Know Your Enemies 10 (Atlantic) Wake Forest

Wake Forest Preview

Wake Forest, like many other ACC teams fielded a weak offensive attack in 2008. They finished 101^st in the nation in total yards with just 308 per game.

Despite the presence of steady QB Riley Skinner and the return of 2007 freshman standout RB Josh Adams, the Deacons 2008 offense showed some disturbing negative trends in 2008.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Deacons’ offensive yards per carry decreased (down to 3.1 ypc) while for the 5^th year in the last 6, their rushing yards per game decreased (down to 121 per game). For the third straight year, Wake Forest gave up more sacks than the year before, surrendering 30 in 2008.

Wake Forest wins games by running the ball and winning the turnover battle. When they are unable to do one or both, they struggle big time. In five losses last season (to Navy, Maryland, Miami, NCSU, and BC), the Deacs averaged just 94 yards per game on the ground (2.68 yards per carry) and had a -2 turnover margin. In their 8 wins, the Deacs averaged 138 per game on the ground (3.24 ypc) and had an impressive +19 turnover margin.

So will Wake Forest be able to run the ball—and protect the ball—to produce a solid offensive season in 2009?

Although they lost leading receiver DJ Boldin, it looks like the 2009 offense should wake up some sleeping Deacons in the black and gold pews of BB & T Field. Wake Forest returns an All-ACC game manager at QB in Riley Skinner, three capable ACC running backs in Josh Adams, Brandon Pendergrass, and Kevin Harris, and some talent at wide receiver.

Most importantly though, they return tons of experience on the offensive line. 4 of 5 starters return, and 9 of 10 players from last year’s two deep are back. Additionally, 2006 and 2007 full-time starter Chris DeGeare returns after missing last fall for academic reasons. All in all, the 2009 Wake offensive front has 119 returning starts, good for 2^nd in the nation.

After some hard times out of the shotgun last fall, it appears the Deacs will feature a lot more I-formation and pro sets this year. If Skinner stays healthy and the running game can improve, this offense will improve by 25 to 30 yards per game in 2009, finishing somewhere around 80^th in the nation in total yards.

QB- Riley Skinner (2347 yards passing, 13 TD 7 INT, 63.9% completion; 126.2 rating)

If you listen to football commentators do a Wake game, you might think that Riley Skinner is the 2^nd coming of Joe Montana. In reality, he’s more like the second coming of unspectacular, former Baltimore Ravens’ QB Trent Dilfer. He won’t blow you away with his arm, and he won’t torch you for 300 yards (ever…in 3 years and 37 starts), but he’ll complete passes, protect the ball, and win games. In 2008, Skinner had his lowest career pass efficiency rating (126.19), his lowest yards per attempt (6.47), and his lowest completion percentage (63.9%). In Wake Forest losses, he had just 3 TD and 7 INT, good for a 91.65 rating. What does that tell us? When Wake cannot run the ball and defenses can cram the line of scrimmage, Skinner struggles with the dinks and dumps of the offense. If the offensive line improves markedly, Skinner will have a solid senior season to remember. If not, he will have another mediocre season like he had in 2008.

RB- Josh Adams (392 rush yards, 3.3 ypc, 4 TD; 86 receiving yards)

Adams had a spectacular freshman campaign that included an unbelievable 140 yard effort at Florida State and an ACC-freshman of the year award. Unfortunately, he was entirely unable to build on that stupendous start last fall. In 2008, Josh Adams had one of the bigger sophomore slumps in recent ACC memory, finishing with 600 less rushing yards than he did as a freshman. Other than a 111 yard effort against Miami, he struggled to produce much of anything on the ground. In the last six games, he sat out two with injuries and in the other four, rushed for a total of 35 yards on 19 carries. (Stick a football in 2^nd US President John Adams hands, and he would have rushed for 35 yards just walking to the podium of the Constitutional Convention to give a speech.) This fall, the 180 lb Adams will have to contend with Kevin Harris and Brandon Pendergrass for carries, so it’s unlikely he’ll even approach the 1,000 yard mark.

RB- Brandon Pendergrass (528 yards, 3.5 ypc, 5 TD; 125 yards receiving)

Pendergrass is not the type of back who’s going to run you over in between the tackles. He was terrible at the beginning of 2008, but he finished the season as the Deacons best runner and pass-catcher out of the backfield. In the final four games of the regular season, he averaged 73 yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry. After that performance, it seems he’d be the leading candidate to start in 2009, but he missed the Eaglebank Bowl with injury, and in the Eaglebank Bowl…

RB- Kevin Harris (176 yards, 5.3 ypc, TD)

230 lb dump truck tailback Kevin Harris overwhelmed the Navy Midshipmen for 136 yards on 24 carries. He showed power in the hole, and speed enough to break some big plays. Coming into the game, he had just 9 carries on the season. Now it’s safe to say that Harris will be one of three Deacon backs to share the load in 2009.

WR- Marshall Williams (390 yards, 15.0 ypc, 2 TD)

Marshall, Marshall, Marshall! Williams is a speedy wideout who made some enormous plays for Wake in 2008, including a 64 yard-flea-flicker TD from DJ Boldin and a TD to give Wake a 20-14 lead over Ole Miss.

WR- Jordan Williams (9 catches 141 yards in 2007)

Williams is another fast wideout who missed 2008 due to injuries. His final two catches of 2007 went for 43 and 62 yards, respectively, so you know he can punish you with the big play.

WR- Devon Brown (134 yards, TD)

Unlike the Williams boys, Brown is small at 5’9 and quicker. He was first team all-State as a senior in high school after piling up 29 touchdowns that year. Look for him to make an impact on wide receiver screens and in the short passing game.

Also look out for:

WR- Terrance Davis (redshirt freshman; 2 star recruit in class of 2008)

WR- Chris Givens (redshirt freshman)

TE- Ben Wooster (211 yards, 3 TD)

Wooster can punish defenses (6 catches 90 yards vs. Baylor) in the passing game as a possession receiver, but mostly he helps to pave the way for the ground attack.

Offensive Line

Chris DeGeare (T), Joe Birdsong (T), Barrett McMillin (G), Jeff Griffin (G), Russell Nenon (C )

All five starters are upperclassmen with size and experience, so it would be a major disappointment if this offensive line struggles as much as last year’s.

Defense

The Deacs had an excellent defense in 2008, finishing 16^th in the nation in total yardage allowed (296 per game). They led the nation in turnovers forced with a whopping 37.

However, Wake Forest loses more talent from the 2008 starting lineup that almost any team in the ACC. At linebacker, they lose top 5 pick Aaron Curry who racked up 105 tackles and 16 TFL last fall, as well as Stanley Arnoux (89 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, INT) and Chantz McClinic (51 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks).

In the secondary, they lose all-time ACC interceptions leader Alphonso Smith and steady seniors Chip Vaughn (87 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 INT) and Kevin Patterson (54 tackles, TFL, 4 INT).

Nonetheless, they return a lot of talent and experience on the defensive line. Boo Williams and John Russell will make it hard for opponents to run the football, while Brandon Ghee could develop into a shut down corner in the secondary.

I think this Wake Forest defense will drop off significantly from 2008, especially in pass defense—and they will be ranked around 50^th in the nation in total defense this fall.

DE- Kyle Wilber (42 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3 sacks)

Wilber is small at just 230 lb, but that didn’t keep him from crashing into ACC backfields all season in 2008. Look for Wilber to become one of the best young defensive linemen in the ACC this year.

DE- Tristan Dorty (5 tackles, TFL)

Dorty is also relatively small at just 250 lb. He didn’t see a lot of time in 2008.

DT- John Russell (38 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 sacks)

Russell, who was a teammate of Riley Skinner’s in high school, had an excellent season in 2008. He’s big (6’4 280 lb) enough to hold up against the run, but his pass rushing skills are also solid.

DT- Boo Robinson (46 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, INT)

Boo Robinson has been scaring offensive linemen for three years now with his power and strength. He has 11.5 career sacks in 3 seasons, an extremely impressive number for a defensive tackle. He sat out the spring with back problems, but he should make a run at All-ACC 2^nd team this fall.

LB- Hunter Haynes (24 tackles, .5 TFL, .5 sacks)

Haynes didn’t see a lot of time in 2008, since he was playing behind some fellow named Aaron Curry, but when he did, he played well. He finished with 4 tackles against SEC powerhouse Ole Miss in Wake’s 2^nd game last fall.

LB- Matt Woodlief (22 tackles, .5 TFL)

Matt Woodlief is built like a bowling ball. He stands just 5’11 but he weighs more (255 lb) than either of Wake Forest’s starting defensive ends. Woodlief saw some backup time to Arnoux last fall, but I expect him to be a liability in pass coverage this year.

LB- Jonathan Jones (6 tackles, TFL)

Jones didn’t see much time last year except for Special teams. He played well against Maryland, collecting 6 tackles and a TFL in that game.

CB- Brandon Ghee (35 tackles, 3.5 TFL, sack, INT)

Ghee suffered a sprained knee in spring practice, and he absolutely must be healthy in 2009 for the Wake secondary to be effective. Ghee is strong in coverage, but his greatest strength might be forcing fumbles—he finished second in the ACC with 4 of them in 2008.

CB- Josh Bush (17 tackles, TFL)

Bush got a lot of reps in this spring after the injury to Brandon Ghee.

CB- Kenny Okoro

Okoro played really well this spring after the injury to Ghee. He will likely split time at the 2^nd corner position with Josh Bush.

S- Cyhl Quarles (5 tackles)

Quarles didn’t see much time in 2008 because he was backing up two of the ACC’s best safeties in Chip Vaughn and Kevin Patterson. Quarles has good size at 6’3 205 lb.

S- Alex Frye (13 tackles, INT)

Alex Frye started the opener in 2008, but didn’t see much time after that.

Know Your Enemies 9 (Atlantic)- Boston College

Boston College Preview

In 2008, Boston College had an inconsistent, mediocre running game and an erratic, turnover prone quarterback. In other words, they were your typical, frustratingly uninteresting 94^th ranked ACC offense.

At this point in the summer though, it doesn’t look like the Eagles will be flying higher (no lie) on offense in 2009.

First of all, they will be breaking in a new QB in Dave Shinskie. And by breaking in, I don’t mean—breaking in like you would do with a new pair of tennis shoes, fresh out of the Foot Locker box. I mean—finding an old pair of Chuck Taylor Converse All-Stars behind the wood tennis rackets in your garage, dusting them off, clearing out the spider webs, leaving them out to dry, and then squeezing your feet back into them.

Shinskie has not thrown a pass in a football game in 6 years, so the transition to facing feisty ACC defenses could be filled with bumps and blisters for Boston College. (New offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill calls this the most inexperienced QB group he’s had in 46 years of coaching).

Fortunately for the Eagles, the minor league pitcher turned QB will have a lot of experienced receivers to throw strikes to. Rich Gunnell, Justin Jarvis, Clarence Megwa, and Ifeanyi Momah all have made some big plays for the Eagles at wide receiver. At tight end, Lars Anderson should be another serviceable pass-catcher for the new pitcher in town.

Why else won’t the Eagles offense fly high in 2009?

Because sophomore tailbacks Montel Harris and Josh Haden—whose 106.0 yards per game on the ground in 2008 ranked them 2^nd in the nation among true freshman RB duos—should be the most dangerous threats on the offense. They’ll be pounding the turf behind an offensive line that returns 4 starters—including 2^nd team all-ACC tackle Anthony Costanzo.

Experience on the offensive line is a good predictor of success, so if big boys up front play well and Shinskie can deliver like a Penske, BC might get enough Winskis to match the accomplishments of Jeff Jagodzinski.  Take that, Walt Whitman.

Realistically, I think this offense will finish about 90^th or so in the country. The run game will be strong, but the lack of an aerial threat will keep defenses in the box.

Even if BC wins an ACC title and has an amazing offense, will anyone in Boston care? Probably not.  How on Earth can Dave Shinskie compete with Tom Brady, David Ortiz, and Kevin Garnett?

How little do Bostonians care about BC football? They won’t even let Eagles fans tailgate after night home games. Why? Because celebrating fans might wake up the neighbors.

