Week Three: Atlantic Division Previews

Check out the Coastal Division Previews


Four teams get into action this week including the first ACC Atlantic match up of the year coming when NC State heads down to Clemson for the Textiles Bowl. FSU gets into a little scrap with Chattanooga which shouldn't be much of a test, more like a good tune up for the Wake Forest game. Maryland hosts the 23rd ranked California Bears in College Park and this game is a nonconference bout that could really change the course of the Terps season should they be able to pull it out.


North Carolina State @ Clemson (12:00 pm Saturday)


The Textiles Bowl has grown in prominence over the last decade or so with the Wolfpack and Tigers both climbing into the national spotlight at times. However, this doesn't appear to be one of those "big" years for the game. Both teams were utterly embarrassed by SEC foes in week one. Week two saw Clemson rebound "strong" against the Citadel while NC State's struggles continued against a middle of the road FCS team, William and Mary.


In week three Clemson looks to build momentum for their charge towards the ACC title that is still very much within reach. Meanwhile NC State hopes to somehow catch a break and avoid locking up a non-winning season in their first seven games by avoiding a five game losing streak (Clemson, ECU, USF, BC & FSU all in a row).


The Tiger's weaknesses on the offensive line have been heavily documented including Chris Hairston's scooter accident on Saturday following the win. This weakness plays to the lone strength on the Wolfpack team; their defensive line and aggressive linebackers.


Keys to a Clemson Win


-Protect Cullen Harper. He got beat up against Alabama and against an inferior opponent there were times that Harper was under duress. NC State is somewhere between 'Bama and the Citadel in terms of talent and their ability to get to the quarterback. They terrorized Tommy Beecher for much of the game at South Carolina and the jury-rigged offensive line is going to have to keep Harper off his back for the Tigers to waltz to victory.


-Make the Pack 1-Dimensional. Russell Wilson is back for the Pack, throwing the football and running for his life. The Tigers can't let NC State get into their offensive game plan of run the football a lot, then run some more. By forcing negative first down plays and stuffing the box the Tigers should force the Pack into dropping back to throw. The Tigers' offense can help expedite this process by scoring early and often to force the Pack to play from behind, letting Ricky Sapp and DaQuan Bowers attack off the edge and Michael Hamlin and co. feast on Wilson's passes.


-Punch the Wolfpack in the Mouth. Clemson is better, more experienced and more athletic. Against 'Bama the Tigers were taken to the woodshed by a tougher team, they can't let NC State walk into the Valley and kick them in the teeth, they need to show some backbone and stone the Wolfpack early.


Keys to an NC State Win


-Utilize those running backs. Curtis Underwood and Andre Brown are two quality backs for the Wolfpack. Tom O'Brien must find a way to interject them into multiple facets of the game to give Wilson a shot to compete. The screen, draw and check down passes must involve the backs in order to stymie the Tigers brutal pass rush. Establishing the run early will open the play action pass game as well as slow down the Clemson rush.


-Sack Cullen Harper. The Wolfpack defensive line is their best overall unit on the team. Through two games they have 13 TFL's and 8 sacks. Against this Clemson offensive line expect Shea McKeen and Willie Young to be all over Harper, giving the Pack a chance for the big play in Death Valley.


-Play Disciplined. The Pack defense cannot afford to play the undisciplined, renegade style that was a hallmark of the Chuck Amato athletic defensive scheme. Clemson's running back tandem of CJ Spiller and James Davis will gash the unit and make them pay with cut backs from over pursuit. In the pass game an overzealous approach would be the death of the Wolfpack secondary as Clemson's play action passing and double moves can only be counter acted by sound technique defense.



Maryland vs California (12:00 pm Saturday)


This Jeff Tedford team mirrors most of his strong offensive Pac-10 squads from years past. A strong quarterback with a talented core of skill players capable of making you pay with both the run and the pass. Things don't bode well for the Terps who have been the Atlantic's worst team thus far into 2008; losing to Middle Tennessee and Darrius Heyward-Bey's paltry 7 receptions in two games are the most glaring shortcomings.


