Battle of the Baby Blues: UNC vs. Citadel Preview

Battle of the Baby Blues: UNC vs. Citadel Preview

They call it Tar Heel (and not Bulldog) blue for a reason.

All-time series: UNC has won all three meetings, including a 45-14 win in 1986

The Citadel

2008: 4-8 (2-6 in Southern Conference play); 0-2 vs. FBS teams (45-17 loss @ Clemson and a 70-19 loss @ Florida)

Head Coach: Kevin Higgins

Quotable: (from the Citadel Media Guide)

“Prior to his appointment at the helm of Bulldog football, Higgins served as the quarterbacks coach for his first three years with the Lions and was responsible for the tutoring and developing of Detroit’s first-round draft pick, quarterback Joey Harrington.”

Now there's a résumé builder...

Fun Facts:

1) The Citadel had a respectable 4-2 home record in 2008. However, more fans attended their 70-19 loss at Florida than all of the Bulldogs’ home games combined.

2) When the Citadel orders its uniforms from Nike, it orders the color “Carolina blue.”…Don’t believe me? http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/sep/01/citadel-blue-over-tar-heels-size-speed/

Citadel Offense vs. North Carolina Defense

Although the Citadel has not made it to the FCS playoffs since 1992, the Bulldogs have actually had a pretty solid track record on offense in recent years. Coordinator Dave Cecchini led the Bulldogs to the 4^th best scoring offense in the nation in 2007, and it was no fluke. He’s also produced some monster offenses as offensive coordinator at Harvard (seriously, Harvard) and Lehigh.

Cecchini tries to employ a balanced, spread scheme—exactly the kind of scheme that allows speedy, but less talented FCS teams to hang around FBS opponents (Remember McNeese State?). In 2007, Cecchini’s balanced offense went to Madison and put up 4 TD in a 45-31 loss to a 9 win Wisconsin team.

As bad as the Citadel team was in 2008, the offense wasn’t to blame, converting an impressive 43% of third downs and finishing top 50 in the nation in both scoring offense (27.3 points per game) and total offense (364.3 yards per game). Arguably the 3 most important pieces of last year’s offensive unit return in QB Bart Blanchard, WR Andre Roberts, and LT Daniel DeHaven.

That being said, Cecchini is linguini thin at a number of key positions after a rough offseason for the offensive unit. Last year’s leading rusher Asheton Jordan (849 total yards, 4 TD) was dismissed from the team for an honor code violation while 2^nd leading rusher Terrell Dallas spent the offseason recovering from a torn ACL suffered in a 70-19 loss to Florida. Additionally, the Dogs graduate 3 starters from last year’s offensive line while also losing All-Southern Conference TE Taylor Cornett and 3 of the top 5 receivers on the 2008 squad.

Quarterback

R-SOPH QB Bart Blanchard (2436 yards, 19 TD 11 INT; 130.9 passer rating)

Blanchard is a solid FCS quarterback with a lot of experience and a pretty decent skill set. As a sophomore in 2007, Blanchard had an eye-popping 162.98 passer rating. That, and the fact that he managed 279 passing yards at Clemson last fall make me think that Bart can definitely sling the rock around. At 200 lbs, he’s rushed for about 200 yards in each of the last two seasons (including 27 yards against Clemson), so at the very least, he’s a moderate running threat. Blanchard has had some turnover problems against Florida and Clemson (who wouldn’t though?), and he cannot afford to make such mistakes in Chapel Hill on Saturday.

Backup Cam Turner missed all of Spring Practice with a torn labrum, but he’s a capable replacement if Blanchard goes down. Turner had a respectable outing, going 15-30 with 169 yards, a TD and 2 picks in a game at Florida last fall.

Running Back

The Bulldogs aren’t going to scare anyone at the tailback position this fall. After the loss of Asheton Jordan, it’s almost certain that Cecchini will employ a running back by committee approach. However, one glance at the Media Guide makes the running back committee seem a lot more like a TORN-ACL support group. Along with SOPH Terrell Dallas (torn ACL vs. Florida), expected contributors R-FRESH Rickey Anderson (season ending knee injury in week 5) and SOPH John Shaw (2008 knee injury) will also be going from crutches to rushes in 2009, and that has to be a concern for Cecchini. 5’6 165 lb. Christian Graham was listed as the backup during Spring Practice and should also see time.

MATCHUP:

9/2/09! UPDATE: Citadel RBs Rickey Anderson, Terrell Dallas  and Van Dyke Jones will not play in the game due to various injuries. That means that the Citadel’s top two RBs on the depth chart will be walk-ons: 5’8 180 lb RB Remi Biankabatuka (the younger brother of former Michigan RB Tim Biankabatuka) and 5’10 195 lb freshman Bucky Kennedy.

The Tar Heels struggled to defend the read option in last season’s opener vs. McNeese State, so expect the Bulldogs to try that route in the early going. I don’t expect the Bulldogs to have any luck on the ground though with two inexperienced walk-ons sharing the load in the backfield. Plus, the Tar Heels’ slimmer, deeper defensive front has enough size and strength advantages to push the Citadel offensive linemen back and shrink the running lanes. It would be a miracle if the Bulldogs could rush for 100 yards. Coach Kevin Higgins would probably be satisfied with 20-35 carries and 100 to 140 yards on the ground.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

SR- WR Andre Roberts (1334 yards, 14 TD)

Andre Roberts (5’10 185 lbs) reminds me of a more dangerous version of former Appalachian State speedster Dexter Jackson. He’s racked up almost 3,000 career receiving yards in 3 seasons, and he’s earned 3^rd team and 1^st team All-America selections in 2007 and 2008, respectively. You might be tempted to downplay those numbers due to the lower competition that he faces in FCS play, but he had 153 yards and 2 TD on 9 catches last year in Death Valley against a very good Clemson defense. Roberts is the kind of talent (rated by many as the #1 FCS WR prospect in the 2009 class) who could spark an upset, so the Tar Heels must be aware of him at all times.

MATCHUP:

The Tar Heel secondary had most of its problems against bigger wide receivers in 2008. However, the small and quick Golden Tate of Notre Dame lit up the Tar Heel defense for 121 yards last year, and Roberts presents similar problems for us. Fortunately for UNC fans, Roberts doesn’t have a lot of help on the outside. The Citadel’s 2^nd leading returning receiver had just 86 yards in 2008.

R-JR- WR- Scott Harward (1 catch for 4 yards)

Harward is another small, quick receiver for the Bulldogs.

SOPH WR- Luke Caldwell (4 catches 86 yards, 2 TD)

Caldwell didn’t see a lot of action last year, but he did have a stellar 52 yard, TD performance at Clemson. At 6’1 205 lb, he’s the biggest of the Citadel wide-outs.

TE- BJ Phillips

Phillips committed to UNC as a 3 star QB recruit in 2006. However, things didn’t work out in Chapel Hill for the 6’6 250 lb prospect, and Phillips found a new baby blue team to play for in the Citadel Bulldogs. Phillips is a great athlete, and he shouldn’t be much of a drop off from 2008 All-Southern Conference tight end Taylor Cornett.

MATCHUP:

Phillips is unproven at the collegiate level. Given the limited role of the TE in Citadel’s offense, don’t expect much from Phillips here.  UNC’s dynamic trio of linebackers certainly have the size and speed to keep him in check though, if the Bulldogs do choose to utilize the former Tar Heel QB recruit.

Offensive Line

The Bulldogs have an offensive line situation quite similar to that of the UNC buffet busters. They return a key leader at left tackle, one player with experience at multiple positions, and a few newcomers. Leading the group is 6’5, 290 lb 5^th year senior Daniel DeHaven, a first team all-Southern Conference selection at left tackle. At center, the Bulldogs will start Mighty-Putty linemen Tommy Suggs, whose experience at all 5 positions on the line allows him to plug holes anywhere on the front. Cory Pope and Colton Clifton will man the guard spots after a few spots of playing time in the past few seasons, while former defensive linemen Lincoln Kling will play right tackle at just 273 lbs.

