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Tuesday, June 29, 2010 0 comments

ACC Preview

Coastal Division

Duke

Last Year

The Blue Devils are very much in the same boat as Wake Forest when it comes to recruiting but they haven't had anywhere near as much success, posting 19-97 the last ten years. To put things even more in perspective, they've won nine of those games the last two seasons and have had three winless seasons in that time span. But they're good at basketball. Things seem to be changing with coach David Cutcliffe at the helm. He had a 40-29 record at Mississippi from '98-'04 and was surprisingly let go. He was offered the Head Coaching job at Tennessee this year but turned it down, citing unfinished business here. Last season they had a 5-7 (3-5 ACC) record spearheaded by a potent passing attack led by Thaddeus Lewis (3330 yards and 20 TDs). Their running game is traditionally bad, and that didn't change, but their defense was okay. Cutcliffe definitely has the team heading in the right direction.

Offense

Lewis has graduated and this leaves a gaping hole, not just at QB, but in the team in general. He kept the team in a few of their losses and will be sorely missed. Sophomore Sean Renfree (68% complete, 330yds and 4TDs) looks to take over after playing well in limited game time last season. Cutcliffe coached Eli Manning at Ole Miss and Peyton Manning at Tennessee, so he can coach up a QB. There are only freshmen behind Renfree on the depth chart, so it's his job to lose. They've had some solid RBs here over the years but they just don't have the talent on the o-line to make any impact. The three top rushers return, but between them they had just 590 yards and 2 TDs on 158 carries. This won't cut it for any offense, no matter who the QB is. This should be the coaching staff's priority on offense this season. They have a chance to improve with a line that returns four starters in C Bryan Morgan, LG Mitchell Lederman, RG Brian Moore and LT Kyle Hill. The RT looks to be junior John Needham who has played a lot in the past and put on 20lbs to add ballast. Most of their receptions from last season return, and their top three receivers are excellent. Donovan Varner (65-1047-8, Conner Vernon (55-746-3) and Austin Kelly (54-625-4) will help make the transition to starter a lot easier for Renfree. TE Brett Huffman returns too. Last season he caught 18 passes and scored 3 TDs. The RBs catch their fair share of passes too, and this usually increases with new QBs. Everything is in place for a solid offense next season, as long as Cutcliffe can work his magic on Renfree.

Defense

Duke's defensive performance actually slipped from the year before, but was still night and day better than their usual efforts. To make matters worse, only five starters return from last season, and as with most small schools, depth is perilously thin. That said, there is some talent to try and stem the tide. NG Charlie Hatcher is a good one, and at 6-5 and 290 lbs, he can hold his own against most blockers. DE Patrick Egboh also returns, but in 12 starts he's only had one sack. The other options at tackle aren't particularly enticing – Tyree Glover has played but only weighs 245, and Sidney Sarmiento hasn't played yet after redshirting last year. The other end will most likely be senior Wesley Oglesby who has started in the past. The line lacks ballast and will struggle against running teams. If they can hold up and clear the way for the linebackers to make plays, they've a group of decent seniors ready to make some plays. Damian Thornton returns in the middle after 60 tackles and 5.5 TFLs last season. Flanking him will be Adam Kromah and Adam Banks, both of whom have started in the past and played regularly last season. It remains to be seen whether they get to roam freely. Losing Leon Wright will not help a secondary that only managed a mere 8 Ints last season. They do return Chris Rwabukamba at Corner and Matt Daniels at SS who combined for 13 PBUs (0 Ints) last season. Johnny Williams, who started 7 games at WR last season and caught 31 passes, moves to corner this season and he should help, but probable FS Jordan Byas has played mostly on special teams and will have to learn quickly. Of course, if the front seven can't manage some sort of pass rush, how good the secondary is will be academic.

Special Teams

Walk-on Will Snyderwine kicked an excellent 17 of 20 FGs (including a 51 yarder) and all his PATs and received a scholarship for his troubles. Punter Kevin Jones averaged 39.3 per punt, but only had a net of 32.9 and had one blocked. The senior needs to improve here. Johnny Williams needs to improve as a returner, but Desmond Scott averaged a decent 25.1 per KR. The coverage teams were pretty solid.

Next Season

Have the Blue Devils shot their bolt with the retirement of Thaddeus Lewis? Hard to say, but there are enough returning starters on offense to make some plays against any 2010 opponent. Except maybe Alabama. Yep, their OOC schedule includes the reigning champs. They also play FCS nobodies Elon as well as Army and Navy. Unfortunately Duke plays in the tougher ACC division and while they may put a scar into a few of the better teams, their patchwork defense probably won't hold up. 4 or 5 wins would be good considering their schedule, a bowl game is highly unlikely.

