ACC
Preview |
All-ACC team and top 30 players |
Top 5s |
Unit Rankings
-
Boston College Preview | Clemson
Preview | Duke
Preview | Florida
State Preview
-
Georgia Tech Preview |
Maryland Preview |
Miami Preview | NC
State Preview
-
Virginia Preview |
Virginia Tech Preview |
Wake Forest Preview
Predicted ACC
Championship
Miami over Florida State
CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
Talk about hitting a home run with expansion, the
ACC got its money’s worth out of Florida State in 1992, and then
made itself a superpower football conference with the addition
of Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College. While it’s been a
positive move for the league, it’s been a nightmare for the old
ACC teams that can’t seem to get in on the fun with only
Maryland in 2001 breaking up the run by the relative newcomers.
The new status quo isn’t likely to change. The league should
remain as competitive as ever with Duke the only team with no
reasonable shot of hanging with the better teams. Clemson is the
best it’s been under Tommy Bowden, Virginia Tech should be fine
once the quarterback situation is settled, and as always,
Florida State and Miami will be terrific.
1. Florida State QB Drew Weatherford is on the
verge of being a major talent. Thrown to the wolves last year,
now he knows what he’s doing and will put up huge numbers with a
speedy, talented receiving corps to work with.
2. Georgia Tech won’t be in the national title
race, but it’ll be a major player. It won road games at Auburn
and Miami last season, and this year it’ll be good enough to win
at least two again Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Miami, and
Georgia.
3. Miami will quickly find itself in the national
championship chase if it beats Florida State and Louisville in
the first three weeks, but will blow it over the second half of
the year with four road games in five. That home game? Virginia
Tech.
Florida State at Miami, Sept. 4
A likely preview of the ACC title game, a win for
FSU would likely kickstart an 11-0 run going into the Florida
showdown. After the way last year ended for the Canes, Larry
Coker needs this win.
Predicted record:
10-2 Conf.
record: 6-2
Best Player:
QB Drew
Weatherford, Soph.
Offense
-
There's way too much speed and way too much returning talent to not be
more consistent. It all stems from the offensive line, which was never
healthy last year but has just about all the key parts returning. The
receiving corps should be fantastic if Greg Carr and De'Cody Fagg end up
being consistent home-run hitters while Chris Davis makes plays like a
number one target. Lorenzo Booker and Antone Smith might be the fastest
backs in the country, but they need holes to run through. QB Drew
Weatherford had a tremendous freshman year and should be even better now
that he knows what he's doing.
Defense - The Seminoles lose a ton of star power with linebackers
Ernie Sims and A.J. Nicholson, linemen Kamerion Wimbley and Brodrick
Bunkley, and safety Pat Watkins to the NFL, but this is Florida State;
there are replacements. The linebacking corps will bounce back the
quickest with several great young prospects playing around Buster Davis.
The secondary gets a big boost from super-recruit Myron Rolle, who
appears to be the real deal, while the line should be fine if a steady
pass rush can be found. To nitpick, there could stand to be more
interceptions and there will be major problems early if there are
injuries at end or corner, but this should still turn out to be one of
the ACC's best defenses.
This season
will be a success if …
Florida State is playing for the national title.
If the Noles can win the opener at Miami, the toughest games left are
all at home.
Predicted record:
10-2 Conf.
record: 6-2
Best Player:
DE Gaines
Adams, Sr.
Offense
- The
offense should impressive despite the loss of longtime starting
quarterback Charlie Whitehurst. It all starts up front with a senior
dominated line with all five starters returning and plenty of depth
ready to fill in the holes. The receiving corps is strong led by Chansi
Stuckey and Aaron Kelly, and the backfield is among the best in the ACC
with James Davis and Reggie Merriweather just two of the team's very
good backs. Will Proctor isn't going to throw like Whitehurst, but he'll
run and be more of an all-around playmaker. Expect the offense to run
more than it did last year.
Defense - The defense should be among the ACC's best if the
secondary can overcome the loss of Tye Hill and Jamaal Fudge. There are
several good options at corner and reliable safeties in Michael Hamlin
and Chris Clemons. The linebacking corps should be tremendous with the
return of Anthony Waters, Tramaine Bills and Nick Watkins, the team's
top three tacklers from last year, while the defensive line has the
potential to be sensational if Gaines Adams has another dominant year at
end and Dorrell Clark can step up at tackle.
This season
will be a success if …
Clemson
wins the Atlantic Division. The team is too experienced and too talented
not to play for the ACC title.
Predicted record:
8-4 Conf. record:
4-4
Best Player:
OG Josh
Beekman, Sr.