MATCHUP:

The Tar Heel defensive line should be able to overpower the Citadel offensive front. Tar Heel DE EJ Wilson (280 lb) is a tough, bull-rusher who actually outweighs Kling at right tackle. DTs Marvin Austin (300 lb) and Cam Thomas (320 lb) should give the guards and centers headaches on the interior as well. Also, watch for 5 star recruit Donte Paige-Moss to use his speed on the outside to outmaneuver the Bulldog offensive tackles. As if all of that isn’t bad news enough for the Citadel, the Tar Heels will play at least 10 defensive linemen in this game, wearing down the already thin Bulldog offensive line.

DEFENSE

Isaac Collins’ Bulldog defense returns 10 starters, but is that a good thing or a bad thing? Last year’s unit had a lot more bark than bite, finishing 103^rd in the nation in scoring defense (32.8 points per game) and 90^th in the nation in total defense (389.4 yards per game).

While the Bulldogs do sport two All-Southern Conference linemen in Terrence Reese and DeWitt Jones, they’re small in the front 7 where they were manhandled against Clemson (252 yards, 7.4 yards per carry) and Florida (394 rush yards, 10.6 yards per carry). Despite its smaller size, the front 4 was not speedy enough to pressure the quarterback or force a lot of turnovers (They were 102^nd in the nation in forced turnovers, 93^rd in sacks, and 111^th in tackles for loss.). Making matters worse, the secondary allowed opposing QBs to throw for a Tim-Tebow-esque 26 TD and just 3 INT.

This year’s Citadel defense should be better, almost by default. 8 of the 10 returning starters are upperclassmen.

Defensive Line

SR DE- DeWitt Jones (66 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 4 sacks)

rJR DE- Eric Clanton (22 tackles, 5 TFL, 2.5 sacks)

rFR DT- DeMarrio Sims (redshirted in 2008)

SR DT- Terrence Reese (49 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks)

MATCHUP:

On paper, this is the Bulldogs’ best matchup against an inexperienced UNC offensive line. Reese and Jones are proven playmakers, but can anyone else step up to take the pressure off the Bulldogs’ all-Southern Conference duo? Freshman DeMarrio Sims is just 255 lbs at defensive tackle, and should be tested early by a heavy dose of inside running plays. Clanton and Jones are solid at the end position, but they will struggle in the strength department against Tar Heel tackles Kyle Jolly (6’6 300 lb) and Mike Ingersoll (6’5 300 lb). The Citadel will struggle to pressure TJ Yates with the front four. It’s also worth noting that Tar Heel short yardage specialist Ryan Houston is bigger than both of the Citadel’s defensive ends. There’s the difference between FCS football and big boy football right there.

Linebackers

SR MLB- Jordan Gilmore (93 tackles, 2 TFL, 1.5 sacks, INT)

SOPH SLB- Tolu Akindele (20 tackles, TFL, sack)

JR WLB- Mel Capers (63 tackles, 1.5 TFL, INT)

All three linebackers have ample starting experience. However, as with the defensive line, this unit is small and vulnerable against bigger FBS opponents. Gilmore and Akindele both stand just 5’10, while Capers is listed at 5’9 175 lb, or in Tar Heel terms, about the size of CB Kendric Burney.

MATCHUP:

This trio had almost no success getting to the QB in 2008, and I don’t expect that to change on Saturday. Look for Tar Heel TE Zack Pianalto and H-back Christian Wilson to take advantage of major size advantages in the intermediate passing game. On the ground, RBs Ryan Houston, Shaun Draughn, and Jamal Womble will all punish the linebacking corps. if (and this is a major if with this Tar Heel offensive front) the Heels offensive line can get them to the 2^nd level.

Secondary

SR CB- Ryan Jones (37 tackles, TFL)

JR CB- Cortez Allen (39 tackles, 2 TFL)

SOPH S- DeMontrell Smith (36 tackles, TFL, INT)

Smith made the freshman All-Conference team in 2008.

JR S- Demetrius Jackson (45 tackles)

MATCHUP:

The Tar Heel receiving corps. might be under scrutiny, but it’s certainly not undersized. Almost every Tar Heel wide receiver is large and physical, and that could be an issue for the Citadel. Cortez Allen is big and strong at 6’2 185 lb, but the other defensive backs all give up 5 to 8 inches to the UNC receivers.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker: rSOPH Sam Keeler 12 of 19 FG (long of 38 yards); 36 of 41 PATs

Punter: r-FRESH Cass Couey

Punt/Kick Returns:

WR Andre Roberts led the nation in punt returns last year at 19.3 yards per return. He took three punts back to Casa Grande, and he has the speed to make a few more trips there this fall.

MATCHUP:

Roberts is especially scary to Tar Heel coaches, but he’s far from the only Special Teams concern. First of all, Casey Barth has very little experience as the kickoff man. He is not known for his strong leg, so most of the time, the Citadel will have a chance to return kicks. Second of all,  the Heels will be breaking in a new punter in Grant Schallock or CJ Feagles in the opening game vs. Citadel. Neither one has played in a meaningful college game situation. If they take longer than 2.2 seconds to punt, Citadel special teams demon Mel Capers (9 career blocked kicks) could make them pay with a block. The injuries of Tar Heel special teams captains Ryan Taylor and Matt Merletti also are major blows to the Tar Heels special teams play and could factor in the success of the punt and punt coverage teams.

However, the Bulldog kicking game could face some problems of its own. Sam Keeler made just 12 of 19 FG with a long of 38 yards last year. He also missed 5 extra points. It’s also worth noting that the Citadel will be breaking in a new punter in Cass Couey. If the pressure slows down his delivery, Bruce Carter (5 blocked punts in 2008) could smother another punt for a huge momentum changing Tar Heel touchdown.

Citadel Game Plan

If I were Citadel Coach Kevin Higgins, I would pray (or dance) to the rain gods for a sloppy, muddy, ugly field of play. Then, I’d  throw every possible blitz at the inexperienced Tar Heel offensive line. I would stack everyone at the line of scrimmage to completely neutralize the Tar Heel running game and force QB TJ Yates to complete longer passes to a young group of receivers. Higgins certainly doesn’t have FBS talent on this team, but this same strategy worked for WVU, NCSU, Maryland, and Virginia Tech last year. And let’s not forget—it almost worked for FCS opponent McNeese State in last year’s 35-27 loss in Chapel Hill.

On offense, I’d get the ball to 1st team all-America WR Andre Roberts as much as possible, whether that means employing the Wild Bulldog formation, lots of bubble screens, or consistent down field targets—I’d try to match up Roberts on CBs Jordan Hemby and Charlie Brown as much as possible because CB Kendric Burney is a shutdown guy on the other side.

I’d run lots of read-option and lots of mis-direction running plays to test whether or not all of this offseason yammering about the improved conditioning of the Tar Heel defensive line had any truth to it. Rolling out QB Bart Blanchard as much as possible would be another effective way to see how many rolls the UNC front four still has under their jerseys after a tough offseason training program. In the early going, I’d try some fireworks (flea flicker, halfback pass, double pass) to snag an early lead and silence a notoriously subdued Kenan Stadium crowd. After all, if the Bulldogs get down early and are forced to throw to come back, things will get Al Groh-sweatshirt ugly in a hurry.

North Carolina Game Plan

If I’m UNC Defensive Coordinator Everett Withers, I keep it simple in the opener. I wouldn’t want to show any of the new Tar Heel blitz packages until the Sept. 12 game at Connecticut, so I’d stick to the vanilla, tampa-2 and cover-3 defensive schemes we ran so often last year and let the defensive line try to take over the game. I’d let my players know that this is the type of game that great teams dominate at the line of scrimmage and I’d challenge them to create pressure and take away the run. The USCs, the Floridas, and the Virginia Techs of college football do not lose focus in games like this—instead, they use it as an opportunity to get better.

If Citadel WR Andre Roberts makes some big catches early, I’d try to double team him because there are no other proven receiving threats on the Bulldog roster.