Georgia Tech

Last Year

In the second year of the triple option, Tech steamrolled their way to the ACC Championship and a berth in the Orange Bowl, which they lost to a fine Iowa team. Nonetheless, the naysayers of Paul Johnson's "gimmick" offense might finally quiet down (at least for now). The offense was second in rushing in the FBS, and 15th in scoring. Surprisingly, the Yellowjackets normally strong defense slumped last season despite being well rested due to their ball control offense. Ex Virginia and NY Jets HC Al Groh takes over as DC, and is an excellent co-ordinator with 38 years of coaching experience. GT recruit well, so he'll have plenty to play with.

Offense

Senior QB Josh Nesbitt may not be most accurate passer (46.3%), but he runs this offense as well anybody. Last season he passed for 1701 yards and 10 TDs while rushing for 1037 yards and 18 scores. His backup is Tevin Washington who's hardly played. Tech could be in trouble if Nesbitt goes down, which isn't unlikely considering the amount of abuse an option QB takes. B-Back Jonathon Dwyer skipped his senior year to head for the sunnier climes of the NFL, and he will be missed, but former Louisville transfer Anthony Allen is ready to take over. Allen played the A-Back role last season, starting all 14 games and rushing for a phenomenal 618 yards and 6 TDs on just 64 carries. The A-Backs this season are Roddy Jones (over 1000 yards in two seasons) and either Embry Peeples or Marcus Wright. Johnson wants to increase their workload this season to make the offense even more diverse. On the offensive line only two starters return in 1st Team ACC Center Sean Bedford and Tackle Austin Barrick. The only other potential starter with any meaningful experience is junior Nick Clayton, so this could be a problem area in 2010. WR Demaryius Thomas also jumped ship to the NFL, and his 46 catches were 38 more than the #2 receiver, Peeples. Although this is a run-first offense, some semblance of a passing game is needed, and Thomas will be greatly missed. Tyler Melton returns as a starter, but he only had a paltry 5 catches last season. Sophomore Stephen Hill backed up Thomas last year and caught only 6 passes, but the hope is he can approach Thomas-like stats this season. Johnson also wants to pass to the backs more, and they are more than up to the task.

Defense

Outside of Derrick Morgan, GT really struggled to rush the passer last season, and Morgan has graduated. Although the team would prefer to still have him on board, Groh is switching to a 3-4 defense which means the D-line will tie up blockers more than rush the passer. They have a couple of big bodies to do just that – junior Logan Walls started last season and will man the Nose flanked by Izaan Cross and Jason Peters who have some starting experience. All three are big enough to handle the task. There isn't much experienced depth, although 355 lb sophomore TJ Barnes could steal the NT job. They are in good shape at LB too with three starters coming back and an experienced senior filling the other slot. Steven Sylvester and Brad Jefferson will man the middle with Stephen Sylvester and Anthony Barnes outside. The four are capable tacklers, but it remains to be seen whether they can rush the passer. Rushing the passer will be important too, as they secondary struggled in coverage last season despite the presence of the excellent Morgan Burnett, who has graduated. Jerrard Tarrant will move from Corner to Free Safety to help replace him, and Mario Butler returns to man one of the corner spots. There are plenty of experienced veterans to take on the other two roles, so the secondary could be solid as long as it gets some help from the front seven.

Special Teams

Kicker Scott Blair needs to pick up the pace a little after hitting only 14 of 20 FGs last season, but Punter Chandler Anderson is a good one averaging 42.3 with a 38.1 net. Tarrant is an excellent PR, returning two for TDs, whereas Orwin Smith does a good job on KRs, averaging 24.0 a pop. Kickoff coverage needs work, but punt coverage is excellent.

Next Season

The annual grudge match against Georgia aside, the OOC schedule is soft (sorry Kansas). The problem is the in-conference schedule. They play in the Coastal Division which is tough this year, and travel to North Carolina, Clemson and Virginia Tech, with a home game against Miami. They have a lot of seniors and juniors starting this season and despite the loss of four of last year's stars, they have a shot at the ACC title again, although the change in defensive system could be problematic. I wouldn't bet on them winning 11 games again, however.

Miami

Last Season

Miami won 9 games last season, including a 3-1 record against (then) ranked teams and have improved their record by 2 games in each of the last three seasons. They also made the Top 25 (#19) for the first time since 2005. This is all a far cry from their glory days when they were in pre-season number 1 discussions every year. Since '03 when they lost a thrilling championship game to Ohio State they have been 46-29, a record most teams would be happy with, but not acceptable for a school with a winning history akin to Miami's – the 6 years before that they went 64-11! Last season was their best offensive production since they contended for that last championship, but their always strong defense had some shocking meltdowns, particularly against the pass. Still, after going 5-7 in his first season, coach Randy Shannon has the team heading in the right direction and last year's season was pretty solid.

