Preview: Notre Dame (4-2) vs. Boston College (5-2)

Where: Notre Dame Stadium; When: Saturday 3:30PM ET; TV: NBC

Overview

Whenever Boston College faces Notre Dame, the Eagles always play one of their best games of the year. Historically, this game has meant more to the Eagles and their fans than it has to Notre Dame. These contrasting viewpoints have been evident on the field as the Eagles have won six consecutive games in the series.

Over the years, Notre Dame always seems to play BC at an inopportune time on its schedule. Whether it be on the heels of a great win (Florida State 1993, 2002) or a tough loss (Pittsburgh 2008, USC 2009) Notre Dame has frequently entered the contest against BC unfocused.

The task of ending the losing streak will be tough as the Irish face BC on the heels of a heartbreaking, eighth consecutive loss to Southern Cal just last week.

It will be important for Notre Dame to regroup quickly as BC is playing some of its best football of the season. New head coach Frank Spaziani leads a team that struggled offensively early in the season (most notably gaining only 54 yards of total offense in a Week 3 loss to Clemson) but has improved of late.

In last week’s 52-20 victory over North Carolina State, sophomore running back Montel Harris set school records with 264 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Not your typical freshman, 25-year-old Dave Shinskie has established himself as the starting quarterback and provided some stability to the offense.

The Eagles will not be lacking for additional motivation this year. They continue to play in honor of linebacker Mark Herzlich, who was diagnosed with cancer before the season began.

Keys for a Notre Dame Victory

1. Forget Southern Cal - In 2008 Notre Dame lost a stunning quadruple overtime game to Pittsburgh, 36-33. Unable to forget the tough loss, Notre Dame was mentally unprepared the following week and fell to Boston College 17-0.

Charlie Weis will need to accomplish what he failed to do against BC last season: get the team to forget about last week’s game and come out of the tunnel ready to win.

For Notre Dame to avoid a hangover from the USC loss, it will be vital to get off to a fast start and play well in the first quarter. Points from the offense and productivity from the defense will be just the tonic to help the Irish forget about last week.

Both of BC’s losses have come on the road this season. In those games, the Eagles have struggled offensively, averaging just 10.5 points and 108.5 yards of offense in losses to Clemson and Virginia Tech. Should Notre Dame get out to an early lead, Boston College will struggle to mount a comeback.

However, if Notre Dame lets BC hang around and puts itself into a position where the Irish yet again need a fourth quarter comeback, there may not be any late-game magic left.

2. Expose BC’s inferior Pass Rush - The biggest weakness to the Eagle defense this season has been their inability to pressure the quarterback. Boston College has been unable to find suitable replacements for star defensive tackles BJ Raji and Ron Brace, both of whom were high picks in last April’s NFL draft.

As a team, the BC defense ranks 86th nationally in sacks with just ten. Their inability to pressure the quarterback has made their pass defense susceptible to big plays.

Jimmy Clausen should have plenty of time to distribute the ball to Golden Tate and the Irish receivers. Tate continues to be a dynamic part of Notre Dame’s offense. Despite continuous double-teams by USC’s vaunted defense last week, Tate was able to catch eight passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

3. Force Boston College to Throw - Boston College has one of the nation’s better running attacks, averaging 155.29 yards per game on the ground. However, they are much less effective through the air. The Eagles are 106th in FBS with 171 passing yards per game.

Notre Dame will employ the same strategy it used against USC: force a good running team to throw the ball. Coming into last week’s game against Notre Dame, USC was averaging over 200 yards per game on the ground. However the Irish defense was able to hold the Trojans to 121.

In doing so, Notre Dame was able to put the game in the hands of USC freshman quarterback Matt Barkley. While Barkley ended up playing great, the Irish were able to take the Trojans’ biggest offensive strength, and force them to win in a different way.

Notre Dame will look to do the same thing to Boston College on Saturday. They will load the box and attempt to eliminate Harris. In doing so, BC will need Shinskie to play great.

Keys for a Boston College Victory

1. Establish the Running Game - The number one priority for BC offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill is to get production from Harris. At 5’8”, 192 pounds, the sophomore from Jacksonville, Florida is not the biggest or the fastest running back. However, Harris has great quickness and is difficult to bring to the ground.

The Boston College running game has been effective against some of the best rush defenses in the country. Going into last week’s game against the Eagles, NC State was giving up just 62.8 yards per game on the ground. Harris torched the Wolfpack for 264 yards and five touchdowns by himself. It will be vital to continue their trend of effective rushing to keep Clausen and the potent Irish offense off the field.

2. Exposes Notre Dame’s Biggest Weakness - The Irish have been terrible defending the pass this season. The Notre Dame defense has continually made other quarterbacks look great, giving up 283 passing yards per game (ranked 117th in FBS). Just last week, Barkley tossed for 380 yards and two touchdowns. Coming into the game, Barkley was averaging 239.5 yards through the air.