Offensively, I’d preach a similar message. When great teams have major size and talent advantages, they don’t lose focus (again: see last year’s 35-27 win over FCS McNeese St). They stick it to the opponent. Techsideline.com, the premiere source of Virginia Tech football coverage, has called the UNC offense “finesse,” and justifiably so. Until the Tar Heel offensive linemen take games like this personally and start punishing opposing defensive lines, the Heels will not be a legitimate ACC title contender.

In the passing game, I would use this opportunity to see what we have. The coaches have talked about a diversification of the passing game—meaning more throws to the backs and tight ends—and this could be the perfect game to see that growth. H-Back Christian Wilson and TE Zack Pianalto have major size and speed advantages against the short Citadel linebackers, and they might be very effective working across the middle of the field.

The Citadel wins if…

-          UNC QB TJ Yates goes down early with an injury, and backup Mike Paulus struggles under pressure. The Citadel stacks 8 men in the box, forcing Paulus to throw downfield to an inexperienced group of receivers.

-         QB Bart Blanchard plays the game of his life, finishing with a few TDs and no turnovers.  Citadel WR Andre Roberts scores through the air and on a punt return while the Tar Heel receivers struggle heavily without Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate.

-          The Tar Heel defense gets torched by the read option, giving up 200+ yards rushing.

Tar Heel Newcomers to Watch

#98 DE Donte Paige-Moss- Moss was the the prized recruit of the 2009 Tar Heel recruiting class. Rated as the #17 overall prospect in the nation by Rivals.com, Moss is a talented, speed rushing end who could help inject some life into the Tar Heels pass rush. He’s currently listed as 3rd on the depth chart at Right DE behind Michael McAdoo and Robert Quinn.

#26 CB Mywan Jackson- Jackson has snuck up to 3rd on the depth chart at cornerback. This speedy Floridian could see time in nickel and dime packages.

#3 WR Josh Adams- Once rated as a 5 star WR recruit by Rivals.com, the 6’4 Adams enrolled last spring to get a head start on learning the offense. He’s apparently learned quickly because he’s 2nd on the depth chart at wide receiver, and already one of the Tar Heels most dangerous threats in the passing game.

#34 WR Johnny White- I’m sure you remember Johnny White, the former running back (399 yards rushing in 2007) who’s seen his name shuffled all over the depth chart. He’s not a freshman, but I included him on this list because his speed and ball skills have landed him the #2 receiver slot behind Greg Little. He’s also the starting kick returner, where he averaged over 25 yards per return last fall.

NOTE (9/3/09): Dwight Jones will be having arthroscopic knee surgery after experiencing pain in his knee earlier this week. He will not play, meaning that freshman Josh Adams will start.

Tarheeltds’ Score Prediction:

UNC 37 Citadel 9

For an in-depth breakdown of the Tar Heels offense and defense, check out some other posts from Tarheeltds!

http://tarheeltds.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/early-preview-unc-defense/

All other posts are located at tarheeltds.wordpress.com. Thanks for reading, and Go Heels!

Tarheeltds’ PREDICTED ACC STANDINGS

ACC STANDINGS

All the previewing and prognosticating that I’ve done this summer has all led to this point: the prediction of the preseason ACC standings.

If I picked your team to tumble down the standings, tough potatoes. Chances are, I’m right. Sell your season tickets, and take up golf. After all, if you’re not at the stadium for the embarrassing losses, you can’t be seen leaving early! (Basketball season’s right around the corner anyway, right?)

If you think I’m just a clueless, “arrogant” homer Tar Heel, take a closer look at my predictions…

These predictions come from my gut, but they’re informed by many, many hours of watching, listening, and reading about ACC football.

Boston College 4-8 (1-7)

Northeastern                    W 26-7

Kent State                           W 27-10

@Clemson                          L 10-30

Wake Forest                      L 16-23

Florida State                       L 13-34

@ Virginia Tech                 L 6-27

NC State                              L 24-30

@ Notre Dame                  L 16-26

Central Mich.                     W 28-24

@ Virginia                            W 17-13

North Carolina                   L 10-24

@ Maryland                       L 23-31

Clemson 8-4 (6-2)

MTSU                                    W 38-12

@ Georgia Tech                W 24-23

Boston College                  W 30-10

Texas Christian                  L 17-20

@ Maryland                       W 26-14

Wake Forest                      W 27-17

@ Miami                              L 14-21

Coastal Carolina                W 52-6

Florida State                       L 27-20

@ NCSU                               W 38-22

Virginia                                 W 30-18

@ South Car.                      L 21-20

Duke 4-8 (1-7)

Richmond                            W 16-10

@ Army                                W 28-13

@ Kansas                             L 21-38

NC Central                          W 37-11

Virginia Tech                      L 6-34

@ NC State                         L 21-31

Maryland                             L 21-27

@ Virginia                            L 20-23

@ North Carolina             L 13-30

Georgia Tech                     L 7-20

@ Miami                              L 17-26

Wake Forest                      W 23-14

Florida State 9-3 (6-2)

Miami                                   W 21-10

Jax. State                             W 49-0

@ BYU                                  W 31-28

South Florida                     W 24-20

@ BC                                     W 34-13

Georgia Tech                     L 26-18

@ North Carolina             L 24-13

NC State                              W 35-23

@ Clemson                         W 27-20

@ Wake Forest                 W 16-9

Maryland                             W 26-16

@ Florida                             L 42-10

Georgia Tech 9-3 (5-3)

Jax. State                             W 45-17

Clemson                              L 23-24

@ Miami                              W 23-22

North Carolina                   L 13-26

@ Miss. State                    W 33-7

@ FSU                                   W 26-18

Virginia Tech                      L 10-14

@ Virginia                            W 28-25

@ Vandy                              W 34-9

Wake Forest                      W 20-10

@ Duke                              W 20-7

Georgia                               W 28-17

Maryland 6-6 (3-5)

@ California                        L 23-41

JMU                                       W 33-23

Mid. Tenn. St                     W 28-10

Rutgers                                W 21-16

Clemson                              L 14-26

@ Wake                               L 20-30

Virginia                                 W 36-21

@ Duke                                  W 27-21

@ NCSU                               L 26-30

Virginia Tech                      L 9-24

@ Florida State                 L 16-26

Boston College                  W 31-23

Miami 6-6 (4-4)

@ Florida State                 L 10-21

Georgia Tech                     L 22-23

@ Virginia Tech                 L 10-19

Oklahoma                           L 16-35

Florida A&M                       W 48-0

@ UCF                                  W 31-6

Clemson                              W 21-14

@ Wake Forest                 W 26-13

Virginia                                 W 20-12

@ North Carolina             L 10-20

Duke                                     W 26-17

@ South Florida                 L 23-27

North Carolina 10-2 (6-2)

Citadel                                  W 37-9

@ UConn                             W 23-6

East Carolina                      W 22-17

@ Georgia Tech                 W 26-13

Virginia                                 W 30-17

Ga. Southern                     W 42-0

Florida State                       W 24-13

@ Virginia Tech                 L 23-13

Duke                                     W 36-20

Miami                                   W 16-7

@ Boston College            W 23-17

@ NCState                          L 26-20

NC State 7-5 (5-3)

South Carolina                   L 12-17

Murray State                     W 41-10

Gardner-Webb                 W 37-13

Pittsburgh                           L 14-21

@ Wake Forest                 W 21-20

Duke                                     W 31-21

Boston College                  W 30-24

@ Florida State                 L 23-35

Maryland                             W 30-26

Clemson                              L 22-38

@ Virginia Tech                 L 9-22

North Carolina                   W 26-20

Virginia 3-9 (1-7)

William and Mary             W 35-17

Tex. Christian                     L 10-23

@ South. Miss.                  L 27-41

@ North Carolina             L 17-30

Indiana                                 W 34-24

@ Maryland                       L 21-36

Georgia Tech                     L 25-28

Duke                                     W 23-20

@ Miami                              L 12-20

Boston College                  L 13-17

@ Clemson                         L 18-30

Virginia Tech                      L 3-24

Virginia Tech 11-1 (8-0)