Offense
- In a
league with Florida State, Miami, and Virginia Tech, it was BC who led
the ACC in total offense. Granted, it was the best of a lousy lot
averaging only 388 yards per game, but it was able to consistently move
the ball. The passing game gets QB Matt Ryan back, but needs Tony
Gonzalez and several career backups to take the place of Will Blackmon
and Larry Lester. The running backs are the strength with several great
options led by the 1-2 punch of L.V. Whitworth and Andre Callender.
Despite the loss of some key players, the line will still be very good.
Defense - The defense has been phenomenal over the last few years
going from allowing 17 points per game in 2004 to giving up a mere 15.92
last year while finishing fifth in the nation in run defense and 16th in
scoring defense. There are holes to fill, but the end product should be
fine led by a linebacking corps with several good options to replace
Ricky Brown and Ray Henderson, and a veteran secondary that was great
last season. The concern is on the line after losing star end Mathias
Kiwanuka, but there's plenty of size inside to continue to be great
against the run.
This season
will be a success if …
BC finishes
with another nine-win season. The team isn't as good as last year's
version and has brutal luck with the ACC schedule.
Predicted record:
6-6 Conf. record:
3-5
Best Player:
RB Josh Allen,
Sr.
Offense
- All
the pieces are in place to potentially be among the best offenses Ralph
Friedgen has cranked out. Potentially. The line is big, deep and very
talented and the backfield is deeper and even more talented, but the
passing game has to click far better than it did this spring. Sam
Hollenbach and Jordan Steffy didn't exactly set the world on fire
keeping the quarterback competition open going into late summer. The
receiving corps has size and as much speed as anyone in the ACC, and it
also has the least overall experience of anyone in the ACC.
Defense - The defense wasn't all that bad last season even though
it didn't stop any offense of substance cold. The front line will be the
main focus needing to be better against the run while trying to come up
with some sort of pass rush. Dre Moore has to grow into a rock on the
nose and Jeremy Navarre and star freshman Melvin Alaeze must shine at
end. There will be plenty of formations moving back and forth from a 3-4
to a 4-3 using the hybrid LEO position with Trey Covington and Jermaine
Lemons needing to shine. The linebacking corps will be better despite
the return of only one starter, while corner Josh Wilson is the rising
star of a good secondary.
This season
will be a success if …
The Terps
win eight games and beats at least one really, really good team. They're
still about a year away from seriously challenging for the ACC title, so
this has to be a positive-step season.
Predicted record:
6-6 Conf. record:
2-6
Best Player:
C Leroy
Harris, Sr.
Offense
-
There's little question the ground game will be better after finishing
tenth in the ACC thanks to the sophomore backfield tandem of Andre Brown
and Toney Baker pounding the ball behind a big offensive line, but the
passing attack has to be far crisper. Coordinator Marc Trestman needs an
accurate, good decision-making quarterback to make the offense sing, so
the season will be made or broken on how well Marcus Stone has improved
since last year. The receiving corps has the potential to be fantastic
if someone can consistently deliver the ball.
Defense - Expect this to be another aggressive D with plenty of
blitzing and plenty of big plays despite the loss of several key
players. You don't quickly replace a trio of defensive linemen like
Mario Williams, Manny Lawson and John McCargo, but the Wolfpack has
plenty of size, speed, and talent on the front seven to get in the
backfield on a regular basis. Tackles DeMario Pressley and Tank Tyler
should be fantastic right off the bat, while Pat Lowrey and LeRue Rumph
are nice linebackers to work around. The secondary has the potential to
be among the ACC's most productive led by the safety tandem of Garland
Heath and Miguel Scott.
This season
will be a success if …
State wins
eight games. With a favorable ACC schedule and a light non-conference
slate, anything less would be cause for screaming.
Predicted record:
5-7 Conf. record:
1-7
Best Player:
LB Jon Abbate,
Jr.
Offense
-
There are a whole bunch of big, screaming, ifs for an offense that only
averaged 316 yards and 18 pounds per game. The big question is at
quarterback where Nebraska transfer Joe Dailey and redshirt freshman Cam
Sexton will bring more mobility to the position than last year's
starter, Matt Baker. The ground game should be a strength of Ronnie
McGill and Barrington Edwards can combine to play a full season. Jesse
Holley returns after leading the team in receiving, but there's
absolutely no experience from any other receiver to count on right away.
Depth is a huge issue on the line that'll rely on three starters and two
newcomers to the right side. Expect more rushing production early on
until all the kinks in the passing game get worked out in new offensive
coordinator Frank Cignetti's offense.