Gone are the days of tough defense and quality quarterbacking as Jordan Steffy and Chris Turner have both proved themselves unable to lead this team to anything but a marginal victory over an FCS team. Five interceptions to one touchdown combined and an abysmal completion percentage just under 50 percent. Da'Rel Scott is a quality running back who is averaging 160 yards a game and giving the Terps good ground production, their woes can be attributed solely to their poor quarterback situation.


Facing this Cal with offensive guru Jeff Tedford is going to seriously test the Terps increasingly passive defense. They're reacting to teams and this is evident in the absence of sacks and minimal amounts of turnovers forced, passes defensed and tackles for loss. Without a more aggressive approach, led by Dave Philistin and Alex Wujciak, the Terps will be in for a long Saturday filled with Bears dancing into the end zone.


Keys to a Terp Win


-Disrupt the Bears' timing. Jamming receivers, timely blitzing and defensive line stunts are three tools the Terps need to employ to disrupt Tedford's precision passing attack. Allowing Riley to sit in the pocket will only result in the Maryland defensive backfield being picked apart like a Thanksgiving turkey.

-Win Special Teams. No the Terps won't win the quarterback battle. No they don't have the athletes on defense or at the edge; but, the Terrapins can play sound special teams and win that facet of the game. With Travis Baltz averaging over 40 yards a punt, forcing 4 fair catches and pinning opponents inside the twenty twice The Fridge should play field position using Baltz as his weapon. Scoring a blocked punt or field goal will also go a long way in towards getting the Terps some much needed momentum.

-Gamble on both sides of the ball. Maryland can't play the passive, vanilla defensive looks they've showed through the two games this season and hope to beat the Bears. They need to blitz, disguise coverages and bring pressure from depth in order to force Riley to make poor decisions. On offense Maryland should work some misdirection to counteract the superior speed of Cal. Running play action through establishing Da'Rel Scott early should help lock the safeties and star linebacker Anthony Felder into the run game and open up Heyward-Bey vertical.

Florida State vs UT-Chattanooga (3:45 Saturday)

The 'Noles looked outstanding against lowly Western Carolina last weekend, blowing them out in classic FSU fashion 69-0. This week brings a marginally stiffer test in Chattanooga but not a game worth extrapolating a ton of knowledge from. Florida State needs to focus on getting their young guns Christian Ponder and D'Vontrey Richardson more live fire experience in preperation for their ACC opener against Wake Forest.

Chattanooga experienced a monster blowout in their opener against Oklahoma and barring some superb execution and a lot of luck this game should be more of the same. Florida State's defense should fly around to the football, expect to see Toddrick Verdell, Derek Nicholson and Myron Rolle working shut down the Mocs attack and polish their skills.

Keys to a 'Noles win

-Play sound football. The 'Noles have superior talent and they must simply come out and play disciplined football to ensure a victory. Make good run fits, cover down receivers and tackle the football on defense. On offense, D-Vo and Ponder need to stretch their legs, get Greg Carr and Rod Owens involved early and often to get their timing down and make sure that the run game is fully operational.

-Test the men up front. The offensive line at Florida State was a biggest question mark heading into 2008, ranked worst in the ACC by some college football pundits. Game one saw them push the Catamounts around to the tune of 290 rushing yards. They need to grow their cohesion and continue to gel against the Mocs, helping Jermaine Thomas push close to the century mark and protect Ponder and Richardson.

-Escape unscathed. Rule number one with this game is to stay completely healthy. Losing an offensive lineman, quarterback or key defender would decimate this fragile, untested football team. Bobby Bowden, Jimbo Fisher and Mickey Andrews need to make sure that they keep their units out of harms way, knees in tact and ankles sprain free. The 'Noles have Wake Forest next weekend and they'll need all their bodies for the 7 o' clock date with the Deacs next Saturday.