Alabama                              L 10-13

Marshall                               W 40-7

Nebraska                             W 26-14

Miami                                   W 19-10

@ Duke                               W 34-6

Boston College                  W 27-6

@ Georgia Tech                  W 14-10

North Carolina                   W 23-13

@ East Carolina                 W 31-21

@ Maryland                       W 24-9

NCState                               W 22-9

@ Virginia                            W 24-3

Wake Forest 5-7 (2-6)

Baylor                                   L 34-28

Stanford                              W 23-12

Elon                                       W 43-14

@Boston College             W 23-16

NC State                              L 20-21

Maryland                             W 30-20

@ Clemson                         L 17-27

@ Navy                                 W 35-23

Miami                                   L 13-26

@ Ga. Tech                         L 10-20

Florida State                       L 9-16

@ Duke                                    L 14-23

OFFICIAL PREDICTION OF STANDINGS

Atlantic Division Standings

Team	Wins	Losses
Florida State (10-3)	6	2
Clemson (8-4)	6	2
NC State (7-5)	5	3
Maryland (6-6)	3	5
Wake Forest (5-7)	2	6
Boston College (4-8)	1	7

Coastal Division Standings

Team	Wins	Losses
Virginia Tech (11-2)	8	0
North Carolina (10-2)	6	2
Georgia Tech (9-3)	5	3
Miami (6-6)	4	4
Virginia (3-9)	1	7
Duke (4-8)	1	7

ACC Championship Game:

Florida State 21-Virginia Tech 16

Notes on this year’s ACC predictions:

1)      Coasting in the Coastal: As expected, the Coastal Division will be a lot stronger than the Atlantic Division. Virginia Tech will be the dominant team missing in the 2008 ACC, while North Carolina and Georgia Tech will both contend for New Year’s bowl games. On the other hand, the Atlantic Division will have a down year. Like the Coastal, they might just send 3-4 teams to bowls; however, the bowls Atlantic teams will be attending will be on blue fields and obscure TV networks.

2)      Where’s the mediocrity? In 2008, the ACC sent 10 teams to bowls, but none of them were threats at a National Title. In 2009, the ACC will be a lot more top-heavy, sending 7 teams to much better bowl destinations.

3)      Just bein’ frank: Frank Spaziano’s BC team will be terrible after the losses of BJ Raji, Ron Brace, and Mark Herzlich. Dave Shinskie will not be the answer at quarterback—in his quest for anyone who can throw a pass, Spaziano and Doug Flutie will petition the NCAA for a 5^th year of eligibility.

4)      Spread Thin: Gregg Brandon’s offensive spread experiment will be 4-5 fries short of an Offensive Happy Meal in Charlottesville. Al Groh will try to save his job in January by quoting his NFL résumé, but UVa AD Craig Littlepage will sting him with a touch of Jefferson: “Don’t talk about what you have done or what you are going to do”—Yes, Al—that includes that “touted” recruiting class that’s coming in next fall to save the program…

5)      Bowden Bashes: Florida State has another strong season while Miami falters again—Randy Shannon moves to the hot seat while Bobby Bowden moves a little bit closer to catching Joe Paterno.

4 UNC Question Marks

Sometimes, I doze off and BCS dreams dance like Zebra Cakes in my (probably delusional) head. Then, these four questions bubble to the top of my head like annoying internet pop-up ads…

1) Will UNC be able to generate a pass rush?

This might be the key to a successful season for UNC this fall. Undoubtedly, the loss of 5 draft picks on the offensive side of the ball shifts a lot of weight onto the defense’s shoulders this fall. As talented as the team was last year, the Heels defense finished 11th in the ACC with just 22 sacks. The starters on the super-talented defensive line combined for just 5 sacks, just 1 sack more than Ralph Friedgen’s chin.

Did someone mention Zebra Cakes?

I chalk that extremely low number up to a few things.

First of all, I think the line spent a little bit too much time on the buffet lines last year. Massive tackles Cam Thomas and Marvin Austin (each 300 lb plus last year) certainly needed bulk to clog opponents’ run games, but they were embarrassingly slow in QB scramble situations. Russell Wilson, Pat White, Chris Turner, and even Marc Verica picked the Heels apart last year because the defensive linemen simply did not have the speed to chase them down. According to senior DT Cam Thomas, this year’s slightly slimmer, definitely deeper crop of defensive linemen will be chasing plays 20-30 yards downfield. Uh oh. John Blake’s defensive line should be fresher as well with the return of all 8 players from the two deep and the addition of 4 star DT Jared McAdoo and 5 star speed rushing DE Donte Paige-Moss.

Even with all that depth, the defense won’t produce too many sacks without a more aggressive mindset from Defensive Coordinator Everett Withers. His Tampa-2, zone-heavy scheme helped force a lot of turnovers last fall, but it also gave opposing QBs way too much time. UVa’s Marc Verica could have read Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in the pocket on the Wahoos’ 80 yard 1 minute drive to tie the Heels late in Charlottesville. (After the game Verica talked about how easy it was to recognize the Cover-2 on the final drive—and his 8 TD and 16 INT last year don’t exactly speak highly of his QB vision…)  Supposedly, the defensive scheme will be much more aggressive this year. If the defense doesn’t amp up the pass rush, it might be dancing its way to the Music City Bowl, and that would be a major underachievement.

2) Can UNC run the ball effectively?

In 4 of UNC’s 5 losses last fall, the Heels had an atrocious running game. In a 20-17 loss to VT, the Heels could have made it a lot harder on the Hokies by running the ball (and the clock) in the 4th quarter, but they simply couldn’t do it. Take away his 50 yard TD in the 3rd quarter and Greg Little had 21 yards on 17 carries vs. the Hokies. Gross. The Heels had a wimpy 56, 75, and 93 yards, respectively, in losses to NCSU, Maryland, and West Virginia.

It is possible for UNC to run the football on stout ACC defenses. After all, they did run for 186 yards on a Georgia Tech defense featuring 3 NFL draft picks on the d-line in Michael Johnson, Vance Walker and Daryl Richard. However, the Heels will have to do it this fall with just 3 returning starters on the offensive line and almost no depth there. (Aaron Stahl, Garrett Reynolds, Calvin Darity, Carl Gaskins and Kevin Bryant were all lost to graduation, injury, or other reasons this summer).  Unless UNC’s running improves like Forest Gump’s, this could be yet another weak offensive team in the ACC.

3) Can TJ Yates and the O-line stay off the trainer’s table?

After backup QB-extraordinaire Cam Sexton transferred from the program this spring, Mike Paulus re-inherited the 2nd string QB position. The mere thought of a Paulus quarterbacking our football team in the event of a Yates injury terrifies me. Last year, VT D-Coordinator Bud Foster slap chopped Mike’s confidence, forcing him to go 3-8 for 23 yards and 2 INT. He followed with a 1/4 performance against Miami before getting yanked for the rest of the season. Given the probable pressure that UNC QBs will face this year and Mike Paulus’ Chris Rix-esque decision making, the Heels simply cannot afford to lose Yates.

If Mike Paulus plays, it’ll be like this. Except not quite as embarrassing.

Equally important is the health of the offensive line. There are currently 3 true freshmen in the 2 deep on the offensive line after a Final Destination type of offseason for the returning players at the position. (Carl Gaskins tore his ACL, Kevin Bryant transferred after an incident with the law, and Aaron Stahl quit football.) Any major injuries—especially to senior Left Tackle Kyle Jolly would probably mean disaster for UNC’s hopes of going to a respectable bowl.

4) Will Charlie Brown give the Heels a 2nd reliable CB?

Junior CB Charlie Brown was a good man in 2007, picking up 59 tackles, a key INT for TD against NCSU and all-ACC freshman honors. However, he struggled with injuries in 2008 and lost his job to Jordan Hemby. Consequently, teams threw the ball all over UNC at times in 2008. Brown has already won back his starting slot. If he can win back his confidence as corner in man coverage, the UNC defense could be one of the best 10 defenses in the nation.