Shinskie has had an up and down season, averaging just 116.4 yards passing per game. However he played well last week when the BC running game was at its most effective.

Shinskie’s ability to capitalize on an Irish weakness will be a major factor in the outcome of this game. If he can get the ball to leading receivers Rich Gunnell and Colin Larmond, he will give the Eagles a great chance to steal one from Notre Dame.

Prediction

Boston College will enter Notre Dame Stadium as they always do: fired up and ready to win. Yet for the first time in a while, Notre Dame will have the proper focus necessary to beat the Eagles. The Irish finally understand that this game cannot be a one-way rivalry.

BC’s inability to get a consistent pass rush on Clausen will provide the talented Irish signal caller with too much time to make plays.

The Notre Dame run defense will do a good job limiting Harris’ effectiveness, holding him to less than 100 rushing yards on the day.

Shinskie will have his best passing day of the year. However, Boston College does not have the offensive firepower to keep pace with the Irish scoring attack.

Regardless, the Eagles will play hard and keep the game interesting in the first half. Notre Dame will pull away for good in the third quarter riding another impressive performance from Clausen.

Notre Dame 41, Boston College 24

Photos Courtesy of Notre Dame Sports Information

Q&A: Ron Brace, DT, Boston College

Boston College defensive tackle Ron Brace interviewed on All Access Football Radio's Football Friday Show with Ralph Mancini, Daniel Mogollon and Rodney Towe in our Defensive Linemen Special on March 27, 2009

A lot of people are projecting you to be a 3-4 nose tackle. Is that a position that you look forward to playing, being in that phone booth and being hit by multiple linemen coming from every direction—is that something you are looking forward to?

Brace: I think I’m definitely getting ready for it. I mean, I think I’ve been ready for it throughout college. Now I just have to make that transition over to the pros next year. So it’s a position I’m used to playing. I got to play a lot of the one technique and sometimes at zero tech. So it’s not a position I’m unfamiliar with so I have no problem playing that.

You and B.J. Raji made a great team. Going forward, is there anyone in the NFL that reminds you of B.J., the way they play?

Brace: B.J. is as effective in the run as he is in the pass. Probably a shorter Albert Haynesworth, maybe, because he has that pass threat in him.

Basically that’s the same thing B.J. said a few weeks ago. Ron, right now are you doing any private workouts and if so, who with? And do you have any coming up?

Brace: I only had one private workout so far, with the Denver Broncos. Me and B.J. had it on the same day and that was the last private workout. Right now I’m getting ready for two visits. I have one with the Bucs and another one with the Saints.

You have shown a great first step and good hand technique. You can gain penetration in the gap. In your opinion, what is the most important quality or attribute to becoming a star nose tackle or defensive tackle?

Brace: I think the thing is, you have to be real polished in your technique. When you get to the league everyone is talented, so it comes down to who has the right technique. I think having a really good, sound technique basically is the key to becoming a good pass rusher. That’s what I find myself working on in the off-season, watching film of myself. I need to use my hands more as weapons. I think that’s what separates the normal d-tackle from the elite d-tackle.

Also off the field Ron, I understand you do some work with troubled youth in your community. What are some of the lessons you try to impart to the kids who are in tough situations?

Brace: I just tell them, basically, to make the right decision in life. Everybody knows deep down what the right decision is. Basically, if you have to second guess something, you know you shouldn’t be doing it. I try to leave the message to as many kids as possible, especially kids my brother's age, kids that are just getting out of high school.

Also, do you see yourself as a role model for kids, or is that too heavy of a cross to bear?

Brace: Nobody can really choose to be a role model. It’s usually something that somebody’s just given because they have a younger person who looks up to them. I definitely like to see myself as a role model because I have three younger brothers who actually look up to me. So I’m already a role model and I have to keep my head on straight. That’s also what has helped me out in the long run.

You mentioned three younger brothers. Any future football players coming down the pike?

Brace: I've got two younger brothers that are leaving high school. One is in Detroit playing football and the other one is in Springfield. One of them is going to Wayne State and the other one is looking at prep schools right now.

Do they follow in your footsteps in terms of being big guys? Are they defensive linemen?

Brace: No. One of them is actually about my height but he’s real slim, he lives out in Detroit. My other one is a real short guy because he has a different mother, so he didn’t get that tall.

So you got the size from mom then?

Brace: Yeah. I think it’s just a combination of my mom and dad helping me out with the size and strength part.

Let me ask you—we were talking cartoons with Ziggy (Hood) who was named after a cartoon. You mentioned when we spoke earlier in this draft process that you like to do art and watch cartoons because you like the artistic part of it. These days, when you're trying to kill some time or trying to rest up from a workout, what cartoons are you checking out?

Brace: SpongeBob.

(Laughs) Is that the only one? To be honest, man, my wife likes SpongeBob and my daughter, who is two and a half, she loves SpongeBob too. So I’ve become tired of SpongeBob! They watch it over and over and over again, so I run out of the room if it’s on. They killed it for me already. Any other guys you are into?

