Offense: C+
Clearly the biggest question mark for this offense will be the wide receivers. They lost three to the NFL Draft in Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate, and Brooks Foster. The only experienced player entering this season will be Greg Little who is talented but still adjusting to the switch to receiver from running back. Talented young players Dwight Jones, Joshua Adams and Jheranie Boyd both figure to play major roles in the receiving corp this season and how fast they get up to speed will be a major part in how successful the passing game will be for the Heels in '09. Junior TE Zach Pianalto is poised for a breakout season as he figures to be a focal point for QB TJ Yates with the question marks at the WR position. Yates played well at the beginning of the year but struggled after returning from injury which had many people calling for coach Butch Davis to put senior Cameron Sexton, who had played serviceably in Yates absence, back in. While staying with the struggling Yates may have hurt the team last year, Davis should be rewarded this year as Yates will benefit from the confidence boost from his coach sticking to him. The line should be solid as they return the entire left side of the line and that will be key in blocking for a talented stable of running backs including the speedy Shaun Draughn(4.4 ypc) who carried most of the load in 2008, the 245 lb wrecking ball Ryan Houston(8 TDs), and the talented redshirt freshman Jamal Womble. That running game will be the key to the offense in 2009 as it will be huge in helping to open up the passing game.
Defense: A
This is going to be the best defense in the ACC next year and really has no glaring weaknesses. The Heels return 9 starters from 2008 and should be improved. The defensive line returns the entire two-deep and adds Rivals 5-star recruit Donte Moss to the fold so the pass rush should be excellent in '09. That's good news for the secondary that led the country in interceptions last year. Seven of those came from safety Tramaine Goddard whose eligibility has run out but Da'Norris Searcey should be serviceable as his replacement. The rest of the secondary remains intact for 2009 and should still be one of the best in the country led by All-ACC cornerback Kendric Burney. The linebacking corp should be better in 2009 despite the loss of Mike linebacker Mark Paschal. Tackling machine Quan Sturdivant moves inside to take over for Paschal. Taking over for Sturdivant will be sophomore Zach Brown who runs a sub 4.3 40 yard dash. At the other outside 'backer spot will be rock solid Bruce Carter who was a monster blocking kicks last year when he blocked 5, including 3 straight over a two game span.
Prediction:
Carolina enters 2009 thinking about a possible ACC title and the BCS bowl berth that goes with it. The Tar Heels should start the year off 3-0 in games against the Citadel, at rebuilding UConn, and in-state rival East Carolina before traveling to Atlanta to kick off their ACC schedule against Georgia Tech. Clearly the Heels biggest stretch this season will be late in October when UNC faces the favorites in the ACC's Atlantic and Coastal Divisions on consecutive Thursday nights. They start this stretch by hosting Bobby Bowden's FSU squad before traveling to Lane Stadium to face Virginia Tech in a matchup of the Coastal Division's top two teams. UNC's November schedule features two key games, at home against Miami and at rival NC State. Sandwiched between these two is a meeting in Boston with a BC squad that doesn't figure to be very good but will be looking to shatter Carolina's ACC title hopes in an obvious trap game. These three games are preceded by the annual meeting with their archrivals from Durham who should be improved in Year 2 under David Cutcliffe. UNC definitely has the ability to win the ACC but unfortunately for Tar Heel fans, I think that it's going to come down to a Thursday night road game at Virginia Tech and I think the homefield advantage will prove to be the difference in that game and in the Coastal Division. I'm going predict that there's another loss somewhere else in the schedule giving them a 10-2 regular season record and their first double digit win season in many years. Tar Heel fans can expect a New Years Day bowl game or Chick-fil-A bowl appearance.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
2009 ACC Football Outlook Team Previews: Clemson
Offense: B-
The Clemson offense in 2009 is only going to go as far as whoever wins the QB battle takes them. New coach Dabo Swinney is going to have to choose between Willy Korn and Kyle Parker. Both are extremely talented and capable of getting it done but experience has to be a question mark. Last year the offensive line struggled after having to replace 4 starters but should be vastly improved this season with the experience gained last year. Despite losing the school's all-time leading rusher in James Davis, running back should be the strongest position for the Tigers in 2009. Senior CJ Spiller received 14 votes for Preseason ACC Offensive POY for a reason. He might be the most electrifying player in not just the ACC, but the entire country. Joining him in the backfield will be ultra talented sophomore Jamie Harper who should improve upon his 3.9 ypc average from last year thanks to the improving offensive line. The receiving corp is extremely talented but suffers from a relative lack of experience. Senior Jacoby Ford figures to be the #1 receiver and while he may only be 5' 10" he is the fastest player in the ACC and possibly the country(he claims to run a sub 4.2 40 yard dash). Joining him is Rivals 4 star recruit Bryce McNeal and talented, yet inexperienced junior Xavier Dye. Senior Michael Palmer is a solid pass catching option at tight end.