Answer these 4 questions, Tar Heels, and we’ll be a top 10 team at season’s end. If not, MUFFLER BOWL HERE WE COME!

Tarheeltds’ ACC-Hall of Name

ACC All-Name Team

College football players are constantly divvied up onto preseason, midseason, 1/3 season and post-season all conference, all state, all-dormitory and all-America teams by tupee-wearing know-it-alls (Kiper…) and bored journalists alike.

"Dude! Mel Kiper named me 3rd team long-snapper on his All-sophomore, recovering from ankle-surgery special teamers list!"

Throughout their careers, they are branded and ordered and herded and stamped and slapped on the butt like so many cattle at an auction.

In the midst of all this performance based hype, I think sometimes we all forget to look at the shallow side of these players. Not only is the ACC blessed with boatloads of talent and hard work (on defense anyway), it’s also blessed with some of the best names in the country.

Today, I want to give a shout-out to the best-named players in the ACC. These folks might have never played a down, but today, that doesn’t matter. On the date of their births, these special players were destined for the college football Hall of Name—an exclusive pantheon of the creatively deemed— alongside Taco Wallace, Pork Chop Womack, Chris Biankabatuka and other all-time greats. You can bet they put their name tags front and center at meet-and-greets, and they should. These players have some of the best names in the country.

QB Ju-ju Clayton (2nd team: Jaybo Shaw, GT and Cannon Smith, Miami)

This was probably the hardest decision for me on the entire All-ACC team. Clayton, Shaw, and Smith all share one of the truly mysterious name patterns in college football: mobile quarterbacks with bland last names and spicy first names (see: Juice Williams, Akili Smith, D’Vontrey Richardson…and many, many more). However, Tech’s 2^nd string QB wins this battle due to the infinite, pun-ridden nickname possibilities his name presents us.

Potential nicknames: The Ju-Ju Train, (Ju)Jumanji

RB Keith Payne, Virginia

Keith hasn’t inflicted a lot of Payne on defenses in his uneventful Virginia career (255 career rushing yards), but with his size and his name, he sure looks like he could. And if he does, fans will have a bevy of nicknames to knight him with.

Potential nicknames: Major Payne, House of Payne, Payne Man

RB Montel Harris, BC

Montel makes the all-ACC names team, due to the success of Montel Williams, whose talk show earned him an Emmy Award in 1996 and imprinted his awesome name into the conscience of America. Despite having an all-conference first name, Harris has a better chance at winning an Emmy than he does of winning an ACC-title this season.

Potential Emmy Award Winning TV shows: “True Life-My Quarterback’s a 30 year old freshman” starring BC QB Dave Shinskie and Harris and featuring footage from BC’s soon to be disastrous 2009 season.

WR Taiwan Easterling, FSU

Tywon is a popular enough name, but the Asian-region spelling, combined with the “East” that appears in his last name gives Taiwan’s name quite a bit of qi and positive harmony.

Potential TD celebration: Putting a “Made in Taiwan” sticker on the football after scoring.

WR Joey McQueeney, MD

McQueeney has a pretty tolerable name—but when McDonald’s starts making hot dogs, he’s in trouble.

TE George George, VT

George might not have a number (seriously—check the roster—he doesn’t have a number), but he has an all-American, pancake block of a name. It’s short, it’s succinct, and it leaves no room for mix-ups. His name is George, and he’ll be damned if you think it’s anything else.

Potential Theme Song: George, George, George of the Jungle

OL Omoregie Uzzi, GT

Uzzi was once a 4 star recruit on the defensive line. His last name is the name of a mob weapon, so it’s not surprising that Omoregie has some enormous guns (he benches 340 lb.).

OL Zebrie Sanders, FSU

Zebrie has certainly earned his stripes on Rick Trickett’s dominant offensive line.

OL Andy Barbee, NCSU

Barbee could probably take on a mother grizzly bear, but his name sure isn’t scaring anyone.

OL Joe Looney, Wake Forest

OL Kyle Jolly, UNC

Don’t be fooled by the name. He’s 6’6 and he’ll pancake you in a second. Jolly is one of few all-ACC name-teamers that actually starts, in his case at left tackle.

K Nathan O’Jibway, FSU

DEFENSE

DL Euclid Cummings, GT

Aside from his prowess in geometry (probably), Cummings has proved (or should I say proofed) to be a pretty solid football player. He hasn’t seen much of the field, but he has a scholarship, so what can I say.

Potential Commentary Pun: “Euclid really took a great angle to the football on that play, Jim.”

DL JR Sweezy, NCSU

JR’s definitely got a pretty sick name—literally. Sweezy—according to Urbandictionary.com—is slang for swine flu. Hopefully for NCSU, he’ll make offensive coordinators sick this fall, but if he doesn’t, he’s got a great name to fall back on.

DL Boo Robinson, Wake Forest

Boo is (as he should be with that name) a scary opponent to face on the interior defensive line.

DL Masengo Kabongo, MD

Kabongo might be forced into action this season, and if he is, he’ll do so with one of the ACC’s best-flowing names.

LB Gelo Orange, Wake Forest

I always enjoy a cup of Orange Jello, so this is an easy choice.

LB Barquell Rivers, VT

This name needs no explanation. Simply genius.

LB Mister Alexander, FSU

Before Alexander, I’d never seen the male version of the name Missy. Mr. Mister must have mustered lots of courage up to convince Mrs. Mister to name their son Mister.

CB LeCount Fantroy, UNC

LeCount (Dracula) sucks the offensive blood from opposing wide receivers—for the UNC 2^nd team defensive backfield.

CB Ras-I Dowling, Virginia

Dowling might be the best football player on the all-names team. He’ll certainly challenge for first team all-ACC honors this fall for his actual on-field performance.

S Junior Petit-Jean, Wake Forest

This sounds like a UVa offensive lineman name (see Ian Yates-Cunningham) —sophisticated, French-y, and soft as a Kleenex. ‘Junior Petit-Jean’ could also be the name of a small, private pre-school for rich children.

S Sadat Chambers, Clemson

Chambers is one Sadat who doesn’t like to make peace with offensive players—or at least, I don’t think he does. He hasn’t really played much, but his name—presumably a dedication to the late Anwar Sadat of Egypt—is world class.

P CJ Feagles, UNC

Tarheeltds’ Preseason All-ACC team

Other than hot wings and Erin Andrews, there’s nothing ACC football fans like more than arguing about college football.

Who’s the greatest ACC coach of all time (Bobby Bowden)? What ACC stadium is the loudest (Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium)? Which ACC coach looks worst in a sweater vest (Tie- all of them)? These are the questions we college football fans toss around in the summer, when it’s too humid to toss around anything other than the remote control.

And since we STILL have 23 eternally long, sweaty summer days left to endure til the football party gets started (Sep. 3: South Carolina @ NCSU), I thought I’d take a look at the Preseason All-ACC First Team and stir the pot up a little bit.

First of all, let’s make something clear. Football WRITERS pick the Preseason Team. Many of them have played as many downs of football as Charlie Weis and Mike Leach (zero), and coached zero games as well*. Most of them speak (and maybe think…) in a meaningless, frivolous compilation of sports clichés. A talented safety is always a “ball-hawking” safety and risk-taking quarterbacks are always “gun slingers.” And if I hear one more sports writer refer to a running back duo as “thunder and lightning,” I’m going to throw up in my mouth.

All in all, sports journalists (whose profession ranks “a step above prostitution” according to Bob Knight) do a lot of unqualified yammering.

So what better way to get the discussion going than hearing another sports writer(more qualified, if I do say so myself) dissect the selections?

Usually, the media picks are correct and obvious(for example: Rameses the UNC mascot—frequently seen munching bushes with a bored, why-am-I-here look on his face could have picked Macho Harris on his first team all-ACC ballot last summer), but last year, the media whiffed on a few Preseason All-ACC selections including Cullen Harper, Josh Adams, and Aaron Kelly. I’d like to take a look at this year’s selections and try to guess which preseason first-teamers are in for big years and which first-teamers will disappear like UVa fans at halftime.

