Sunday, 05 June 2011

• ACC Football Preview

  

  Preview 

  When the ACC added Miami (FL) and Virginia Tech the league and fans thought they'd see plenty of Florida State-Miami and Florida State-Virginia Tech match-ups in the title game. Yet many teams such as Boston College,Clemson,and Wake Forest has kept that from happening many times. Boston College came into the league at the same time the Hurricanes and Hokies did, and have really seen their program take off in the ACC. This season however, it seems the chances of those three meeting in a potential ACC Title game are very high. 

   

  Atlantic

  

  Jimbo Fisher has lit a fire under the Seminoles, and has them at the top of the ACC once again.

  1.Florida State - The Seminoles really don't have a position that is looking down as they have more then capable players at every position. As usual the Noles will have a strong defense led by the defensive line, and defensive backfield.

  2.Clemson - Many people aren't expecting much out of the Tigers this season, but Dabo Swinney better come out swinging this season or he may be hitting the door and on his way out. A strong offensive line will be the key for Clemson while they wait for QB Tajh Boyd to find a connection with recievers early on. After losing some talent in the defensive backfield to the NFL, that's the biggest question mark for the Tigers.

  3.Boston College - The Eagles will be looking toward another bowl game, under the running game of Montel Harris and a strong defense led by Luke Kuechly and Donnie Fletcher. If the recievers can step up and Kaleb Ramsey gets any help on the line they could move into the #2 slot by seasons end.

  4.NC State - This could be the sleeper in the division, as they have talent at every position on offense, but it's mostly new talent that you have to see if it will produce. One guy that should be geared up for a breakout season is Mustafa Greene. Early on Mike Glennon will be glad to have a guy like Greene, and George Bryan around. The D is more then capable of holding it's own under the leadership of coordinator Mike Archer.

  5.Wake Forest - I remember when everyone used to circle Wake Forest on the schedule and pencil a W in. You can't do that any more as Jim Grobe has the Demon Deacons competitive. The word on offense is potential as Josh Harris and Chris Givens both have all the potential in the world. On defense they'll rely on their front and back ends. And if they hold up the new starters in the middle will have time to acclamate themselves.

  6.Maryland - Danny O' Brien is back, that is one bright spot for the Maryland Terrapins. Who he will throw the ball to is one of the weak points. The Terrapins will likely lean on their running game early on in the season. Kenny Tate is a star on the defensive side of the ball but the Terps will be depending on the progression of many others on D.
  
  Coastal

  

  1.Miami (FL) - No one expects Al Golden to come in and win the Coastal in Year 1, but why not? Virginia Tech has question marks and Miami returns plenty of talent for Golden who got handed a great position. Jacory Harris had some Heisman hype headed into last season, before sucking it up and who's to say he doesn'tt re-find that Heisman mystique under a new regime. The defense is one of the better in the league and has talent at every level.

  2.Virginia Tech - Unlike many in the media, I didn't just pencil the Hokies in as #1 in the Coastal Division. One thing Frank Beamer does on offense is keep you guessing and he'll likely be no different this year as it's likley we'll see a healthy dose of both Logan Thomas and Ju Ju Clayton. At first glance the defense looks depleted but you have to remember Bud Foster has been there before and his defenses always produce. Plus he has two stars to build around in Bruce Taylor and Jayron Hosley.

  3.North Carolina - Butch Davis is under fire, and rightfully so. When Carolina hired Davis they thought they had found them a career type coach. However after the program has been scarred by scandal and not producing enough wins to match the talent. Davis' hopes may just rely on the arm of Bryn Renner. One thing is certain he has the targets to throw to in Dwight Jones,Erik Highsmith, and Jheranie Boyd. No one lost probably more on defense then Carolina but their defensive line still has the top of the line talent, where they're lacking is at LB and DB.

  4.Georgia Tech - You never know with a Paul Johnson coached team, the talent is there for the type of offense he likes to run. But many guys have been let downs in the backfield such as Roddy Jones, and Embry Peeples who were thought to be the next big things in the option attack at Tech. The defense looks good in the front 7, but the backfield is depleted.

  5.Virginia - Being a Cavalier fan hasn't been very good lately whether it be on the gridiron or hardwood. The Cavaliers do have one of the Nations best corner prospects in Chase Minniefield. Other then that the talent in Charlottesville is so-so.