Brace: Really, I say SpongeBob right now because the hotel I’m staying in just has Nickelodeon. Usually I watch a lot of different types of cartoons. Anything from old Rugrats to Batman cartoons.

That’s good stuff. Now I know my man down there in Miami, Bryan Spector who’s producing the Big O Show and a new host on All Access Football Radio, said he can get you to sing the SpongeBob SquarePants song. If you get drafted by the Dolphins are you going to do that?

Brace: (Laughs) Yeah, that’s a fact. I told him I’d do that.

We've got to figure something out then, where we could get you to do that. What could we put out there that would get you to come on our air and sing it?

Brace: That’s a good question. I’d have to think about that. (pause) I don’t know. I’ll let you come up with that and get back to me on that.

How about this—if you get drafted before the Dolphins pick at 24, you come on our show and sing SpongeBob with us? It's win-win.

Brace: I’ll do that. SpongeBob, you don’t have another request? You just want SpongeBob.

Well, I don’t know. What else could you do, give us your range.

Brace: I usually just do the SpongeBob one because they think it's funny to hear the that song. What’s a cartoon theme song you like?

You know anything from Bob the Builder? (Laughs) That’s one of my favorites. I watch that with my little nephew all the time. Okay, let’s get back to football. Tell us about your man Mark Herzlich, a linebacker I like a lot who is going back to school. What should we expect from him next season at BC?

Brace: I think you can come to expect big things from him this coming season. He has a tremendous work ethic. I see nothing but the sky as the limit for him. I’m also glad to see he decided to stay in school for his fourth year because a lot of kids don’t stay and earn their degree. So I think it’s a good sign of character, him coming back to finish out his last year of football for BC.

Also, I want to ask you—you met with a number of NFL people in these past couple of months. One of those meetings that really stood out was the one you had with Mean Joe Green. Can you describe how that went?

Brace: I just remember we saw Mean Joe while I was heading to the Steelers room at the Combine. I was just meeting everybody that was there that time in the room. I can’t remember what Mean Joe asked me, specifically. I just remember my initial reaction when I realized it was Mean Joe Green.

Alright, Ron. Before we let you get out of here we like to do something we call three-and-out. We are going to ask you three quick questions. Ready?

Brace: Yep.

First down: Favorite uniform in the NFL?

Brace: Favorite uniform in the NFL? I’d say the Falcons right now for some reason.

Second down: Ron, baseball season is a couple of weeks away. Who is your favorite baseball player of all time?

Brace: Since I’m not really that big of a baseball fan, I got two people I kind of like right now. Barry Bonds and Big Poppi (David Ortiz).

I like it when they call me Big Poppi. (Laughs)

Brace: (Laughs)

OK, third down: Which competition would you do better in—Dancing With the Stars or American Idol?

Brace: I think I would be good at Dancing With the Stars. I don’t have a chance on American Idol.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Boston College)

Q&A: Tom O'Brien, HC, NC State

North Carolina State headman Tom O'Brien, who is entering his third season as the head coach of the Wolfpack, joined College Football Insiders Founder Daniel Mogollon in this Coaches Corner on CFI Radio.

With us today is headman Tom O'Brien of the North Carolina St. Wolfpack. How are you today?

O'Brien: I'm doing great Daniel. How are you?

I'm doing great. Spring is upon us and teams are starting to hit the field and put the pads on. But before we get to the college season, let's talk a little draft and some of the guys leaving the program. Lets start with running back Andre Brown, a player who has really impressed while going through this draft process with his size and speed combination. What’s his potential at the next level? Could he be a full time back?

O’Brien: I think he certainly could. His potential is unlimited. We’ve only been here two years and actually he missed the last six games of our first year with an injury. He’s certainly made tremendous strides this year. He can play whether it’s first, second or third down—he can be that back. He has size and he has speed to take that pounding at the next level. So I think he would be a great addition to someone’s team.

Let me ask you—why he hasn’t been able to breakout at the college level? Last season he had a career-high with 766 yards while a lot of the other backs that are compared to him had about 1,500 yards. Is it a matter of durability?

O’Brien: Like I said last year, he only played six games and then he came into a new system. One thing about our backs is we rotate backs. We had two kids, him and Jamelle Eugene. Both of them split time and if you look at the number of plays he played and take into account the yards and production he had it will probably be as good as in the country.

Fair enough, coach. How about tight end Anthony Hill who has dealt with injuries. He was out your entire first season as a head coach—how healthy was he this past season?

O’Brien: Well, he got hurt the first game of the year.

Right.

O’Brien: Then missed the next four or five, but once he came back he steadily made a lot progress. He got much better as the year went on for us. Certainly I think he carried that forward when he had the opportunity to go down and play in the Senior Bowl. I think for both kids the future is ahead of them and they're going to be good players, and good players for a long time.