*Don’t question my credentials! I have a 1-0 record as the Offensive Coordinator of the 2006 Maggie Walker Powder Puff football game. My team won 7-0 on an end-around drawn up on the pre-game dry erase board.

QUARTERBACK

Media Pick: Russell Wilson, NCSU

Tarheeltds Pick: Russell Wilson, NCSU

Wilson was one desperation heave away from finishing his freshman campaign with zero interceptions. There’s no way he can pull that off again in 2009, but with the return of all of his top receiving targets, I think he’ll have another great year this fall. Still, he’s had some injury issues, and beanstalk backup Mike Glennon could steal some snaps from him, causing QB controversy in Raleigh.

Wilson-Busting-a-Knee-Percentage: 25%

Wilson Bust Percentage: 40%

RUNNING BACK

Media Picks: CJ Spiller, Clemson and Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech

Tarheeltds Picks: CJ Spiller, Clemson and Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech

You can’t possibly leave Dwyer off of this list. On first downs at home, Dwyer averaged 11.1 yards per carry on 54 attempts. For the season, he picked up 898 yards on 101 first down carries, good for almost 9 yards per carry! He finished 12^th in the nation in rushing (1395 yards) and rushed for 100 or more yards in 9 of 13 games. Dwyer says he knows the option offense a lot better now too, so watch out ACC.

Dwyer-Busting-Records-and-Busting-into-the-First-Round-of-the-NFL-Draft-percentage: 80%

Dwyer Bust Percentage: 5%

CJ Spiller has had an amazing career as a rusher, a receiver and a returner. He’s fast (10.42 second 100 m dash), smart (he needs just 4 more courses to graduate), and experienced. Barring an injury, he will become the ACC’s all-time leader in all-purpose yardage. Plus, he’ll be the centerpiece (no more splitting carries with James Davis) of the offense which features (finally, for Clemson) a strong offensive line. That being said, Spiller has managed more than 50 rushing yards just twice in 8 games against top 25 opponents. If he doesn’t step up his big-game performances, Da’rel Scott will be First-Team all-ACC instead of the touted Tiger.

Spiller-Busting-the-ACC-All-Time-All-Purpose-Yards-Record-Percentage: 98%

Spiller-Busting-in-a-Big-Game-Percentage: 75%

Spiller Bust Percentage: 30%

WIDE RECEIVER

Media picks: Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech and Jacoby Ford, Clemson

Tarheeltds Picks:  Owen Spencer, NCState and Jacoby Ford, Clemson

I hate to be a doubting-Thomas, but I’ve seen too many ugly pass attempts from the arm of Josh Nesbitt to think that Demaryius can have an All-ACC season in Paul Johnson’s option offense. Put him in another system though, and he’s all-ACC for sure.

Thomas Bust Percentage: 80%

Who should be there instead? Owen Spencer, NCSU

Spencer, who finished up with 691 yards and 5 TD sneaks onto the list because almost every ACC team’s top receivers from 2008 have moved on to the NFL. In the last 9 games, he finished with 570 yards (63 ypg) and 28 yards per catch. He’s had some issues with dropped passes, but he’s probably the most dangerous deep threat in the ACC.

Jacoby Ford

Ford has always been one of the fastest players in the country, but 2008 was the first time he really put that speed to use, finishing with 710 yards and 4 TD. As the 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. Still, Ford might struggle this fall without an established QB (Willie Korn and Kyle Parker have very little experience) and the presence of Tyler Grisham and Aaron Kelly, who drew lots of coverage away from him in the past. I don’t want to pick Ford here, but with so little returning talent at WR in the ACC, I pretty much have to.

Ford-Fiesta-Bust-Percentage: 80%

Jacoby Ford Bust Percentage: 65%

TIGHT END

Media Pick: Greg Boone, VT

Tarheeltds Pick: Greg Boone, VT

Boone is the biggest, most versatile tight end in the conference (6’3 283 lb). He doesn’t make much of a turkey (his appearance as QB in Bryan Stynespring’s Wild Turkey formation was pretty uneventful), but he can sure do some stuffing (check out this enormous block against Duke http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtS8S1MaIS8) as a blocker downfield. He’s an exceptional athlete, and he’s Tyrod Taylor’s most experienced pass-catcher this fall.

Boone-Busting-Someone’s-Helmet-Percentage: 95%

Boone Bust Percentage: 20%

OFFENSIVE LINE

Media Picks: OT Jason Fox, OT Anthony Costanzo, OG Sergio Render, OG Rodney Hudson, C Matt Tennant

Tarheeltds Pick: OT Jason Fox, OT Anthony Costanzo, OG Sergio Render, OG Rodney Hudson, C Lowell Dyer

Amen ACC Media.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Media Picks: Marvin Austin, UNC and Vince Oghobaase, Duke

Tarheeltds Picks: Marvin Austin, UNC and Jarvis Jenkins, Clemson

Marvin Austin, once rated as the best defensive recruit in all of high school football, will blossom into an all-ACC performer this fall. Projected as a 1^st round pick in the 2010 NFL draft, Austin only finished with 1.5 TFL last year, but DTs traditionally are late bloomers due to the physical nature of the position. A third year of instruction from masterful D-line Coach John Blake will help this giant—but quick—tackle reach his true potential as a disruptive, run-plunging and pass rushing wrecking ball.

Austin-Busting-Ball-Carriers-Behind-the-Line-at-least-8-times-Percentage: 50%

Austin Bust Percentage: 40%

Oghobaase has racked up 30 TFL and 36 straight starts in 3 seasons of college football. That’s impressive for anyone— not just a Dookie. However, the All-ACC team is about TEAM as much as it is about individuals, and Oghobaase just doesn’t have much help. The losses of Duke DE Greg Akinbiyi and LB Michael Tauilili make this year’s defensive unit one of the two or three worst in the league. And let’s be honest—no one cares about 3 win teams that get steamrolled in ACC play. Vince deserves a spot on the First Team, but life isn’t fair—especially for Duke football players—so I’m leaving him out. Sorry Vince.

Oghobaase-Busting-his-Head-Against-the-Locker-Wishing-He-Picked-Another-Football- Program: 95%

Oghoobaase Bust Percentage: 10%

Who should be there instead?

DT- Jarvis Jenkins, Clemson

Jenkins is a mammoth tackle who finished with 9 TFL in the final 8 games. Like it or not, he’ll be on the ACC First Team because he’s on a better defense and a better overall team than Oghobaase.

DEFENSIVE END

Media Picks: Jason Worilds, VT and Willie Young, NCSU

Tarheeltds Picks: Jason Worilds, VT and Willie Young NCSU

The 250 pound Wolfpack sack-master racked up 12.5 TFL and 7.5 sacks in 2008. He has 31.5 career TFL in three seasons, and was a projected 2^nd round pick in 2009. Young will be the alpha male in an otherwise toothless Wolfpack defense, but I still think he deserves the nod here. If he slips up, Clemson DE DaQuan Bowers will make First Team all-ACC.

Young Bust Percentage: 35%

Jason Worilds had 18.5 TFL and 8 sacks last season—while playing with a separated shoulder. D-line coach Charley Wiles calls him the “greatest athlete he’s ever coached”—and that’s saying something in Blacksburg. Worilds missed the Orange Bowl and Spring Practice with shoulder issues, and that could leave room for another ACC end to emerge as a First-Teamer.

Worilds-Busting-a-Shoulder-Percentage: 30%

Worilds Bust Percentage: 5%

LINEBACKER

Media Picks: Dekoda Watson, FSU, Alex Wujciak, MD, and Quan Sturdivant, UNC

Tarheeltds Picks: Cody Grimm, VT, Alex Wujciak, MD and Quan Sturdivant, UNC

Dekoda Watson might have impressed ESPN’s Bruce Feldman, who listed him as one of the top 10 workout warriors in college football—but I’m not yet sold on Watson. He certainly has the physical traits to be a First-Teamer, but he missed 3 games last fall and only finished with 4.6 tackles per game.