Defense: A
The Tigers are going to be rock solid on all three levels of the defense. The defensive line loses 4th Round Draftee Dorell Scott but return seven defensive lineman with starting experience and add blue chipper Malliciah Goodman. In 2008, the Tigers linebacking corp was inexperienced and struggled at times as a result but this year they return the entire two-deep so improved play should be expected. Clemson loses their two starters at safety from 2008 but former starting safety DeAndre McDaniel returns after switching to linebacker due to lack of depth and redshirt freshman Spencer Adams should be solid in taking over the other starting spot. They return their top 4 corners and that should be very strong at the position.
Prediction:
Clemson figures to be under the radar this season nationally as well as in the ACC. The offense has a lot of potential as well as a lot of inexperience. With inexperience comes growing pains but their early schedule figures to be favorable enough that the defense and CJ Spiller will be able to carry the team until Willy Korn or Kyle Parker is up to speed. The Tigers should be 4-1 with a lone loss at Georgia Tech going into the BYE week although a home date with TCU on September 26th could be tricky. The second half of the schedule gets more difficult with key road games against Miami(Fl), NC State, and in-state rival South Carolina. They get two of the three teams that figure to be their chief competition in the Atlantic Division at home in Wake Forest and Florida State to go along with other second half home dates with FCS(formerly 1-AA)Coastal Carolina and Virginia. My prediction is that the Tigers finish the regular season with a 9-3 record and reach their first ACC Title game before falling to Virginia Tech. I'm also predicting a spot in either a New Years Day bowl game or the Chick-Fil-A bowl in Atlanta.
The Clemson offense in 2009 is only going to go as far as whoever wins the QB battle takes them. New coach Dabo Swinney is going to have to choose between Willy Korn and Kyle Parker. Both are extremely talented and capable of getting it done but experience has to be a question mark. Last year the offensive line struggled after having to replace 4 starters but should be vastly improved this season with the experience gained last year. Despite losing the school's all-time leading rusher in James Davis, running back should be the strongest position for the Tigers in 2009. Senior CJ Spiller received 14 votes for Preseason ACC Offensive POY for a reason. He might be the most electrifying player in not just the ACC, but the entire country. Joining him in the backfield will be ultra talented sophomore Jamie Harper who should improve upon his 3.9 ypc average from last year thanks to the improving offensive line. The receiving corp is extremely talented but suffers from a relative lack of experience. Senior Jacoby Ford figures to be the #1 receiver and while he may only be 5' 10" he is the fastest player in the ACC and possibly the country(he claims to run a sub 4.2 40 yard dash). Joining him is Rivals 4 star recruit Bryce McNeal and talented, yet inexperienced junior Xavier Dye. Senior Michael Palmer is a solid pass catching option at tight end.
Defense: A
The Tigers are going to be rock solid on all three levels of the defense. The defensive line loses 4th Round Draftee Dorell Scott but return seven defensive lineman with starting experience and add blue chipper Malliciah Goodman. In 2008, the Tigers linebacking corp was inexperienced and struggled at times as a result but this year they return the entire two-deep so improved play should be expected. Clemson loses their two starters at safety from 2008 but former starting safety DeAndre McDaniel returns after switching to linebacker due to lack of depth and redshirt freshman Spencer Adams should be solid in taking over the other starting spot. They return their top 4 corners and that should be very strong at the position.
Prediction:
Clemson figures to be under the radar this season nationally as well as in the ACC. The offense has a lot of potential as well as a lot of inexperience. With inexperience comes growing pains but their early schedule figures to be favorable enough that the defense and CJ Spiller will be able to carry the team until Willy Korn or Kyle Parker is up to speed. The Tigers should be 4-1 with a lone loss at Georgia Tech going into the BYE week although a home date with TCU on September 26th could be tricky. The second half of the schedule gets more difficult with key road games against Miami(Fl), NC State, and in-state rival South Carolina. They get two of the three teams that figure to be their chief competition in the Atlantic Division at home in Wake Forest and Florida State to go along with other second half home dates with FCS(formerly 1-AA)Coastal Carolina and Virginia. My prediction is that the Tigers finish the regular season with a 9-3 record and reach their first ACC Title game before falling to Virginia Tech. I'm also predicting a spot in either a New Years Day bowl game or the Chick-Fil-A bowl in Atlanta.
