ACC Preview

By Lena Blietz 

1. Clemson

With a big start to the season, the eighth ranked Tigers must start off strong against the Georgia Bulldogs this Saturday.  With an eleven win season (and the most wins since their 1982 national championship winning team) behind them, Dabo Swinny heads into his sixth season with the Tigers lead by Heisman hopeful and Senior quarterback Tajh Boyd. On offense, Clemson is banking on Boyd’s health this season (he was sacked 31 times in 2012) and Sammy Watkins’ continued success. Regardless of the losses of Andre Ellington and DeAndre Hopkins, the Tigers have a solid depth chart on the offense. However, the defense is not so set.  The strong line will have to make up for the lack of secondary players under the DC Brent Venables second season with the Tigers. Don’t miss the Tigers take on the Seminoles on 8/19 and in-state rival USC on 11/30.

2. Florida State

The 2013 ACC champions are definitely bloodthirsty for a repeat conference title as they start the season with the rare Tuesday night game at Pittsburgh. Look out for the battle of the red-shirt quarterbacks between Jameis Winston (the fan favorite) and Jacob Coker (the sleeper pick with rumors of transferring).  Although the nation is ready to hop on the Jameis Winston train, FSU only named him the starter for game one last Monday. While the youth of this ‘Noles team could prove to be a problem, look at running backs Devonta Freeman and James Wilder Jr. for success on the offense.

3. Miami 

Absent from the preseason poll, Miami looks to go against the odds and fight for the conference championship with its experienced players. However, the coaching staff is full of new faces as Al Golden starts his third season with the ‘Canes with new coaches at OC, WR, TE and RB.  The U looks to balance its offence vs. defense ratio mainly by creating a working defense.  The unintimidating and unimpressive defense mostly returns this year with hopefully more experience, power and motivation. Yet, the offense brings a sigh of relief as QB Stephen Morris returns with his partner-in-crime, Duke Johnson.  This year’s rivalry game against the tenth ranked Gators falls early in the season on 8/17 and then the ‘Canes have a few weeks before taking on the less important (but actually still very important) other in-state rival Florida State on 11/2. 

4. North Carolina 

Coming off an 8-4 season under Larry Fedora’s inaugural year last season, UNC has its sights on the Coastal Division title this fall.  The Tar Heels are hitting the turf missing three very key players this season without powerhouse RB Giovani Bernard and defensemen Kevin Reddick and Sylvester Williams. This leaves both sides in a similar position in terms of strength/weakness, depending on if your see the glass half-full or half-empty. With the offensive line needing work to protect returning QB Bryn Renner, the Heels look to match last year’s record and attend a bowl game in 2013. Rather than big games, look towards the first half of the schedule which includes USC, GT, VT and Miami.

5. Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets head into a hopeful season with a new DC in Paul Johnson’s second season. Their biggest weakness heading into this season is Tech’s lack of recruiting. This is a frustrating weakness considering it shows lack of preparation and sets the bar low before the season even kicks off. However, the team looks strong on the offense,  as the running back position is loaded to Johnson’s liking and returning QB Tevin Washington should have a fire lit under him this season after being out played by back-up (and possible breakout/replacement) Vad Lee. While the defense is just missing on returning player, look for (hopefully) big things from DC Ted Roof who comes to the Yellow Jackets from Penn State after just one season with the Nittany Lions in their four-year ban on postseason play.

6. Virginia Tech

The Hokies have the unfortunate task of task of facing the Crimson Tide this Saturday. So, there’s your key game. No, but really the Georgia Tech/Virginia Tech rivalry on 9/26 is the Virginia Tech game to catch. With essentially two players with any field time, the WR position is…. Weak. This puts a lot of pressure on the defense, and thankfully, they’re great. DC Bud Foster returns along with a solid line (seven returning lineman each had 10+ tackles in 2012). However, his secondary depth will be in serious danger if any injuries occur to pretty much anyone.

7. Maryland

Looking to prove their strength this season before jetting to the Big 10, the young team has a lot to make up after 2012’s 4-8 season of injuries. After a season with a true-freshman linebacker as the starting quarterback, things can really only go up in College Park. Back from his benched 2012 season due to a torn ACL, look for QB C.J Brown, aided by Stefon Diggs on the offense. That is, if the offensive line can step up their game (dramatically) this season. Say farewell to this ACC team during its make or break game of the season at Florida State on 10/5.