QB- Dave Shinskie (3 star prospect, class of 2003; rated as the #37 pro-style QB in that class by Rivals.com)

After Spring Practice, BC quarterback Dominique Davis decided to transfer from the university, leaving a gaping hole for the Eagles at the most important position on the field. Coach Frank Spaziani, unimpressed with the spring performances of QB contenders Codi Boek and Justin Tuggle, discovered Dave Shinskie, a former double-A minor league baseball player, in June. Shinskie is a talented prospect, no question. Coming out of high school, he was a 4^th round pick of the Minnesota Twins and he received offers to play QB at Iowa, Indiana, and other FBS schools. The problem? That was six years ago. Since then, Shinskie has thrown as many collegiate passes as Brent Musburger. At 25 years old, Shinskie will be a steady presence at the position for the Eagles, and his high school coach insists that Shinskie is “a steal” in the “streamline” physical condition expected of a collegiate athlete.  In my opinion though, Shinskie has a low ceiling. At best, he will be the second coming of Chris Crane—as tall and athletic as he is inexperienced and inconsistent. If he can just keep from turning the ball over (unlike Crane), Shinskie will be a solid pickup for Spaziani and the Eagles.

QB- Justin Tuggle (3 star QB, Class of 2008)

Tuggle struggled in the Spring, finishing the Spring Game 1-4 with just 17 yards.

QB- Codi Boek (backup fullback in 2008)

Boek went 7-9 for 128 yards and 2 TD in the Spring Game, but apparently still did not impress Coach Spaziani—who signed Shinskie just 6 weeks later.

RB- Harris (900 yards, 5 TD, 5.0 ypc; 160 yards receiving, TD)

Coming out of high school, Harris didn’t exactly wow scouts with his size or strength; he was a 2-star prospect in the class of 2008 whose only other major offers were from Duke and Ball State. Last fall though, he proved to be one of the toughest, most productive freshman running backs in the country. He finished with 5 100 yard performances, including 121 yards in Tallahassee against one of the toughest run defenses in the nation. Behind an experienced offensive line, Harris should hit the 1,000 yard mark this fall.

RB- Haden (479, TD, 4.0 ypc)

Haden received a lot more recruiting hype than Harris, but he was less powerful and productive as a runner last fall. He had some strong showings (77 yards @ Wake Forest, 71 yards and a TD vs. Clemson)last fall, but will probably still be the #2 tailback this fall. Haden has pretty solid receiving skills, so I expect him to have 200-300 yards through the air this year.

WR- Gunnell  (551 yards, 4 TD; 931 yards and 7 TD in 2007)

Gunnell started the 2008 campaign off very slowly, with just 37 receiving yards over his first four games. However, he picked his game up for the rest of the season, averaging 51 yards per outing, including a 123 yard performance at NCSU and a 114 yard game against VT in the ACC Championship. Gunnell has seen it all in 3 seasons with the Eagles, but unless Shinskie develops into a solid ACC quarterback, he will struggle to put up 700 yards this fall as the Eagles #1 wideout.

If everyone covered Gunnell like this, he’d be ACC player of the year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12lk87HcY5U

WR- Justin Jarvis (274 yards, 3 TD)

Jarvis brings a ton of experience to the WR position. He hasn’t exactly lit up scoreboards in his three years at BC (5 career TD), but he’s seen a lot of snaps, and like Momah, he is tall (6’5”) and a major threat in the land of plenty.

WR- Ifeanyi Momah (149 yards, 3 TD)

Momah had just 149 yards, but 3 of his 11 catches were red zone TDs. At 6’6” 225 lbs., Momah makes for a massive target down close to the goal-line. If only the Eagles could get there more often…

WR- Clarence Megwa (66 yards, 0 TD)

Megwa had 353 yards and 2 TD in 2007, but his production decreased big time in 2008. He suffered an ugly leg injury against Clemson, and might not be ready for the start of the 2009 season.

*Other WRS who could see time: WR-Colin Larmond Jr. (5 catches in 2008; 55 yard TD in the Music City Bowl loss to Vandy); WR- Clyde Lee (4 catches 72 yards, TD in Spring Game)

TE- Lars Anderson (9 catches 84 yards)

Anderson played in all 14 BC games last fall as a backup to 2^nd team all-ACC TE Ryan Purvis.

*Other TEs: TE Chris Pantale (5 catches 45 yards in Spring Game)

Offensive Line

Anthony Costanzo (T) Rich Lapham(T) Nick Rossi (G) Thomas Claiborne (G) Matt Tennant (C )

This is a giant line—at tackle, Costanzo is 6’7 and Lapham is 6’8—with giant experience. The only starter gone from last year is First-team All-ACC guard Cliff Ramsey. Tennant and Costanzo will both contend for All-ACC honors. Like many other ACC teams, BC struggles to win games without success on the ground, so these guys must improve for BC to separate from the pack in the ACC Atlantic Division.

Defense

BC had an exceptional defense in 2008. They tied with Florida for most interceptions (26) and finished the year with the 5^th best defense in the nation, surrendering just 268 yards per game.

However, D-coordinator Bill McGovern will not field a defense anywhere near that good in 2009.

The Eagles might lose more talent in the front-7 than any team in the country. At defensive tackle, they lose two All-ACC performers in 1^st round pick BJ Raji and 2^nd round selection Ron Brace. Those two hosses combined for 24 TFL and 10 sacks last year. No matter who steps in to replace them, they will not be able to equal that kind of production.

At middle linebacker, last year’s ACC defensive player of the year Mark Herzlich was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and will likely never play football again. Herzlich led the nation in interceptions for a linebacker with 6; his 110 tackles, 11 TFL, and immeasurable leadership skills will also be sorely missed. Mike McLaughlin, who finished 2^nd on the Eagles in tackles last year with 89 (and 10.5 TFL), ruptured his Achilles tendon during spring conditioning. It’s uncertain whether he will return this year. At the third linebacker spot, starter Robert Francois graduated after piling up 82 tackles and 7 TFL in 2008.

Fortunately, the Eagles will still have an excellent secondary. They lose safety Paul Anderson (43 tackles, 6 INT), but they return the other three starters, all of whom have proved themselves as strong ACC defensive backs.

The secondary must deliver lots of turnovers again for this defense to be good in 2009. Without last year’s pass rush, we’ll find out quickly how well these defensive backs can really cover.

This could be a top 40 defense, but with all the talent lost down the middle of the lineup, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Eagles drop 60 spots to 65^th—or worse—in total defense this fall.

Defensive Line

DE- Jim Ramella (35 tackles, 6 TFL, 4 sacks)

Ramella is probably the best defensive lineman on the team. He showed his potential with 3 TFL, a sack, and a forced fumble in the ACC Championship game. He will face a lot more double teams this year after the departures of Brace and Raji.

DE- Alex Albright (2007- 38 tackles, 10 TFL)

Albright was a force at Defensive End for the Eagles in 2007 before missing most of last year with injury issues. He could struggle to put up big numbers again like he did in 2007 because he will be facing a lot more double teams. Not only did Brace and Raji live in offensive backfields, they also freed up defensive ends—like Albright—to make plays against single teams.

DT- Damik Scafe (13 tackles, TFL)

Scafe is unproven. He didn’t see a lot of playing time in 2008 for obvious reasons. I’m not sure Warren Sapp would have seen a lot of PT with Brace and Raji on the same roster.

DT- Kaleb Ramsey (6 tackles, TFL)

Ramsey is small for a DT at just 256 pounds. Expect opponents to run right at him until he proves that he has the strength to shed blocks and disrupt plays.

Linebacker

LB- Will Thompson (12 tackles)

Thompson has very little experience.

LB- Dominick LeGrande (9 tackles)

Domenick LeGrande spent part of 2008 in the secondary, so he could be another Eagles weapon on pass defense. However, he’s just 200 lbs, and I expect teams to take advantage of that by running right at him.

LB- Darius Bagan (0 tackles) or LB- Mike Morrissey (3 tackles)

Morrissey is just 210 lbs. If he and LeGrande are in the lineup, BC will have the smallest group of linebackers in the ACC. Uh oh.

Secondary

CB- DeLeon Gause (22 tackles, INT)

Gause started the first 10 games of the season for BC before injuring his ankle. He was a major contributor to BC’s 7^th ranked pass efficiency defense.

CB- Roderick Rollins (43 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT)

Rollins is the best cornerback on the roster. He showed off his talents in a 7 tackle, sack performance against VT in the ACC title game.

CB- Donnie Fletcher (36 tackles, .5 TFL, 3 INT)

Fletcher saw an increase in playing time after the ankle injury to Gause, and he took advantage of it, earning the starting job over Gause this spring.

S- Marcellus Bowman (31 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 3 INT)

Bowman saw time at both safety positions last fall, which could come in handy in case of injury. Against FSU, he had 4 tackles, a sack, and an INT return for TD. He could produce Paul Anderson-esque numbers this fall.

S- Wes Davis (60 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 INT)

Davis started alongside last year’s team INT leader Paul Anderson. Davis has shown effective run support and pass defending skills.

Know Your Enemies 8 (Atlantic)- Clemson

Clemson Preview

On August 30, 2008, Clemson prowled into the Georgia Dome with a shiny, number 9 preseason ranking and all sorts of hype and attention.

At QB, Clemson had ACC Preseason Player of the Year Cullen Harper and at RB they had “Thunder” (James Davis) and “Lightning” (CJ Spiller). On the outside, 1,000 yard receiver Aaron Kelly teamed with dependable Tyler Grisham (653 yards) and world class speedster Jacoby Ford to form (supposedly) one of the best units in the country.

As the opening kickoff sailed through the air, everything was just peachy for Clemson in the Georgia Dome. After all, it appeared to casual fans and experts alike that (finally) 2008 could be Clemson’s year to dominate the ACC and reach a BCS bowl.

Unfortunately for Clemson, the Crimson Tide quickly swept away any aura of Tiger invincibility with a dominating 34-10 victory that exposed the weaknesses that have kept—and could continue to keep—-Clemson’s streak of non-BCS bowls alive.

Facing a powerful Alabama front 7, Clemson’s vaunted offensive backfield finished with a whopping 0 yards on 14 carries. Tony the Tiger finished with just as many rushing yards as the Clemson Tigers—-and he was on the Frosted Flakes box in my pantry for the whole game.

In 2008, Clemson finished 87^th in the nation in total offense with a yawn-inducing 329 yards per game. Preseason ACC Player of the Year Cullen Harper went from star (27 TD, 6 INT) to scrub (14 TD, 13 INT), enduring a brutal 33 sacks as the turnstile offensive line got dominated over and over again. For the 2nd straight year, the Tigers’ rushing yards per carry dropped significantly—down to an atrocious average of 3.4.

As if that’s not enough to tranquilize Tiger fans hopeful about the 2009 offense, the Tigers lose their QB, their top rusher, and two of their top 3 receivers from 2008. The Tigers’ two most explosive players are injury prone—a long absence from either one would pretty much doom the Tigers’ postseason chances.

Nonetheless, there is some reason to believe that this year’s Clemson offense will be better than last year’s unit. It all starts up front. Clemson returns four starters from last year’s offensive line, including 2^nd team All-ACC center Thomas Austin. Experience in the trenches is often the difference between wins and close losses, and it could be the difference this year at Clemson.

However, even with improved offensive line play, Clemson will need a young and inexperienced group of wide receivers to step up and take some pressure off of speedster Jacoby Ford. Otherwise, defenses will continue to stack the line of scrimmage, congesting rushing lanes for CJ Spiller and turning Clemson into one-trick Tigers. In Clemson’s 6 losses last year, opponents managed to stifle any semblance of Clemson balance, holding the Tigers to 63 rushing yards per game on 2.29 yards per carry. That cannot happen in 2009 if the Tigers want to go bowling.

If Kyle Parker can live up to all the expectations and the young receivers blossom into solid outside threats, this will be a top 80 offense in the country. If not, this could be the worst offense in the conference and one of the worst 10 to 15 offenses in the nation.

QB- Kyle Parker (13-21 171 yds, TD, rush TD in Clemson Spring Game)

Parker is two sport star with all sorts of athleticism. In 2008, he enrolled early at Clemson—in what would have been his spring semester of high school—and earned All-ACC honors for his diamond performance.  As a high school QB, Parker was ranked as the 10^th best pro-style QB in the class of 2008. Parker played extremely well in the Spring Game and should be the Tigers starter in week one.