Offense

Quarterback Jacory Harris had an inconsistent season, playing like the next great Miami QB on one play then throwing bonehead interceptions the next. In saying that, they wouldn't have won nine games without him. He did throw for 3352 yards and 24 TDs (and 17 Ints) as a sophomore and should improve this season, and he has a great supporting cast around him. Javaris James finally graduated after an injury-filled career and Graig Cooper's return is doubtful due to a torn ACL in last year's bowl game. This may not be as problematic as it may seem, as The U's running game has struggled since Willis McGahee's infamous injury in '03, and James and Cooper never fully lived up to expectations. Miami usually adopt a running back-by-committee approach and this year should be no different. Damien Berry should be the starter this season after impressing last season (616 yds and 8 TDs on 93 carries), but sophomore Mike James should receive plenty of carries. Being Miami, they also have a couple of top recruits waiting in the wings. As mentioned though, the Hurricane's have been mediocre on the ground recently and it won't matter who's in the backfield if the line can't block. They only return two starters, and lost a vital cog when LT Jason Fox left early for the NFL. Senior Orlando Franklin slides over from LG to take his place and should do a good job, and Joel Figueroa returns to man one of the guard slots. On the plus side, this year's replacements picked up valuable playing time last season due to injuries and the line has the potential to be Miami's best in a while. Their top 5 receivers return, and they're a talented bunch – watch out for senior Leonard Hankerson to improve on 2009's team-leading performance (45-801-6). TE is a problem as Miami lost two to the NFL last season, but senior Richard Gordon has starting experience and the U also signed JUCO Chase Ford. The backs can all catch the ball and will be a part of the passing attack next season. This offense should explode this season if the line holds up.

Defense

Aside from the Virginia Tech game, Miami's rush defense was excellent last season, even stopping Georgia Tech cold. Their pass defense, on the other hand, got shredded in too many games and needs to improve. There was a lot of youth on this defense last season though, and they return eight starters and the rest have game experience. Senior Allen Bailey returns at DE and was first-team ACC last season after 34 tackles and 7 sacks. Juniors Marcus Robinson and Andrew Smith will fight it out for the other spot – both started games last year and are quick off the snap. The Hurricanes rotate their tackles so there's no shortage of experience, but watch out for Josh Holmes, who's only weighs 280 but explodes into the backfield. Last season's OLBs Colin McCarthy and Sean Spence return, and they can play, but MLB Darryl Sharpton has moved on and leaves a gaping hole at a crucial position. If senior Kylan Robinson (only 4 career tackles) can't win the job, it is likely that McCarthy will move over and Ramon Buchanan will take his spot. He played well in limited duty last season, but at only 215 he isn't big enough for the middle. The secondary returns three starters, including 1st team ACC corner Brandon Harris. DeMarcus Van Dyke is erratic, making a great play then getting cooked the next. The coaching staff compares Strong Safety Vaughn Telemaque to former Hurricane Ed Reed, but he needs to make more plays. Ray-Ray Armstrong is favored to win the FS spot. This secondary should not only be better than last season's, but their best in years.

Special Teams

Matt Bosher handles all the kicking chores, and he's a good one. Last season he made all his PATs and 14 of 16 FGs, including a 51 yarder. He slipped some as a punter, though. He averaged a respectable 42.5 gross, but only a 35.7 net and had three punts blocked. While this isn't totally his fault, he needs to improve on this next season. For a team with Miami's talent, kick returning was mediocre last season and their best (Cooper 22.4) might not be around this season. Receiver Thearon Collier moonlights as a punt returner averaging a fine 13.2 yards per return and scoring 2 TDs. This group should continue to improve.

Next Season

Their OOC schedule is a mixed bag, a lay-up against FCS school Florida A&M and rebuilding South Florida, but also away games at Ohio State and Pittsburgh. They travel to Clemson and Georgia Tech, but get all the other tough ACC opponents at home. Their offense and defense should be better than last season, and if they can beat the Buckeyes and Panthers while not falling asleep against ACC opponents, they could be playing in the big game this season.

North Carolina

Last Season

Butch Davis has done a good job here, recruiting well and rebuilding a somewhat stale program. Last season the Tar Heels went 8-5 despite having little offense. There defense, on the other hand, was superb, allowing 96 yards rushing (2.8 avg) and 174 passing ypg. They only managed to go 4-4 in the ACC, and are just 11-24 in Davis' tenure.

