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 2007
ACC Football Preview
Hokies clear favorite to win league
by
Raphielle Johnson
2006 for the ACC was a year that offered up some
surprising results in the league’s second year as a 12-team entity. When
expansion occurred, did anyone honestly think that both Florida State and Miami
would finish a season, any season, with six losses combined? Well, the
Seminoles and Hurricanes finished with six losses apiece last year, leading to
mass coaching changes for both staffs. While Bobby Bowden bolstered his staff
with five new assistants, including new offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher,
Miami made defensive coordinator Randy Shannon their new head coach in an
attempt to restore a proud tradition Shannon contributed to as both a player and
assistant.
But these weren’t the only two changes in the ACC,
with NC State, Boston College and North Carolina also acquiring new head
coaches. Tom O’Brien heads south for Raleigh after spending ten years in
Chestnut Hill, and former Green Bay Packers assistant Jeff Jagodzinski now runs
the nest vacated by O’Brien. While it will take O’Brien a little time to mold
the Wolfpack into an ACC title contender, Coach Jags has all the pieces in place
this year for the Eagles to make a run. Randy Shannon replaces Larry Coker in
Coral Gables, looking to restore past glory to Miami while bringing in some new
team rules as well. In Chapel Hill, one-time Miami (and Cleveland Browns) head
coach Butch Davis replaces John Bunting with the goal of eventually awakening a
UNC program that’s been thought as a “sleeping giant” since Mack Brown called
the school home.
Just like any other league, the ACC has its share of
coaches on the “hot seat”, at least according to fans and pundits alike. It
seems like Tommy Bowden is always in trouble at Clemson, but every year there he
is getting his Tigers ready for what could be a run at the Atlantic Division
crown. Maybe he’s the Wayne Fontes of college football, but we’ll have to wait
and see about all of that. Ted Roof at Duke hasn’t won a game since beating VMI
in September of 2005 (In case you’re wondering, their last win over a Bowl
Subdivision opponent was over Clemson in 2004). With all eleven offensive
starters returning from last season, this could be the year for the Blue Devils.
With all the teams mentioned above, there’s also the
matter of the defending champion (Wake Forest), and the overwhelming favorite to
win the ACC this year (Virginia Tech). Head coach Jim Grobe has already stated
that this year’s Demon Deacon team could be better than last year’s outfit, but
lose more games this season. And with the events of this past spring in
Blacksburg, the Hokies are looking to help lift up and unify their campus in
their own way this year. And while the focus has been on their chances to win
the ACC, improved play from QB Sean Glennon and a win at LSU on September 8th
could be springboards to bigger things come January.
Below are my predictions for the ACC, along with my
picks for the league’s players of the year in all three phases of the game.
ACC Players of the Year: QB Matt Ryan (Boston
College) and LB Vince Hall (Virginia Tech)
Best Kicker & Punter: K Sam Swank (Wake
Forest) and P Durant Brooks (Georgia Tech)
Special Teams Player of the Year: Swank
Best Running Backs: Tashard Choice (Georgia
Tech) and Branden Ore (Virginia Tech)
Best NFL Draft Prospect: DE Calais Campbell
(Miami)
Coach of the Year: Frank Beamer (Virginia
Tech)
How they’ll finish
Atlantic Division
1. Boston
College (2006: 10-3, 5-3; returning starters- 15: 7 offensive, 8 defensive)
The cupboard isn’t bare for new head coach Jeff Jagodzinski in Chestnut Hill.
Matt Ryan leads an offense with plenty of depth at the skill positions as well
as Gosder Cherilus spearheading a solid line. Linebacker Jolonn Dunbar and
corner DeJuan Tribble will lead a defense that has plenty of experience and
depth, even with the redshirting of the versatile Brian Toal. The only negative
may be the schedule, with league trips to Clemson, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech
and Maryland. But this group has the ability to navigate those murky waters.
2. Florida
State (2006: 7-6, 3-5; returning starters- 14: 6 offensive, 8 defensive)
Bobby Bowden hadn’t lost six games in a season
since his first year in Tallahassee, and coincidentally 2006 was the 30th
anniversary of that season. In come five new assistants, with the most important
two being offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher and offensive line coach Rick
Trickett. Their job is to help resuscitate a running game that finished dead
last in the ACC last season. Oh yeah, either Drew Weatherford or Xavier Lee
needs to step up at quarterback and make plays consistently without turning the
ball over. The defense will be strong on the line, but replacements for Buster
Davis and Lawrence Timmons need to be found in the linebacking corps.
3. Wake
Forest (2006: 11-3, 6-2; returning starters- 13: 8 offensive, 5 defensive)
No one gave the Demon Deacons a shot to
win the ACC in 2006, but they ignored the picks of finishing dead last to win
their first title since 19700, setting a school record for wins in the process.
