Every team in the ACC's Coastal Division is in action this weekend witn five of the six teams featuring home games. Only Virginia is taking on a BCS opponent to start the season and they picked a dandy in Pac-10 power Southern Cal. With the season opening up Thursday let's take a look at what the Coastal needs to do to come out on top for Week One of the 2008 season.
Miami vs Charleston Southern (7:30 pm Thursday)
The Canes open the season with seven players suspended for disciplinary reasons, including projected starting quarterback redshirt freshman Robert Marve. Jacory Harris, a true freshman will start in his place against the Buccaneers of CSU. A large contingent of the Canes have admitted to knowing nothing of the Bucs and for the sake of the ACC's respect let's hope they're grossly overstating how informed they are on Charleston Southern.
Offensively the Bucs feature Clemson transfer Tribble Reese, who was lost in the Will Proctor, Cullen Harper and then Willie Korn situation. He returns the best receiver for CSU in Dee Brown the 5'11", 180 pound senior should be the target of most of Reese's attention. Especially with All-Big South Tight End Ryan Ard being moved to defense over the offseason. Coach Jay Mills' pass happy offense is going to force the issue and get the ball out quick against Miami's young defense.
On defense the Bucs have a mismash of a d-line including the aforementioned Ryan Ard moving over after a stand out year at tight end. This unit is undersized and will give Miami's inexperienced offensive line a chance to get its feet wet without being completely dismantled by the lines of UNC, BC or Florida. Jacory Harris will have to play within himself and rely on the running game of Graig Cooper and Javarris James to get the Canes rolling.
Keys to a Miami Win
-Graig Cooper and Javarris James. Let the boys run early and Jacory Harris will settle into a comfort zone as he makes his college debut. The offensive line won't be forced to react to blitzing or stunts as they simply line up and play smash mouth football. All in all this will be the most important aspect of the game for the Canes.
-Keep Tribble Reese guessing. The Miami corners have got a considerable amount combined starting experience and their safeties have been in the system for several seasons as well, this will allow the U to mix up their looks and disguise coverages against Reese. Showing zone and playing man or vice versa should confuse the senior transfer and give their defensive line time to get to the quarterback.
-Just play football. Simply put, the talent levels of the two squads are on different planets. Miami is wondering where their next 1st round pick will come from while CSU is just hoping they can have a guy make an NFL roster. If the Canes go out and play smart, physical football they'll win this game easily to start their season in the win column.
Georgia Tech vs Jacksonville St (7:30 pm Thursday)
Another Coastal division team and another FCS tune up game to ease the pains brought on by transition. Exit Chan Gailey and Patrick Nix's pro style offense, enter Paul Johnson and his option attack. Josh Nesbitt, by all accounts will be the starter, and Johnson has worked overtime to get the Greensboro, Georgia native prepared for this home opener.
Jacksonville State is picked to win their Ohio Valley Conference after returning a solid team and adding the elite talent of former LSU quarterback Ryan Perrilloux. The skilled sophomore is larger than his teams linebackers and one of the strongest players on the squad since transferring from the SEC. This game will feature strength on strength with Georgia Tech's stout defensive line of Vance Walker, Darryl Richard and Michael Johnson working to corral the speedy Perrilloux.
A relatively inexperienced team the Gamecocks of JSU are definitely going to be tested on the defensive side of the ball facing Johnson's option attack. Nesbitt with "feature" back Johnathan Dwyer is going to have to make crisp pitches and solid reads to take advantage of the FBS school's lack of size and depth. Expect Johnson to get his guys plenty of reps in order to polish their attack before conference play.
Keys to a Georgia Tech Win
-Control the line of scrimmage. For the Tech offense this shouldn't be an issue, they have a size and strength advantage over the Gamecocks and running the option should make it easier for the Yellow Jackets to manhandle the J-Ville linemen.
