Boston College Football: Eagles will be even better in 2018
Defense
The Eagles lost linebacker Ty Schwab to graduation and that’s a huge loss — Schwab led the team in tackles with 107 last season. He was a big-time havoc player adding 8.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two interceptions. The Eagles run a 4-3 defensive scheme and return playmaking defensive end Zach Allen. While Harold Landry had the NFL Draft hype in 2018, Allen will be the Eagle to mention in 2019’s draft. Allen came away with 100 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and four sacks last season.
Back Seven
The S&P+ ranked the Eagles defense at 37th per the analytics and that shouldn’t change much in 2018. 6-foot, 240-pound linebacker Connor Strachan returns after a year off due to injury. Strachan made 80 tackles with 11 tackles for loss in 2016. Losing defensive tackle Noa Merritt hurts as he made 50 tackles, and added 6.5 tackles for loss last year.
Lukas Denis is an elite safety for the Eagles who logged 83 tackles and seven interceptions in 2017. Denis and the back four do lose Isaac Yiadom who intercepted two balls last year while also making 53 tackles. The Eagles have to find new cornerbacks and they only signed one true cornerback in three-star Aaron Geathers.
Addazio’s staff signed Nick DeNucci and Vinny DePalma to play inside linebacker and Hugh Davis to play outside linebacker all three-star prospects who could see action on defense and in the kicking game in 2018.