Offense

Nine starters return from 2009, but this might not necessarily be a good thing. Much was expected of QB TJ Yates but he failed to deliver last season (2136 yards, 14 Tds and 15 Ints). He is capable of better and he will be expected to show massive improvement in his senior year, else he could lose his job to redshirt freshman Bryn Renner. The bad news is he and the other backup QBs have little to no experience. North Carolina has a history of churning out great running backs, but has been less than stellar lately. NC returns their leading rushers from last season but need more production to help out Yates. Shaun Draughn (567 yards, 4.6 avg, 1 TD) should be the nominal starter ahead of top recruit Ryan Houston (191-733-9) but it's all academic the line doesn't make some holes. The line returns three starters, with monster sophomore Travis Bond and Carl Gaskins or James Hurst stepping in at RG and LT respectively. The line has been the biggest stumbling block in recent years and while the potential is there for this line to be good, I'll make no promises for 2010. WR Hakeem Nicks early departure to the NFL really hurt the Tar Heels last season, despite the heroics of multi-talented Greg Little. Pretty much anybody who had a reception last season returns, with sophomore Erik Highsmith (37-425-2) and speedy Jheranie Boyd (12-214-4) slated to start. TE Zack Pianalto is a good one, and will again provide a safety valve for Yates. The backs are pretty good receivers, and help out the passing game when called upon. This offense won't be as explosive as some of their conference foes, but a bit more consistency from Yates and the o-line will take a lot of pressure off the defense.

Defense

This defense was near the top of the FBS in pretty much every category last season, and scarily returns nine starters and two experienced "new" faces. The two losses are on the line, but the two returnees are excellent, especially junior Robert Quinn (52 tkls, 11 sacks, 8 TFLs). Future pro DT Marvin Austin (42 tkls, 4 sacks, 2 TFLs) also returns. Probable starters are juniors Tydreke Powell and Quinton Coples at tackle and end respectively. Both were valuable members of the rotation last season. This line will continue to excel this season. The linebackers return intact with super seniors Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant on the outsides and Kevin Reddick in the middle. These guys combined for 189 tackles, including 22 for loss, last season. The secondary returns all four starters from '09, and apart from two games against Florida State and North Carolina State, was a no-fly zone. CB Kendric Burney and FS Deunta Williams were 1st team ACC last season, and DaNorris Searcy was 2nd team. The forgotten corner Charles Brown was no slouch either (66 tkls, 9 PBUs and 3 Ints). They should be even better this season. If this defense isn't one of the best in the country again next season, it will be a major shock.

Special Teams

Kicker Casey Barth carried on the family legacy making 21 of 25 FGS, but with a long of only 42. He only missed one over 40 yards, but isn't renowned for his strong leg. Punter Grant Schallock (35.2 net, 1 block) wasn't great last season and needs to improve or he could be replaced by CJ Feagles. Kick returning was average and could stand to improve to help out the struggling offense, but Searcy was super returning punts, averaging 14.6 and scoring on a 77 yard return. The kick coverage squad was okay, but the punt coverage was excellent. There is some room for improvement here with the main players back again.

Next Season

Here's your ACC dark horse. 18 starters return and the team is loaded with top recruits. They have gone 8-5 the last two seasons with little offense and this year they are poised for big things. The fact that five juniors returned for their senior season instead of testing NFL waters says a lot about their expectations for this year. Their OOC schedule is manageable, outside of the LSU game. That will be the true test of this team. If they can play LSU close, which they should with this D, they should be contenders for the ACC. If they can beat them, then greater things may be ahead. That offense needs to play its part though.

Virginia

Last Season

Virginia may have blown hot and cold in the 21st century after posting winning records from 1987-1999, but last year's 3-9 season was their worst since '86. As a result, Al Groh was sent packing and Mike London, the coach who led Richmond to a national title in '08, was brought in. London has coached as an assistant and co-ordinator at Virginia before, so he knows the lie of the land. He takes over a team with one of the worst offenses in the FBS, and loses two of its few talented players in QB Jameel Sewell and injury-prone RB Mikell Simpson. The defense wasn't awful, although the run defense collapsed against power running teams. The season had its moments, such as a three game winning streak which included a win over North Carolina, but it was no shock when Groh was let go.

