ACC Coastal Division
Virginia Tech Hokies
2007 Record 11-3 ACC Champions (Lost to Kansas 24-21 in the Orange Bowl)
Virginia Tech proved to best the best team in the ACC last season but quarterback issues gave Frank Beamer more gray hair all season long.
3 Things To Like About Virginia Tech:
Defense: Yes the Hokie defense lost a lot of talent but Bud Foster is one of the best defensive coordinators in the nation. There is plenty of high level talent there though inexperienced.
Playmakers on the defensive backfield: Victor “Macho” Harris is most macho in the Hokie defensive backfield. He is your prototypical shut down corner. Cam Chancellor can deliver the knockout punch with his hard hitting at safety.
Offensive Line: Will be heavily counted on in light of many graduation losses at the skill positions on offense.
3 Things Not To Like About Virginia Tech:
Receivers: The entire corps of receivers from last year is gone and that foursome signed NFL contracts. Then their top receiver coming out of spring ball Brandon Dillard ruptured his Achilles tendon and is out for the year. Ike Whittker, a converted quarterback, is now the primary target.
Whose going to run the ball?: Brandon Ore was kicked off the team. Virginia Tech will rely on freshman to carry the ball.
Who will take the reigns at quarterback: Frank Beamer told me that having 2 quarterbacks that can play is a good problem. Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor have different skill sets so I trying to see how this works.
Hokie Hot Line: Even though Virginia Tech lost a ton of talent from the 2007 ACC Championship team, the Hokies are still the best team in the Coastal Division. Probably could repeat as ACC Champions.
Projected finish: 1st in ACC Coastal Division
North Carolina Tar Heels
2007 Record 4-7
North Carolina went through growing pains in Butch Davis’ first year as head coach. They showed character closing out the season against Duke win an overtime win.
Top 3 Things To Like About North Carolina:
Butch Davis: Tar Heel fans embrace him. Davis knows the potential of this program and this sleeping giant is ready to wake up.
Defense: They are fast, deep and fundamentally sound
The emergence of Greg Little at running back: Little finished the season rushing for 247 yards and 2 touchdowns in the last 2 games. He’s the best running back not wearing a tiger paw on the side of the helmet.
Top 3 Things Not To Like About North Carolina:
Healthy quarterback: T.J. Yates had shoulder surgery and need to prove he can still throw it and not get gun shy in the pocket. Mike Paulus will have to step in if Yates is still hurting.
Kicking game: Must find a replacement for Connor Barth
Still very young football team
Tar Heel Headlines: It wouldn’t surprise me if North Carolina challenged or even won the Coastal Division. Should the Tar Heels go to Tampa Bay and the Championship Game, it would be huge for the gate and for the league. They almost have all the pieces in place and by November could be in the mix.
Projected finish: 2nd in ACC Coastal Division
Miami Hurricanes
2007 Record 5-7
Miami reeked last year. The low point came in the final game at the Orange Bowl losing 48-0 to Virginia in front of the Miami mafia. A rough debut for Randy Shannon
3 Things To Like About Miami:
Good pair of running backs: If the offense line does their job, Javarris James and Greg Cooper should challenge James Davis and C.J. Spiller of Clemson as the best running back duo’s in the ACC
Secondary is the strength of the defense: There are some athletes and playmakers there
Great recruiting class: Miami had a great recruiting class and some were able to enroll early and participate in spring football.
3 Things Not To Like About Miami
Green quarterbacks: None of Miami’s quarterbacks has thrown a pass on the college level in a game.
Offensive Line: Must jell for the offense to move downfield
The defense is working with its 3rd defensive coordinator in 3 years
Hurricane Hot Line: Tough to figure out this team. They have talent coming in that could contribute immediately. But Miami has to find a quarterback, block somebody and stop the run. I’m betting those things will get remedied and the ‘Canes will go bowling or else Sheriff Shannon will kick some butt.
Projected finish: 3rd in the ACC Coastal Division
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2007 record 7-6 (Lost to Fresno State in the Humanitarian Bowl)
Georgia Tech during the Chan Gailey era would win games but had all the excitement of vanilla ice cream, of an office suite with white walls and flarecent lights or an enema. When Gailey couldn’t beat Georgia again and lost the bowl game you kind of knew his fate on the flats was sealed.
Top 3 Things To Like About Georgia Tech:
New Head Coach Paul Johnson: Say what you want but Johnson has been a winner wherever he has coached and his offense drive defensive coordinator nuts.
Defense: New Defensive Coordinator Dave Wommack has a different approach than Jon Tenuta. The Jackets won’t blitz all the time but the “D” will still pack plenty of sting.
Georgia Tech’s defensive line is as good as it gets so don’t dare run on the Jackets
Jonathan Dwyer: Georgia Tech won’t miss Tashard Choice as much with Dwyer now the featured back. He has the potential to shine in the triple option
Top 3 Things Not To Like About Georgia Tech:
Grasping the offense: The spring game was an embarrassment to the Yellow Jacket offense with poor exaction, bad decision making and too many turnovers. They have a few weeks to get it together for Jacksonville State.
Will this offense work in today’s college football: Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska won big in the 70’s with triple option but it’s been at least over 20 years since Jamelle Holloway lead Oklahoma to a national title in 1985 that the triple option matter on the BCS level
Rough transition: Some starters used up the eligibility but others transferred and key recruits defected when Johnson got the job. Depth could be an issue.
The Buzz on the Yellow Jackets: Georgia Tech’s 2008 is one big IF. If this triple option offense works… if Josh Nesbitt is the starting quarterback… if the offense can work on the BCS level…. The schedule doesn’t work to Georgia Tech’s favor, opening the season hosting Jacksonville State and guess who’s their quarterback is? Former LSU hotshot Ryan Perrilloux, bad timing. Then the Yellow Jackets hit the road at Boston College than at Virginia Tech then host Mississippi State. By the time Georgia Tech faces Duke, They might resemble a ramblin’ wreck.
