ACC PREVIEW

The ACC is actually something of a sleeper conference this year. There are quite a few good teams in this conference, and there is a decent chance one of them is playing for all the marbles. Well, this is another conference with two divisions, so we will handle by division in my predicted order of finish.

ACC Atlantic Division

Clemson – 17 returning starters means that Tommy Bowden will do more than avoid being fired this season. All five OL return, which paves the way for the 1-2 punch of Davis and Merriweather in Clemson’s ground game. A new QB will also benefit from the protection. The LBs are all back and all good, and the DBs are solid. With a little luck, Clemson could be a serious contender for the ACC title.

Florida State – If having the most talent on the field won games, FSU would win almost every time. Unfortunately, their talented players seem to have zero common sense and team mentality. Nevertheless, FSU will have a strong O-Line and a much more balanced and productive offense this year. A minor QB controversy will be weathered with strong receivers and a solid stable of RBs. The D-Line is replacing a few, but strong LBs like senior Buster Davis, and a good enough secondary will keep FSU in every game. A strong season, but not the glory days known by earlier in the Bowden era.

Boston College – Junior Matt Ryan will be under center for the Eagles, and he will use his accuracy to find a corps of newer WRs led by big play threat Tony Gonzalez. Two solid backs share the backfield, and despite losing two key OL, the Eagles look to have a very good O-Line. The D-Line will need better production out of the LBs, after two huge losses in the trenches. Keeping a lid on things will be a good secondary. Expect Boston College to win more than they lose, especially with their schedule—only four tough games and they are all in conference and only two are on the road.

Maryland – Ralph Friedgen has stopped doing underarmor commercials, and that is a good thing for two reasons: 1) Ralph Friedgen should never be used to sell underwear, and 2) his team needs him to coach them back to success. QB Sam Hollenbach finally won the starting job, but has few experienced WRs. Thankfully, for Terp fans, the picture at RB is much better, and Lance Ball should have a solid year, especially working behind four returning starting blockers. The D-Line returns intact and should be good, which will help the rebuilding LBs. Two starters return from a bend but don’t break secondary last year (61% opponent completion percentage, but only 4 TDs through the air…of course with 24 going in on the ground, who needs to throw in the red zone…), but don’t expect that method to work too many times in a row.

NC State – Chuck Amato is officially on the Hot Seat, and the school is denying it, which only proves it is true. Amato never found a starter last year, and the truth is even with one of last year’s duo graduated, he still isn’t sure he has a decent #1. The WR corps are thinned out, the RB by committee approach only netted 3.4 YPC last year, and they are replacing two key OL. Ouch. Losing every bit of their pass rush (DaMarrio Williams ring a bell?) hurts the D-Line, and losing two of three LBs makes the front seven look really suspect. The secondary should be solid so that is good news, but not enough good news to make this a winning team, or keep Coach Amato his job.

Wake Forest – Wake Forest returns 18 starters from last year’s team, but this team simply doesn’t have the talent level to compete in this conference. QB Ben Mauk threw 54% of his passes for completions last year, but only one TD and six INTs. Sharing time is one thing, but sharing the ball with the defense is another. The WRs are big, but slow. Micah Andrews will lead the rushing attack this year that should be the strength of the offense, because the line welcomes back four starters. The D-Line needs to improve, but look for Jon Abbate to have another solid year at LB. The secondary is solid and led by safety Josh Gattis who has All-American potential. Still, these two are not enough to make this team a winner.


ACC Coastal Division

Miami (FLA) – Junior QB Kyle Wright was effective, but inexperienced last year, but looks to build on a solid first year as starter. With strong TE Greg Olson, the WR host a bevy of talented potential stars who lack experience. Tyrone Moss should bounce back from injury and the Hurricane ground game should be ferocious this year. Unfortunately, with youth at the skill positions, this is not the best year to rebuild the O-Line. The Defense looks good welcoming back 7 starters, including a great defensive backfield. With a decent schedule, the Canes are certainly a top 25 team, but not necessarily a top 10 team.

Virginia Tech – With the departure of Vick and his bong smoke, Beamer looks to keep the Hokies headed the right direction. A new QB should provide a new era of stability, especially one throwing to their very talented trio of WRs. Ore returns from an injury limited season that still saw him average 5.9 YPC! Replacing a few OL will not be easy, but lettermen provide depth that should ease the transition. Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi lead the defense from their LB positions. The D-Line will include several regulars taking over for the two players that graduated. The return of three starters in the secondary means that VT is not that susceptible to the big play. Look for VT to have another solid year.

Georgia Tech – Reggie Ball has all the physical tools to be a big time QB, but he seems to make the mental mistakes of a freshman (in his junior year he was 11-12 TD-INT). Calvin Johnson is a real man at the WR position and leads a strong group. Tashard Choice also looks to have a breakout year at HB, and with four returning starters on the O-Line, expect the Yellow Jacket offense to move well. LBs Michael Hall and Philip Wheeler are the leaders of a defense that was mighty good last year. The DL looks consistently good, but the secondary is replacing three players this year. The defense is not up to the same level as the offense so prepare for some shootouts ending in heartbreak against the upper echelon, but the ramblin’ wreck should come out with more wins than losses, even with a tough schedule that opens against Notre Dame and closes with Georgia.

Virginia – The Cavs will be led by their wonderful WRs, led by Williams and Mines, but with no clear cut QB starter, they will rely heavily on a reloaded ground game and a rebuilding line. The 3-4 defensive scheme welcomes back a decent pass rusher in Chris Long, and two of four very good linebackers, but its strength may be its secondary, led by Marcus Hamilton (6 INTs last year!). All in all, this team should be okay, but not amazing. Maybe next year this team will be something kind of special.

North Carolina – With no sure number one QB, no proven WR, and no proficient ground game, the loss of three OL to graduation is crushing news. The news improves on defense where the Heels are led by OLB Larry Edwards, and have a decent front seven, not to mention returning three members of a pretty good secondary. Expect the defense to play well, but the offense to simply not be able to keep pace with a schedule that saw nine of their opponents make bowl games last year.

Duke – Duke started a true freshman at QB last year and paid for it, but this year Zack Asack looks to improve and lead his team to more than the one win they had last year. The WRs are full of potential but up to now have not been able to realize it. The Blue Devils actually look solid at RB, but replacing four of five on the line hurts. The D-Line replaces two guys and really has to do better against the run for this team to come close to winning (5 YPC for the opposition is not a good average). Michael Tauiliili leads the LBs effectively but will need some help, and John Talley is a star at CB, so with adequate support the pass defense should be much improved. Look for Duke to win two games, because once they pass 1-AA Richmond, they face a tough schedule including conference bullies Virginia Tech, Virginia, FSU, Miami (Fla.), BC, and GT, not to mention out of conference games against Bama and Navy. Ouch.


So there it is, the ACC top to bottom.

More later.

God save the Cheese.