QB- Willie Korn (216 yards, TD, INT; 119.6 rating)

Korn might have been a football freak in high school (125 career TD passes, rated as the 98^th best prospect in the nation in 2007), but frequent injuries have kept him on a leash at Clemson. In 2007, he saw some garbage time action against Louisiana Monroe and Furman. In 2008, he finished 14-18 with 157 yards against in-state creampuffs Citadel and SC State. Unfortunately, his success did not extend to ACC play—in games against GT, FSU and Duke, Korn finished 12 of 20 with 59 yards, an INT and an injured shoulder. Nonetheless, Korn (ranked as the 5^th best duel threat QB in the nation in 2007) is a more dangerous runner than Parker. He’s been working on his mechanics this offseason, so he should be throwing the ball better this fall as well. Expect Korn to see a lot of snaps this fall, even if Parker snags the starting job.

RB- CJ Spiller (629 rush yards, 5.4 ypc, 7 TD; 436 receiving, 3 TD, 12.8 ypc)

Since his freshman year, Spiller has been the ACC’s most dangerous—and also enigmatic—offensive player. At times, there’s no one as explosive as Spiller. He has 12 career TDs of 50+ yards, including an unbelievable 6 TDs of 80+ yards. For his efforts, Spiller has earned the most overused running back nickname ever—“Lightning”. He may well have lightning speed (he’s been clocked at 10.42 in the 100m dash) but he rarely storms on ranked opponents: in 8 career games vs. top 25 foes, Spiller has managed 50 or more rushing yards just two times. A lot of the blame for that falls on injuries, the offensive line, and the time-share backfield he split with James Davis—still, for a player of his talent, this still shouldn’t happen. Spiller is a phenomenal receiver, a great student, and 921 yards away from becoming the ACC’s all time leader in all-purpose yardage. Expect a giant season this fall as Offensive Coordinator Billy Napier promises to make Spiller the focal point of the offense and Spiller looks to impress NFL scouts.

See Spiller Run. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXPyVblpqRc

WR- Jacoby Ford (710 yards 4 TD)

Ford has always been one of the fastest players in the country (10.01 second 100m dash), but 2008 was the first time he really put that speed to use, finishing with 710 yards and 4 TD. As the end around/Wildcat formation continues to take root in college football, watch out for Ford, who has averaged about 10 yards per carry during his career and missed the NCAA 60 meter dash record by a hundredth of a second. Ford might struggle early though until a 2^nd Clemson receiver steps up.

Ford Excursion… to the End Zone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAdnEAnmuH8&feature=related

WR- Xavier Dye (6 catches, 75 yards)

Dye was a 3 star recruit in the class of 2007. He had just 125 yards in two seasons as the backup to former star Clemson wide receiver Aaron Kelly. Dye is a big, physical receiver and at 6’5 210 lb, he has a 39 inch vertical. He doesn’t have a TD catch (or a catch of more than 20 yards against an FBS opponent), but he could be a major factor on fades in the red zone.

WR- Terrance Ashe (3 catches 18 yards)

Ashe is a former walk-on with lots of playing experience, but not a lot of production. He has played in 23 games at Clemson, but he has just 72 career receiving yards. Nonetheless, he showed his abilities with 5 catches for 44 yards against a strong VT defense in 2007. He cemented his starting spot at WR with 4 catches for 69 yards in the Spring Game.

*WR Marquan Jones (4 star recruit, class of 2008), WR Bryce McNeal (4 star recruit, class of 2009), WR Brandon Clear (6’5 with a 39 inch vertical) and WR Brandon Ford (4 star recruit, class of 2008) could see some starts if Ashe and Dye struggle.

TE- Michael Palmer (160 yards, 3 TD)

Palmer is a solid blocking tight end with decent receiving skills. He had a big, red zone TD against FSU this past fall, and he led all receivers with 86 yards in the Tiger Spring Game. Palmer has 72 career knockdown blocks, so he’s effective in the run game as well.

Offensive Line

Chris Hairston (T), Landon Walker (T), Thomas Austin (G), Antoine McClain (G)—not a starter but he played, Mason Cloy (C )

The Clemson offensive line returns a lot of experience from 2008. Experience alone won’t win pave holes for CJ Spiller in 2008. These guys must improve a lot from last season’s embarrassing performance in order for this unit to hold up against the vicious d-lines of the ACC.

Defensive Preview

Clemson finished 2008 as the 18^th best defense in the nation, surrendering just 300 yards per outing. This year’s unit should be even better.

New defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is known for his pressure defenses and should be able to help increase Clemson’s low sack total (14) from 2008.

The defensive line could be the ACC’s best, the linebackers are fast, athletic, and experienced, and cornerbacks are exceptional.

This should be a top 3 defense in the ACC and one of the top 15 defenses in the nation.

DE- DaQuan Bowers (37 tackles, 8 TFL, sack)

According to ESPN, Bowers was the #1 overall recruit in the class of 2008, and from the defensive end position, that’s saying something. At 6’4 275 lbs, Bowers is an enormous, athletic end in the mold of Julius Peppers. Expect his sack total to increase significantly this year in Kevin Steele’s pressure heavy defense.

DE- Ricky Sapp (25 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks)

Sapp has racked up 26 career TFL, good for fourth among active ACC players. He’s more of a speed rusher off the edge, and he is the perfect complement to the more powerful DaQuan Bowers. He tore his ACL late in 2008 against Virginia, but he’s expected to be back healthy for the 2009 season.

DE- Kevin Alexander (27 tackles, 4.5 TFL)

If Sapp isn’t back to full strength, Alexander will fill his shoes nicely. Alexander benches 470 pounds and was named the most improved defensive end of the spring for Clemson. He brings a lot of experience and strength to the position.

DT- Jarvis Jenkins (26 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks)

Jenkins is one of the most consistent run-stuffers in the conference. He finished the 2008 ACC campaign with 9 TFL in 8 games. His presence inside allows Sapp, Bowers, and Alexander to work against single teams, and with their talent, that’s a huge advantage for Clemson.

DT- Brandon Thompson (16 tackles, 3 TFL, sack)

Thompson is yet another beast of a Clemson defensive lineman. He had an excellent spring, throwing up 29 reps of 225 lbs on the bench press and leading the team in tackles in the Spring Game. Like Bowers, Thompson was a top 50 overall recruit according to ESPN.

LB- Scotty Cooper (30 tackles)

Cooper has some starting experience in 2007 and 2008. He’s just 215 lbs, but he was Clemson’s top linebacker in the weight room this spring, so that shouldn’t be a concern.

LB- Kavell Conner (97* tackles, 5.5 TFL, sack, INT)

When I was in 6^th grade, 8^th grader Kavell Conner didn’t make the middle school basketball team and I did (I’m not saying I was better than Kavell because I most certainly was not, but come on? How could I not bring this up?). This fall, Conner will get the last laugh though. He’ll be wearing an orange jersey and contending for all-conference honors, while the only orange I’ll be wearing during football games will be the Cheeto residue on my hands. A high school running back, Conner is fast, strong and athletic enough to make first team all-ACC this fall.

LB- Brandon Maye (71 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks)

Maye had an unbelievable freshman season, earning first team freshman All-America honors for his excellent play at middle linebacker. Look for Maye to have another excellent year in 2009.

CB- Crezdon Butler (43 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, 4 INT)

Butler has 10 career interceptions, tying him with Morgan Burnett for most among returning ACC players. He has been named to the Thorpe Award Watch list for 2009. His shutdown skills helped Clemson finish 10^th in the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2008.

CB- Chris Chancellor (34 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 4 INT)

Chancellor is small (5’10, 165 lb), but it hasn’t kept him from becoming one of the best cornerbacks in the ACC. He is staunch against the run (7 career TFL) and the pass (8 career INT), and like Butler, has earned a spot on the Thorpe Award watch list.

S- Sadat Chambers (13 tackles, TFL)

Chambers is another member of my All-ACC First-Name team. He has seen time at running back and safety. He has the unenviable task of replacing Michael Hamlin’s 97 tackles and 6 INT from 2008.

S- DeAndre McDaniel (68 tackles, 4 TFL, INT)

McDaniel switches to safety in 2009 after playing weakside linebacker last fall. He’s fast, athletic (37 inch vertical) and a tackling machine.

*According to Clemson’s website, Conner finished with 125 tackles in 2008. This number is different from the ACC figure (97), so I decided to go with the objective ACC total of 97.

Know Your Enemies 7 (Atlantic)- Florida State

Florida State Preview

Florida State’s offense was a quiet success in 2008, ranking 2^nd in the ACC and 51^st in the nation in total yardage with 372 yards per contest. The Noles led the conference in points per game and showed off a powerful, improved running game that chalked up 179 yards per outing.

You certainly wouldn’t confuse the 2008 offense with any of the great Seminole offenses of the late 90s and early 2000’s (Peter Warrick, Chris Weinke…etc…), but it was certainly good enough for Florida State to win 9 games in 2008.

The 2009 Seminole offense is keyed by junior QB Christian Ponder. Ponder is essentially the anti-Chris Weinke—-he’s a running threat, he’s turnover prone, and he didn’t lose all of his hair at age 20. All in all, he’s an unorthodox and exciting QB with enormous potential, but also some major weaknesses.

Ponder has proven himself on the ground, rushing for over 400 yards in his first year as a starter. However, he has only passed for 200 yards in one of his 13 career starts. He completed just 55% of his passes and he threw 13 costly interceptions. He will certainly understand Jimbo Fisher’s offense better this fall, but after a devastating offseason of behavior problems at WR, he’ll have very little returning experience to throw to.

While the passing game might be a problem in Tallahassee, the pass blocking certainly will not be. After two years under Drill Sergeant/Offensive Line Coach Rick Trickett (the same Rick Trickett whose WVU team ran for 382 yards against a top 10 Georgia team in 2006), the slimmer, quicker FSU offensive line improved tremendously in 2008. Junior guard Rodney Hudson returns and should be one of the nation’s best on the offensive line— Florida State’s other 4 starters from 2008 also return.

Florida State will have a strong running game in 2009, but can the passing game step up against teams that take away the run? If Ponder and the young receivers can punish defenses with 9 men in the box, this could be the best offense in the ACC and one of the top 25 offenses in the nation.

QB- Christian Ponder (56% passing, 2007 yards, 14 TD 13 INT, 115 QB rating; 423 rush yards, 4 TD)

Ponder is a dangerous runner with very impressive straight line speed. He rushed for an unprecedented 145 yards against a quick Miami defense and another 81 yards against Maryland. Ponder is definitely not a developed passer though. Despite throwing mostly short routes, Ponder’s completion percentage lingered around 55 all season long.

In Florida State’s 4 losses, Ponder was dreadful—and we’re not talking Sean Glennon dreadful either; we’re talking Chris Rix with-a-blindfold-on-in-an-important-game-dreadful— 42-90 (47%) with 444 yards, 1 TD and 9 INT. That’s a 71.77 rating! The bottom line is this: when Ponder is able to complete passes and keep defenses worried with his arm, Florida State wins—when he’s not, Florida State’s offense goes nowhere. In those 4 losses, Florida State averaged 118 yards per game on the ground, 60 less than their average.

RB- Jermaine Thomas (482 yards rushing, 7.0 ypc, 3 TD)

Thomas reminds me of Georgia Tech’s Roddy Jones. He’s relatively small (6’1 190 lb), but he’s as dangerous as an FSU wide receiver’s 21^st birthday party. Thomas showed off his superstar talent in back to back weeks against Georgia Tech and Clemson, rushing for 224 yards on 20 carries (11 ypc) in those two performances. Thomas does an excellent job of pushing forward (he lost only 10 yards in 2008); however, he is unproven in short yardage situations. He had only 3 touchdowns in 2008 because bowling ball tailback Antone Smith snatched up all the goalline carries. Look for Thomas to rush for 1,000 yards and 6-10 TD while sharing the workload with roommate and best friend Ty Jones.

Florida State’s Jermaine Man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU6Rg0ENIi0

RB- Carlton “Ty” Jones (11 carries 99 yards, 9 ypc)

Ty Jones saved his best game for last in 2008. He piled up 55 yards on just 4 carries against Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl. Jones should be a perfect complement to Thomas in 2009, just like Thomas was a perfect complement to Smith this past fall.

Wide Receivers

WR- Bert Reed (295 yards, 3 TD; 61 yards rushing)

If Easterling can’t start the season due to the Achilles’ injury, Reed (5’11 165 lb) will be FSU’s leading returning receiver. He runs a 4.30 in the 40 yard dash and is a terror on wide receiver screens and end-arounds. Look for Reed to haul in 40 passes for 500+ yards and a few scores in 2009.

