Last season, Boston College football lost to an EJ Manuel-led Florida State team 51-7. BC had little momentum. They lacked poise. It was barely the second quarter and Florida State had already sealed the victory.
The Eagles welcome the No. 8-ranked Seminoles to Chestnut Hill this Saturday and the outcome may not be so swiftly determined. BC’s defense embodies goal-line resiliency to an extent — and if that shines through, the game will certainly have a different ring to it than 2012 did.
What’s more promising is the potential of Chase Rettig against FSU’s defense.
Three games in to the 2013 college football season, Rettig is having a career-defining year. In terms of passer efficiency, Rettig has jumped 39 spots in FBS rankings from last year while also raising his completion percentage by over six percentage points.
If anything is going to hinder Florida State’s aggressive game plan, it’s Rettig.
And if anything is going to suppress BC’s hopes at a Parents’ Weekend upset, it’s the playmaking of Jameis Winston.
This is a quarterback duel in the making. Here’s how they match up:
Chase Rettig
Strengths: Since the start of this season, Rettig has demonstrated continued growth as a quarterback. He’s made smarter passes and hasn’t forced as many throws to covered receivers.
This is clearly evidenced by his touchdown-to-interception ratio of 4:1. He’s effective in the red zone, completing all three of his passing attempts for one touchdown and a 307.0 passer efficiency rating.
Rettig also has the advantage of playing FSU at home. His statistics jump dramatically at Alumni with a passer efficiency rating of 171.5, which is 25 points above his average. His completion percentage jumps nearly 8 points at home, too.
Weaknesses: Despite a solid year, Rettig has made some throws that make fans scratch their heads and wonder, “What was he thinking?”
He has caught flak in the past for taking more sacks than getting rid of the ball, but a more mature Rettig has noticeably improved in that regard.
There have also been times where Rettig has shown a lack in arm strength. In an early interception against Wake Forest, he had an open receiver in the end zone, but underthrew the pass for a pick at the 10 yard line. Mistake-free football is critical for Rettig to be successful on Saturday.
Jameis Winston
Strengths: When he was being recruited in 2012, Winston was rated as the top quarterback prospect in the country by ESPN. Now three games into his collegiate career, the redshirt freshman has been all that was promised and more. Among qualified quarterbacks, he ranks first in completion percentage, completing 78.1 percent of his attempts, and second in passer efficiency rating with a score of 210.5.
His touchdown-to-interception ratio sits at an amazing 8:1 and he has two rushing touchdowns. There has already been Heisman hype surrounding Winston. He’s that good.
Weaknesses: While Winston has been very impressive in his first three games as starter for the Seminoles offense, he has yet to do it against an FBS opponent with a scoring defense ranked in the Top 100.
Pittsburgh’s defense is ranked 120 in the nation, allowing 41 points per game. Nevada’s defense is similarly ranked 102, allowing 34 points per game.
On the flip side, Boston College’s defense is currently ranked 39 in the country, allowing only 19.7 points per game. It is possible that Don Brown’s aggressive defensive schemes could force the first year quarterback into some very costly mistakes.
Either way, the quarterback with the better game will likely come out on top.
Follow @BCGavelSports on Twitter for the latest updates on Boston College athletics.
School and year: A&S, 2015
Favorite Beyonce lyric: “We took a flight at midnight and now my mind can’t help but wander”
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