2010 ACC College Football Preview: Deep Conference Should Make For Highly Competitive Season

By Bud Elliott - College Editor and Analyst

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Sep 2, 2010 - Earlier this Summer, the ACC bloggers at SB Nation got together and put together our pre-season ballots.  I'll use that as a guide for this ACC preview and add a few tweaks based on what has happened in the last two weeks since we voted.  

The ACC is a conference full of good-to-very good teams.  What it lacks is a dominant, elite team.  If you judge a conference on its national title hopes, you don't think much of the ACC.  If you judge a conference on all 12 teams and not just one team, you probably have a good bit of respect for the ACC.  

Heisman Contenders And Star Quarterbacks

A major difference this year from past seasons is the presence of visible offensive stars who people across the country will realize.  For so long this conference was known for defense and defense alone.  This year is different.  Florida State's Christian Ponder and Virginia Tech's Ryan Williams are both in the top-12 for Heisman odds in Vegas.  Additionally, Tech's Tyrod Taylor, Miami's Jacory Harris, Georgia Tech's Josh Nesbitt, Noirth Carolina State's Russel Wilson, and Boston College's Montel Harris are all known offensive stars.  

NFL Talents On Defense

But the league is not devoid of its trademark great defense.  Clemson, Boston College, Miami, North Carolina (if they aren't crushed by sanctions), and Virginia Tech should all have defenses among the best 20 in the country.  By all accounts, the ACC has the most NFL talent.  Yes, even more than the SEC for this year, in large part because many juniors elected to return to school.  North Carolina could have four 1st-round draft choices on defense alone.  Led by UNC's Robert Quinn and Clemson's De'Andre McDaniel, the ACC features some fierce defense.  

Comeback Kids

ACC fans are anxious to see BC's Mark Herzlich and NC State's Nate Irving return to the field this season.  Both star linebackers suffered tragedy last season.  Herzlich was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma.  Irving suffered injuries from a horrible car crash.  Both players have battled hard to come back this season.  How much impact they will have on the league is unknown, but everyone will consider it a major victory if they cam come back and play at a consistent level.  

The Projections

Gobbler Country asked everybody to submit their predicted standings, league champion, offensive player of the year and defensive player of the year. The participants are myself (Tomahawk Nation), BC Interruption (Boston College), Shakin the Southland (Clemson), Duke Basketball Report (Duke), From the Rumble Seat (Georgia Tech), Testudo Times (Maryland), The 7th Floor (Miami), Carolina March (North Carolina), Backing the Pack (NC State), From Old Virgina (Virginia) and Blogger So Dear (Wake Forest).  

Here were the results:

Atlantic Pts

Boston College (7) 63

Florida State (3) 59

Clemson (2) 56

NC State 31

Wake Forest 23

Maryland 20

Coastal Pts

Virginia Tech (8) 67

Miami (4) 59

Georgia Tech 49

North Carolina 39

Duke 23

Virginia 15

 

Note that this poll was done almost a month ago.  That's important because the UNC Academic Scandal had not yet hit the news.  In giving my projections, I'll take that into account.  Let's get to the team capsules.

Atlantic

 

• Boston College Eagles:  The Eagles have been remarkably consistent over the last decade, usually winning nine or more games.  The Eagles feature a very good offensive line and a good back in Montel Harris.  They look to grind it and shorten games.  Questions are at quarterback and particularly receiver, where talent and experience are the issues, respectively.  The defense should again be one of the best 25 in the country, led by ACC DPOY Luke Keuchly.  If Herzlich makes a full return and the defensive line steps up, this unit could be special.  BC's best asset, however, might be that it gets to feast on UVA and Duke from the Coastal.  
• Clemson Tigers:  Clemson is like BC, but with better talent and less consistency.  The Tigers feature a tremendous defense that should be even better in the second year under DC Kevin Steele.  A nice tackle tandem of Jarvis Jenkins and Brandon Thompson clog the middle while star safety DeAndre McDaniel patrols the secondary.  On offense Clemson will be more reserved this season.  The Tigers got QB Kyle Parker back after he was expected to turn pro in baseball.  The offensive line returns four starters, but the coaching there is questionable.  Backs Jamie Harper and Andre Ellington should be able to have very nice seasons, though completely replicating what C.J. Spiller did last season is likely impossible.  The Tigers will rely heavily on TE Dwayne Allen as there are major questions at receiver.
• Florida State Seminoles:  The 'Noles begin their first campaign under new head coach Jimbo Fisher.  Fisher took over an awful offense in 2007 and eventually transformed it into the ACC's best.  With the league's best offensive line and quarterback in Christian Ponder, the 'Noles attack should continue to score points at a high level.  The defense was a huge liability, however, last year and that should improve this year.  The question is how much?  The talent is better, and gone are coaches who didn't want to be there.  With a new defensive staff featuring Mark Stoops, FSU's defense should go from the 80s to the 40s.  Special teams will be dangerous as always with the nation's best punt returner Greg Reid. 
• Maryland Terrapins:  Maryland was better than its record showed last season, but it still wasn't a good team.  The Terps don't have the talent of the best six or seven programs in the ACC, but there are some nice pieces to work with.  QB Jamar Robinson is still more of a runner than a thrower, but RB Scott is a quality back who is often overlooked.  Major questions along the offensive line may prevent Robinson from utilizing talented receivers to their fullest extent.   The defense has depth issues at linebacker but should improve under the second year of DC Brown.  
• NC State:  It's likely State fans will look back on this era and wonder what could have been.  What if the Wolfpack didn't suffer more injuries than any program in the country?  Injuries have really hurt this program in recent years.  The offense should again be potent with Wilson and a lot of talent at receiver.  If the offensive line can just be average the pack might be able to run the ball to take pressure off him.  The defense, however, has major questions and was downright awful last season.  The depth along the defensive line is good, but it lacks proven players.  The linebackers aren't a terrible group, but how much Nate Irving will contribute is unknown.  The secondary is a mess and will likely be the Achilles heel of this team.
• Wake Forest Deamon Deacons:  The Deacons had an excellent run over the last 4 years, including a division championship in 2006 and a dominant defense in 2008.  This year they lose 4-year starter Riley Skinner at Quarterback and transition back to the spread option attack.  There is tons of skill position talent here, but the offensive tackles are a major question, as is quarterback.  The defense is expected to take a step back this year, with real depth and talent concerns at defensive tackle.  The secondary should be good, however, and will likely prevent Wake's defense from being downright awful.  