2009 ACC Football Outlook Team Previews: Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech-
Offense: C+
They are set at quarterback with junior Tyrod Taylor who is a true dual threat with the ability to beat defenses with his arm and his legs. Joining Taylor in the backfield is stud running back Darren Evans who is coming off an impressive year as a freshman in which he ran for a school record 253 yards against Maryland. They have a veteran offensive line and a solid group of receivers highlighted by TE Greg Boone who also takes snaps at QB in the "Wild Turkey" formation.
Defense: A-
Despite losing 2nd Team All-ACC DE Orion Martin, Tech's D-Line should still be stout and should have plenty of depth. They lose their top two inside linebackers but Cody Grimm who was the teams third leading tackler to go along with 7.5 sacks despite starting only one game last year. He along with Barquell Rivers, whose lone start last year was in the Orange Bowl, should help anchor a solid linebacking corp which is more experienced than last year and should be improved. The secondary should be the strength of the defense with 7 of their top 8 defensive backs returning although they'll have to replace star corner Victor "Macho" Harris.
Prediction:
Virginia Tech should be strong on both sides of the ball and isn't particularly weak at any position. Their in-conference schedule sets up nicely as they avoid Clemson, Florida State, and Wake Forest who figure to be the top three contenders in the Atlantic Division. They also get two of their top three opponents in their own Coastal Division at home in North Carolina(who they also get after a BYE)and Miami(Fl). They do have to travel to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech in what looks to be their only tough ACC road game. They also start the season off in Atlanta in the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff against Alabama. They get Alabama at the perfect time because it'll be the first time starting for Greg McElroy at QB for the Tide along with 4 new starters along the offensive line. This will be the win that keeps on giving because 'Bama will end up being very good at the end of the year which will make this win look a lot better than it actually will be. They also have another quality nonconference opponent in Nebraska who Tech is lucky to get at home. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that Virginia Tech will finish 12-0 in the regular season and add a 13th with a win over Clemson in the ACC title game. I'm going to predict that they will make it to the BCS National Championship despite probably being somewhere between the 3rd and 7th best team in the country next year because of their favorable schedule. I don't think that the season will end up happily for Hokie fans, however, because I'm going to predict that they will lose to Texas in the in championship game.
Offense: C+
They are set at quarterback with junior Tyrod Taylor who is a true dual threat with the ability to beat defenses with his arm and his legs. Joining Taylor in the backfield is stud running back Darren Evans who is coming off an impressive year as a freshman in which he ran for a school record 253 yards against Maryland. They have a veteran offensive line and a solid group of receivers highlighted by TE Greg Boone who also takes snaps at QB in the "Wild Turkey" formation.
Defense: A-
Despite losing 2nd Team All-ACC DE Orion Martin, Tech's D-Line should still be stout and should have plenty of depth. They lose their top two inside linebackers but Cody Grimm who was the teams third leading tackler to go along with 7.5 sacks despite starting only one game last year. He along with Barquell Rivers, whose lone start last year was in the Orange Bowl, should help anchor a solid linebacking corp which is more experienced than last year and should be improved. The secondary should be the strength of the defense with 7 of their top 8 defensive backs returning although they'll have to replace star corner Victor "Macho" Harris.
Prediction:
Virginia Tech should be strong on both sides of the ball and isn't particularly weak at any position. Their in-conference schedule sets up nicely as they avoid Clemson, Florida State, and Wake Forest who figure to be the top three contenders in the Atlantic Division. They also get two of their top three opponents in their own Coastal Division at home in North Carolina(who they also get after a BYE)and Miami(Fl). They do have to travel to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech in what looks to be their only tough ACC road game. They also start the season off in Atlanta in the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff against Alabama. They get Alabama at the perfect time because it'll be the first time starting for Greg McElroy at QB for the Tide along with 4 new starters along the offensive line. This will be the win that keeps on giving because 'Bama will end up being very good at the end of the year which will make this win look a lot better than it actually will be. They also have another quality nonconference opponent in Nebraska who Tech is lucky to get at home. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that Virginia Tech will finish 12-0 in the regular season and add a 13th with a win over Clemson in the ACC title game. I'm going to predict that they will make it to the BCS National Championship despite probably being somewhere between the 3rd and 7th best team in the country next year because of their favorable schedule. I don't think that the season will end up happily for Hokie fans, however, because I'm going to predict that they will lose to Texas in the in championship game.
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