Boston College head coach Steve Addazio knows a thing or two about great college quarterbacks. He coached one at the University of Florida.
Addazio was the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach for the Gators under Urban Meyer from 2006 to 2010. During that time, he coached one of the most prolific quarterbacks in college football history — Tim Tebow.
So, Addazio knows how dangerous a dual-threat quarterback like Florida State’s Jameis Winston, who his Eagles will play on Saturday, can be.
“He’s big, strong, he can run and he can throw it,” Addazio told ESPN. “He’s a real dual-threat guy. You’ve got to tackle that guy. That guy will break tackles and keep the chains moving and then give ’em another loaded set of downs.”
Winston, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound redshirt freshman, has been impressive through his first three games with the Seminoles, completing better than 78 percent of his passes for 718 yards, eight touchdowns and just one interception. He’s also added two touchdowns on the ground, forcing defenders to respect his abilities as a runner, which the Eagles will have to account for this weekend.
The flashes of brilliance that Winston has shown at points this season, both through the air and on the ground, has reminded Addazio of his old quarterback, which is some high praise for the Seminoles’ freshman.
“It’s hard to get off the field against a guy like that. I remember at Florida we had Tebow, it was hard to get off the field for defenses with Tebow. He could find a way on third-and-4 to move the chains and then you get another set of downs.”
The BC defense is ranked 66th nationally in total defense, allowing 387 yards per game, and 51st in pass defense, giving up 209 yards per game through the air. So, Addazio’s dudes will have quite the challenge ahead of them on Saturday in not only taking on the nation’s No. 8 team but also slowing down an almost Tebow clone.
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