WR- Taiwan Easterling (322 yards, TD; 20 yards rushing)

Taiwan Easterling joins Ras-I Dowling of Virginia on my Pre-Season All-ACC First Names team. Like Travis Benjamin of Miami, Easterling is small (5’11, 180 lb), quick and shifty. He’s certainly not afraid to attack you in the middle of the field though. He showed off his absurd athleticism with a Santonio-Holmes-esque TD catch against Virginia Tech in Tallahassee in 2008 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u42iDxlAzfg the catch is at the 1:45 mark). I’m hoping he’ll be back from his Achilles injury (he missed Spring Practice) in time for the season—-partially because I want to watch him score a TD and then put a “Made in Taiwan” sticker on the ball. Totally worth the 15 yard penalty.

WR- Louis Givens (4 catches 44 yards; 32 yards rushing)

At 5’8 170 lb, Givens is yet another tiny, sparkplug of a receiver at Florida State.

Louis Givens Clemson the business… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1QFnBlOOm8&feature=related

WR- Cameron Wade (59 yards; 41 yards in the Champs Sports Bowl)

Cameron Wade is an interesting physical specimen at 6’6 207 lb. I’m not sure how good his hands are, but at that size he could be a suitable replacement for red zone renegade Greg Carr. Oh yeah, and he runs a 4.4 in the 40 yard dash. If his strong finish is any indication, 2009 could be a big year for Wade.

WR- Jarmon Fortson (137 yards, TD; 22 yards rushing)

Fortson was a 4 star recruit in the Rivals class of 2008. He’s big (6’3 220 lb), and he showed big play ability, hauling in a 42 yard catch against National Champion Florida.

Other plotlines in the endless soap opera that is Florida State’s receiving unit:

*WR- Rod Owens (183 yards, 0 TD)- Owens is currently under suspension for a DUI charge he picked up in April 2009.

*WR- Corey Surrency (237 yards, 4 TD)- Surrency was denied by the NCAA in his request for another year of eligibility.

*WR- Preston Parker (372 yards, 2 TD)- Parker was dismissed from the team after his third arrest at FSU.

*WR- Richard Goodman- Goodman was suspended in May for his role in a fight at the Florida State Student Union.

TE-  Caz Piurowski (83 yards, TD)

Piurowski sounds—-and looks—-like a World’s Strongest Man competitor. He’s listed at 6’7 275 lbs, so it’s pretty clear that he’s a block-first tight end. Nonetheless, he showed off his hands during Bowl Season with a 3 catch 32 yard, TD performance against Wisconsin.

Offensive Line

Andrew Datko (T), Zebrie Sanders (T), Rodney Hudson (G), David Spurlock (G), Ryan McMahon (C )

As mentioned before, Rick Trickett has whipped this offensive line into shape. No lineman weighs more than 290 pounds now, and the conditioning shows on the field, where FSU improved its yards per carry by 1.1 yards from 2007 to 2008. All five starters return, led by Rodney Hudson who didn’t get flagged for a SINGLE PENALTY in his first 1,024 collegiate snaps.

FSU Defense

FSU’s 21^st century struggles are well documented. After an epic 14 consecutive top 5 finishes from 1987-2000, Mark Richt left, Chris Rix showed up, and the rest is history. But make no mistake about it—FSU did not fall out of the college football elite class because of its defense.

The 2008 team finished 15^th in the nation (295 yards allowed per game), practically living in opponents’ backfields. FSU led the nation with a scary 112 tackles for loss. Their pass rush wasn’t too shabby either, finishing with 39 sacks on the season.

It will be very difficult for the FSU defense to put on a similar defensive clinic in 2009.

The Seminoles lose a lot of talent at all levels of the 2008 defense. Everette Brown (21.5 TFL, 13.5 sacks) and Neefy Moffett (11 TFL, 5.5 sacks) formed the best defensive end duo in college football in 2008, and no matter the Seminole depth on the lines, they will be irreplaceable. At linebacker, the Noles lose 147 tackles, 23 TFL and 5 sacks in the departures of Derek Nicholson and Toddrick Verdell. In the secondary, they lose 3^rd leading tackler/Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle (62 tackles) and reliable cover corner Tony Carter.

If anyone can turn this team into a top defense though, it’s former Broyles’ Award winning Defensive Coordinator Mickey Andrews—who has fielded dominant defenses almost every year he’s been at Florida State—25 to be exact. His defenses are fast, athletic, and deep—especially on the defensive line. This year’s unit will be no exception.

That being said, it will require talented reserves from last year to grow quickly into starting roles. It’s one thing backing up Everette Brown, and another thing trying to produce like him. At linebacker and in the secondary, the Noles will be as athletic as ever, but the experience factor could bite this team in the early going.

I think that this defense has the potential to be top 15 in the country. However, I think it will struggle early on and finish around 30^th or 40^th in the nation in total defense.

Defensive Line

DE- Kevin McNeil (10 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 4 sacks)

McNeil is strong and effective inside. He doesn’t have a lot of starting experience, but he’s seen the field a lot in FSU’s defensive rotation.

DE- Markus White (29 tackles, 5.5 TFL, sack)

White was Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2008. He managed to rack up 29 tackles and 5.5 TFL despite playing behind all-everything DE Everette Brown.

DT- Kendrick Stewart (22 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks)

Stewart is a smaller, quicker defensive tackle at 271 pounds. He started 9 games in 2008 and was named the Seminoles’ Most Improved Defensive Player.

DT- Justin Mincey (in 9 games- 9 tackles, 4.5 TFL, sack)

Mincey started 4 games, including the bowl game win vs. Wisconsin. In limited time, he produced a lot of TFL.

Linebackers

LB- Nigel Bradham (29 tackles, TFL)

Bradham ran a 4.48 at 242 lbs. He got some valuable experience in 2008, earning the Top Defensive Newcomer Award for his efforts.

LB- DeKoda Watson (46 tackles, 8 TFL, INT)

DeKoda Watson ran a 4.39 40 at 220 lbs. He’s listed by ESPN’s Bruce Feldman as one of ten “workout warriors” in college football (“abs up to my throat” he says), and he finished 2008 on a strong note, with an INT for TD against Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl. Watch out for this guy.

LB- Nigel Carr (4 tackles)

Carr is yet another physical specimen at linebacker for the Noles. A former 4 star recruit, he’s listed at 6’3 220 lbs. He’ll be a sophomore in 2009, but he won the Leadership award for the defense in Spring Practice, so expect him to fit right in early.

LB- Kendall Smith (24 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks)

Secondary

CB- Patrick Robinson (26 tackles, 2 TFL, INT)

Robinson won overall team MVP honors for his performance in the spring. He could be one of the ACC’s best cover corners this fall.

CB- Ochuko Jenije (11 tackles, .5 TFL)

Jenije was the #1 backup to CB Tony Carter last year. In extensive action against Clemson, he racked up 11 tackles.

S- Korey Mangum (27 tackles, TFL)

Mangum has plenty of experience, but replacing Myron Rolle won’t be easy.

S- Jamie Robinson (37 tackles, 1.5 TFL, INT)

Robinson started 6 games in 2008 and should be ready for full-time starting this fall.

Know Your Enemies- 6 (Atlantic)- NC State

NC State Preview

The Wolfpack offense averaged 329 yards per game in 2008, good for 88^th in the nation. However, that number was somehow good enough for 5^th best in an offense deprived (or maybe defense heavy) ACC.

NC State improved on offense last year behind the arm and legs of 1^st team all-ACC QB Russell Wilson. Miraculously, Wilson finished his freshman season with just one interception—on a Hail Mary—to go with his 17 passing touchdowns and 4 rushing touchdowns. That kind of production and ball security is almost unheard of for any QB, let alone a freshman QB.

Wilson overcame questions about his height (if you’re reading this Al Groh, remember—short QBs might never pan out in the NFL, but they can be great in the ACC! Start Vic Hall!) as well as nagging injury issues to inject life into a program struggling to gain a foothold in a deep Atlantic Coast Conference.  A young group of speedy receivers Owen Spencer, Javaris Williams and TJ Graham broke out in 2008—and all three return to the lineup this fall.

Wilson’s impressive passing might have been the key to keeping NC State out of the ACC basement last fall, but it appears the running game might have been the real key to the Wolfpack’s late season ACC surge, a 4 game run that rejuvenated the fan base and sent Tom O’Brien bowling for the first time as NC State head coach.

During their improbable 4 game win streak against Duke, Wake Forest, UNC, and Miami, the Wolfpack averaged 178 yards per game on the ground. In their other 9 games (7 of which were losses; two of which were ugly wins), the Wolfpack managed just 98 yards per game rushing and 299 yards overall.

It’s no secret then that subduing the Pack on the ground is the best way to shut down their offense. Conversely, if NC State wants to show that last season’s late success was more than just a red hot flash in the pan, they must establish the run early this season.

But can the Wolfpack keep up the ground attack without 4 year power back Andre Brown (767 yards 7 TD in 2008)? Jamelle Eugene and Toney Baker should fill in effectively for Brown, but can they avoid the injuries that have plagued their own careers? And can the offensive line—which allowed 25 sacks and led the Wolfpack to just 3.6 yards per carry—improve?

And lastly—the question that could muzzle all this pre-season howling from NC State fans—can the team possibly survive an injury to fragile QB Russell Wilson? Wilson’s backups finished with an atrocious 3 TD and 12 INT in relief duty last fall, including the bowl loss to Rutgers where the Pack relinquished a 17-6 halftime lead. Mike Glennon, the brother of polarizing former VT QB Sean Glennon, has performed admirably in the offseason, and should see some snaps early on.

Can he live up to the hype if Wilson goes down? And if he sees time at QB, can NC State avoid chemistry issues, especially with Wilson off playing baseball this summer?

If NC State remains healthy, the offensive line improves, the receivers become more consistent and QB chemistry is not an issue, this could be the ACC’s best 2009 offense.

QB- Russell Wilson (54.5% passing, 1955 yards 17 TD, INT; 133.9 passer rating)

In 2008, Wilson was a nightmare outside the pocket, passing effectively down the field while also rushing for 394 yards. O’Brien wants Wilson to improve at finding his second receiver to avoid “those god-awful hits” he took last year running with the football.

To be honest, I highly doubt that Wilson can replicate 2008’s nearly flawless 1 INT performance. Why? Although he still lifted and ran 4 days a week, he played baseball this summer (in the Coastal Plains league through the end of June) while his competition Mike Glennon was in Raleigh working with the team. Second of all, he had a low completion percentage in 2008, indicating that maybe his accuracy is a lot worse than the TD to INT ratio shows. Still, he should be one of the 5 best ACC QBs this fall.

Mute the music, watch the Wilson magic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQPST9uWsIE

QB- Mike Glennon (4 star recruit—#59 overall recruit in the country 2008)

Glennon will see the field this fall, and for good reason. He was 23-38 for 272 yards and a TD in the Spring Game. His last name scares me, but I think this Glennon might live up to the hype.

RB- Jamelle Eugene(442 rushing, 4.7 ypc, 2 TD; 224 receiving)

Eugene is a smaller, quicker back with good hands. He sat out spring practice with a shoulder injury. Like Baker, he has 1000 career rush yards, but he has only 8 TD on the ground in his career. In 2007, he exploded for 159 yards against rival North Carolina, but he hasn’t gotten to the century mark since. I expect Eugene to split carries with Baker and finish with 700 yards rushing and 300 yards receiving.

RB- Toney Baker (former 4 star recruit; 2006- 688 yards, 6 TD; 177 yards receiving)

Since committing to NC State, Baker’s had a lot of trouble keeping his gimpy right knee off the trainer’s table. He’s a powerful, 225 lb. runner with 1,272 career rushing yards, 300 career receiving yards, and 12 TD. After his 2 knee surgeries, Baker won’t be the explosive back he once was, but at the very least he’ll bring power and experience to the State backfield.

WR- Owen Spencer (691 yards, 5 TD)

At 6’3” 180 lb, Spencer averaged an eye popping 22 yards per catch. He hauled in catches of 31, 32, 44, 48, 54, 61, and 67 yards. That’s a total of 337 yards on his 7 best catches! All I can say is wow. However, to become an elite all-conference talent, he will have to improve his hands  and also show up every week. In 2008, he disappeared in 4 separate games: no catches vs. Maryland, 2 catches for 7 yards vs. Clemson, 1 catch for 11 yards vs. ECU, and 3 catches for 27 yards vs. South Carolina. Not surprisingly, the Wolfpack won just one of those four games.