How about a pair of your former players from Boston College. When you recruited defensive tackles B.J. Raji and Ron Brace did you envision them both being day one picks, possibly first rounders, with Raji possibly going as high as the top five?

O’Brien: I don’t think you envision them like that signing them out of high school. But certainly when he (Raji) got to campus and we saw the ability he had, we knew that if he worked extremely hard and did his due-diligence and got himself in shape and ready to play, that certainly he had the potential to do it. So it’s very gratifying for us to see. You know he spent four or five years at BC because he had to sit out a year. He worked extremely hard to get to that position. Ron Brace was a big kid and same thing coming out high school. He always had the quickness and is very light on his feet for a guy that came in at around 378 pounds. So he’s cut his weight down to get where he is and also worked extremely hard. Those are two pretty good prospects at the defensive tackle position.

I’m sure you will happy you won’t have to face them in the ACC? Is that right?

O’Brien: You're not kidding. (Laughs)

Another duo that I think you will be pretty happy not to face is that pair out of Wake Forest, Aaron Curry and Alfonso Smith. Were they as good as any two defenders that you faced?

O’Brien: They certainly were this year, and Alfonso caused us a lot of problems, even when I was with Boston College. He has a tremendous knack for reading plays and anticipating where the ball's going to be. Curry certainly got better. He’s a guy that got better by leaps and bounds each year. He’s played his way into certainly being a first day guy and he’s a great player also.

How about some of the wide receivers you've faced? You played against a lot of the top guys. Kenny McKinley, Taurus Johnson, Greg Carr, (Darius) Heyward-Bey, Hakeem Nicks and (Brooks) Foster at North Carolina, and then in the Bowl game Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood. Who is the toughest receiver you faced?

O’Brien: I think Heyward-Bey. We were very lucky to get him on a rainy day. He and Kenny Britt against us probably going into the game because they are big guys and I mean, they are big receivers and they can run. And they can out muscle you to the ball, let alone out run you and run by you. I think those are the two kids that stood out the most for me.

It’s kind of funny, coach, to me that supposedly the ACC was down this past season. It seems like there was a decent amount of talent coming out of the ACC wasn't there?

O’Brien: I think there was. I think as the year went on, you get that label from the first week of the year. But I think that people should wait until the end of the year to see how things shake out. I think we proved ourselves as the year went on.

Coach O’Brien has a record of 86-59 which included a impressive eight-game winning streak in bowl games while at Boston College. Coach, last year's team made a bowl game after you went 5-7 (in 2007). I think a lot of time the assumption is, “OK, they are going in the right direction”. But you just don’t show up on the field and get better. What do you do in the spring, right now, to make sure that you continue that progression come fall?

O’Brien: Well, I think we are getting better and certainly we improved as the year went on. Getting that bowl was a big thing in our second season and having a opportunity to go to a bowl. We have had our best strength and conditioning in the three years that we have been here. Kids have made big strides, not only numbers wise but certainly in playing explosive football. Those are things that we measure, and we start spring practice today so we have to get better football players. We lost some really good players, which we talked about, like Andre Brown and Anthony Hill, but now it’s time for some of these young guys recruited the last couple of years to step up and this is there time to grab a job and be players for us as we go forward.

I don't want to bring up bad memories, but how disappointing was that Bowl loss to Rutgers? It appeared that if your quarterback Russell Wilson didn't go down, you guys were in control of that game...

O’Brien: Well, injuries are part of the game. Certainly we had more than our fair share last year, but you know we'll have less than our fair share this coming season. It certainly wasn’t the ending we wanted, but losing our quarterback in the first half with a minute to in the game, we had the football with a chance to score a touchdown and win the game. So it’s the best we could of hoped for.

Lets shift to the 2009 Wolfpack…has quarterback Russell Wilson been cleared for spring duties yet?

O’Brien: Well he’ll be cleared this weekend cause we're in helmets. But he hasn’t been cleared for any full contact. Twelve weeks from the injury will be next Monday (Mar. 23) and I think the doctors are going to look at him through the two practices this weekend and if he feels comfortable, then we’ll get him back for full status on Monday.

Wilson is a two-sport standout and will also be getting on the baseball diamond. How much of spring practice will he miss?

O’Brien: Yeah, he’s going to miss some practices. He’s going to miss one day a week. He’s going to practice football twice a week then he’s going to miss one of our three practices a week to go play baseball.

Is there any concern from a coach's perspective? Some coaches don’t like their players to play another sport…

O’Brien: No. That was the agreement between Russell and the school before he came in. Last year he did football first, then played baseball. We're working in a little bit more baseball this year and we will address the issue each and every year to see what’s best and certainly with his injury, we're going to take care of him this spring and we're going to make sure we don’t do anything to get him hurt. In baseball, they promised him he’s going to start but if he’s going to sit on the bench then he can come back and practice some more football. But if he’s out there starting like they promised, then he will be the starting center fielder or third baseman. But if he can help out baseball team, I am not adverse to that.

Will you go and check out any baseball games this spring?