Riley Skinner returns at quarterback, and the Deacs have a deep backfield, with
Micah Andrews back after a torn ACL among the ranks. Depth is also evident at
wide receiver and tight end, but the key will be replacing leaders such as Jon
Abbate, Jyles Tucker, Josh Gattis and Patrick Ghee on defense. There’s plenty of
talent in Winston-Salem, so much so that many think this team has more to choose
from than the 2006 edition. Besides Boston College, their toughest league games
are at home and they avoid Virginia Tech, Miami and Georgia Tech in their
crossover games. The key? How the defending champions deal with that target on
their backs.
4.
Maryland (2006: 9-4, 5-3; returning starters-
13: 7 offensive, 6 defensive)
If you’ve followed Maryland Football during the
Ralph Friedgen era, then you know that the team generally struggles when there
isn’t a concrete option at quarterback. Well, that position could be the
difference between a run towards the top of the ACC Atlantic and a year hovering
around .500. Sam Hollenbach led the Terps to nine wins in 2006, and the job will
belong to…Jordan Steffy, Josh Portis or Chris Turner. The skill positions and
line have a lot to offer, but it’s the man under center who will decide how good
this team is. On defense, Maryland has some depth on the line, which could be
bolstered by Jeremy Navarre so long as he’s completely healthy after a knee
injury ended his 2006. Answers need to be found at two of the linebacker spots,
with Erin Henderson being the lone mainstay. In addition to the quarterback
quandary, the Terps have to find replacements for both their punter and kicker
from 2006, both of whom performed well throughout the season.
5. Clemson
(2006: 8-5, 5-3; returning starters- 11: 4 offensive, 7 defensive)
The Tigers once again have to find a new starting
quarterback, yet for the second consecutive year the answer seems to be pretty
cut and dry. Cullen Harper, backup to Will Proctor last season, has done nothing
to this point to lose the job although legions of fans are clamoring for
freshman Willy Korn to get the job. James Davis and C.J. Spiller return to give
offensive coordinator Rob Spence one of the nation’s best running back tandems,
and there’s also depth at wide receiver. Replacing four of five starters on the
line will be tough, however, but at least All-ACC tackle Barry Richardson is
back. Philip Merling will take over for Gaines Adams as the feature pass
rusher, and the line could be the strength of this unit. Academic and personal
issues took three key linebackers away from the team at times in the spring, and
their return combined with extra reps for their backups could mean good things
as well. Lastly, this young group of Tigers must be better on special teams,
with kicking woes costing them a win at Boston College, and nearly doing the
same at Florida State. They may not win the league this season, but look out for
Clemson in 2008.
6. NC
State (2006: 3-9, 2-6; returning starters- 13: 8 offensive, 5 defensive)
Unlike Chuck Amato’s stint in Raleigh, you don’t
have to worry about seeing new head coach Tom O’Brien in shiny red shoes or
flashy sunglasses. The cupboard isn’t bare in terms of talent, but Coach O’Brien
will need to instill some much-needed discipline to a team that was eleventh in
penalty yards per game and tied for last in turnover margin. Quarterback Daniel
Evans returns, but his main competition for the job last year (Marcus Stone) is
now a tight end. The Wolfpack are deep at the skill positions, giving new
offensive coordinator Dana Bible some nice options to work with, but the line,
which needs to stay healthy, will receive some much needed stability.
DeMario Pressley should be the next defensive
lineman off of the NC State “assembly line” of draft picks from that position,
and the linebackers need to adjust to a new scheme in order for this unit to be
successful. The kicking game is an unknown with John Deraney, who handled all of
the duties last year, graduating. NC State most likely won’t compete for the
division crown this year, but they will cost someone else a shot at the title
this year.
Coastal Division
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Virginia Tech (2006: 10-3, 6-2; returning starters- 16: 8 offensive, 8
defensive) In light of the tragedy that took place on their campus this
past spring, Virginia Tech will look to be a unifying force for their
campus. Many will ask questions about the shootings that took 32 lives, and
the names of the victims will be placed in their “lunch pail”, a talisman
that’s accompanied the Hokies on the sidelines in games and practices for
years.
Football pales in comparison to real life events,
but Virginia Tech has more than enough talent to make 2007 a special season for
their program and fans. Sean Glennon looks to rebound from a tough second half
in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl, and the ACC’s second-leading rusher returns in Branden
Ore. Key contributors also return at wide receiver (including the explosive
Eddie Royal), and the defense will once again be loaded with leaders such as
linebackers Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi, and corners Brandon Flowers and Victor
“Macho” Harris. The question is the kicking game, where Coach Frank Beamer will
need to replace kicker Brandon Pace and punter Nic Schmitt. An early test at LSU
on September 8th could end up being a springboard to New Orleans for
the national title game if Virginia Tech were to pull that one out. But at
least, the Hokies should be the favorite to win the ACC.