Offense

With a new coach comes a new system, and the Cavaliers are switching from the spread back to their more familiar power running game. The spread suited Sewell and he had an okay career here, leading Virginia to their last winning season in '07, but after being ruled academically ineligible for '08, he came back rusty last season. His backup last year, now-senior Marc Verica played in '08, throwing for 2037 yards, but only 8 TDs compared to 16 Ints. He started one game last year but only threw for 156 yards and an Int. He is more of a drop-back passer, and the new offense should suit him better. Verica is the starter by default, as he is the only experienced QB on the roster, but it wouldn't be a shock if redshirt freshman Ross Metheney got the nod at some stage this season. The four top rushers (one of them Sewell) all have graduated, so someone new needs to be found. The starter will probably be either 255 lb senior Keith Payne, who actually quit the team at the start of last season then returned with the change in coaching staff, or sophomore Torrey Mack. This is an open competition, and with some good and diverse recruits on campus, a running-by-committee approach is probable. The offensive line returns three starters from an o-line that struggled with the wide splits required by the spread offense, and may be better with a more traditional system in place. Guards BJ Cabbell and Austin Pasztor and LT Landon Bradley return and have plenty of it experience. The new faces are relatively inexperienced junior C Anthony Mihota and either top recruit Morgan Moses or sophomore Oday Aboushi at RT. After paving the way for only 2.9 ypc and allowing 41 sacks, this unit can only get better. Their top receiver Kris Burd returns but only caught 31 passes for 413 yards and a TD. The other receiver positions are open and this doesn't look good for Verica this season either. Joe Torchia returns at TE after 15 catches and 2 TDs last season. He's a better receiver than his numbers suggest, but he was used as a blocker (and he is excellent blocker) more often than not last season due to their line's struggles. Any struggling passing attack throws a lot to their backs and Virginia are now different. Look for more of the same this season.

Defense

The Virginia run defense allowed four games over 200 yards last season. Take these out and they allowed 92.6 at 3.1 a carry. The problem was (and it's probably not going to change this season) is they are too light in the bucket up front with no-one over 300 lbs on the roster. They're switching from a 3-4 back to a 4-3 this season, so they hope the extra body compensates for the lack of bulk up front. They return three starters on the line, though, which should help. Juniors Nick Jenkins and Matt Conrath return in the middle and performed pretty well last season. Cam Johnson is moving up to DE from OLB and it is hoped he can bring some explosiveness. The other end spot is open, but after 22 just sacks in 2009, they hope another pass rusher can be found. Only one LB returns, but he's a good one. Sophomore Steve Greer will play the middle in the new 4-3 after playing inside last season and being voted 2nd team Freshman All-American. He led the team with 92 tackles with going 5.5 for losses. Junior Jared Detrick is back after a medical redshirt last season, and figures to take one of the outside spots. Tucker Windle or Ausar Walcott should take over the other. Neither has played much to date. Two starters return in the secondary, including 2nd team ACC CB Ras-I Dowling. Junior SS Rodney McLeod had a solid season last year. Junior Chase Minnifield becomes a starter after backing up the last two years and should be decent. The FS is junior Corey Mosley who also has plenty of experience. There should be no dropoff in the secondary this year. This is a good defense that only allowed 26.3 ppg last season despite having no offense to speak of. London is an excellent defensive mind and will relish the opportunity to coach up this unit. If they can stand up against power lines, they can be even better this season.

Special Teams

Kicker Robert Randolph had an excellent season last year, hitting 17 of 19 FGs and all his PATs. However, this spring he had a meltdown and now he is fighting to keep his starting spot. He should keep it, but watch out for Drew Jarrett if his struggles continue into the season. Jimmy Howell's punting dipped a little last season from his freshman year, but will have every opportunity to keep it this season. Chase Minnifield is an okay kick returner (23.3 average), but needs to be replaced on punts (4.4). Their coverage teams were better last season than they have been recently, but expect the coaching staff to pay close attention to this unit this season.

Next Season

London is the type of energetic coach players respond too, especially as he is successful. He is also well known on campus due to his previous visits. His players will play harder for him, but may not have it in them to win. Their defense will be solid again, but their offense has too many question marks to really turn the team around this season. Apart from a game against USC, their schedule isn't horrible with two FBS teams, including Richmond on a "grudge" match. Richmond has knocked off FBS teams before though. MAC bottom-feeder Eastern Michigan is the other. With Duke a perennial struggler and Maryland in a similar situation to the Cavs and visiting, 5 wins could be within reach. The rest of their schedule means they'll need to pull off an upset to reach 6 or 7 wins.

Virginia Tech

Last Season

Frank Beamer has done such a good job here, turning Tech into a perennial top 10 team and racking up a 99-32 record since 2000. But they continually fail to turn the corner and become a true championship contender. In 2009, things looked bleak before the season kicked off when starting RB Darren Evans tore his ACL in preseason training. Hello, Ryan Williams. Williams smashed Evans 1-year old freshman rushing record and led the Hokies to a 10-3 record. It also helped that a loaded defense shutdown passing games and most running attacks. Beamer's special team units are usually one of the best in the country too.