O’Brien: Yeah, I go to all sports on campus when I get the opportunity...mens, womens...I support everybody here at State.

Does any of his baseball training translate to his football game? Any benefits to his playing baseball?

O’Brien: I don’t know if it translates to football. But certainly his future may be in baseball someday so with that in mind we have to do what’s best for Russell and our football program. So we have our agreement worked out and I’m sure we will sit down and discuss his status next season.

How about Mike Glennon? He was a highly touted kid coming in.

O’Brien: Well I love competition, not only at the quarterback spot, but at any position. So, as I told the team yesterday, we don’t do a depth chart until we get ready to play South Carolina. We will have a organizational chart and if you're listed two or three on the chart, then your job everyday is to tell the guy ahead of you that you're going to take his job away from him. I expect Michael to compete for the quarterback job and he’s very talented individual. It will be a very interesting spring and fall camp.

So we won’t use the C word, “controversy”, but we can use the C word, “competition”, at the quarterback position this off season.

O’Brien: Absolutely. That way we have better quarterbacks this fall.

Makes sense to me for sure. Sometimes it can be a touchy situation—guys like that didn’t come to Raleigh to hold a clipboard. Are you worried about keeping them both happy, or do you say, “It’s my job to win games”?

O’Brien: Their job is prove to me who the starter is.

OK.

O’Brien: They make the decision for me and if they're not the quarterback they have no one to blame but themselves. That's the way I look at it and we'll go from there.

Your losing Andre Brown, Jamelle Eugene isn't healthy, while Tony Baker looks like he's 100 percent. Is this the time for him to show you what he can do?

O’Brien: Well, I think it’s a big spring for Tony Baker. He got hurt the first game two years ago, my first year here, and hasn’t played since. Certainly it’s been a long rehab, it’s been a severe injury. And had surgery (again) in September (of 2008) when he tried to come back and play. He hasn’t been in pads since August of 2007. So this is a big spring for him. If he’s back to 100 percent, which he has been, and has done the strength and conditioning area of it since we’ve come back to school on January 8th till now, then he'll be a contributor. But If he can get back to form—because he was our starter in the first game when we came here two years ago—so this is a big spring for him and out football team. So if he can get back to form he'll get slotted with Jamelle Eugene and if those guys can do the rotation, that would be great for us. Brandon Barnes, a red-shirt freshman, is a very talented individual and he’ll get more work this spring. James Washington signed with us and came in early, he's a kid out of Florida who has really impressed everyone with his athleticism and has his numbers—doing all the runs and jumps and lifts. Then we have Curtis Underwood who's been around the program for two years backing up and (has) played. It's a lot of work for those four kids and we'll shuffle the deck and once again—your C word competition comes out and we'll see who's best.

Thanks for giving us some time on this busy morning with spring about to begin and I know you also are going to be the grand marshal of the St. Patrick's Day parade (delayed because of rain).

O'Brien: I will do that tomorrow...double-duty tomorrow.

Photo Credit: Brian Utesch, Gene Galin & Peyton Williams (NC State)

Q&A: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

Boston College defensive tackle B. J. Raji was interviewed on the All Access Football Radio's Football Friday on March 6 2009 by Ralph Mancini, Daniel Mogollon and Rodney Towe.

You are a projected to go in the top 10, do you think about that while you are preparing for the draft?

Raji: I try to keep it out of my mind, but at this time of the year with all the media attention it is kind of tough to put it out of your head, but I am trying the best that I can, to be honest. I am just going to continue to work and keep the same mentality that got me here.

You are coming from a program that is putting first rounders in the NFL basically on an annual basis. Do you feel any pressure to live up to that legacy, what is your mindset moving forward?

Raji: I learned over my years of playing football that when you play with a lot of pressure on yourself, you’re not going to play your best, so whatever type of person you are, when you bring that to the game of football, you have to be that person. I am a pretty calm individual, so I try to bring that demeanor to the football field.

In one particular interview you described yourself as being a hard worker who takes care of the little things as a defensive tackle. Can you describe to us some of those little things that you do at your position to help your team win?

Raji: During pre-snap I come up to the line of scrimmage and I am able to read line splits, particularly between the guard and the tackle or between the guard and the center. I am able to get a feel for the kind of block I am going to get and that helps me to prepare. Pre–snap moves tell me if it is going to be a one-on-one block. If that’s the case, I can do a quick swim move or if it is going to be a double team I make sure to play stout against that double team block. I also try to get movement.

How about representing New Jersey in this year’s draft? I am sure you noticed there are a lot of guys such as yourself coming out of Jersey that project to be 1st round picks, guys like Brian Cushing out of USC, Donald Brown and Knowshon Moreno. Through your high school and college years do you feel that New Jersey has been underrated as a state producing talent and do you know any of those guys?