8. Wake Forest

Although the Demon Deacons’ schedule doesn’t heat up until the 9/28 game at Clemson, they need to get in the early wins against Presbyterian, BC, ULM and Army if there is any hope for the rest of the season. Weak on their running game, the young and inexperienced Wake offense is returning to the option with senior quarterback Tanner Price. However, on the defense, injured players return to (what should be) a pretty successful line.

9. Pittsburgh

For Pitt’s inaugural year in the ACC, Paul Chryst enters his second season with the Panthers. Double transfer (Rutgers to Arizona to Pittsburgh) Tom Savage looks to lead the team at QB in his final year of eligibility, but he has some competition in that field with Tino Sunseri returning and redshirt freshman Chad Voytik also vying for the job. With continued trouble with solely Devin Street to look to at WR and the top two RBs gone, the offense has its work cut out. Hopefully the defense can make up for it with almost a complete line of returning starters and a deep secondary.

10. Syracuse

After four seasons at DC, new head coach Scott Shafer is bringing a series of changes to the Orange with a new OC, DC and a possible dual-quarterback situation. Although Shafer is adamant about avoiding multiple QBs, Syracuse has yet to name Drew Allen nor Terrel Hunt the starter. However, help from returning powerhouse running backs Jerome Smith and Prince-Tyson Gulley should lesson the blow of the quarterback question. Syracuse has a lot of changes (again glass half-full or half-empty) to reveal this Saturday against Penn State.

11. Duke

Coming off their first bowl game appearance in 40 years last winter, the Blue Devils are continuing to improve more each season under David Cutcliffe. Returning QB Anthony Boone will be handing off to their secret weapon running backs, Juwan Thompson, Josh Snead and Jela Duncan, after losing standout Conner Vernon at receiver.  Experience is needed over on the defense as the shallow depth chart is filled with young newbies and players returning from injury.  As Duke fans begin remembering they have a football team, they face their toughest game at home against Miami on 11/16.

12. N.C. State

“Mediocrity,” is the popular word around the blogosphere for describing the Wolfpack this season.  Former head coach Tom O’Brien is credited with allowing the team to rest in such an unmotivated and ordinary state. This season, new head coach Dave Doeren has returning QB Mike Glonnon along with two transfers (Brandon Mitchell from Arkansas and Pete Thomas from Colorado) to bring new blood to the turf. But the real offensive power (under new OC Matt Canada) lies within the wide receivers with Quintin Payton, Bryan Underwood and Rashard Smith. The line remains…average… so without great improvement, not too much can be expected.

13. Virginia

So, for some reason the Cavaliers thought playing Oregon during week 2 at home would be a good idea. Technically, yes that is their toughest game, but a game to catch if you’re a Cavs football fan (surely those exist, right?) is in-state rival Virginia Tech in Charlottesville on 11/30.  The ‘Hoos went 3-9 last season, but with a lot of new young talent (combined with such a bad record) things can pretty much only go up. Redshirt freshman Grayson Lambert and sophomore David Watford will be competing for the job at QB, hoping for a clean slate after the Michael Rocco and Phillip Sims catastrophes last season.  Plus, as is typical in the ACC this season, they have two amazing running backs. Darius Jennings and Dominique Terrell should be the stars of the show in 2013 for the ‘Hoos.

14. Boston College

Just enough time has passed since Boston College’s 2004 Big East conference title (or even their 2007 and 2008 ACC Atlantic division titles) for the team to fall into football obscurity. After a 2-10 season last year, not many eyes are on the Eagles, and that is exactly what new head coach Steve Addazio hopes to change (with an entire new coaching staff). Addazio brings new OC Ryan Day with him from Temple and together they have made the running game a main focus, although their potential offensive star power lies with wide receivers Alex Amidon and Spiffy Evans. New DC Don Brown is in luck this season with linebackers Steele Divitto and Kevin Pierrre-Louis, but the pass-rush has no option but to improve this season. And, every game is a big game for this team (yes, including Villanova and New Mexico) but BC at USC on 9/14 could be interesting.