Projected finish: 4th in the Coastal Division
Virginia Cavaliers
2007 record 9-4 (Lost to Texas Tech 31-28 in the Gator Bowl)
Yes Virginia, your football team shocked the ACC last year. The Cavaliers loved to live life on the edge winning 6 games by 5 points or less. The highlight for the ‘Hoos last year was kicking Miami butt 48-0 in the Orange Bowls curtain call.
3 Things To Like About Virginia:
Defense: Yes I know Chris Long is gone but the ‘Hoos can hit you and knock you down. The linebackers are some of the best in the ACC.
Running backs: Cedric Pearman and Mikell Simpson are outstanding.
Deep corps of receivers: The return of go to receiver Kevin Ogletree is a huge weapon in the Cavalier arsenal.
3 Things To Not Like About Virginia
Offensive Line: Virginia’s O-Line lost both its guards and center from last season. It’s a inexperienced line and QB Peter Lalich may be running for his life.
Can any kick the ball: Last year Chris Gould converted some big kicks for the Cavs but he’s gone. UVA will have to rely on redshirt freshman Chris Hinkeblein who only pressure situation so far has been studying for an exam.
Law of averages: Last year Virginia won the close games, will Murphy’s Law catch up?
Cavalier Attitude: Virginia lost 8 players from the 2007 team from academic casualties, early entry in the NFL draft or dismissed from the team. There’s enough offensive talent there but the lines on both sides of the ball are suspect. I just see a long year for Virginia. Of course not much was expected for the Cavaliers last year.
Projected finish: 5th in the Coastal Division
Duke Blue Devils
2007 record 1-11
Duke was well, Duke last year. At least to defeated Northwestern
3 Things To Like About Duke
David Cutcliffe: Duke has a coach who can make a difference. If Cutcliffe can win at Ole Miss, he can win at Duke.
Thaddius Lewis: He is a good one that will prosper with Cutcliffe as his mentor. Cutcliffe compares Lewis to Tee Martin and all he did was win a National Championship for Tennessee.
Mean and Lean: Cutcliffe said his Duke team was to fat so the team got fit. The offensive line alone lost 59% body fat as a unit. The team lost 400 pounds at the end of spring practice. Call it the Duke Diet.
3 Things Not To Like About Duke
No Depth
Little Experience
Poor Special Teams
Devil in the Details: Duke football fans, all 6 of you, get behind David Cutcliffe. He can do with the Blue Devil program what Steve Spurrier did in the late 80’s when he won an ACC Championship before moving on to Floirda. Can Duke pull off what Wake Forest did in 2006? Not likely but winning 5 games would cause some tremors in the ACC and Duke could do that.
One thing that impressed me about Coach Cutcliffe is when he told me that he wants the seniors on this football team, who have only won 2 games during the career, to have fun and enjoy playing. They need to hear that and embrace that.
Projected finish: 6th in ACC Coastal
Yes Virginia, your football team shocked the ACC last year. The Cavaliers loved to live life on the edge winning 6 games by 5 points or less. The highlight for the ‘Hoos last year was kicking Miami butt 48-0 in the Orange Bowls curtain call.
3 Things To Like About Virginia:
Defense: Yes I know Chris Long is gone but the ‘Hoos can hit you and knock you down. The linebackers are some of the best in the ACC.
Running backs: Cedric Pearman and Mikell Simpson are outstanding.
Deep corps of receivers: The return of go to receiver Kevin Ogletree is a huge weapon in the Cavalier arsenal.
3 Things To Not Like About Virginia
Offensive Line: Virginia’s O-Line lost both its guards and center from last season. It’s a inexperienced line and QB Peter Lalich may be running for his life.
Can any kick the ball: Last year Chris Gould converted some big kicks for the Cavs but he’s gone. UVA will have to rely on redshirt freshman Chris Hinkeblein who only pressure situation so far has been studying for an exam.
Law of averages: Last year Virginia won the close games, will Murphy’s Law catch up?
Cavalier Attitude: Virginia lost 8 players from the 2007 team from academic casualties, early entry in the NFL draft or dismissed from the team. There’s enough offensive talent there but the lines on both sides of the ball are suspect. I just see a long year for Virginia. Of course not much was expected for the Cavaliers last year.
Projected finish: 5th in the Coastal Division
Duke Blue Devils
2007 record 1-11
Duke was well, Duke last year. At least to defeated Northwestern
3 Things To Like About Duke
David Cutcliffe: Duke has a coach who can make a difference. If Cutcliffe can win at Ole Miss, he can win at Duke.
Thaddius Lewis: He is a good one that will prosper with Cutcliffe as his mentor. Cutcliffe compares Lewis to Tee Martin and all he did was win a National Championship for Tennessee.
Mean and Lean: Cutcliffe said his Duke team was to fat so the team got fit. The offensive line alone lost 59% body fat as a unit. The team lost 400 pounds at the end of spring practice. Call it the Duke Diet.
3 Things Not To Like About Duke
No Depth
Little Experience
Poor Special Teams
Devil in the Details: Duke football fans, all 6 of you, get behind David Cutcliffe. He can do with the Blue Devil program what Steve Spurrier did in the late 80’s when he won an ACC Championship before moving on to Floirda. Can Duke pull off what Wake Forest did in 2006? Not likely but winning 5 games would cause some tremors in the ACC and Duke could do that.
One thing that impressed me about Coach Cutcliffe is when he told me that he wants the seniors on this football team, who have only won 2 games during the career, to have fun and enjoy playing. They need to hear that and embrace that.
Projected finish: 6th in ACC Coastal
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