Defense - There's experience, depth, and even more experience at
just about every position giving the Demon Deacons the most options and
the potential for the best defense in the Jim Grobe era if, and it's a
big if, everyone is healthy on the line. Starters Matt Robinson (broken
kneecap), Jeremy Thompson (torn ACL) and Zach Stukes (shoulder) need to
return up fornt or there could be major problems generating a consistent
pass rush. That's bad news for a veteran secondary that had issues last
year finishing dead last in the ACC in pass defense. The linebacking
corps has the potential to be the team's strength led by Jon Abbate in
the middle and Aaron Curry on the weakside.
This season
will be a success if …
Wake gets to a bowl game. It's hardly a lock with
the nasty ACC games to deal with and six reasonably tough road games,
but a hot start is likely.
Predicted record:
11-1 Conf.
record: 7-1
Best Player:
FS Brandon
Meriweather, Sr.
Offense
- Kyle
Wright is one of the most talented passers in America, star back Tyrone
Moss is back from a torn ACL leading a good corps, and the receiving
corps is big and fast with three NFL caliber players along with a future
first round pick in tight end Greg Olsen. None of that matters if the
offensive line, which only welcomes back one starter, isn't
night-and-day better than last year when it allowed 36 sacks and almost
got Wright killed. Wright is hardly Michael Vick when it comes to
mobility, so when the heat was on he had to do the best he could which
meant the deep ball was rarely an option. That has to change this year
to open things up a bit more to average more than a mediocre 353 yards
and 27 points per game.
Defense - The defense will once again be among the best in the
nation with size, speed, and depth that would start for about 100 other
teams. The safeties are among the best in Miami history with Brandon
Meriweather and Kelly Phillips each deserving of All-America
consideration and Anthony Reddick and Lovon Ponder more than good enough
to step in without missing a beat. Cornerback is the X factor needing
Glenn Sharpe to be ready to roll after suffering a knee injury last year
and Randy Phillips needing to step up and be a consistent playmaker.
There are too many great defensive ends and linebackers for the starting
spots, and the tackles have the potential to be a strength after a
little bit of experience.
This season
will be a success if …
Miami wins the ACC title game. Goal number one
has to win the ACC championship. Then the Canes can hope everything
falls into place for something even bigger.
Predicted record:
10-2 Conf.
record: 6-2
Best Player:
LB Vince Hall,
Jr.
Offense
- While the temptation will be to pound away with talented
sophomore backs Branden Ore and George Bell behind a big, but
inexperienced, offensive line, the real stars are in the receiving corps
with five tremendous game breakers to work with. The big question is at
quarterback where big, talented sophomores Sean Glennon and Cory Holt
will battle with redshirt freshman Ike Whitaker to take over for Marcus
Vick.
Defense - The Hokies led the nation in total defense last season
and finished second in scoring defense. While there are some major
losses to overcome, the same blitzing, attacking style that made the D
so successful last season should work again. Everything will revolve
around the back seven led by the 1-2 linebacking punch of Vince Hall and
Xavier Adibi. The secondary should be solid even with top corner Jimmy
Williams off to the NFL. The concern is on the line that loses three
all-stars and needs some tackles to step up and shine right off the bat.
Chris Ellis will be one of the ACC's new star ends.
This season
will be a success if …
the Hokies
go 10-2. Considering how many holes Tech has to patch up, winning
double-digit games would be a major success.
Predicted record:
9-3 Conf. record:
6-2
Best Player:
WR Calvin
Johnson, Jr.
Offense
- Nine
starters return including four on the line, QB Reggie Ball, and possible
all-everything receiver Calvin Johnson. Now there has to be more
production after averaging a mere 349 yards and 18.5 points per game.
This wasn't an explosive attack relying on a steady running game and the
stout defense to win games, but that needs to change a bit. The first
order of business is to find a second receiver to take the pressure off
Johnson, and Ball, who isn't the most accurate passer around, can't lock
in on his number one target on every pass play. Replacing top runner P.J.
Daniels won't be hard with Tashard Choice and Rashaun Grant sure to
shine behind a line that'll be among the ACC's best.
Defense - It's not fair to call last year's defense a
disappointment considering it only allowed 318 yards and 20 points per
game, but it wasn't consistent and didn't get enough from the pass
defense. The secondary should be the major issue early on this season
with only one returning starter and a shake up needed after losing
starting safety Joe Gaston this spring to a knee injury. The starting
front seven should be solid with the line the strength thanks to a good
mix of quickness, experience and depth getting a big boost from the
return of tackle Darryl Richard from a knee injury. The linebacking
corps needs to find a few reliable backups, but the starting trio of
KaMichael Hall, Philip Wheeler and Gary Guyton will be excellent.