  6.Duke - David Cutcliffe has brought in more talent then Duke is normally use to seeing on the gridiron, but it hasn't equaled up to many wins. On offense they have plenty of talent to compete at the skills position but only Kyle Hill is capable up front. Safety Matt Daniels will likely have a huge number of tackles again as the front 7 doesn't show much.

  Conference Champion in bold.

  
  Player of the Year - Luke Kuechly,Boston College
  Coach of the Year - Al Golden,Miami (FL)

  
  Newcomer of the Year - Cornellius Carradine,Florida State
  Defensive Player of the Year - Luke Kuechly,Boston College
  
  

  1st Team All-ACC

  
  QB - E.J. Manuel,Florida State
  RB - Montel Harris, Boston College
  RB - David Wilson,Virginia Tech
  WR - Dwight Jones,North Carolina
  WR - Travis Benjamin,Miami (FL)
  TE - George Bryan,NC State
  OL - Dalton Freeman,Clemson
  OL - David Spurlock,Florida State
  OL - R.J. Mattes,NC State
  OL - Jaymes Brooks,Virginia Tech
  OL - Blake DeChristopher,Virginia Tech
  DL - Quinton Coples,North Carolina
  DL - Brandon Jenkins,Florida State
  DL - Olivier Vernon,Miami (FL)
  DL - Tydreke Powell,North Carolina
  LB - Luke Kuechly,Boston College
  LB - Sean Spence,Miami (FL)
  LB - Nigel Bradham, Florida State
  DB - Chase Minniefield,Virginia
  DB - Jayron Hosley,Virginia Tech
  DB - Greg Reid,Florida State
  DB - Earl Wolff,NC State
  K - Casey Barth,North Carolina
  P - Shawn Powell,Florida State
  
  2nd Team All-ACC

  
  QB - Bryn Renner,North Carolina
  RB - Josh Harris,Wake Forest
  RB - Mustafa Greene,NC State
  WR - Jarrett Boykin,Virginia Tech
  WR - Kris Burd,Virginia
  TE - Chris Pantale,Boston College
  OL - Antoine McClain,Clemson
  OL - Andrew Datko,Florida State
  OL - Joe Looney,Wake Forest
  OL - Seantrel Henderson,Miami (FL)
  OL - Cam Holland,North Carolina
  DL - Kyle Wilber,Wake Forest
  DL - Cam Johnson,Virginia
  DL - Andre Branch,Clemson
  DL - Brandon Thompson,Clemson
  LB - Kenny Tate,Maryland
  LB - Bruce Taylor,Virginia Tech
  LB - Julian Burnett,Georgia Tech
  DB - Donnie Fletcher,Boston College
  DB - Xavier Rhodes,Florida State
  DB - Matt Daniels,Duke
  DB - Ray Ray Armstrong,Miami (FL)
  K - Dustin Hopkins,Florida State
  P - C.J. Feagles,North Carolina

  Others considered:

  
  

  QB:Tajh Boyd (Clemson),Danny O'Brien (Maryland),Mike Glennon (NC State),Sean Renfree (Duke),Jacory Harris (Miami FL)

  RB:Andre Ellington (Clemson),Chris Thompson (Florida State),Davin Meggett (Maryland),Lamar Miller (Miami FL)

  WR:DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson),Bert Reed (Florida State),Chris Givens (Wake Forest),Conner Vernon (Duke),Donovan Varner (Duke),Danny Coale (Virginia Tech)

  TE:Dwayne Allen (Clemson),Cooper Helfelt (Duke),Blake Ayles (Miami FL)

  OL:Emmett Cleary (Boston College),Landon Walker (Clemson),Zebrie Sanders (Florida State),R.J. Dill (Maryland),Doug Weaver (Wake Forest),Kyle Hill (Duke),Phil Smith (Georgia Tech),Morgan Moses (Virginia)

  DL:Kaleb Ramsey (Boston College),Joe Vellano (Maryland),Jeff Rieskamp (NC State),Tristan Dorty (Wake Forest),Nick Jenkins (Virginia)

  LB:Kevin Pierre-Louis (Boston College),Corico Hawkins (Clemson),Audie Cole (NC State),Terrell Manning (NC State),Steven Sylvester (Georgia Tech),Ramon Buchanan (Miami FL)

  DB:Mike Harris (Florida State),Nick Moody (Florida State),Cyhl Quarles (Wake Forest),Kenny Okoro (Wake Forest),Matt Daniels (Duke),Ray Ray Armstrong (Miami FL),Eddie Whitley (Virginia Tech)

  K:Jake Wieclaw (Miami FL)

  

   

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