WR- Jarvis Williams (432 yards, 4 TD)

Like Graham, Williams was an inconsistent, but dangerous wideout all season long, catching just a couple passes a game but usually turning them into big gains. However, unlike Graham, the 6’4 Williams finished the season on a high note, delivering 126 yards on 7 receptions in the Papa John’s Bowl vs. Rutgers.

WR- TJ Graham (251 yards, 0 TD)

Graham was a track star for nearby Wakefield High School in Raleigh. His speed alone is enough to scare defensive coordinators. He struggled towards the end of the year (over a 7 game stretch he had just 7 total catches for 35 yards), but he should be a more polished and dangerous receiver in 2009.

WR- Donald Bowens (2007- 598 yards, 3 TD)

Bowens won’t be coming back from the back injury that forced him out of action last fall until September or October. When he returns, he’ll bring quality experience and more size (6’3) to this Wolfpack receiving corps.

TE- George Bryan (201 yards, 4 TD)

Bryan is an enormous target at 6’5 270 lb. He finished with just 5 catches over his last 7 games. He showed immense potential in an early 3 game stretch against William and Mary, Clemson and ECU in which he totaled 13 catches 131 yards and 2 TD.

Offensive Line

“Hold that line, hold-em fast, we’ll reach victory at last”—NC State fight song

Jake Vermiglio (T), Jerrail McCuller (T), Julian Williams (G), Andy Barbee (G), Ted Larsen (C )

All of the starters on the line except for Vermiglio are seniors. Larsen is on the Rimington Preseason Watch List. Still, the Wolfpack lost both offensive guards Meares Green and John Bedics (who combined for 43 career starts) from last year’s lineup.

If the Pack wants to “reach victory at last”—they’d better improve along the offensive line. It could be the difference between 6 and 9 wins this fall.

Defense

NC State finished 2008 as the 83^rd ranked defense in the country, surrendering 390 yards per game.

To put that in perspective, they finished 83^rd in total defense—playing against an FCS opponent and 7 teams that finished 87^th or worse out of 119 teams in total offense. Tom O’Brien could have lined up 11 Sidney Lowes on the field and given up less yards than that.

But just because NC State didn’t play much defense in 2008 doesn’t mean it didn’t have the ability to. They held in-state rival North Carolina to just 203 yards in Chapel Hill, showing that when healthy and playing well, they can be a dangerous defense. They showed glimpses of a good pass-rush and a strong secondary (18 INT), but they also got torched on a number of occasions.

If Nate Irving is out this fall, it would be a major blow for the defense. The losses of JC Neal (80 tackles, 2 TFL) and Jeremy Gray (72 tackles, sack, 3 INT) will also hurt.

With Irving, this is a top 50 defense in the country. Without him, this should be one of the worst defenses in the ACC and the 70^th to 80^th best defense in the country.

Defensive Line

Defensive Line, according to D-Coordinator Mike Archer, is the strength of this defense.

DE- Willie Young (58 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks)

The 250 pound Wolfpack sack-master has 31.5 career TFL in three seasons, and was a projected 2^nd round pick in 2009. He should face a lot of double teams this season.

DE- Shea McKeen (32 tackles, 4 TFL, 2.5 sacks)

McKeen had a decent 2008. He’ll have to step up his game to keep teams from paying too much attention to Young on the other side of the line.

DT- Alan Michael-Cash (38 tackles, 7 TFL, 3.5 sacks)

Michael-Cash was cash money in 2008, plugging up the middle effectively. He missed three games last fall due to injury, and he absolutely must stay healthy for the State run defense to reach its potential.

DT- Leroy Burgess (16 tackles, 1.5 TFL)

Burgess is a hoss at 300 lb, but he had pretty limited production in 2009.

Linebackers

LB- Audie Cole (9 tackles in 13 games)

LB- Nate Irving (80 tackles, 11 TFL, 4 INT)

State’s linebacker had a sophomore season to howl about, racking up 80 tackles, 11 TFL, 4 INT and a forced fumble. Unfortunately for the Wolfpack, Irving broke his leg in a serious car accident this summer. (For those of you who believe in publication curses—the crash happened 4 minutes before the News and Observer released a story about how lucky Tom O’Brien must be to have a healthy team this year).

He missed 3 full games last season—all NCSU losses—and missed parts of two other games, 1 of which NCSU still won. All in all, that’s 4 Wolfpack losses in 5 games where Irving was out for part or all of the game with an injury.  In those 4 losses, the Pack gave up 454 yards on average. Ouch.

Irving’s out of the hospital, but It’s still unclear whether or not he will be able to play this fall. If he’s out, sophomore Dwayne Maddox (28 tackles) will have to step in to replace him.

LB- Ray Michel (85 tackles, 3 TFL)

Michel was State’s leading tackler in 2008.

CB- DeAndre Morgan (60 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 INT)

Morgan is definitely the leader of this secondary.

CB- Koyal George (7 tackles)

Domenique Ellis (11 tackles, INT) might have stepped in here, but he left the program, leaving a big gap for Koyal George to fill.

George only appeared in 9 games last fall.

S- Clem Johnson (36 tackles, 2 INT in 7 games)

S- Justin Byers (44 tackles, 2 INT)

*Javon Walker (S) tore his ACL late in 2008 and missed Spring Practice. If he’s healthy, he’ll probably start for the Pack. If not, safety will be an even bigger concern for Tom O’Brien.

Know Your Enemies 5 (Coastal)- Duke

Duke Preview

Thanks largely to the stellar reputation of David Cutcliffe and a “successful” 4 win season in 2008, college football prognosticators are drinking Duke blue Flavor-Aid (Reverend Jim Jones actually didn’t use Kool-Aid!) and getting a little too excited about the 2009 team’s chances.

Heather Dinich of ESPN predicted Duke to win in Chapel Hill against UNC this fall. She predicts that they will finish 2009 with 6 wins (including 3 conference wins). She even had a blog post entitled “Who Will Fall to Duke in ’09?” where she speculated not about FCS teams falling to Duke, but real ACC ones! Yikes.

I’ll be honest, and trust me, that’s hard for a Carolina fan writing about a Duke football team. I really don’t think that this Duke team deserves this level of hype. They lose some very key players (Tauiliili, Riley, Akinbiyi) and it’s too early for Cutcliffe’s improved recruiting to really show too much on the field.

Now—when I say this, I certainly don’t mean that Duke didn’t improve in 2008.

Thaddeus Lewis matured into a 2^nd team all ACC QB, the offensive line gave up about 20 less sacks than they did in 2007, and the team even put up some 30 point efforts, in games against UVa, Navy, Wake Forest, and even Miami (who would have guessed that 5 years ago?).

But let’s not forget about the results folks. Duke lost 7 of its last 8 games. They finished 102^nd in the nation in total offense with just 303 yards per game. They averaged 3 yards per rush and had no RB reach even the 400 yard mark. And on top of that, they will lose their top offensive playmaker and lone deep threat from the 2008 squad in 2^nd team all-ACC performer Eron Riley. Duke’s returning WRs combined for just 1 TD in 2008.

I just don’t see this offense scaring anyone other than Richmond and NC Central.

QB- Thaddeus Lewis (2171 yards passing, 15 TD 6 INT; 122.96 QB rating)

Lewis will be starting at QB in Durham for the 4^th straight year, and I have to admit. He’s come a long way since Vince Hall almost took his head off in Blacksburg back in 2006. Lewis is accurate (62%), and he has enough speed (he had two 40 yard rushing games in 2008) to keep defenses honest. He doesn’t throw the ball down the field much, and his lack of playmakers at the skill positions hurts his numbers, but Lewis wasn’t 2^nd team all-ACC last year because the voters felt bad for Duke. Well, not just because they felt bad for Duke anyway.

RB- Re’Quan Boyette (2007- 509 total yards, 2 TD)

Duke coaches are pretty excited about the return of Boyette who has shown far more explosion than the other Duke backs. He averages over 4 ypc for his career, and he’s had some really snazzy big game numbers (or should I say, big games for Duke). He ran for 97 yards at Alabama in 2006, and 123 yards vs. FSU in 2005. He sat out last fall with a torn ACL. Cutcliffe calls him Duke’s “biggest weapon.” Expect him to finish with 800 total yards this fall.

RB- Jay Hollingsworth (399 rushing, TD, 3.7 ypc; 188 receiving, 2 TD)

Hollingsworth is small and shifty at 5’10 185 lbs. He struggled in 2008, but I think that’s because he was a 3^rd down back forced into a starter’s role. He’s an effective receiver on screens and swing passes (80 yards receiving vs. NCSU, 61 yards receiving vs. UNC), but a pretty mediocre runner, finishing with just 2 runs of 20 or more yards in 108 carries last fall.

RB- Tony Jackson (259 rushing, 3.4 ypc; 106 receiving, TD)

Everything I said about Hollingsworth applies to Jackson. Seriously. Everything. Look it up.

WR- Donovan Varner (164 yards, 1 TD, 7.8 ypc)

Varner is a small (5’9 170 lb), but not in the same way that Steve Smith or Santana Moss is small. He is a possession receiver in a short-passing offense, and he will struggle to ever be a major threat against stronger corners.

WR- Johnny Williams (327 yards, 0 TD; averaged just 19 yards per game in the last 10 games)

Williams exploded onto the tradition-rich Duke football scene with a 135 yard effort in his second career game, a 24-20 loss to a bowl-bound Northwestern team. From that point on, he had just 17 catches in 10 games, only one of which went for 20 yards or more. He averaged just 11.5 yards per game in Duke’s season-ending 5 game skid.

WR- Austin Kelly (142 yards, 0 TD)

Kelly, like all of Duke’s other returning receivers, showed a negative trend towards the end of the season. He finished with just 18 yards over the last 7 games of the year. He’s Duke’s biggest target, and he must perform better than that if Duke is going to surprise anyone this fall.

WR- Conner Vernon (true freshman)

According to Thad Lewis, Vernon will be the 4^th receiver in the Duke rotation this fall. A 3 star prospect in the class of 2009, Vernon actually received an SEC offer (Ole Miss) which either shows how much Cutcliffe has improved recruiting at Duke or how much Vernon doesn’t like winning games.

TE- Brett Huffman (171 yards, TD)

Huffman peaked midseason with 71 yards at Wake Forest and 38 yards vs. NCSU. However, (notice a pattern?) he disappeared at the end of the year, finishing with just 5 yards receiving in the last 3 games combined. At 235 lb, he had better improve as a receiver because at that size he could be a liability as a run-blocker in this defense-dominant conference.

O-line

Duke loses three starters from last year’s buffet-busters; only one of them will be in the same position this year as he was last fall. I think that’s real bad news for the Wallace Wade Wackies (Duke football’s answer to the Cameron Crazies—please catch on). Last year’s line couldn’t run block a Conga line, let alone a defensive line. However, they only surrendered 22 sacks last fall (they gave up 44 sacks in 2007), giving Thaddeus Lewis plenty of time to become a solid ACC QB. If Lewis gets knocked out, this team will go winless for the remainder of the season. And it’s up to the o-line to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Defense

Duke actually had a pretty good defense in 2008, by Duke standards anyway. They finished 60^th in the nation, allowing just 356 yards per game. Fortunately for the Dookies, Vince Oghobaase and Vincent Rey returns after All-ACC caliber performances at DT and LB in 2008. Their presence has turned the Greg Paulus of ACC defenses into a pretty tough unit in the front 7.

However, Duke loses Michael Tauilili and Greg Akinbiyi, who combined for 195 tackles and 27.5 TFL. Without these two dominant performers, it’s going to be hard for Duke’s Vincent duo to keep this defense in the top 80 nationally, something they’ll certainly need to do if they want to sniff a bowl game or a legitimate ACC win.

Defensive Line

DE Alanga Okpokowuruk (29 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks)

Okpokowuruk frustrated radio commentators and offensive coordinators alike with his whale of a name and his whale of a game. He has moved back and forth between DE and DT, but appears to have settled at end in 2009.

DE Wesley Oglesby (17 tackles, 2 TFL, sack)

In 2007, Oglesby was a Sporting News Freshman All-America selection after piling up 37 tackles and 6.5 TFL. However, he had the Duke blues in 2009, suffering through leg injuries and appearing in just 7 games.

DT Vince Oghobaase (51 tackles 9 TFL 6 sacks)

Oghobaase is a 6’6 300 lb. monster of a defensive tackle. He benches 440 pounds and it shows in the way he disposes of pesky little offensive linemen standing between him and the ball. He’s racked up around 30 TFL in his first three years of college football. My only question is: how on Earth did he end up playing football at Duke?

