The Sports Corner

2008 ACC Football preview

 Atlantic Division

1. Clemson

The Guy:  The offensive line. 

Everybody knows CJ Spiller and James Davis are both NFL caliber backs but they will be working behind an inexperienced line. Only two starters return from an offensive line that wasn’t any good to begin with last year, though that may be for the best. Spiller has some absolutely ridiculous moves while James is more of a workhorse back with breakaway speed. Together they’re the best running back tandem in football… including the NFL. But if they don’t have anywhere to run they won’t get to put those feet to use. New starters on the left side Jamarcus Grant and Cory Lambert were highly touted out of high school. 

The Schedule: Opening up with Alabama is a tough task, the next four are all winnable home games though. The litmus test for this team will be a four game stretch where they play Wake Forest, Boston College and Florida State, all on the road. Come out of that gauntlet with even one loss and the conference championship could be in jeopardy. South Carolina comes to Death Valley this year to finish off the season and though the game probably won’t have any national implications, it’s a hated rivalry and never disappoints. 

The Reality: Clemson hasn’t been able to put it together since Florida State joined the ACC. 16 years of frustration has this program at a breaking point. Head coach Tommy Bowden says the pressure is off him and now on the players since he was given a new contract and a huge buyout but the fact of the matter is he will be fired if this team doesn’t perform. I can’t see them running the table on this schedule so a national title is probably out of reach but if there were ever a time for Clemson to win their first ACC division and conference titles, this is it. Their secondary and defensive line are among the best in the nation. It’s going to be tough to score against the Tigers if they can find some productive linebackers. 

The Future: South Carolina’s favorite son, Willy Korn, moves into the starting quarterback role next year but if CJ Spiller doesn’t stick around they won’t be contending for any titles, national, conference, division or otherwise. 

2. Wake Forest

The Guy: QB Riley Skinner

Last year he wasn’t entirely healthy and his stats suffered. No matter what his numbers were though, he proved his a winner and he’s very accurate. Running back Josh Adams will have to improve on his all-ACC season to take the heat off Skinner because of losses along the offensive line and among receivers. 

The Schedule: Two non-conference games against BCS opponents to open the season will be ample preparation for Florida State in week three. They should be 4-0 when Clemson comes to town, win that game and an ACC title could be in the cards. Two road games following Clemson could be cause for let down against Maryland and Miami, if they emerge from that block of games unscathed, Wake Forest will be in the national championship discussion. That said it’s likely they will drop a game or two along the way but the final five games should be a breeze. 

The Reality: The Deamon Deacons should win at least nine games for the third consecutive season. Returning nine starters on defense including shutdown corner Alphonso Smith and the entire back seven, will make this team one of the toughest to play in the conference. Linebacker Aaron Curry is as good as they come. Riley will need a go-to-guy to step up in their receiving corps since record setter Kenny Moore has moved on. 

The Future: It’s hard to project this team down the road. Nobody really understands how head coach Jim Grobe got Wake Forest this good and you have to wonder how long his misdirection offense can fool the ACC. Defensively, it’s clear they have excellent athletes, but a number of them will be exhausting their eligibility this year. 

3. Florida State

The Guy: Anybody but quarterback Drew Weatherford. 

Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has a slew of quarterbacks to choose from this year and since the Seminoles are probably a year or two away from competing for the national title on a yearly basis again, why not get started with a fresh face at quarterback. Since Chris Weinke left FSU there hasn’t been a sliver of consistency at the position. If sophomores Christian Ponder, D’Vontrey Richardon or freshman EJ Manuel can win the job, it will give the 2009 and 2010 teams a better chance to compete. Three years of Drew Weatherford has been enough, it’s time to move on. 

The Schedule: It could be worse. The one godsend is the lack of travel. FSU will only travel outside of the state three times this year and will be favored in each (NC State, Georgia Tech and Maryland). They host two cupcakes to open the season before Wake Forest and Colorado come to the sunshine state in consecutive weeks, though the Colorado game is in Jacksonville. The team’s only other road game is the following week against Miami. Home games against Virginia Tech, Clemson, Boston College and Florida will determine the season for FSU. 