Raji: I am pretty good friends with Brian Cushing and Donald Brown. Donald and I are signed to the same agency, so I have gotten to know him pretty well. We are always saying that Jersey is an underrated state in football. We are not as big as the states of Texas or California, but we do have some DI talent out there, it’s pretty evident looking at the success of a lot of our guys.

Do you guys take pride in that, proving that you're are as good as some of the other states at producing talent?

Raji: If you look at this class, half of the top guys were highly recruited, half weren't. We all have the same mentality, the same hunger, that’s just where we are from and that has helped us to this point.

You are 6’1” 320 lbs, who do you model your game after?

Raji: When I was younger I would say a Warren Sapp or Kris Jenkins type of player. Now I realize what you need to do at the defensive line position is get the trust of your coaches to the point where your coaches allow you to do things. At the end of the day, you are getting graded for each game and at Boston College you wanted an 85 percent or higher. As I got older I got a little more leeway from my coaches and I was able to do more things.

There are few defensive tackles that have the size and bulk to play nose tackle as you do, but you also have the explosive of a 3-technique. Where do you see yourself playing at the next level, over the center or trying to shoot through the gaps?

Raji: Honestly, I think I can play both positions pretty well. At Boston College I played a lot of 3-4, I played some 4-3, and sometimes I was able to play the boundary defensive end in some packages. I feel with that versatility I am able to play both schemes pretty well.

Can you tell us a little bit about your teammate and partner in crime, Ron Brace, and how you guys complemented one another and helped each other produce big numbers at B.C.?

Raji: In college football it is hard to find one defensive tackle that is as good as Ron and I...to find two on the same team is a rarity, so to play with him was a blessing and an honor. Ron is a great player with great strength...a great work ethic and I think he has a bright future.

So in other words, you guys turn around and tell Mr. Mark Herzlich of course you’re going to get 10 tackles-look at who you have in front of you, you’re going to produce.

Raji: Yeah...jokingly. Mark is going to be a great player. I heard that if he would have come out this year he would have been a top-15 pick. Next year I hear he’s a top-10 pick, for sure. Hopefully I can get him to come to my agency. He’s going to be a tremendously sought after player.

You dropped a few pounds recently. At one point you were up to 350 lbs, can you tell us the difference between playing at 350 versus 320, 325 (lbs) and ideally what weight would you feel comfortable playing at in the pros?

Raji: For me, it is different from a lot of guys. For instance, I compare myself to Ron, I carry my weight quite differently from him, he is more top heavy. I am more bottom heavy in my thighs and gluts. Initially, coming up to BC, I was able to carry this weight well, then Coach Jagodzinski came to the program and wanted me to get down to around 325 pounds. For one week during the summer, he had me wearing a 15-pound weighted vest to see what the weight felt like. After that experience I really learned that 15 pounds can make a big difference in your play and your daily life.

You had eight sacks playing an interior position, which is a pretty high number for a defensive tackle. What is your secret?

Raji: I have to give the credit to my defensive line coach. The way he prepared us for games, the way we got after it at practice...practice was usually simulated to be harder than the game, so the games were easier for me. I was receiving double team blocks and was still able to make some plays. I have to give all the credit to my defensive line coach.

In 2007, you had to sit out that season. What was that year like, was it tough watching your team make it to the ACC Championship game? What did you learn from that experience?

Raji: That was a tough year. Looking back at it, we had the great Matt Ryan and it was probably the best season we had in 15-20 years. Having to sit that out it showed me that I was a good player but the guys didn’t really need me to have success. I didn’t play a snap and these guys made it to the ACC Championship and to No. 2 in the country. It was a very humbling experience. I went from playing my first three years in college to spending my fourth year on the scout team to help the team. It also taught me a lot about patience.

During the Senior Bowl practices, you were very impressive to say the least. You were pushing around big time centers like Alex Mack and Max Unger. Could you tell us about the Senior Bowl experience? What did you gain from it?

Raji: It was great experience and it was obviously a great honor to be among the top college seniors in the country. You get to meet some of the guys you’ve seen on TV and you realize they’re just people like you. I’m a normal guy. I've had some success, but I am still a down to earth guy and the majority, if not all the guys, were the same way that I am. We have common interests like a normal person. The experience was great. I got to meet a different coaching staff. It was the first step in the long process of getting to the NFL. It gave me a little confidence and a sense of urgency.

Did any player stand out to you? One that made you say. “Wow, I didn’t know this guy was as good as he is”?

Raji: I didn’t know these guys coming into the game, like the top center Alex Mack from California and Eric Wood from Louisville. I had never played against these guys. It wasn’t a sense of 'this guy is better than I thought'; it was more along the lines of 'these guys are good'. I am at the Senior Bowl, so I know these guys are the top in terms of talent. Things that I got away with at college, you couldn’t get away with here, so you have to be precise with your movements and things like that.

That was kind of a transition for you, moving from being a college player to a professional. You were coached by the Bengals' staff, what was that like and what did you learn from them that maybe you didn’t know going into that week?