DT Charlie Hatcher (13 tackles, 1.5 TFL)

Hatcher is small for a DT at just 275. He backed up Oghobaase last year, but this year, he’ll be starting. Or at least I think he’ll be starting. He’s the only other DT listed on the entire Duke roster.

Linebackers

All the Blue Devils lose is some fellow named Michael Tauliili and his 140 tackles, 13 TFL, .5 sack and 4 INTs. No big deal.

LB- Vincent Rey (109 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 2 sacks, INT)

Rey means “king” in Spanish, a fitting name for Vincent this season. He will be the king of this defense. Expect him to soak up a lot of those tackles Tauiliili used to get to first.

LB- Abraham Kromah

You’re Abe Kromah? Sausage King of Chicago?*

LB- Adam Banks (8 tackles in 2008)

He was once a 2-star Rivals Recruit.

Secondary**

CB- Leon Wright?

CB- Chris Rwabukamba (26 tackles, 3.5 TFL, INT)

Rwabukamba has good size at 6’0 175 lb.

S- Catron Gainey (66 tackles, TFL, sack, INT)

Catron Gainey returns after a solid 2008 season.

S- Eddie Morgan (12 tackles, TFL)

Morgan backed up Glenn Williams in 2008.

*Scouting reports of Duke Football players are hard to come by. Ferris Bueller references are not.

**I will post more information as I have it. Apparently, when you have a football program that wins 8 games in five years, no one really cares enough to put lots of information out there about your team.

Know Your Enemies 4 (Coastal)- Virginia

UVa Preview

Offense

The big news this offseason in Charlottesville was the hiring of spread guru/offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon, who has probably realized by now that he has the hardest and the easiest job in the ACC—at the same time.

The easy part is this—He’ll be working to improve the nation’s 105^th best offense, which is kind of like working to improve Shaq’s free throw percentage (Coach: “Hey Shaq. Shoot some free throws some time”).

The hard part? Almost all of UVa’s decent offensive players from 2008 won’t be around this fall to help Brandon in his new job. The Cavs lose their top rusher Cedric Peerman (774 rush yards, 7 TD), their top three receivers (Ogletree, Covington, Koch), and their top TE (John Phillips). Mikell Simpson, their top returning rusher, averaged just 3 yards per carry in 2008 and their top returning receiver (Jared Green) topped out at 144 yards last fall.

Just to show those feisty Virginia Tech fans that my hatred of bad offense knows no biases or boundaries, I’ve compiled a two-fact list of UVa’s offensive woes from 2008.

-          Oklahoma had 75 more TDs than UVa in 2008

-          UVa scored 3 points against Duke.

With those gloomy statistics in mind, it’s easy for UVa fans to despair until lacrosse season.  But fear not, Cavalier brethren. Jefferson once promulgated:

(say this aloud with aristocratic accent)“My theory has always been, that if we are to dream, the flatteries of hope are as cheap, and pleasanter, than the gloom of despair.”

At the very least, Brandon will have the surprise factor on his side for a few reasons. First of all, he’s an offensive guru. Gurus wouldn’t be gurus unless they were constantly tweaking their offensive schemes, and Brandon’s lit up some defenses at Bowling Green, no doubt. Second of all, no one’s quite sure who will be seeing the snaps at QB. It’s a three way race between slow-mediocrity (Verica), fast mediocrity (Sewell), and the greatest QB in Virginia High School history (Vic Hall).

Seems like an easy answer to me, especially after Hall ran for over 100 yards in Blacksburg last fall. But—as our friend and advisor Thomas Jefferson once admonished—“No duty the Executive had to perform was so trying as to put the right man in the right place.”

Don’t put it past NFL mastermind, sweatshirt maestro Al Groh to give Sewell (2007- 12 TD 9 INT, 114.9 passer rating) the majority of the snaps, even though Hall has looked exceptional at QB. Hall might have compiled 13,770 yards of total offense as a high school QB (good for 5^th all time…in the nation), but he doesn’t look like a QB. Hall might have racked up 104 career TDs and 2 state titles, but he doesn’t weigh enough.

Why not keep him at cornerback where he can use his talents to NOT even make honorable mention all-ACC?

Expect lots of option and screen passes to both wide receivers and tailbacks. There will also be a lot of rollouts to use Hall’s athletic ability and keep taller defensive ends from batting down his lower throws.

If Brandon and Groh decide on Hall, the young receivers step up, and Mikell Simpson regains his superb 2007 form, then this offense might surprise some people and finish in the top 60 in the country. Otherwise, things are going to be Al-Groh sweatshirt ugly.

QB- Vic “High School” Hall of Fame (16 rushes for 109 yards; 0 for 1 passing)

Is it me or should Al Groh be charged with something for not giving Vic Hall a single carry before their season finale vs. Virginia Tech? Hall finished with 109 yards on 16 carries that game, an unbelievable total against a Bud Foster defense. He’s quick, he’s fast, and he can throw. The only knock on Hall is his height (he’s 5’9”), but UVa’s last respectable QB was 5’10” Marques Hagans, so that shouldn’t be a deterrent.

QB- Jameel “When it comes to Secondaries I don’t” Sewell (2007- 2,176 yards, 12 TD 9 INT, 114.94 QB rating)

Sewell is a decent running threat, but his passing skills are questionable at best. I’m not sure if he will ever be a threat in the air—-he has a low career completion percentage, and that’s saying something because UVa rarely throws the ball down the field.

QB- Marc “Vertical” Verica (2,037 yards 8 TD, 16 INT, 110.9 QB rating)

Vertical Verica actually had some excellent performances—he had an amazing 1.5 minute drill to force overtime against UNC (I still have bad dreams about this), and he also led UVa to wins over good ECU and Georgia Tech teams. For a while, I thought he was a solid ACC QB—but then he threw 4 INTs in a 31-3 loss to Duke. He’s slow, and he doesn’t make up for it with his arm. He’s got no chance at starting or playing much in 2009.

The passing game does not look promising for the Cavaliers, but fortunately the ground game has been a tradition at Virginia since the 18^th century (the campus is even called “grounds!”). Jefferson once said, “No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth.”

I’m no Jefferson scholar, but I think that translates to: “I prefer watching teams that average more than 3 yards per carry on the ground.”

RB- Mikell Simpson- (262 yards, 3 ypc, 3 TD; 2007 stats-972 total yards, 10 TD)

Simpson stepped in for relief duty in 2007 and put up phenomenal numbers, but after the return of Cedric Peerman in 2008, he disappeared, averaging only 3 yards per carry and becoming a non-factor on offense. I think he could really thrive in the spread system though. He’s fast, he’s a great receiver out of the backfield (402 yards receiving in 2007—he’ll line up in the slot sometimes in Brandon’s system), and he should be upset about his subpar 2008 season.

RB- Torrey Mack (former 4 star recruit and Super Prep All-American)

According to Cedric Peerman, Torrey Mack is the “heir apparent” in a tradition of strong UVa running backs that includes Tiki Barber, Thomas Jones and Terry Kirby. If Simpson struggles again, Mack could be the number one guy at tailback.

WR- Jared Green (12 catches 144 yards TD)

Green caught 4 passes for 28 yards in the Spring Game. He had a good showing against USC last fall and should emerge as the Hoos’ top pass catcher.

WR- Kris Burd (65 yards)

Burd had 4 catches for 50 yards in the Spring Game.

WR- Staton Jobe (17 yards)

Jobe finished with 163 yards in 2007, but finished with just 1 catch in 2008. Look for him to become a shifty possession receiver that fits well into Brandon’s spread scheme.

WR- Tim Smith (4 star recruit, class of 2009)

Tim Smith might just be explosive enough to break into the starting lineup this fall.

WR- Dontrelle Inman (former 3 star recruit; 181 yards in 2007)

Inman snagged 2 catches in 8 of UVa’s 13 games in 2007.

Note: Javaris Brown, Matt Snyder will also see some action in the multi-wide receiver sets

TE- Joe Torchia

Torchia is a big target at 6’6 255, but he’s probably not gonna torchia downfield.

Offensive Line

Will Barker is a probable first round pick. Other than that, no one stands out in particular. Nonetheless, this unit was actually pretty decent in pass protection in 2008. They must improve in the running department though, or the spread offense will be a widespread disaster.

DEFENSE

“Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government” —Thomas Jefferson

Virginia allowed just 333 yards per game last year, good for top 40 in the nation. The Cavs lose a lot of talent on that side of the ball though, and should struggle this year, especially against the run. Look for the Cavs front 7 to be conquered by all sorts of running backs this fall.

Defensive Line

DE- Matt Conrath

Conrath returns after starting as a redshirt freshman last fall. He finished 2008 with an impressive 7 TFL and 3 sacks. Not bad for a freshman.

DT- Nick Jenkins

Jenkins also started as a redshirt freshman in 2008. Jenkins racked up 25 tackles and 2 TFL in his freshman campaign.

DE- Nate Collins (36 tackles, 3.5 TFL)

Collins moves from DT to DE in 2009 to give the Cavs more experience on the starting line.

NOTE- John-Kevin Dolce (9 tackles 6 TFL 5 sacks) will also see action.

Linebacker- UVa loses its three best defensive players—all from the linebacking corps—in Clint Sintim (11 sacks), Jon Copper and Antonio Appleby.

OLB- Denzel Burrell

Burrell had a pretty unspectacular 2008. Although he started, he had just 48 tackles and no TFL, sacks, or INTs.

LB- Darnell Carter

ILB- Darren Childs

LB- Cam Johnson

*Terrence Fells-Danzer could also be a major contributor at this position. Word on the street is that this group of LBs, although it lacks the big names and the experience of last year’s group, could be one of the fastest UVa linebacking units in years.

The jury’s still out on all of these guys. I’ll post more when I know more.

Secondary- This secondary will be the strength of the defense, especially if Vic Hall is still playing at this position. Dowling and Cook are both top-level ACC corners, and Minnifield, who was a solid starter in 2008, will likely see most of his time in nickel and dime packages.

CB- Ras-I-Dowling

Dowling certainly makes my ACC All-first-name team, but the 6’2 Cav Corner was also good enough (5 TFL, 3 INT) to earn a spot on the 2^nd team ACC defense.

CB- Chris Cook

Cook is also 6’2, giving the Cavs a giant set of CBs. He sat out 2008, but was an effective starter in 2007.

CB- Chase Minnifield

Minnifield had 25 tackles and 2 picks in 2008.

S- Corey Mosely

Mosely chalked up 46 tackles last year.

S- Rodney McLeod

McLeod switches from CB to S after ending 2008 with 17 tackles and 2 TFL.

—-Tarheel TDs

UVA fans! Look out for more UVa information here on Tarheeltds! blog. I will have an in-depth UNC-UVa game preview later in the fall that you won’t want to miss!

Know Your Enemies 3 (Coastal)- Miami

Miami Preview

Offense

It’s getting harder and harder to believe that Miami’s offense will ever be “back” to the way it was in the early part of the decade, when stars like McGahee, Gore, Winslow, and Johnson led the Canes to lots of yards, lots of big plays and lots of wins, too.

In 2008, the Canes finished 89^th in the nation in total offense at just 326 yards per game. For the fourth straight year, the Canes averaged less than 4 yards per carry on the ground, and for the fifth straight year, they had no 1,000 yard rusher. But those aren’t the only Miami offensive problems.

Over the last three years, Miami QBs have thrown 51 TDs and 55 INTs. They’ve seen highly rated high school signal callers Kyle Wright (5 star), Kirby Freeman (4 star), and Robert Marve (4 star) blow through Coral Gables like trailers in a hurricane, and with just about as much success.

For the fourth year in the last five, Miami’s yards per reception decreased in 2008. In 2004, an explosive Canes offense averaged 14 yards per reception; by 2008, that number had dropped to a paltry 10.8 yards per reception.

Rivals recruiting rankings are guesstimations at best—but they can still be valuable to us as general tools of talent measurement. By those tokens, Miami has reeled in a ton of talent at wide receiver in the last 4-5 years. But almost all of these receivers have actually decreased their production as their careers progressed (Lance Leggett and Sam Shields for example). Poor quarterback play, constant turnover in the coaching ranks, and a poor running game are all contributors, but if Miami is going to turn things around, the receivers need to channel their inner Santana Moss/Reggie Wayne and start making big plays again.

The good news (or maybe the bad news) for Miami fans is that there’s a new offensive coordinator in town —again—in Mark Whipple, and there’s a chance he can help reverse some of these nasty, negative offensive trends.