Offense

QB Tyrod Taylor has gotten better with each year and now, as a senior, he's expected to take his team to third title in four years. With seven starters back, the offense has no excuses this year. Last year, Taylor was efficient, throwing for 2311 yards and 13 TDs against a mere 5 Ints as an afterthought to the running game. However, when the running game was struggling, so did Taylor. This year he has to show he can carry the load when needed. He's also an integral part of the running game, rushing 370 yards and 5 TDs in 2009. If he gets injured, the team could be in trouble as none of his backups have experience. Luckily, they have an embarrassment of riches at running back. Williams is back after a phenomenal 1665 yards and 21 TDs last season. Expect him to start. Evans is also back and should be 100% a year removed from his injury. In '08 he gained 1265 yards and 11 TDs. Expect him to get plenty of work too. Don't forget Josh Oglesby and David Wilson who combined for 669 yards and 6 TDs in relief duty. Oglesby will most likely move to Fullback this season. The running game should be even better this season, especially considering 3 starters return on the line. C Beau Warren, RG Jaymes Brooks and RT Blake DeChristopher all return to pave the way for the runners and protect Taylor. Greg Nosal and Nick Becton step in at LG and LT respectively, and both have plenty of experience. They need to cut down on sacks after allowing 31 last season, but this group should excel this year. The top three WRs return from last season, combining for 92 catches, 1839 yards and 10 TDs last season. That's an average of 20 yards a catch! Senior TE Andre Smith also returns. He only caught 3 passes last season but he blocks like a guard. The RBs didn't play much of a role in the passing game last season, but that may change this year as Taylor looks less for the big play and more to keep the chains moving. This offense should be very dangerous this season.

Defense

The defense is normally strong under Beamer due to his emphasis on fundamentals and keeping simple schemes. It could change this year with only three starters back from 2009. John Graves has done an excellent job at tackle over the last couple of years, and is a leader in the locker room. Opposite him should be sophomore Antoine Hopkins, a big body who played well in the rotation last season. The end should be manned by junior Chris Drager, who had 2.5 sacks and 4 TFLs as a reserve last season, and senior Steven Friday. Junior Barquell Rivers will man the middle again last season after an excellent season (96 tkls, 6.5 for loss), but new men will be playing on the outside. Sophomore Jeron Gouveia-Winslow is favored to take one spot, although he lacks experience, while fellow sophomore Lyndell Gibson (53 tkls) figures to take the other after playing well in 5 starts last season. Senior corner Rashad Carmichael had a fine season last year with 55 tackles, 1 sack, 3 TFLs, 6 PBUs and 6 Ints last season. If opponents don't throw away from him this year, he should improve on those stats. The other corner looks to be sophomore Jayron Hosely. Look for him to be targeted early and often. Davon Morgan will man the SS position having started 13 games in three years. He should be a solid tackler, but he needs to make some plays. Junior Eddie Whitley will take on the FS role after gaining some playing time last season. He too needs to make the middle of the field a no-go area. This secondary could be the weak spot of the defense in 2010. I think Beamer will have them ready to play though.

Special Teams

Beamer's speciality. Tech units are always excellent and last year was no different. However, just like the defense, this area has been gutted by graduation with both super-Kicker Matt Waldron (20/23 FGs) and Punter Brent Bowden (37.6 net) gone. Senior Brian Saunders should replace Bowden capably. If not, look for Bowden's brother Grant to carry on the family legacy. Kicker, a very important position to a running team, is up in the air. Top recruit Cody Journell should take the job, but don't be surprised if senior Chris Hazley wins the job after a solid spring. WR Roberts averaged a sparkling 31.9 yards per KR last season and scored a TD, while CB Hosley averaged 11.2 and scored 1 TD on punts. Coverage teams were very good as expected.

Next Season

With a young defense, it's not a good idea to open the season against Boise State, but unfortunately they do although they play in Landover. The rest of the OOC is okay with FCS James Madison, rebuilding East Carolina and a Dan LeFevour-less Central Michigan. In conference they travel to BC, North Carolina and Miami, but the defense should be in sync by the time they play these games. V Tech has 10 or more games the last six seasons, and if the defense gels early, there is no reason they shouldn't continue that trend. All their tough conference games (except BC) are in the latter half of the season, so they could be in position to take another title. If they beat Boise, an unbeaten season is very possible.


 

    
 


 

    

Monday, June 14, 2010 0 comments

Re-alignment

So then, here's the latest scoop on 16 team conferences and the death of the Big 12. It's over. Texas and Oklahoma and their lackey conference-mates (except Missouri) have decided to keep the Big 12 going. Why? What was all that crap about moving to other conferences? There are lots of theories (feel free to check 'em out) out there - ESPN denying Fox USC-Texas championships, reducing the Big 12 to 10 teams to eliminate a championship game and leave Texas as top dog, aliens (well, maybe not that one) - but the most likely one is the money. More cash for Texas. So all we're left with is Nebraska to the Big 10, Boise State to the MWC and Colorado to the Pac 10. The Pac 10 will probably go for one more, Utah seems to be the popular choice, and unless the Big 10 goes East, we're done for now. The only question now is - why does the Big 10 have 12 teams and the Big 12 have 10?
Saturday, June 12, 2010 2 comments

Offseason, part 2

Compared to what's going on in college football right now, the NFL is rather tame. We've got sanctions against USC and the Reggie Bush thing, conference expansion as well as the usual "players getting into trouble" malarkey. I could write in detail on each, but I won't. A quick snapshot of what's going on and how they'll probably turn out should suffice.