Raji: I learned that the NFL is a different game based upon how these guys coached. The Senior Bowl was pretty basic with our schemes, you couldn’t blitz. From the coaching aspect it wasn’t that tough, but these guys demanded perfection on every play, so you have to give them all you've got and that is what they look for. They look for a lot of energy during practice. My guess is they feel as though those are the guys that are going to be there on game day.

You have your pro day coming up and you’ve helped your stock a lot, maybe as much as any player who participated in both the combine and the Senior Bowl. What are you planning on doing on your pro day?

Raji: I am just going to do D-line drills. The combine was really a plus, it showed that I can compete with the other top players around me. It is more convenient, not to knock anyone that waits until their pro day, but the coaches get a sense of who is going to compete and that is what the NFL is about. It would be easy for me to hold everything off and work out on pro day but I showed at the combine, with the other top players, that I could compete. I did everything I needed to do and I tested pretty well, so I am pretty happy with the results.

You’re going to stand on your combine numbers then?

Raji: Yes, sir.

Time for three-and-out...First Down: Saddest movie you have ever seen?

Raji: Maybe, Saving Private Ryan.

Second Down: Who is your favorite female singer, Beyonce, Madonna, Gwen Stefani or Pink?

Raji: Beyonce.

Third down: Are you a Biggie or Tupac guy?

Raji: Biggie.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Boston College)

Q&A: Ron Brace, DT, Boston College

What was it like growing up in Springfield, Mass?

Brace: Growing up in Springfield it was basically–you know how basketball is big in Springfield–so mainly all my athleticism, I think, (I) was helped by playing basketball basically my whole life. I played on a lot of AAU teams, Boys and Girls clubs, PAL leagues, so that helped me out a lot–especially my feet–being a big guy on the defensive line.

Were you a rugged inside power forward, or were you one of those guys who think he’s a point guard stuck in a big man’s body?

Brace: I was a big guy, I think, stuck in a point guard's body, but they put me at center most of the time, or forward.

Were you a big sports fan growing up?

Brace: I was mainly into basketball, the Celtics here-and-there, some Patriots, but I didn’t play football, so I didn’t pay much attention to it until I got to high school when I moved up to Worcester. When I was a freshman I was a big Indiana Pacers fan because Travis Best is from Springfield too.

Who were some of your favorite teams?

Brace: There was a Semi-Pro team called the Springfield Slam, that’s what my AAU team’s name was–Junior Slam. So I was a Slam fan, and a Pacers fan until Travis left, then I became a Trailblazers fan.

Any other favorite players growing up besides Travis?

Brace: I would probably say Rasheed Wallace. Of course everybody would say Michael Jordan, but also Shaq because of his personality.

The Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots have all won championships recently. Did you follow any of those teams, and if so, which did you enjoy most?

Brace: I would say the first time the Patriots won the Super Bowl with (Tom) Brady, around the time (Drew) Bledsoe got hurt, that was when I first started really paying attention to the Patriots. Watching the whole season...me and my high school football team would get together and go to each other’s houses, get some wings, some sodas, some chips and chill and watch the Pats play.

Did you root for Boston College at all growing up…did you follow them at all?

Brace: No, I didn’t follow them at all to tell you the truth.

Is it true that growing up at some point you couldn’t play Pop Warner football because you were too big?

Brace: Yeah, I was too big for the other kids my age. Even in some of the Boys and Girls club leagues I had to play in the age group higher.

When was the first time you were actually allowed to put on the pads and play organized football?

Brace: My freshman year in high school.

Was that something that you were looking forward to doing?

Brace: Yeah, it definitely was. I basically modeled my high-school career after my father. I played football, basketball and track.

Can you talk about being an artist as a kid?

Brace: If you ask a lot of people from Springfield who knew me as a young kid, I told them when I was younger that I didn’t want to play football, I just wanted to sit around and draw. I still watch cartoons during the day because I like art. I was in AP art when I was in high school. It’s still something I do from time-to-time right now.

Are you more of a painter or a drawer?

Brace: Drawer.

I heard you can cook a little bit…how did you pick that up?

Brace: Oh man, the way that first got out was B.J. (Raji) told reporters that I made donuts for the team one time. I made them a couple of times last summer. I learned from a lady that lived in a building near me in Springfield, Mass. when I went home one time. She taught me how to do that. I also learned cooking tips from my grandparents, when I was growing up I used to watch my grandmother.

What’s your favorite dish from grandma?

Brace: Fried chicken, easily.

Recently you learned how to bake donuts and that was a big hit with your teammates, but you didn’t even get to eat one?

Brace: Na, man. I made them during the summer for some friends. I was like, “I’m making some donuts, you want to come by?” They were like, “You’re making donuts? We’ll be right over.” As soon as they were over I let the donuts sit around and I couldn’t even get one.

How many did B.J. Raji have?

Brace: I think he had one, maybe two. He didn’t have as many as I hoped I was going to get. Last time I wasn’t even able to get one of my donuts when I made them. (laughs)

What are the different flavors?