The Reality: With a number of starters suspended for the first three games of the season, you can pencil in a loss to Wake Forest and with it, a shot at the ACC title. Running back Antone Smith needs to have his best season of his career or the offense will sputter. An incredibly young offensive line and a lack of playmakers will have the team leaning heavily on a talented defense. The schedule is tough, but not so tough that it will keep them from a bowl game. A 7- or 8-win season looks likely. 

The Future: Whoever takes over at quarterback next year, or hopefully this year, will be the focal point of the offense. Antone Smith won’t be there to carry the load anymore. Defensively, if rover safety Myron Rolle sticks around for another year he will lead the charge to a BCS bowl game. 

5. Boston College

The Guy: Linebacker Brian Toal and defensive tackle BJ Raji.

Both were key cogs in the run defense in 2006 but found themselves injured and unable to play all of last season. Now entering their final year of eligibility, they will be called upon to lead a defense that only returns four starters from a year ago. Toal can play sideline to sideline but he’s a hammer in short area plays while Raji simply clogs up the middle of the line of scrimmage. 

The Schedule: Five games into the season it starts to get interesting. They might be 5-0 heading into that point. But then they have to play vs. Virginia Tech, at North Carolina, vs. Clemson and Notre Dame, at Florida State and Wake Forest, then Maryland at home to cap things off. If they don’t beat Maryland in the season finale, you can forget about a bowl game. 

The Reality: With Matt Ryan playing for the Atlanta Falcons, there won’t be any talk of an ACC title this year but there are some interesting pieces on defense and a schedule that starts slow enough that could allow the offense to grow as the season progresses. Five of the top seven receivers are back, including leaders Rich Gunnell and Brandon Robinson but the new QB, Chris Crane, won’t be mistake for Ryan any time soon. 

The Future: Freshman running back Josh Haden is being thrown to the wolves this year. He’s only 5′8 and 190 pounds but this year’s experience will go a long way towards his development. Sophomore corner DeLeon Gause will assume the shutdown role vacated by DeJuan Tribble this year and he will also be a star somewhere down the road.

5. Maryland

The Guy: Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. 

He’s got decent size (6′2 205), world class speed (reportedly sub- 4.3 in the 40) and basically all he does is run by people. There are probably only two corners in the ACC who can cover him. But for Heyward-Bey to be effective, the Terrapins need to establish some form of a running game. They had that last year with Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball splitting carries but they’re both gone. This year it will be up to two sophomores, Da’Rel Scott and Morgan Green to carry the load. The two will have the good fortune of running behind a veteran offensively line. If they can’t produce Maryland will stagnate offensively and Heyward-Bey’s skills will go to waste.

The Schedule: With a road game at Cal on the non-confernce schedule, expect the Terps to be 3-1 heading into the ACC season where it’s an abrupt start traveling to Clemson. October won’t be as difficult with just Virginia, Wake Forest and NC State standing in their way but November could be the death of this team. At Virginia Tech followed by home games against North Carolina and Florida State with the season finale on the road against Boston College. It won’t be easy, especially breaking in a new running game 

The Reality: A bowl is likely but there won’t be much to cheer about for the Terps this year. They need to settle on a quarterback, whether it’s Josh Portis, Chris Turner or Jordan Steffy, somebody has to come to the forefront. Defensively if USC transfer Antwine Perez can live up to the hype then he will anchor that defense for the next three years, if not, the only real playmakers are all seniors this year. 

The Future: It isn’t bright. Head Coach Ralph Friedgen’s time could be running out at College Park. If Heyward-Bey bolts to the NFL after this season - he would probably be the second or third receiver taken in the draft - Friedgen will be looking for a new playmaker, and then maybe a new job. 

6. NC State

The Guy: QB Russell Wilson 

New head coach Tom O’Brien just named Wilson the starter at quarterback. Wilson was one of his first recruits at NC State and though he’s undersized at 5′11, won the starting job over incumbent Daniel Evans and highly touted freshman Mike Glennon. Wilson will have talent behind him in tailbacks Andre Brown and Jamelle Eugene as well as Toney Baker but if the team is going anywhere, Wilson will have to make plays happen on his own.

The Schedule: In non-conference play the Wolfpack will pick up losses against South Florida and South Carolina though there’s a sure win against William & Mary. If they can get over their September 13 beat down at Clemson in time for the East Carolina game then they might have a shot to win more games, if not, the rest of the schedule is going to have an L next to it. 