Whipple won a FCS national title in 1998 with UMass. Since then, he has worked as a QB coach in Pittsburgh (where he was fired after 3 years by Mike Tomlin) and an “offensive assistant” in Philadelphia. Curiously, he has no experience in FBS college football; his previous college stints were at Brown, New Hampshire, and UMass.

It’s hard to say what his offensive style will be—although we do know his offenses throw it a lot (and that we won’t see much shotgun). If the Eagles offense is any indication, Graig Cooper, in my opinion the most dangerous Hurricane’s offensive player, should get lots of catches in Whipple’s offense and that could be a huge boost.

This offense won’t be vintage Hurricane Offense, but don’t expect an offensive Tropical Depression either. I think this will be one of the nation’s 60^th to 75^th best offensive teams, depending on how much the o-line improves and the receivers step up. But the beauty of college football—and especially with this Miami offense—is that we just don’t know til the fall.

QB- Jacory Harris (61%, 1195 yards 12 TD 7 INT; 126 passer rating; 101 rush yards, 2 TD)

Harris—and Miami fans—should be thrilled that the two QB disaster of 2008 is finally over. I never really saw anything special out of Robert Marve, and his absence in 2009 will give Harris some offensive continuity—finally. He had some big games last year (4 TD passes vs. Duke, game winning TD vs. Virginia) and will almost certainly be the best Canes QB since Brock Berlin.

Relive Harris’ epic 4^th quarter drive @ Virginia. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XANp4c5XiYo

RB- Graig Cooper (841 rushing, 4.9 ypc, 4 TD; 113 yards, TD receiving)

Cooper is the most explosive Miami RB, and the numbers show it. He averages over 5 yards per carry for his career, and he almost got to the 1,000 yard mark in 2008. In the first possession of the Miami-UNC game last fall, Cooper looked terrifyingly good. If Javarris James doesn’t get too many senior sympathy carries, Cooper will easily get to 1,000 yards in 2009.

Texas A&M gets a taste of the Cooper Shake (at about the 1:20 mark of the video). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5BaZFpMJLM

RB- Javarris James (286 rushing, 4.2 ypc, 4 TD; 118 yards receiving)

After suffering multiple injuries (hip pointer, ankle, and neck), Javarris James just can’t run like he used to. In 2008, excluding the FCS Charleston Southern game, he averaged a shade under 4 yards per carry. His longest run of the SEASON was 13 yards. In 2007, his longest was only 23 yards. In 402 career carries, he’s had only EIGHT 20 yard rushing plays. Yes, he’s related to Edjerrin James, but no, he shouldn’t take carries from Cooper or Chambers.

WR- Aldarius Johnson (332 yards, 3 TD, 10.9 ypc)

Like most of the other Miami WRs, Johnson lacked consistency last fall. He showed his talent in an 84 yard, TD performance vs. Duke, but he also had 7 games with 2 or fewer catches. I expect Johnson to become a more consistent possession receiver in 2009.

WR- Travis Benjamin (293 yards, 3 TD, 16 ypc)

Benjamin reminds some people of Santana Moss—he’s only 160 pounds, but he’s lightning quick and extremely dangerous in the return game. Over a four game stretch (vs. FSU, UCF, Duke and Wake) he averaged 55.5 yards per game and scored 3 touchdowns. After that, he was slowed by injuries and his production dropped. Expect a breakout season of 500 or more yards in 2009.

Miami’s offense was all about the Benjamin vs. FSU. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgGhbAXIaXY

WR- Thearon Collier (324 yards, 2 TD, 12.5 ypc)

Collier is another Santana Moss look-a-like and play-a-like.

*Also watch out for 6’5 Redshirt Freshman Tommy Streeter, a former four star WR recruit who could become the Canes’ best deep threat

TE- Dedrick Epps- (304 yards, 2 TD—currently out with an ACL tear)

TE- Richard Gordon (3 catches for 24 yards)

I don’t know much about Gordon. He will be a senior, but he has just 32 career receiving yards. Tight end will be a weakness for Miami if Epps does not return.

Offensive Line

Jason Fox (T), Matt Pipho (T), Orlando Franklin (G), Joel Figueroa (G), AJ Trump (C)

When Miami fell from dominance in the early-mid part of the decade, it was a mystery to fans. How could a team once so intimidating become so weak? Offensive line play might have been the downfall. This unit returns 3 starters, and absolutely must improve for Miami to compete for the Coastal Division title.

Defensive Preview

Miami’s defense finished 28^th in the nation in 2008, allowing just 317 yards per game.  In the same season, the defense played championship caliber football—and weak, uninspired football. Which Hurricane defense shows up in 2009 will go a long way in determining the Hurricanes’ bowl fate.

Miami finished 44^th in the nation in pass-efficiency defense, yet they only managed 4 total interceptions on the season. The starting secondary in 2009 combined for a whopping zero interceptions in 2008. And this is the same program that produced four first round picks (Phillip Buchanon, Mike Rumph, Sean Taylor, Ed Reed) out of the same secondary just 7 or 8 years ago!

Early in the year, Miami held national champion Florida to just 89 yards rushing and 26 total points; a month later, they allowed 440 yards (including a whopping 280 on the ground) to an unspectacular Florida State team. In November, Miami’s defense held Virginia Tech star RB Darren Evans to just 43 yards on 17 carries; but in December, Jahvid Best torched the Hurricanes for 186 yards on just 20 carries.

Fortunately for Miami fans, the starting lineup is very experienced this year (7 seniors, only 2 underclassmen), thanks largely to the return of former starters who missed 2008 with injuries. This extra experience could help out with Miami’s inconsistency woes. As usual, Miami is stocked with talent and speed at pretty much all positions, especially defensive line. This defensive unit will be one of the top 20 defenses in the nation this fall.

Defensive Line

DE- Eric Moncur

Moncur was a monster in 2007, finishing with 48 tackles, 11.5 TFL and 6 sacks. He appeared in just 4 games last year due to injury issues, but he racked up 2.5 TFL and 2 sacks in those games. He will be one of many great defensive linemen in the ACC this year.

DE- Marcus Robinson

Robinson is a speedy end who could be one of the ACC’s best in 2009. As a true freshman, he picked up 35 tackles and an astonishing 9 TFL and 4 sacks. If he increases those totals this fall, good luck finding time to throw the ball against Miami.

DT- Allen Bailey

At 6’4 285, Bailey blends size and quickness like some of the great Miami DT’s of the past decade. He ended up 2008 with 24 tackles, 9 TFL, and 5 sacks, impressive numbers for a DT.

DT- Joe Joseph

Joe Joseph is a mammoth inside at 6’3 300 lb. He is Miami’s least proven starting d-linemen, but he produced well in 2008, finishing with 17 tackles, 4.5 TFL and a sack.

Also watch out for: DE Ojomo (22 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 sacks) and DT Marcus Forston (18 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3 sacks)

Linebackers

LB- Colin McCarthy

McCarthy returns to the Canes’ starting lineup after missing most of 2008 with a shoulder injury. The defense struggled without him, and his return could be a big boost for the defense.

LB- Sean Spence (65 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 2 sacks)

Sean Spence weighs only 202 lbs, but his production at linebacker was exceptional last fall.  He brings a ton of speed to the position, yet he can still hold up against more powerful running backs like Darren Evans.

LB- Daryl Sharpton (58 tackles, 6 TFL, 1.5 sacks)

Sharpton might be the leader of the defense. He performed well in McCarthy’s absence, and should have a solid senior season in Coral Gables.

Secondary

CB- Chavez Grant (25 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0 INT)

CB- Ryan Hill (34 tackles, 0 INT)

S- Joseph Nicolas (28 tackles, 0 INT)

S- Randy Phillips

Phillips returns to the lineup in 2009 after picking up an extra year of eligibility.

Know Your Enemies 2 (Coastal)- Georgia Tech Preview

Georgia Tech

Offense

One of the great debates in the ACC this offseason has been whether or not ACC defensive coordinators will adjust to—and ultimately slow down—Paul Johnson’s genius triple option attack in 2009-2010.

In some ways, it seems like the anti-option debaters have a point. UNC clipped the Jackets 28-7 after having an extra bye week to prepare; and LSU destroyed GT 38-3 after a month of bowl preparation. It’s easy to see the connection: more time to prepare, more success. Right?

Paul Johnson says no. (http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/gatech/stories/2009/06/09/georgia_tech_offense.html) . And he’s got a load of stats backing him up.

First of all, the man can win games. He helped Hawaii get its first ever bowl win. He tied an NCAA record with 50 wins in his first four seasons at Georgia Southern, two of them national championships. He made Navy football relevant again, leading the Midshipmen to wins over Pitt, Notre Dame, ECU and UConn. And he shocked the ACC in 2008 by winning 9 games.

In all of those wins in all of those locations, he ran the same option offense. And it always worked.

But there’s another common link in those losses to UNC, LSU, and VT: powerful defensive tackles on the opposing squad. And if there’s a way to bust out the can of Raid on Paul Johnson’s Jacket offense, it’s taking away the middle. But good luck doing it.

The 2009 offensive unit returns QB Josh Nesbitt, the whole gang of running backs(who averaged 7.4  yards per carry last year as a unit), and 3 starting offensive linemen. There’s no reason to think that this old-school Nebraska-esque offense can’t rush for 300 yards per game in 2009.

QB: Josh Nesbitt (43% passing 2 TD, 5 INT, 96 QB rating; 693 yards rushing, 7 TD) and Jaybo Shaw (63% passing, 194 rating; 200 yards rushing, 3 TD)

Nesbitt was recruited as a passing QB, but he has quickly adapted to Johnson’s option scheme. His phenomenal 08 campaign included a 151 yard effort at Virginia Tech and a 93 yard game vs. Miami. Nesbitt could definitely improve as a passer, but his 43% completion percentage shouldn’t be taken too seriously. When the Jackets “threw”, it was mostly well down the field to keep defenses on their toes.

It takes 4 Hurricanes to bring down one Yellow Jacket? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ov4d_WPipg

RB: Jonathan Dwyer (1395 yards 12 TD, 7 ypc; 200 yards receiving, 26 ypc)

All-ACC selection Jonathan Dwyer was the best ACC running back this past fall, and he should be again in 2009. He brought a lot of speed and toughness to the inside handoff, averaging an eye-popping 9 yards per carry on first down (11 ypc on first down at home).  However, when opponents managed to neutralize Dwyer, they also neutralized Georgia Tech. Dwyer averaged just 59 yards on 4 ypc in losses to VT, UVa, UNC* and LSU.

Check out a little Dwyer Power.( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyLIiq1CmMQ)

*In this calculation, I chose not to include Dwyer’s 85 yard TD run with 6 minutes left and UNC up 21-0. I considered the game “already decided” at this point. Dwyer finished the game with 22 carries for 157 yards.

RB: Roddy Jones (690 yards rushing 8.5 ypc, 4 TD; 155 yards receiving, 19 ypc, TD)

If Dwyer was the sting of the Yellow Jacket option game, Jones was the wings. As a freshman, Jones led the nation in yards per carry with 8.5. (His yards per reception (19.4) wasn’t too shabby either). Most people know him from his 13 carry 214 yard performance at Georgia, but he averaged 7 yards per carry in the other games, too.

Reverend Jim Jones could have run through this hole. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hlw2SOMp6I&feature=related

RB: Anthony Allen

This 6’1 225 lb Louisville transfer rushed for 20 TDs in two seasons of college football. He should see some carries after sitting out last season.

RB/FB: Lucas Cox (200 yards, 7.7 ypc, 3 TD)

Lucas Cox quietly punished defenses (if you don’t count the helmets he smashed into) in 2008 from the fullback position. At 6’0 238 lb, he brought a little power to the running game. (Notice how I didn’t make the painfully obvious thunder and lightning simile; if I hear that one more time about any rushing tandem, I’m going to send the commentator to Ron Cherry public speaking camp. )

Close your eyes, Miami fans. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo4-4Ru-EXQ&feature=related)

WR: Demaryius Thomas (627 yards, 3 TD, 16 ypc)

At 6’3 229 lb, Thomas looks more like a linebacker than a wide receiver. (Usually when you’re a wide receiver in this offense, it doesn’t really matter what you look like.) He had some big games (230 yards against Dook), but mostly his role was to make sure the other team’s cornerbacks had something to think about other than the ice bath that awaited them in the locker room after being cut blocked every play.