Watson-Busting-an-abdominal-muscle-percentage: 89%

Watson bust percentage: 26%

Who should be there instead?

Cody Grimm is listed as a co-starter for Virginia Tech at the WHIP linebacker position, but he still deserves first team recognition. He quietly piled up 14.5 TFL and 7.5 sacks last year, and his speed and quickness should continue to frustrate opponents this fall.

Quan Sturdivant led the nation in solo tackles in his sophomore season. He also finished with 5.5 TFL and a key INT for touchdown against Notre Dame. He will be moving to the middle linebacker position this fall, but it shouldn’t be much of a transition for the talented Tar Heel.

Sturdivant Bust Percentage: 20%

Alex Wujciak led the Terrapin defense with 133 tackles and 8.5 TFL. He’s an excellent linebacker with NFL size and an NFL future, much like a number of other Terrapin linebackers. However, he might not be on this list if NC State linebacker Nate Irving hadn’t suffered some major injuries in a car accident this summer.

Wujciak Bust Percentage: 15%

CORNERBACK

Media Picks: Ras-I Dowling, UVa and Kendric Burney, UNC

Tarheeltds Picks: Stephen Virgil, VT and Kendric Burney, UNC

Despite being one of the smallest defensive players in the ACC, Burney had a tremendous season in 2008, finishing second team all ACC. He racked up 78 tackles, picked off 3 passes and big hit his way to 3^rd place on the team in tackles for loss with 7.5. Plus, he’ll benefit from being part of an extremely experienced Tar Heel defense.

Burney Bust Percentage: 10%

Dowling is a great corner for Virginia, but if I have to pick a solid UVa corner or a solid VT corner, I’ll pick the Hokie every time. Especially when the UVa player will be on a struggling defense.

Dowling Bust Percentage: 40%

Who should be there instead?

You know you’re a dominant cornerback when VT defensive backs coach Torrian Gray moves you to Boundary Corner. Former Hokie boundary corners include Macho Harris, DeAngelo Hall, Brandon Flowers and many, many more NFL studs.  After picking off 6 passes in 2008, Stephen Virgil looks to be the next dominant CB in Blacksburg football history.

SAFETY

Media Picks: Morgan Burnett, GT and Kam Chancellor, VT

Tarheeltds Picks: Morgan Burnett, GT and Kam Chancellor, VT

Morgan Burnett tied for the national lead in interceptions with 7. He also led a tough Jacket defense in tackles with 93 and picked up 7 TFL, a very good number for a safety. Georgia Tech’s pass defense benefitted big time from the presence of Vance Walker and Michael Johnson last year, and their loss should mean a lot more time for opposing quarterbacks. That could dampen Burnett’s pick totals.

Burnett’s Bust Percentage: 25%

Kam Chancellor might be the best athlete in the entire conference. At 6’4, the former QB recruit flashed incredible athleticism in the Orange Bowl against Cincinnati with one of the greatest interceptions in bowl history. For the first time in 2 years, Chancellor won’t be changing positions this fall, and that also, should help him dominate in 2009.

Chancellor Bust Percentage: 5%

KICKER

Media Pick: Matt Bosher, Miami

Tarheeltds Pick: Matt Bosher, Miami

Matt Bosher is definitely the best kicker in the ACC.

Bosher Bust Percentage: 2%

PUNTER

Media Pick: Travis Baltz, MD

Tarheeltds Pick: Travis Baltz, MD

Baltz has a huge leg for the Terps.

Baltz Bust Percentage: 10%

SPECIALIST

Media Pick: CJ Spiller, Clemson

Tarheeltds Pick: Bruce Carter, UNC

CJ Spiller is the best return man—and probably the best “specialist” in the conference. However, there’s a less popular special teams star in the ACC, and his talents are also undeniable.

Spiller Bust Percentage: 5%

Who should be there instead?

Bruce Carter blocked 4 CONSECUTIVE punts last fall. One came in a late comeback win over Miami, and then 3 came—in a row—in the same quarter—in a big win over a top-25 Connecticut team. On the season, he smothered 5 kicks.

Know Your Enemies 11 (Atlantic)- Maryland

Maryland Preview

Maryland piled up 350 yards per game in 2008, good for 68^th best in the country. 68th out of 119 teams might not seem like much to write home about, but for an ACC offense, the Terps were pretty strong.  Only Georgia Tech and Florida State had better ACC offenses than Maryland last fall. However, there was a chink in the Terrapins’ offensive shell.

Saying that Maryland’s offense had consistency problems last year would be like saying that Ralph Friedgen had weight problems. It’s so obvious Lee Corso could figure it out. Yo. One week, they put up 14 points on FCS Delaware. Then, they drop 35 points on #23 California, and then they put up 0 points on UVa’s “Orange Crush” defense. They rack up a whopping 3 points against Florida State, and two games later, they put 35 on a 7 win Nevada team. No comprendo.

Hear me out for a second.

These Maryland Terrapins remind me of the Slowskys, the fictional, Comcast Commercial couple of turtles who prefer slow and squealy dial up internet to blazing fast Comcast high speed internet. They’re not simpletons, per se, but all those speedy technologies and flashy lights just give them the creeps.

Like the Slowskys*, Maryland snuck up on a lot of overrated, top 25 hares in 2008, but they really just couldn’t stand the excitement of being near the top 25 —in fact, they get so spooked that they quickly lost their next games to stave off attention. Exhibit A: Maryland tears through #23 California, Eastern Michigan, and #20 Clemson in consecutive weeks. On their way to face a reeling Virginia team in Charlottesville, the Terps must realize that they’re a win away from the top 25. So they lay an egg in a 31-0 loss. Phew.

Exhibit B: In November, they knock off 16^th ranked North Carolina in a sloppy affair at Byrd Stadium. With the win, they attain the #22 ranking. Cue the horror music! It’s like high speed internet! Too fast! Too furious! The next week Florida State stomps the Terrapins 37-3, earning Maryland a much more comfortable spot on the couch of college football irrelevance.

So will Maryland’s offense have another case of stage fright in 2009? I think not.

Ralph Friedgen might have pulled all the Spam and ice cream out of the fridge this offseason (he lost 95 pounds) but his offensive refrigerator is still filled with all sorts of good stuff. Da’Rel Scott, Davin Meggett, and Morgan Green form one of the best backfields on the east coast while Torrey Smith leads a group of  wide receivers talented enough to make fans forget Heyward-Bey on the outside. Directing the offense is senior QB Chris Turner whose 6-1 record vs. top 25 teams is better than Sam Bradford’s (5-2) or Colt McCoy’s (6-3).

If the offensive line gels quickly (that’s a big if!), a top receiver emerges, and Chris Turner responds well to his first year as incumbent starter at QB, this could be a top 40 offense in the country. And in ACC land, that’s big time news.

Slowskys Comcast Commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OINLN1sL2pQ&NR=1

QB- Chris Turner (2516 yards, 13 TD 11 INT, 119.3 rating)

Chris Turner just flat out doesn’t make sense. The 6’4 210 lb surfer-smooth QB from Simi Valley, California plays well against top 25 opponents and dreadfully against just about everyone else. Turner has an exceptional 6-1 career record vs. top 25 teams. In those games, he has thrown 7 TD and no picks, good for a rating of 140. For those of you keeping score at home, Turner’s 140 passer efficiency rating against ranked teams would be the highest in the ACC. In less important games, Turner ducks his head back in his shell and just disappears. He was Glennon-esque in games against Middle Tennessee State, Virginia, Delaware, NC State and Florida State. Turner isn’t blessed with speed or a powerful arm, but he can extend plays with his legs and compete against the best teams in the country. If he can step up his game against lesser opponents, Maryland could be a dark turtle pick in the ACC Atlantic Race.