This season
will be a success if …
Tech
finishes second in the Coastal Division. There are a few too many holes
to expect a division title, but there's no reason not to go 6-2 in
conference play.
Predicted record:
7-5 Conf. record:
4-4
Best Player:
CB Marcus
Hamilton, Sr.
Offense
-
While there aren't any obvious stars, this should be a better offense
than it'll initially get credit for. It all starts up front with a line
that has the potential to be tremendous if several problems like
off-field skirmishes, academic issues and injuries turn out to be not
that big a deal. Expect more of a pro-style attack with quarterback
Christian Olsen a pure passer compared to the starter for the last two
years, Marques Hagans. The running game needs the speedy backups to play
key roles behind Jason Snelling, while the talented receiving corps
needs Olsen to be steady.
Defense - Virginia's defense was a disappointment last year, but
things might start to turn around this season with the potential for a
huge 2007. It's a young group with only one senior on the projected two
deep and several sophomores needing to go from being wet-behind-the-ears
first year players to seasoned veterans. By design, the 3-4 will get
dinked and dunked on to death, but that only works if turnovers are
forced and stops are made on third downs. That could be a problem. The
front three is average at best outside of end Chris Long, while the
linebacking corps needs at least half the season before it gets humming.
Corner Marcus Hamilton leads a promising secondary.
This season
will be a success if …
Virginia
wins eight games. If this year's team can better last year's 7-5 mark
just by beating the teams it'll be favored against, the excitement will
be through the roof for 2007.
Predicted record:
5-7 Conf. record:
2-6
Best Player:
LB Larry
Edwards, Sr.
Offense
-
There are a whole bunch of big, screaming, ifs for an offense that only
averaged 316 yards and 18 pounds per game. The big question is at
quarterback where Nebraska transfer Joe Dailey and redshirt freshman Cam
Sexton will bring more mobility to the position than last year's
starter, Matt Baker. The ground game should be a strength of Ronnie
McGill and Barrington Edwards can combine to play a full season. Jesse
Holley returns after leading the team in receiving, but there's
absolutely no experience from any other receiver to count on right away.
Depth is a huge issue on the line that'll rely on three starters and two
newcomers to the right side. Expect more rushing production early on
until all the kinks in the passing game get worked out.
Defense - The Tar Heels had a night-and-day turnaround improving
by almost 100 yards per game in total defense and over five points per
game in scoring D with a surprisingly consistent season. It's a no-name
defense with seven starters returning and enough productivity to hope
for a repeat. The line has the most concerns after losing top pass
rusher Tommy Davis and tackle Chase Page, but it should be fine if
Kyndraus Guy and Shelton Bynum can shine in the middle. Outside
linebacker Larry Edwards is an all-star caliber talent ready to lead the
back seven. Safeties Trimaine Goddard and Kareen Taylor are unsung
rocks.
This season
will be a success if …
UNC gets
back to a bowl game. This isn't a good enough team to win the Coastal
Division, but there's enough experience to come up with a winning season
and get a 13th game.
Predicted record:
2-10 Conf.
record: 0-8
Best Player:
CB John
Talley, Sr.
Offense
-
For good and bad, only four
starters return to the nation's second worst offense beating out
Temple by one yard. It'll be a major youth movement with five
sophomores and no seniors among the projected starters. There is
hope for an improvement, especially for the woeful passing game,
with Eron Riley and Jomar Wright, who returns from missing most
of last year, upgrading the receiving corps, but there are only two
scholarship quarterbacks on the roster after starter Zack Asack got
suspended. The ground game will be a problem for a
while until the very young, very raw offensive line improves.
Justin Boyle leads a not-that-bad backfield that'll need room to
roam.
Defense - If star prospects Vince Oghobaase and Ayanga
Okpokowuruk shine right away on the line and the holes can be patched up
at linebacker and strong safety, this might not be the ACC's worst
defense again. Depth is an issue all the way around and there won't be
any speed records set by anyone, but there's a nice mix of good young
prospects and solid veterans to put together a nice season if the
offense finally provides a little support. The strength should be at
corner thanks to the return of All-ACC star John Talley, while
linebacker Michael Tauiliili should garner a few honors in the middle.
This season
will be a success if …
The Blue
Devils win five games. That might be asking for the world with so many
holes, but it's an attainable goal if they pull off home wins against
Richmond, Vanderbilt, and Navy.
|