives.)

A stagnant first half for Boston College gave way to much better things in the second half. The loss stings, especially with such a winnable game. Frustrating, yes, but there was plenty to build on. And if Castellanos remains the starter, the opportunity for plenty of excitement in 2023 for the Eagles will be something to look out for.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

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