The Reality: If you thought last year was a rebuilding year, wait until you see this year. Three wins is probably realistic for this team. There’s no experience anywhere other than their injury riddled running backs. Donald Bowens, the team’s top returning wide reciever, is out for the season with a hairline fracture in his spine. 

The Future: With Tom O’Brien at the controls, NC State should find their way back into the upper echelon of the ACC soon enough. 

Coastal Division

1. Virginia Tech

The Guy: QB Sean Glennon

After the talented Tyrod Taylor decided to redshirt, this is Glennon’s show. The two split time at quarterback last year but Taylor didn’t want to burn a year of eligibility doing that again. Glennon, a senior, has yet to distinguish himself as the great quarterback many thought he could be when he first came to Blacksburg. But with new starters at wide receiver and running back there could be problems moving the football. Glennon should have decent protection with the offensive line returning mainly intact. 

The Schedule: The only potential slip ups are in the five road games, other than that it should be smooth sailing for the Hokies. They travel to North Carolina and Nebraska in September, to Boston College and Florida State in October, and finally to Miami in November. Get through those games and another trip to the ACC championship will be in order. 

The Reality: There’s no way they run the table with Glennon at QB. Taylor gives them another dimension, without him, well… 2009 should be good. Since the ACC is so weak and Clemson isn’t on the schedule, there is a slight chance to go undefeated before the ACC championship game but a nine or 10-win season is more likely. The defense was hit hard by graduation and only four starters return. Arrogant corner Victor Harris has plenty of speed and will be used in the return game as well as at receiver since there is no experience there. With 

The Future: Tyrod Taylor. As long as Frank Beamer continues to recruit fast receivers, and Darren Evans can be the running back they hope he can, Taylor will have this team among the best in the nation. 

2. North Carolina

The Guy: RB Greg Little

Recruited as a wide receiver, he didn’t get his shot at running back until late last year. Now a sophomore, Little is as talented a runner as NC has ever had. At 6′3 210 pounds, he has the size and speed that will have scouts drooling. If he has a big year watch out for NC. They could surprise everyone and wind up in Tampa for the ACC championship. 

The Schedule: The non-conference schedule is brutal. They open vs. McNeese State but then they have to travel to Rutgers on a Thursday night, which has become a hostile environment in the past few years. The next four weeks they host Virginia Tech, travel to Miami and then host Connecticut and Notre Dame. The schedule eases up considerably after that with Boston College and Maryland the only real threats. 

The Reality: An ACC title is probably out of reach but with no Clemson on the schedule, anything is possible. Head coach Butch Davis has done a wonderful job of improving the talent level for the Tar Heels through recruiting. They have more than one capable QB on the roster with TJ Yates and Mike Paulus. The WR corps is so deep that it allowed for Little to move to the back field. Corner Kendric Burney and defensive tackle Marvin Austin are both returning starters and just sophomores. This should be a breakout year for the Heels. 

The Future: Like NC State, they’ve got the right man running the show in Butch Davis. He’s recruited well and that’s starting to pay off. One or two more recruiting classes in and this could turn into a team like Davis had when he was coaching at Miami a few years back. 

3. Miami

The Guy: The incoming recruiting class. 

Every recruiting service had this class ranked in the top five and it has the potential to bring the swagger back to the U. Linebackers Arthur Brown and Sean Spence were in for spring practice and are competing for starting spots. WR Aldarius Johnson has size reminiscent of Andre Johnson, he was also in for the spring. Marcus Forston is a 310 pound monster at defensive tackle and QB Jacory Harris will start the opening game of the season. 

The Schedule: It gets dicey in a hurry. After opening vs. Charleston Southern, they go to the University of Florida and Texas A&M, separated by an off-week. Then North Carolina, Florida State and Central Florida come to town. Virginia Tech at home and Georgia Tech on the road on consecutive Thursday nights in November could be troublesome. 

The Reality: QB Robert Marve, who broke all of Tim Tebow’s high school records, is suspended for the opener but Shannon says he’s the guy. Marve has a few weapons at his disposal in backs Javarris James, Graig Cooper and WR Sam Shields. It’s going to be a young team but the talent level is being brought back up to the level it was early in this decade. They aren’t there yet though and much like Florida State, this looks like a 7- or 8-win team. 