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Georgia Tech (2006: 9-5, 7-1; returning starters- 15: 7 offensive, 8
defensive)
New Year’s Day must have been a bittersweet day for
Yellow Jacket fans, and not just because West Virginia eventually came back and
won the Gator Bowl. It was because Taylor Bennett put on a show at quarterback,
throwing for 326 yards and three touchdowns, erasing any worries about 2007s’
starter. The anger probably came from fans wondering why Bennett wasn’t given a
shot earlier to replace the frustratingly inconsistent Reggie Ball.
Well, Bennett gets his shot, but without wide
receiver Calvin Johnson, one of the best at his position in some time. But in
Tashard Choice, Tech gets back the ACC’s leading rusher, and look for him to
have a larger role in the offense this season. It’s nearly impossible to replace
a player (and person) of Calvin’s quality, but many like redshirt freshman
Demaryius Thomas because of his athletic ability. Incoming freshman D.J. Donley
will also get a shot to see some time, but don’t forget about returning starter
James Johnson either. Four starters return to the offensive line, a prospect
that should help keep Bennett upright.
The defense returns a wealth of talent at all three
levels, and when you have a defensive coordinator like Jon Tenuta calling the
shots, you’re going to be good. Philip Wheeler and Gary Guyton anchor a
linebacking group that should be strong again this year, but they have to
replace the playmaking abilities of KaMichael Hall. Guyton takes over for Hall
on the weak side, and the search is on for a replacement for corner Kenny Scott.
Lastly, Georgia Tech should be sound in the kicking game with the return of
kicker Travis Bell and punter Durant Brooks, the nation’s best at his position.
While the Jackets will have to visit Notre Dame, Maryland and Miami this season,
they do get Virginia Tech at home November 1st, and Boston College
makes the trip to Atlanta in September. Just as important, they have enough
talent on board this year to end their losing streak to in-state rival Georgia.
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Miami (2006: 7-6, 3-5; returning starters- 14: 6 offensive, 8 defensive)
The Hurricanes have the same problem as in-state rival Florida State: they
have two quarterbacks who were highly touted coming out of high school, yet
neither one has done anything to live up to said hype. Once again, Kyle
Wright and Kirby Freeman will compete for the starting job, this time under
the watch of new head coach Randy Shannon. If there’s anyone that’s familiar
with the standard set at Miami it would be Shannon, because he helped set it
as both a player and assistant coach. New offensive coordinator Patrick Nix
will have a number of options at running back, such as Charlie Jones and
Javarris James to name two.
Of course, when you mention the inconsistency of the
quarterback position you need to be fair and point out that the wide receivers
didn’t do too much to help out either gunslinger. Players such as Lance Leggett
and Sam Shields will need to step up this year, or it will be more of the same
for the Hurricane offense. While the offensive line has some room for
improvement, the defensive front should be outstanding, led by junior end Calais
Campbell. Campbell is the ACC’s leading returning sack master, tallying 10.5 in
2006. Of course, the ‘Canes will need to replace Jon Beason at linebacker, and
they also need depth.
Molding this group into the type of Miami
linebackers we’d grown accustomed to seeing is the job of Micheal Barrow, a
Hurricane great at linebacker during his time as a player. He’ll know what he
wants from that position, but the question is whether there’s enough talent to
give it to him. And despite losing Anthony Reddick for the season to an ACL
tear, Miami has plenty of talent in the defensive backfield, led by safety Kenny
Phillips and corners Glen Sharpe and Randy Phillips. Open competition at kicker
and punter will give the team replacements for Jon Peattie and Brian Monroe.
With non-conference games against Oklahoma and Texas A&M, along with trips to
Florida State, Virginia Tech and Boston College, this could be a tough year for
the ‘Canes, but get your shots in while you can because under Coach Shannon this
program won’t be down for long.
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Virginia (2006: 5-7, 4-4; returning starters- 19: 9 offensive, 10 defensive)
After an inconsistent campaign that saw the
Cavaliers struggle early on while looking for a quarterback, Virginia finished
the year with wins in three of their last five games. They also found their
quarterback in the form of Jameel Sewell. Sewell missed spring practice due to
surgery on his throwing wrist, but he should be ready to go come September. The
continuity at quarterback will be a welcomed change for Cavs fans, who watched
their team finish ninth in the ACC in passing efficiency in 2006.
Cedric Peerman leads a group of running backs that
need to replace the production of Jason Snelling, and in Tom Santi the ‘Hoos
have one of the nation’s best tight ends. But Virginia is extremely light at
receiver, especially after losing junior Kevin Ogletree to a knee injury in
spring practice. All five starters return on the offensive line, making a
weakness in 2006 strength in 2007. Kicker Chris Gould and punter Ryan Wiegand
return this season as well, and the two combined for 33 punts inside the twenty
in 2006. With ten starters returning on defense, the unit could be scary good
this year thanks to the likes of senior end Chris Long and linebacker Jon
Copper. Virginia has plenty of returning talent this year, but the lack of a
go-to wide receiver could be what does them in.