-Contain Ryan Perrilloux. The former Bayou Bengal is cut from the Vince Young cloth and is fully capable of winning games by himself. Vance Walker, Darryl Richards and Michael Johnson will have their hands full containing and chasing this talented quarterback. Letting Perrilloux run rough-shod through their linebackers and secondary will make for a long day in Atlanta.
-Protect the football. Nesbitt is going to start his first game running the option. This means fake handoffs, fake pitches, pitches and carrying the ball into the teeth of the defense. Nesbitt is going to have to demonstrate early that he understands how precious possessions are and he'll have to take care to ensure that the ball doesn't end up on the carpet.#17 Virginia Tech vs ECU (12:00 pm Saturday in Charlotte, NC)
The Hokie birds decided to redshirt sophomore quarterback Tyrod Taylor this Tuesday and that means ECU will be facing senior quarterback Sean Glennon exclusively in this neutral site battle. On the other side it looks like Patrick Pinkney from ECU is going to be getting the full time nod from Skip Holtz, instead of splitting time with Rob Kass as he did a year ago.
ECU will miss Chris Johnson, their blazing Mr. Everything from a season ago, but they do return plenty of offensive fire power on the perimeter. Match this up with Virginia Tech's influx of new defenders and the Hokies have become a vogue pick to get upset by the non-BCS Pirates.
On the defensive side of the ball the Pirates return nine starters and a host of other athletes who saw field time in 2007. The good news is Va Tech returns four massive, experienced, talented offensive linemen. The bad news is that outside of tight end Greg Boone they don't return much in the way of skill position experience. None of the Hokie running backs or wide receivers have contributed anything to the cause and Tyrod Taylor sitting on the bench only takes away more of the possible production.
Keys to a Virginia Tech Win
-Finding some offense. Ike Whitaker, Danny Coale, Dyrell Roberts and possibly Xavier Boyce will have to break through as inexperienced young wideouts; while Kenny Lewis, Darren Evans, Josh Oglesby and Jahre Cheeseman will have to tag team to handle the running duties.
-Playing to their strengths. The Hokies offensive line and defensive back seven are their strongest units and they should tailor their gameplan to these strengths. This means running the football as often as possible and forcing the Pirates into second and third in long, obvious passing downs. The question is how will Bud Foster get ECU into compromising down and distance situations.
-Play some Beamer Ball. There is one thing that has been synonymous with Virginia Tech during the bulk of Frank Beamer's tenure; Special Teams. While there are plenty of unknowns concerning where Tech's points will come from and who will fill out the defensive line rotation, special teams should remain a constant. Bodies flying to the football and making big things happen should get the Hokies at least some great field position if not put six up on the board.
Virginia vs #3 USC (3:30 pm Saturday)
The Wahoos offseason was quite tumultuous as they were pillaged by academics and left decimated by the NFL draft. Al Groh lost his starting quarterback and looks to trot out an inexperienced body regardless of who he chooses. Pete Lalich will be the likely starter shoved out on to the field against the men of Troy.Pete Carroll has had his own problems this training camp as Joe McKnight, their star running back suffered an elbow injury and had the fingernails ripped from his right hand during a preseason scrimmage. Projected starting quarterback Mark Sanchez dislocated his knee cap during pre-practice drills a little over a week ago. It appears that both players will be in the starting line up come Saturday and that doesn't help the Cavaliers chances to pull the upset.
On the positive side the Cavs feature Clint Sintim, Jon Cooper and Antonio Appleby returning to fill out the linebacker spot. The best core in the ACC will have its hands full chasing USC's dynamic threesome of running backs. Running the rock Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson return for Groh and the Hoos look to get in behind tackles Eugene Monroe and Will Barker.Keys to a Virginia Win
-Control the ball. The Wahoos definitely need to hold on to the football for upwards of 35-40 minutes during this battle. Their best defense will be their offensive combination of Peerman and Simpson running the ball and eating up the clock and yardage. Finding a way to block Brandon Cushing, Rey Maualuga and Taylor Mays will be difficult but if the Hoos can stop USC's offense by staying on the field they've got a big victory.