The Future: Either Marve or Harris will guide this team back to national title contention. They will be surrounded by plenty of talent for the remainder of their careers. 

4. Georgia Tech

The Guy: RB Jonathan Dwyer

Controlling the clock is going to be imperative for Tech. Dwyer is perfect for new head coach Paul Johnson’s offense. At 230 pounds he will be able to move the pile against the lighter, faster front sevens in the SEC. Expect Johnson to let him carry the team while they get the quarterback situation sorted out. 

The Schedule: Opening the season against Jacksonville State, which won’t be so simple now that Ryan Perrilloux is the starting quarterback there, the Jackets travel to Boston College and Virginia Tech. The next week they host Mississippi State and they could very easily be 1-3 after that. Duke and Gardener Webb will provide an opportunity for the team to get back to 3-3 but after that the only game they will be favored in is against Virginia. Both Florida State and Miami are home games but North Carolina and Georgia are on the road. 

The Reality: It won’t be pretty. It could take some time for Johnson’s system to get going in Atlanta. This probably won’t be a bowl season for the Jackets. There is some talent sprinkled throughout the roster, but not enough to compete right away. QB Josh Nesbitt should thrive in the new system and WR Demaryius Thomas will be his primary weapon when the team does throw the ball. Thomas has a comparable skill set to Calvin Johnson though nobody would mention the two in the same breath just yet. Defensive backs Morgan Burnett and Jahi Word-Daniels are solid and will get some help from a defensive line that could be the ACC’s best. 

The Future: Johnson won a lot of games at the Naval Academy. If his offense can succeed in the SEC, it will be with Nesbitt at QB. The defense will need to be revamped, however. 

5. Duke 

The Guy: Head Coach David Cutcliffe 

He’s the guy that molded Peyton and Eli Manning while they were in college. Now in his second stint as a head coach he’s been asked to resurrect Duke, a program that’s been dormant since the late 80s. The cupboard isn’t entirely bare, there are some playmakers on defense in the form of linebacker Michael Tauiliili and tackle Vince Oghobaase, and there is potential at the quarterback position. The athletic Thaddeus Lewis might actually turn himself into a solid quarterback with Cutcliffe on staff. Watch out for true freshman Sean Renfree in a couple of years.

The Schedule: It sets up pretty nicely for the first year coach. The first four games are all potential home wins! James Madison, Northwestern, Navy and Virginia will be the obstacles. NC State also travels to Duke at midseason but this team will struggle in road contests against Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Clemson and Virginia Tech. 

The Reality: There won’t be many wins but they should improve on last year’s 1-11 season and they might even get an ACC win or two. 

The Future: If Sean Renfree dedicates himself to Cutcliffe for the next four or five years this team might make some waves in the ACC. Renfree is biggest quarterback recruit Duke has had in my years of watching football. 

6. Virginia

The Guy: It doesn’t really matter, this team sucks. 

Maybe that’s a tad harsh. Peter Lalich has a chance to be a good quarterback. Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson are capable runners. There’s definitely some talent in the linebacking corps. Clint Sintim, Antonio Appleby and Jon Copper could all be on NFL rosters next year. There just isn’t enough talent to put together a winning season for head coach Al Groh and he could be a casualty. 

The Schedule: They might not beat a single ACC team this year. The first game of the year is against Southern Cal. That should set the tone for the rest of the year as the Trojans lay one of the biggest beatings of the season. There are two games they should win, against Richmond and East Carolina at home, but outside of that the wins will be scarce. They have to play Duke on the road and that’s their most legitimate chance at a win. 

The Reality: Thanks to a slew of academically ineligible players and some losses to the NFL draft, this may be the worst team in the ACC. Getting one win in conference may be their breaking point.

The Future: Bleak. Al Groh might be out of here soon. 

Conference Championship:

Clemson over Virginia Tech

TSC Awards:

The TMill Tough Guy Award - Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest

The Cam Tucker Coverage Award - Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest

Hosea’s Biggest Hitter - Myron Rolle, Rover, FSU

Scott’s Stopper - Brian Toal, LB, BC

Big play waiting to happen - CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson

Impact freshman - Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech