There are a couple good games on today including the ACC Game of the Week, Virginia Tech versus Georgia Tech. Of course the Ohio State at USC "Collision in the Coliseum" game is taking all the national media spotlight but deservedly so. I'm not gonna lie I'll veer off the ACC path a little today with the USC game and the heated South Carolina and Georgia battle, I love good football.
Special note, my main man Jay will be in town and we will be enjoying some great college football games together, with that said here's what we're watching:
12:00pm
NC State @ Clemson AND #23 Cal @ Maryland
Pulling a little double duty here. Both games have a shot at getting out of hand but I'm counting on Tom O'Brien and Ralph Friedgen to make this an interesting first round of games. The Thunder and Lightning backfield matched up against ACC leading tackler Nate Ingram should be interesting and the Bears attack against David Philistin and friends will hopefully be a good watch.
3:30pm
Georgia Tech @ Virginia Tech AND #2 Georgia @ South Carolina
The ACC's first marquee match up will be a battle of two similar philosophies but two very different styles. Both teams hope to run the football down the oppositions throat; but GT plan on doing that using Paul Johnson's signature triple option attack. Virginia Tech sophomore Tyrod Taylor gets his first taste of real action for the season after making his post-redshirt debut against FCS Furman.
Georgia storms into Columbia ready to avenge last years disappointing, touchdown-less loss to the Gamecocks. South Carolina (not Carolina) looks to redeem themselves after losing to the SEC's perennial bottom feeder, Vanderbilt.
*UCLA @ BYU will definitely creep its way into the rotation but the two games above are the best match ups, plus three's a crowd.
8:00pm
Ohio State @ Southern Cal
While "The Collision in the Coliseum" might be the worst moniker ever bestowed on a meaningful regular season showdown the hype leading up to the game is at least partially deserved. I'm hoping to see two dominating defenses with one of my favorite players this season, Rey Maualuga, starring as the best defender on the field. The Buckeyes have a lot to prove after their back to back national title embarrassments. SoCal wants to keep Pete Carroll's non-conference record sparkling like his teeth and I think the Trojans defense and The Stable will be able to do that.
Stay tuned for information about the first ever ACC Football Now Podcast that will be making its debut Tuesday September 23rd at 9pm on Talkshoe.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Week Three: ACC Game of the Week
Check out the Coastal Division and Atlantic Division Previews
The Yellow Jackets, with their new offensive scheme and new head coach Paul Johnson make the trip up to Blacksburg to take on the team that has been the ACC's loan perennial power since entering in 2005, Virginia Tech. Georgia Tech enters this game coming off a win in Chestnut Hill over the Eagles of BC while Virginia Tech limps into the contest after struggling to close out FCS Furman.
Paul Johnson's team is already 1-0 in the ACC and with a win here they would go to 2-0 in the league 1-0 in the Division and have some breathing room during their quest to Tampa. The Hokies need to rebound from the ECU shocker and prove they're still the team to beat in the Coastal which is why this early season showdown is the ACC GAME of the WEEK.
Both teams feature stout defenses that will pressure the quarterback, play opportunistic football and take advantage of mismatches with their front four. Getting behind the line of scrimmage and disrupting the flow of the game on both run and pass is what drives these two surprisingly underrated defensive units.
Offensively though the schemes are different both GaTech and VaTech look to run the ball first and punish you with a relentless rushing attack. VPI's power running game has been less than impressive this season but the addition of dynamic quarterback Tyrod Taylor should give the Hokies a shot in the arm and a boost in offensive production. He missed the first game but is already the Hokies leading rusher with 112 yards.
The Yellow Jackets rushing attack has yet to be stopped in their first two games. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt and B-Back Jonathan Dwyer have been the two biggest surprises of the young ACC season as they've pitched and ran for some big numbers in the new offense. Averaging 255.5 rushing yards a game the Jackets have proven to be a problem for BC already and they look to test the Hokies defensive discipline.
Georgia Tech Defense vs Virginia Tech Offense
Georgia Tech's defensive line was tabbed as one of the units to watch in the ACC during the preseason and they haven't disappointed. Vance Walker, the leader of the unit has put up strong numbers including 3 TFL's and a solo sack as well. Derrick Morgan and Darryl Richard have also been major players in this scheme, piling up TFL's and sacks on an All-ACC pace.