I see the Atlantic as two groups of three teams.  BC, Clemson, and FSU are all very much in the hunt for the division title, while NC State, Maryland, and Wake all try to make a bowl.  With UNC's potential personnel losses from multiple scandals, BC's schedule advantage over FSU and Clemson is a bit diminished.  I see it shaking out like this:

6-2 Florida State
5-3 Boston College
5-3 Clemson
3-5 Maryland
3-5 NC State
2-6 Wake Forest

The Coastal

I'll be borrowing some from Brian Favat for the Coastal.

• Duke Blue Devils:  The Blue Devils finished a very successful (by Duke standards) season by narrowly missing a bowl.  They look to keep rolling on offense with a new quarterback, but there are few reasons to expect defensive improvement and Duke should continue to be an easy victory for the teams contending for division titles.
• Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets:  Last year's ACC champions look to repeat.  They feature a potent spread-option offense led by senior QB Josh Nesbitt.  Questions exist at WR as they look to replace the departed Thomas.  Tech's defense was below average last year and they are now installing a 3-4 scheme under Al Groh.  Groh is an excellent defensive coach, but it may take him two years to get things up and running.  
• Miami Hurricanes:  The Canes started rebuilding 4 years ago under Randy Shannon.  They might finally have what it takes to win the ACC this year.  The great 2008 recruiting class is now the backbone of this team.  A potent offense looks to improve in the second year under coordinator Mark Whipple, as WR Leonard Hankerson leads the way.  DE Allen Bailey leads one of the better defenses in the conference (and the country).  Miami is quite talented and well balanced.  
• North Carolina Tar Heels:  Incomplete.  This team was supposed to contend for the division title, but with the possibility of losing double-digit starters, who knows?  If they all play, this is the best defense in the country.  If not, UNC could struggle to make a bowl.
• Virginia Tech Hokies: For the first time in forever, Virginia Tech's offense was better than its defense.  Senior QB Tyrod Taylor and RB Ryan Williams lead a fierce attack that will be counted on early to carry the load as the young defense tries to come around.  Everyone expects that it will, but will it happen early enough?  
• Virginia Cavs:  Virginia was a mess under Al Groh and the ACC really needs the Cavs to be a respectable team.  New coach Mike London will look to do just that as he takes over after coaching Richmond.  The team will look for growth and improvement this season, but there are problems here that won't be fixed until two quality recruiting classes are brought in.  

This division is now a three-way race between Miami, Va Tech, and Georgia Tech.  UNC is likely out of the race because of the suspensions and the distractions.  Duke and UVA are real long-shots to make a bowl.  Here's how I see it shaking out:

6-2 Miami (wins division by head-to-head victory over VT)
6-2 Virginia Tech
5-3 Georgia Tech
3-5 North Carolina
2-6 Duke
2-6 Virginia

As for the conference championship game, I'll go with Miami over Florida State.  More important than the pick however, is the understanding that any of the top three Atlantic teams could make it and any of the top three Coastal teams could make it.  This is a deep, competitive league.  Christian Ponder for the ACC Offensive Player Of The Year and Miami's Allen Bailey for the DPOY.  This will be a fun conference to watch in 2010 as former national powers seek to start the climb back to the top and newer powers try to hold on.  

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