Brace: Straight up plain, jelly filled.

Is that your specialty?

Brace: It just happened to be the one I learned.

You know when you get drafted and the players hear about this they aren’t going to ask you to pick up the bill, they’re going to ask you to make the donuts as a rookie…

Brace: It’s whatever…if they buy the materials–and I know they have the money–it’s not a problem…I’ll do it.

You mentioned the Dallas Cowboys as a team that showed a lot of interest in you at the Senior Bowl. What other teams have shown interest in you, either at the Senior Bowl or the NFL Scouting Combine?

Brace: At the Combine I talked to the Steelers, the Bucs and the Saints. I actually have two formal visits set up already for the Bucs and the Saints. They are definitely showing good interest in me right now, they are the first two teams to offer me visits so far.

So you’re going to fly out to Tampa and New Orleans?

Brace: Yes

When are those visits scheduled for?

Brace: I want to say April 2, and April 6.

Have most of the teams talked about playing in the 3-4 defense?

Brace: I want to say pretty much every team I talked to. The Indianapolis Colts are the only team that have openly told me that they see me as playing the three, or the one. It’s just getting down in weight, and being prepared.

Do you think that because that is a rare skill and not too many players in this draft can fill that need, it helps your draft stock?

Brace: I definitely think it does because it shows that I can be a versatile type. I can lose weight and play on the outside or I can stay where I’m at and play nose (tackle).

B.J. Raji is a potential top 10 pick…you’re a day one guy who could go in the first round. Did you guys ever talk about both potentially being first round picks?

Brace: We didn’t really try to think about it before this whole process. We didn’t really talk about it. When we get together it’s just like us chilln’. We just talk about football, like an adjustment here, or diet tips or whatever. We just sit around and chill and talk about our personal lives, not really too much the season.

What was it like playing without B.J. Raji during your junior season? I read where Coach Jagodzinski said he believed it helped make you a better football player…

Brace: I think it did, but also I think what helped me become a better football player was the coaching I had from my position coach. He helped me out a lot with technique. B.J. helped me, and coach helped me.

Was it great to be re-united for your final season?

Brace: It was really good. We came in at the same time together and being able to play our last season together was good. We know we did our best, and we enjoyed every moment and every play.

What are you planning on doing this week at your Pro Day?

Brace: I don’t plan on doing everything. I know I’m going to do my forty over again.

You weren’t happy with your 32 bench reps or your 40-time at the Combine…is that right?

Brace: No, I wasn’t because when I got back from the Senior Bowl, I was basically in Combine-mode and had a few weeks to work on it, but we didn’t do like everyday-type things. I knew if I trained like some of the other guys I could have been right up there. I didn’t really do as much bench work, we did more on-the-field stuff.

So no bench?

Brace: No, I’m not even going to bother with it. People say I’m fine with 32, so I’m going to stay right there I don’t need to hurt my pec or tire out my arms.

B.J. said he’s only doing positional drills…I thought maybe would challenge him to a bench-off since he got you by one?

Brace: No, but I would have that.

Who would win?

Brace: He has an advantage, he has some short arms...stubby.

You dropped some weight in the training process from the 342 you were at the end of the season. What’s your weight now?

Brace: I weighed in at the Combine at about 330, but right now I’m about 320

Is that your preferred playing weight for next season?

Brace: Yeah, that’s what I’m trying to do.

I read where you spoke about learning to eat better during the training process. How difficult was that? No butter, whites not yolks, steamed over fried...

Brace: It really hasn’t been that hard. If somebody like a nutritionist lays out for me, “Eat this, or eat that,” I’ll eat it because I understand that they know what to eat, and what not to eat. So it’s not really that bad.

So what does that mean for the donut shop? Is it closed for business?

Brace: Closed for business for me, I can’t eat any.

Time for three-and-out...who is your favorite Superhero?

Brace: I don’t really have just one, I have multiple…Superman, the Hulk, Juggernaut and Wolverine.

Krispy Kream or Dunkin' Donuts?

Brace: Krispy Kream, hands down.

Biggie or 2-Pac?

Brace: Biggie

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Boston College)

DT RON BRACE On All Access Football Radio

One of the top defensive tackle prospects for the 2009 NFL Draft, Ron Brace out of Boston College, joins Daniel Mogollon for an NFL Draft Bible Player Spotlight. Brace is known to some as the “other” tackle from Boston College, but to those in the know he is the top nose tackle prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft. The 2007 All-ACC Honorable Mention selection and 2008 All-ACC Second Team pick is a sure fire day one pick, who could sneak into the first round. He talks about growing up in Springfield, Massachusetts, his rooting interests as a sports fan and his off-the-field interests, which include drawing and making donuts. We also discussed his development as a player at Boston College, playing with B.J. Raji, the draft process and his upcoming Pro Day later this week back at BC.

*** CLICK TO LISTEN ***

Photo Credit: College Press Box