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North Carolina (2006: 3-9, 2-6; returning starters- 13: 8 offensive, 5
defensive)
With then-head coach John Bunting being fired in the
midst of the Tar Heels seven-game losing skid, it would have been easy for the
players to simply mail it in for their last two games against rivals NC State
and Duke. Instead, Carolina fought hard and ended the season with two straight
wins, setting the stage for the Butch Davis era to begin. And with the
facilities and resources available to Davis and his staff in Chapel Hill, it
won’t be long before UNC is competing with the top teams in the ACC. However,
with what has to be one of the nation’s youngest teams, some growing pains are
in store for the Heels.
While Cam Sexton and Joe Dailey (now a wide
receiver) saw time at quarterback last year, neither will start the season
opener. That honor goes to redshirt freshman T.J. Yates, with Sexton, freshman
Mike Paulus (yes, he is Duke point guard Greg’s younger brother) and senior Ben
Johnson also in the competition. The Heels will also need a new running back,
and while many options for the job are on the roster, it’s their lack of
experience that’s a concern. But at wide receiver, Carolina lines up two
outstanding athletes in Brandon Tate and Hakeem Nicks. Tate is also a player to
watch in the return game, as he was sixth and third in the ACC in kick and punt
return average respectively. The line has to learn a new scheme, one that should
make them more athletic and effective.
The defensive line has some returning depth that
should make it one of the more improved units in the ACC, but it’s the arrival
of freshman tackle Marvin Austin that has fans excited. With the number of solid
players inside, the ends should get more one-on-one situations, enabling them to
have a larger impact on the game. And an impact will be needed from the line if
Carolina is to improve a run defense that was the worst in the ACC last year.
The linebackers, led by Durrell Mapp and Wesley
Flagg, could be the strength of this defense, while the secondary has some
returning talent that could stand to be more active in the playmaking department
this year. While Connor Barth puts to rest any worries about kicking field
goals, no one has separated themselves thus far at punter. Terrence Brown will
most likely be the man with that job to start the year. This team won’t threaten
the leaders in the Coastal Division this year, but with the recruiting job being
done by Davis and assistant John Blake, look for the “sleeping giant” to awaken
with a roar down the road.
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Duke (0-12, 0-8; returning starters- 16: 11 offensive, 5 defensive)
It’s hard to believe that the league’s doormat had a
chance to knock off the eventual conference champion, but it’s true. Duke was a
made field goal away from beating Wake Forest in Winston-Salem the second week
of the season. Just their luck, however, that the kick was blocked preserving a
14-13 win for Wake. Duke, who hasn’t defeated a Bowl Subdivision opponent since
2004 when they beat Clemson, has lost 20 straight games. But they do return all
eleven starters on the offensive side of the ball, most notably quarterback
Thaddeus Lewis. Lewis was pressed into action as a freshman when starter Zack
Asack left school for academic reasons just before the start of last season. But
Lewis, despite throwing sixteen interceptions to eleven touchdowns, was fourth
in the ACC in passing yards per game. In order to help Lewis out, Duke needs
running backs such as Ronnie Drummer and Justin Boyle to stay healthy and share
the load with the versatile Teilor Robinson.
Eron Riley led the ACC in yards per reception, and
experience is aplenty on the outside with the return of players such as Raphael
Chestnut and Jomar Wright. Nick Stefanow returns at tight end, as does an entire
offensive line that needs to improve on the 43 sacks they gave up as a unit in
2006. Joe Surgan returns to handle the placekicking duties, and you have to hope
for more consistent play from him in 2007. Surgan was 3-for-10 kicking field
goals last season, and missed three extra points as well. But he worked hard all
off-season to correct his mechanics, so expect more from him in 2007.
On defense, tackle Vince Oghobaase is a handful or
opposing offensive linemen, so long as he can stay healthy. Oghobaase tallied 28
tackles, 8 for loss, in 2006 and those numbers stand to increase so long as he
can stay on the field. There are plenty of players fighting for playing time at
the end positions as well, giving the Blue Devils a chance to improve their
league-worst 14 sacks in 2006. Michael Tauiliili will be back for another season
at linebacker, or so we hope. Tauiliili was suspended during fall camp due to
off-field issues, but was reinstated. Given the fact that he led the team in
tackles last season with 92 makes his presence all the more important. And while
both starting safeties return, Duke will have to replace John Talley at corner.
The Devils have shown an ability to play with tough competition, but they
haven’t been able to make the plays in order to nail down wins. As this group
progresses, expect this maddening trend to continue.
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