Southern California's Sanctions

So on to Southern California – better specify which USC in case the boys in South Carolina think they're in trouble – and they're sanctions. A two year bowl ban and the loss of 30 scholarships of 3 years is the punishment, although there is talk of them losing their '04 National Championship due to Reggie Bush's ineligibility as a result of his dealings with agents while still at Southern Cal. USC is a school with a great history, and one of the few schools who could recruit by telephone if they wanted to, and I think they'll be fine. They'll probably lose a few juniors and seniors, but I can't see a major exodus, Alabama suffered similar penalties in '03 and after a couple of years of mediocrity (by their standards) they won the big one last season. The big draw for USC is, regardless of their success on the field (none of this pathetic 9-3 season stuff), they constantly churn out quality pros – only Miami, Florida really comes close. Lane Kiffin did a better job at Tennessee (when he stopped yakkin') than their record suggested, and with a plethora of five-star talent at his disposal and his familiarity with the university, he could well carry on have similar success to Pete Carroll.

Player Problems

A couple teams with conference title aspirations and beyond took some big hits as a result of potential starters acting in a less than exemplary fashion. Oregon's star QB Jeremiah Masoli, was kicked off the team after being found in possession of marijuana during a traffic citation. This may sound excessive, even though the rules change for scholar-athletes, as the idea of students and marijuana tend to go together (rightly or wrongly) like say, fish and chips. But this is not the entire story. Masoli, together with receiver Garrett Embry, was already on suspension after being charged with second degree burglary. This is a huge loss. Masoli was the driver of that offensive juggernaut run by the Ducks last season that steamrolled pretty much everyone until they ran into the brick wall that is Ohio State in their bowl game, and even then they made some plays against a stout defense. Oregon has been on the cusp of becoming a big time program lately, but they're not at the stage where they can overcome the loss of a star QB, even with 9 other starters back on offense. The current favorite to replace him is Nate Costa, who has a great arm but worse knees than Joe Namath, and mobility at QB is important in this offense.

The other team with player issues, although not as damaging, is Iowa. Jewel Hampton, a RB who was tipped for great things last season before getting injured without playing a snap, was arrested for public intoxication after police were called to a confrontation at a restaurant in which he and CB Jordan Bernstine were allegedly involved. As a minor, Hampton should not have even been present in a bar after 10PM in Iowa City. Coach Kirk Ferentz is currently investigating the matter himself and as yet, no action has been taken. However, should he be suspended, an important member of the RB rotation could miss time due to bad choices. Iowa is relatively deep at the running back position, buy as any coach will tell you, you can't enough backs. Hopefully all the young men involved in these misdeeds will learn and move on.

Conference Expansion

The biggest thing going on in college football is expansion/realignment of conferences. The Big 10 started the ball rolling when they expressed an interest in expanding. This got the rumor mills grinding and every college was being shipped off to every conference, the Big 12 was dead in the water and so on. So far three colleges have confirmed they are moving on – Nebraska to the Big 10; Colorado to the PAC 10 and Boise State to the Mountain West. Oklahoma is currently in talks with the PAC 10, and apparently the Southeastern Conference has entered the fray, expressing interest in Oklahoma and Texas.

So the question is, why does everybody suddenly want to leave the Big 12? Okay, to say everyone "wants" to go isn't entirely true – Nebraska wants to go. Believe it or not, there is more to colleges that athletics, there is the small matter of academics too, and in the FBS the Big 10 is top conference academically, followed by the PAC 10. Nebraska wants to increase its reputation for academic excellence. On the pitch, the conference and the 'huskers match up well – power running and big tough defences rule the roost. The Big 10 has been talking of expanding to 12 teams and having a championship game pretty much since Penn State made them the Big 11 back in '93. It was always assumed it would eventually be Notre Dame, but they're happy with their lot right now, and who can blame them? But with Nebraska gone from the Big 12, their North rival Missouri want to follow them. Geographically they're a great fit, and as long as they meet the required academic standards, they will probably follow. The Big 10 also wants to move East, with Rutgers and Pittsburgh looking likely targets. This leaves the conference at 14 teams, and still leaves room for Notre Dame.