-Play sound special teams. Its quite clear that the Wahoos don't match up physically with the Trojans. They will probably lose the battle to control the line of scrimmage and take a pounding from the USC front seven. Special teams is where the Hoos can make up some of their slack. Sound punting and kicking efforts, eliminating block opportunities and making field goals will help Virginia make headway. Expect UVA to gamble on the their teams, stealing a blocked kick or punt for a touchdown may give the Cavaliers the momentum boost they need late in the game.
North Carolina vs McNeese St (6:00 pm Saturday)
TJ Yates is back from surgery to repair a tear in the labram of his throwing shoulder and the Heels return a plethora of offensive and defensive starters. Their opponent is FCS' McNeese State, a team that finished undefeated in the regular season and that features speed burners Quentin Lawrence and Steven Whitehead.The Tar Heel secondary features uncertainty at one corner position due to the injury to Charles Brown. With Richie Rich, Tavorris Jolly, Jordan Hemby and Johnny White battling for the starting spot the Heels will have to give a strong showing to subdue the pass happy McNeese State attack. Sophomore safety Deunta Williams is not worried, he's exhibited the confidence that has begun to flow through the Tar Heels veins thanks to Butch Davis.
The emergence of Greg Little as the feature running back in the last two games of 2007 should set the Heels on track to establishing the power rushing game they've lacked for several seasons. UNC's experienced offensive line should lean heavily on MSU's smaller defensive line in order to pound the run and set up the play action pass to Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate and Brooks Foster.
Keys to a North Carolina Win
-Running the football early and often. Greg Little, Anthony Elzy and Shaun Draughn will have to get started quickly in order to bang on the 'Pokes small defense and force their hand. Garrett Reynolds and Calvin Darity should assert themselves quickly.
-Make sure tackles. The Cowboys are going to complete passes against the man to man and zone defenses of the Tar Heels. For the Heels to avoid giving up that momentum shifting play Burney, Deunta Williams, Trimane Goddard and the rest of the perimeter defenders are going to have to make confident tackles in space. Letting a five yard hitch go for a sixty yard gain would spell disaster in Chapel Hill.
-Get their hands up. UNC's defensive line is probably its second strongest unit, behind their gifted receiving core. This line is great rushing the passer; however, expect Fourroux to get the ball out quickly and not give Austin, Wilson, Massenberg and company the chance to get deep in the backfield and bang on him. The d-line getting their hands up should produce batted and tipped balls out of the shorter Fourroux and create turn over opportunities for the Heels defense.
Duke vs James Madison (7:00 pm Saturday)
The Blue Devils got rid of nice guy coach Ted Roof and looked to revamp their football image by hiring David Cutcliffe away from his offensive coordinator spot at Tennessee. Cutcliffe's stint at Ole Miss was relatively successful and Duke is hoping he can replicate that marginal success in Durham.
Things are looking up though as Duke returns a solid nucleus of players including quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, wide receiver Eron Riley as well as defensive linemen Vince Oghobaase and Ayanga Okpokowuruk. Cutcliffe has got some quality players to work with and a stretch of winable games to open up his debut season with the Devils.
James Madison enters the season ranked #4 in the FCS subdivision and seething from a fluke loss to the Appalachian State Mountaineers in the FCS playoffs. The Dukes return plenty of talent to their squad and they look to go 1-1 in Triangle openers after losing to UNC last season.
Keys to a Duke Win
-Exploit the athleticism advantage. Though this advantage is slight the Devils do have better top end speed at the skill positions and along the defensive line. They should get some good play from those areas and overwhelm the Dukes in the second half.
-Run the no huddle. Cutcliffe has been working feverishly to install his no huddle offense as the Blue Devils' system in order to create mismatches and speed the tempo of the game. With experienced and talented quarterback Thaddeus Lewis the coach should be able to move the ball up and down the field without giving the Duke's a shot at adjusting to his fast paced style.
Check out the ACC Game of the Week Clemson and Alabama preview coming soon...
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