RB- Da’Rel Scott (1133 yards, 8 TD, 5.4 ypc; 171 yards receiving)

Da’Rel Scott was a 4 star recruit in the class of 2006, and in 2008, he showed why. This is one Terrapin that might be faster than the hare. Huge games against NC State (163 yards) and UNC (129 yards) helped him pick up first-team all ACC honors as a sophomore last fall. Scott struggled big time against powerful defensive tackles (10 carries 11 yards vs. VT, 23 carries 39 yards vs. Clemson, and 13 carries 19 yards vs. BC), but ended the year with 174 yards on 14 carries in a Humanitarian Bowl win vs. Nevada. And that was all in the second half. Scott should finish with 1200 yards and 10 TD this fall.

Great Scott http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zV3UeqqHT4

RB- Davin Meggett (457 yards, 4 TD, 5.1 ypc; 79 yards receiving)

Meggett is just 5’8, but he’s a punishing runner and a great complement to Da’rel Scott. He doesn’t dance around (5.1 ypc), a large reason why Maryland was able to improve its yards per carry from 3.4 in 2007 to 4.3 in 2008. Football is in his blood, too. Father Dave Meggett made two trips to the Pro Bowl in the late 80s and early 90s.

*Junior RB Morgan Green (former 4 star recruit) had 72 yards on 10 carries in the bowl win over Nevada. He will also see carries this fall.

FB- Cory Jackson

Jackson is a powerful lead blocker who could be the most valuable Terrapin offensive player not named Chris Turner.

WR- Torrey Smith (336 yards, 2 TD)

Smith might be just as dynamic as Darius Heyward-Bey. He’s an exciting return man who started slow (3 yards in the first 3 games) and finished strong (115 yards and a TD vs. Boston College) in 2009. Smith could be a 700-800 yard receiver for this offense.

Heyward who? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtUcROTRFqk

WR- Ronnie Tyler (225 yards, TD)

Tyler is yet another Terp who finished 2009 with a bang. He’s smaller at 5’10 190 lb, and he’s not much of a deep threat (his longest career catch is 20 yards), but he could be a strong possession receiver. He torched Nevada with 5 catches for 55 yards and a TD in the Humanitarian Bowl. If he can fare just as well on non-smurf Turf, he could be a solid #2 receiver this fall.

WR- Adrian Cannon (3 catches 75 yards, TD)

Cannon had a 59 yard TD in the bowl win over Nevada. If that’s any indication of his big play abilities, Maryland might be just as dangerous in 2009 without Heyward Bey as they were in 2008 with him.

WR- Emil Lee-Odai (115 yards, 0 TD)

Lee-Odai raised himself up from a rough Washington, DC neighborhood to receive a scholarship as a Maryland receiver. He has good size (6’3 197 lb), and he finished the year strong (7 catches for 68 yards against Boston College), so watch out for Emil in 2009.

WR- Quentin McCree

McCree has had an eventless career at Maryland thus far, but he had a surprising 163 yards and 3 TDs in the Terps’ Red-White game. He could emerge as a 500 yard wideout for James Franklin’s Maryland offense.

*WR- LaQuan Williams (217 yards in 2007) is another candidate to see some action at receiver

TE- Lansford Watson ( former 4 star recruit; 115 yards, 0 TD)

Watson had a 32 yard reception against Florida State.

Offensive Line:

Bruce Campbell (T), Tyler Bowen (T), Lamar Young (G), Justin Lewis (G), Phil Costa (C)

Campbell and Costa are the only two returning starters up front, but they’re good ones. According to Chris Turner, the rest of the line is “young and athletic.” Campbell , listed by ESPN’s Bruce Feldman as the #8 “workout warrior” in the country—supposedly benches 490 pounds and runs a 4.82 40 at 6’6 300 lbs. We’ll see if that translates to quick success for the offensive line, or if that’s just preseason hot air when the Terps face Cal in their opener.

Defense:

Blitz-happy Don Brown steps in to take over the Maryland defense, and he doesn’t have a whole lot of talent to work with.  He’ll be trying to help improve a Maryland unit that finished 63^rd in the nation (365 yards per game) in 2008.

Like many other ACC teams, Maryland loses a lot of front-7 umph from its 2008 squad. On the line, they lose DT Jeremy Navarre (70 tackles, 7.5 TFL, Honorable Mention all-ACC), DE Trey Covington (38 tackles, 2.5 TFL), and a few other hosses with experience. All in all, they return just ten career starts on the defensive line—and that’s if massive DT Dion Armstrong is academically eligible in the fall.

At linebacker, the Terps lose Dave Philistin (94 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks) and Moise Foukou (77 tackles, 12 TFL, 5 sacks), both of whom were crucial pieces of last year’s defensive unit. However, the Terps have developed tons of talent at linebacker in the past, and it appears that this group could keep up that tradition.

In the secondary, the Terps just lose SS Jeff Allen (66 tackles, 2 TFL, INT) and Kevin Barnes (20 tackles, 2 INT), so that should be the defense’s strongpoint, even though the unit finished just 61^st in the nation in pass defense last fall.

Apparently, Maryland’s corners excelled in press coverage this spring, forcing Chris Turner into 6 interceptions in just two scrimmages*. The linebacker also looked good. However, the defensive line has very little depth or experience. I expect teams to run all over the Terrapins, who have not managed a top 8 ACC rushing defense in the last 4 years. Accordingly, there will be too much pressure on the defensive backs.

This defense could be the ACC’s worst. If Maryland is forced to bowl at Bowl America this fall, it’ll be because of these guys.

*Spoiler alert! That probably means Maryland isn’t a top 25 team because Chris Turner simply doesn’t throw interceptions against ranked teams. Ever.

Defensive Line

DE- Derek Drummond (4 tackles)

Drummond didn’t play last fall until DE Phil Costa got arrested. He’s only 250 lb, and he has very limited experience.

DE/”Anchor”- Jared Harrell (16 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks)

Harrell has had a relatively quiet career as a Terp, but he might be a breakout star on the defensive line. He finished with 4 TFL and 2 sacks last year in limited time.

DT- Dion Armstrong (22 tackles, TFL, sack) or AJ Francis (redshirt-freshman 3 star DT from class of 2008)

Armstrong looks like he will be ineligible academically, leaving just two big bodies in the interior of the Maryland defensive line. Francis is enormous (6’5 310 lb), but unproven. He’s never played a college snap.

DT- Travis Ivey (26 tackles, 4 TFL, sack)

Ivey (6’4 325 lb) also has taken advantage of Maryland’s award winning football dining facility. He’s huge and probably the Terps’ proven commodity on the line. Nonetheless, he had a concussion and shoulder surgery in the spring, so injuries could be an issue here. If Ivey goes down, this unit will get steamrolled on the ground.

LB- Alex Wujciak  (133 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks)

Wujciak was a monster in 2008, earning 2^nd team all-ACC honors. He’s already established himself as next in the line of star Maryland linebackers (10 MD linebackers are currently in the NFL!) that includes EJ Henderson, D’Qwell Jackson, Erin Henderson, and Shawne Merriman. He sat out the spring with an injury, but that allowed his backups to get some important reps at the position.

LB- Demetrius Hartsfield (redshirt freshman-3 star recruit in class of 2008)

LB- Adrian Moten  (25 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, INT)

A Washington Times sportswriter calls Moten a “play-everywhere-utility-man.” That breadth of experience, which includes a start in the Humanitarian Bowl, has given Moten the confidence of the coaching staff.

Secondary (all 4 seniors)

CB- Anthony Wiseman (49 tackles, TFL, 10 passes broken up)

Wiseman finished fourth in the ACC in passes broken up. He’s got ample playing experience, too.

CB- Nolan Carroll (37 tackles, TFL, 8 passes broken up)

Nolan Carroll started 4 games last year. At 6’1 202 lb, he’s exactly the kind of physical, bump and run corner that Brown expects to rely on.

SS- Jamari McCollough (37 tackles, TFL, sack, 4 INT)

FS- Terrell Skinner (63 tackles, 3 TFL, INT)

Skinner is a big safety at 6’3 214 lb. Watch for Brown to employ him on safety blitzes a lot more this year.