Colorado has also confirmed their move to the PAC 10. Again, the PAC 10 has high academic standing, although Colorado has recently had a number of students placed under academic probation. But enough with that. The PAC 10 now has eleven teams and will take at least one more, with Oklahoma the current favorite. The university everyone wants though, is Texas. They have their pick of conferences, although they will more than likely follow Oklahoma. Texas wants recognition as a top academic university, so the SEC is probably out of luck. It is possible if Oklahoma and Texas become members of the PAC 1o, Oklahoma State and the other two Texases, A&M and Tech will follow.

Boise State has come on in leaps and bounds as a university, and this would be a good move at any other time. They will be competitive in the MWC, but if the Big 12 doesn't fold, it is likely they will absorb the current three powers of TCU, BYU and Utah as well as Colorado State. With these guys gone, the MWC will be a weak conference regardless of who (if any) takes their place.

So realignment is actually happening and the move towards sixteen-team conferences is looking increasingly likely. There is talk of four super-conferences, with everyone left out in the cold, and while this will potentially mean the odds of a playoff finally happening, is it really that good for college football? Only time will tell.


 

Thursday, June 10, 2010 2 comments

Offseason

Oh to be an American Football writer... So the offseason is in full swing in the American gridiron world (Arena football aside). And as with every offseason, the NFL and college can't stay out of the news. The NFL has the Steelers' scandals - in the midst of Big Ben's problems people seem to have overlooked Santonio Holmes's little indiscretions - but the FBS has completely stolen the limelight. But let's look at the NFL today.

  This Roethlisberger thing isn't going away any time soon. This guy isn't Troy Aikman or Jerry Rice or some such outstanding citizen of the NFL, he's a dumb kid who makes bad choices. So far all he's got is a six game ban with two games off for good behaviour. Assuming he doesn't end up behind bars, should more be done. Goodell seems satisfied wth his punishment, and I'm all for second chances, but what should the Steelers do? The Rooneys have great standing in football circles, and they dumped/traded Holmes pretty promptly. Now good QBs are harder to come by than good receivers, but is this the guy you want as the face of your program? One more transgression and he's out for at least a year. So what do you do if you're the Steelers? Here are your options:

  1. Cut him. Just like that. Get rid of him and let someone else sign him and worry about what bonehead thing he'll do next.
  2. Suspend him for a year without pay. Don't let him near the team during that time and if he screws up during that year - adios.
  3. Do nothing and hope he can keep both his helmet and his pants on (allegedly).

If it was me, I'd go with number 2. On the field he's an excellent player - great mobility in the pocket, hangs tough in the pocket and his teammates believe in him (maybe not now though). I know this means you've to go through a year with Byron Leftwich/Dennis Dixon, but so be it. If the o-line and defense play better than they did last season (which shouldn't be hard), you can win with a solid vet like Leftwich. Right now though, it looks like nothing's going to happen.

  Another issue at the moment is the NY Superbowl in 2014. People don't like the idea of watching a Superbowl in snowy weather. Why? What's wrong with cold weather games? Put on a sweater and wear a scarf. I can think of any number of reasons for having The Big Game there – it's a fine city, no issue with accommodation, and it's the media capital of the US and so on – and very few reasons not to have it there. It's not like the NFL is suddenly going to go on a rampage awarding games to cold- weather cities. If they do decide to hold a couple of games in these towns, so what? As long as the infrastructure can deal with both the weather and the added crowds, they should be eligible. Some of the most memorable games have been played in inclement weather – the Ice Bowl, the '58 championship and many more. When was the last time you heard of the Hot Bowl, or the Balmy Bowl?

The other issue that always arises this time of year is contracts and holdouts. This is a personal bugbear of mine. NFL contracts don't seem to be worth the paper they're written on. Guys holding out with two years left on their contracts or players who feel they've exceeded their rookie contracts (which they probably have). The minimum contract in the NFL right now is about 400-450K. Not exactly small potatoes and only the lowliest of special teamers are earning that "little". You may point out someone like Chris Johnson who had a banner year and should be paid a lot more, and maybe he should, but look at the situation with Barry Foster back in the '90s. Had a great year, held out, got his big contract and was out of the NFL a couple of years later. If you've two years left on your contract, prove you deserve the big bucks by maintaining production. I notice Peyton Manning or Tom Brady didn't hold out, although they're probably not the best examples. If one guy deserves to have his contract ripped up and a new one handed to him, it's Andre Johnson, and I notice he's not holding out (yet). I do have a solution, although I can't imagine it catching on. How about performance based contracts? Pay them for starts, wins, tackles, TDs or whatever. Put in injury protection clauses etc. That's for agents and GMs to work out. I don't mean one akin to Ricky William's famous contract when he was drafted, that was just stupid, but I think it has merit.