Offensive Line

Nick Claytor (T), Austin Barrick (T), Cord Howard (G), Joseph Gilbert (G), Dan Voss (C)

The Jackets have to replace both offensive tackles, including NFL 6^th round pick Andrew Gardner. Maybe I’m being a little superficial here, but Barrick checks in at just 254 pounds and he’s a tackle. At that size, he will be smaller than most ACC defensive ends and some ACC linebackers. That could be a major concern, especially on rare passing downs. The offseason was tough for the line, as a number of players spent time in the training room with injuries.

But with another year of experience in the option offense, I think the line should be improved from last season, when some folks considered them the team’s weak link (http://myespn.go.com/blogs/acc/0-6-222/Hope-and-concern–Georgia-Tech.html ).

Offensive Questions:

Can the Jackets develop any kind of passing game to keep defenses more honest? Can they successfully replace their offensive tackles? Will they be able to beat teams with powerful defensive interior lines?

Defensive Preview

Georgia Tech finished 25^th in the nation in total defense in 2008 (313.5 yards per game). They have a small, fast defense that (pun intended) swarms well to the ball.

They lose three queen bees from last year’s hive: Michael Johnson (17.5 TFL, 9 sacks), Daryl Richard (10 TFL, 4 sacks), and Vance Walker (8.5 TFL, 3 sacks) were the strength of the defense in 2008. All of them will be playing on Sundays this year.

However, the return of Morgan Burnett, Derrick Morgan, Cooper Taylor, and Sedric Griffin should make rewaxing the hive a little bit easier. This could be a top 25 defense again, but with the losses of so much defensive line talent, I’d guess the defense finishes around 40^th or so in the nation.

Defensive Line

DE Derrick Morgan (51 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries)

Morgan put up big numbers in 2008, but they might have been inflated by the presence of Johnson, Richard and Walker on the inside. He’ll certainly face a lot more double teams this year than he did last year.

DE Robert Hall (13 tackles, 1.5 TFL)

Hall is light (248 lb) on the scale and light on experience. He’ll be hard-pressed to put up half the tackles for loss and sacks that Johnson produced in 2008.

DT Ben Anderson (2 tackles, 2 TFL, sack)

Anderson didn’t play much in 2008, but when he did, it looks like he made a few big plays.

DT Jason Peters (5 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks; four star DE prospect class of 2007)

Peters was a highly rated DE recruit coming out of high school, and he moved to DT at Georgia Tech. As with Anderson, he didn’t play a lot but he produced at a pretty high rate. He could be the next great Jackets lineman.

*JC Lanier (4 star prospect, class of 2009)- Also keep an eye out for JC Lanier, a 4 star DT prospect from the class of 2009 who will be a true freshman this fall.

Linebackers

LB Sedric Griffin (53 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks)

Griffin led the GT linebackers in TFL with 8. His second year starting should be even better than his first.

LB Cooper Taylor (69 tackles, INT)

Cooper Taylor is a long, rangy linebacker at 6’4 200 lbs. He fits Georgia Tech’s speedy defense, but with that size, it’s easy to see why he had 0 tackles for loss in 2008. Nonetheless, he won National Freshman of the Week honors from Rivals.com for his performance against Florida State, where he forced a fumble to save the game in the fourth quarter.

LB Brad Jefferson (24 tackles, TFL)

At 6’2 236 lb, Jefferson is the strongest player on the Jacket defense. If he can overcome injury problems, he should have a good year in 2009.

Secondary

S Morgan Burnett (93 tackles, 7 TFL, 7 INT, FF)

Burnett had one of the best sophomore seasons of any defensive player in the country. He tied for 3^rd in the nation in interceptions, and yet he was still strong in run support.

S Dominique Reese (44 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 3 INT)

Reese did a great job in his first season as a starter, although he too struggled with injuries.

CB Mario Butler (41 tackles, 3.5 TFL, INT)

Yet another Georgia Tech defender who excelled in his first year as a starter, Butler should be strong again in 2009.

CB Rashaad Reid (45 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 INT)

Reid earned 2^nd team freshman All-America honors in 2008.

Defensive Questions:

Can Morgan thrive without Walker, Richard and Johnson to soak up double teams? Will the linebackers be able to hold up against the run without the same power up front on the defensive line?

Know Your Enemies 1 (Coastal)- Virginia Tech Preview

ACC COASTAL PREVIEW

VT- OFFENSE

In 2008, the Hokie offense sputtered against Pirates, Hilltoppers, Hurricanes, and Paladins alike.

It was the 11^th best offense in an offense-deprived ACC and without a doubt the weakest Hokie offense in the last 15 years. I’m pretty sure it was also the worst offense ever to have won a BCS bowl game.

Before I go on, I’ll give the Hokie fans a second to retort with the usual BS. Yes, you won games. Yes, you backed into the ACC title game. Yes, you defeated a subpar Cincinnati team in a who-cares kind of Orange Bowl game. But with that nasty Bud Foster defense, you could have celebrated a much more meaningful bowl win—like a BCS bowl that didn’t have the Putt-Putt logo as its mascot.

So let’s get back to the task at hand. How terrible was the 2008 offense?

-          The offense averaged fewer yards per game (303.4 ypg) than Duke.

-          Only ONE wide receiver (Jarrett Boykin) managed to catch a TD.

-          Starting QB Tyrod Taylor had a 1:3 TD to INT ratio and a passer rating behind every other starting QB in the conference—including UVa’s  Marc “Vertical” Verica.

-          Sean Glennon was on the team.

-          Fans got excited when a 285 pound tight end came into the game to take direct snaps.

-          The offensive line couldn’t pancake anyone and probably couldn’t block Aunt Jemimah either.

I’d watch a hot dog eating contest between Charlie Weis and Ralph Friedgen before I watched the 2008 VT offense again.

Don’t go tossing turkey legs just yet, though. There is reason to think that offensive mastermind Bryan “Dynamo Stynamo” Stinespring will commandeer a much more explosive offense in 2009.

QB: Tyrod Taylor ((1036 yards, 2 TD 7 INT, 103 passer rating; 700 rushing yds, 5 TD)

Virginia Tech’s most dangerous plays in 2008 were the QB draw and the failed-passing play turned QB draw. As effective as Tyrod was on the ground, I have to think that Stinespring will be much more reluctant to run Tyrod this year. Why? Virginia Tech’s offense is one sprained ankle away from hopping aboard the Ju-Ju train for the remainder of the season. That being said, Taylor absolutely must improve as a passer for the Hokies to improve offensively. With more experienced receivers, he should easily quadruple his 2 TD of last season, probably finishing up with 10-15 TDs through the air in the 2009 campaign. Check out the 73 yard run vs. UVa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO6FiQcFFec&feature=related)

RB Darren Evans (1265 yards 11 TD; 119 yards receiving)

Evans had one of the best high school careers in history, and he followed it up with an exceptional freshman season. He wasn’t as explosive as a Kevin Jones or as dangerous as a Lee Suggs, but he ran hard and didn’t lose much yardage. When Evans struggled, the Hokies had a lot of trouble winning. In four VT losses, he averaged only 46 yards on 15 carries (3 ypc) while in VT wins, he averaged 106 yards and 4.8 ypc.

RB Ryan Williams (4 star recruit; 12 touches for 151 yards 2 TD in Spring Game)

Ryan Williams might be the most highly anticipated recruit at Virginia Tech since Kevin Jones. After redshirting this past season, Williams looked amazing in the spring and should see a lot of touches on offense in the fall. His presence will give the RB Coach Billy Hite the 2 RB system that he loves (Suggs/Jones, Stith/Kendrick, Imoh/Humes). Check out his high-school highlight reel and you’ll see his Reggie Bush type elusiveness. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpTT-PbxsTE&feature=related)

WR- Danny Coale, Jarrett Boykin, Dyrell Roberts, Brandon Dillard

Young receivers Danny Coale (408 yards, 0 TD), Jarrett Boykin (441 yards 2 TD), and Dyrell Roberts (227 yards, TD) should definitely improve as sophomores while redshirt-freshman Xavier Boyce should also contribute nicely. All these guys need to do is earn just a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T, and they’ll find out what it means to be part of a very dangerous offensive unit.

TE- Greg Boone, Andre Smith, Sam Wheeler

At tight end, the Hokies return enormous tight end Greg Boone (278 yards, 2 TD) and Andre Smith (129 yards, TD). There’s not a lot of speed there, but it should be a solid position for VA-Tech.

Watch out for top 30 recruit Logan Thomas—a 5 star recruit in the class of 2009—to step in and play early for Dynamo Stynamo’s offensive unit.

Offensive Line- Blake DeChristopher, Jaymes Brooks, Beau Warren, Greg Nosal, Ed Wang, Sergio Render

The offensive line actually played pretty well in the Orange Bowl—racking up 398 yards and 20 points against a pretty solid Cincinnati defense. Ed Wang should continue to improve and so should potential first round pick Sergio Render.

Make no mistake about it. This offense will be a run-first offense—and it will not be one of the best 25 offenses nationally. Either way, it will be better than last year’s punt-first offense, so Hokie fans should be excited for a turn-around in 2009.

QUESTIONS

What happens if Tyrod Taylor goes down with another ankle injury? (Can you say Clayton Homes Mobile Bowl?) Can the offensive line survive an injury? Who kicks field goals when Stynespring ruins a drive with the Wild Turkey? And when is Stinespring going to bust out the TE pass with Greg Boone?

DEFENSIVE PREVIEW:

In 2008, Virginia Tech finished 7^th in the nation in total defense (278 yards per game). For many programs, that would be a peak performance. For Hokie defensive coordinator Bud Foster, it’s nothing special.

Virginia Tech’s defense has been almost impenetrable since Foster made some minor system tweaks in 2004. It’s easy to assume that Virginia Tech will finish top 10 in the nation in defense—again—in 2009. However, we don’t know much about new starting CB Rashad Carmichael and there’s not a lot of depth on the defensive line.

Other than a major injury—those are the only things that could hold this defense back from being top 15 in 2009.

Defensive Line

DE- Jason Worilds (18.5 TFL, 8 sacks)- Worilds might just be the best DE in the entire ACC. He played through a nagging shoulder injury and still dominated in 2008. He will face more double teams this year with the departure of dominant DE Orion Martin. Look for Worilds to perform better and better as the season wears on and the Hokies develop a 2^nd threat at defensive end.

DE- Nekos Brown (22 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks) or John Graves (26 tackles 4 TFL)- Brown started two out of 14 games in 2008; Graves started all 14 at Defensive Tackle.

DT- Demetrius Taylor (12 tackles, 1.5 TFL)-Taylor doesn’t have a lot of experience, and his size could cause problems for the Hokies’ interior run defense. But he gained some weight this offseason and also achieved Super Iron Hokie honors for his impressive weightlifting results.

DT- Cordarrow Thompson (27 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3 sacks)- Kordarrow “Taco” Thompson has been working really hard this summer according to teammate John Graves. He’s a monster at 6’2 305 lbs and his power should cause problems for opponents’ running games.

Linebackers

LB- Cody Grimm/Cam Martin- Grimm looks like a safety, but he produces like any other great VT linebacker. He terrorized opponents in 2008 with 14.5 TFL and 7 sacks. He will split time with injury-prone Cam Martin (51 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks).

LB- Barquell Rivers- Rivers (5’11 229) has a similar build to former Hokie Mikal Baaqee. He finished with just 10 tackles in limited action in 2008. I imagine he’ll be yet another solid Hokie linebacker.

LB- Jake Johnson- Johnson is a redshirt freshman. As a senior in high school, he was ranked as the #52 linebacker in the nation. Johnson has already become a Super Iron Hokie, so physically he’s well prepared for game action. As for the mental side of things, we’ll have to see.

Solid in the Secondary

CB- Stephen Virgil- Out goes one all-star corner, in comes another. The coveted boundary corner spot on the Hokies defense appears solid again after the departure of All-American Macho Harris. Virgil replaces him after picking off 6 passes in 2008.

CB- Rashad Carmichael- Carmichael notched 12 tackles in 14 games last year, only one of which he started. Look for opponents to really attack Carmichael this season because they will certainly avoid Virgil.

FS- Kam Chancellor- Recruited as a QB, Chancellor has blossomed into one of the best safeties in the nation. He’s fast, he’s athletic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6PC-drS9IA&feature=related), and oh yeah…he’s 6’3 225 lbs and he benches 380 lbs.

SS- Dorian Porch- Porch had 48 tackles, 4 TFL and an INT in 2008. He’s no Chancellor, but he’s certainly a serviceable safety.