While the defensive line got all the hype with pro prospect Michael Johnson, the back seven have been the true story of this season as they've been the most noticeable improvement to Coach Johnson's talent pool. At Navy he had players who were limited athletically, now with first rate talent his team goes from hoping to hold and limit opponents to playing an attacking, gambling defensive style capable of frustrating opponents (see Ryan Perrilloux and Chris Crane). Along with the seven sacks they've amassed the GT defense has four interceptions, two by leading tackler, safety Morgan Burnett.
The Jackets will be up against a nameless, faceless and completely identity-less offensive entity when they face the Hokies, a team averaging less than 300 yards of total offense a game. That paltry stat is only worsened by the putrid realization that only 103 of those yards come through the air (The Yellow Jackets, a triple option team, average 104 passing). To make this competitive the Hokies need to find some sort of offensive leader. Sean Glennon is out, Tyrod Taylor is in, which helps the rushing output but only serves to further the woes of the passing game.
VPI's leading receiver is Kenny Lewis, a running back, with only five receptions on the year. The departure of three senior receivers Hyman, Morgan and Royal for the NFL left the Hokies depleted and inexperienced at receiver. Young guns such as Dyrell Roberts and Andre Smith will have to step up to help out Taylor with this menacing Ramblin' Wreck pass rush.
Expect to see Morgan Burnett tight in the box with the Tech linebackers daring Virginia Tech to stretch the talented back seven vertically.
Virginia Tech's Defense vs Georgia Tech's Offense
Despite their offensive woes the Hokies defense has remained impressively stout, even with the loss of Xavier Adibi, Vince Hall and Brandon Flowers. VPI is only giving up 96 rushing yards a game and a very respectable 212 passing yards. Macho Harris isn't 100% but he's still playing quality and at times punishing defense. With the departure of the aforementioned linebackers Cam Martin and Purnell Sturdivant have stepped up nicely and played with the same Lunch Pail mentality of the traditional Bud Foster defense.
Stephen Virgil has been a bright spot in the defensive backfield as he's returned both a fumble and blocked PAT for scores and playing opposite Harris he is growing into VT's next NFL cornerback. The Virginia Tech run defense is going to be put to their most crucial test of this short season when they face the Yellow Jackets triple option attack and they'll be getting all they can handle when Nesbitt and Dwyer take the field.
The Jackets have scored eight touchdowns on the season, every one of them has been on the ground and Coach Johnson and team seem content to follow that trend all season. They're averaging right at 30 points a game and almost six yards per carry (5.9). With the every game the Wreck's crisp execution gets better and the team becomes more confident in their ability to win by staying within Johnson's system.
Demaryius Thomas, the leading receiver, patiently lays in wait as the Jacket's "deep threat," averaging 32.5 receiving yards a game. The Wreck will test Cam Martin and Purnell Sturdivant's discipline as Nesbitt and Dwyer methodically move the football down the field.
Look for Kam Chancellor and Macho Harris, VPI's most experienced back end players, to get involved in the run game early, helping out the less experienced backers. VT should load up the box, playing some variations of cover-2 to allow Harris and Virgil to stop the run as well as straight man to get their safeties active in the box early. The Hokies do have a slim athletic advantage and can afford to risk crowding the line of scrimmage.
Special Teams
So far this season Beamer ball has been somewhat less than stellar. Yes, the Hokies returned a blocked PAT for a score but they also committed a gaffe uncharacteristic of the Maroon and Orange; costing the Hokies a game. The ECU game special teams mishap that allowed a blocked punt for a touchdown lost Tech the game but should show the players how critical sound special teams can be, especially for a struggling offensive unit.
While the Hokies have had a very public shortcoming the Yellow Jackets kicking game with Scott Blair has been very Jekyll and Hyde-like. Blair is averaging 44.2 yards per punt and has forced three fair catches in the Jackets first two games. A quite strong showing early on by the sophomore. However, Blair a Calhoun, Georgia native, has been the polar opposite when it comes to his place kicking. He's 1-5 in field goal attempts and 7-8 with PATs.
Match Ups To Watch
Virginia Tech's QB's vs Morgan Burnett
Taylor isn't much of a passer, but then again neither is Glennon, and Burnett has shown a nose for the football through 2008's first two games. The safety had better be on the radar for the Hokies because if the quarterback doesn't look Burnett off the College Park sophomore could snag a couple more interceptions.
Cam Martin and Purnell Sturdivant vs Josh Nesbitt and Jonathan Dwyer
The Hokies top linebackers had better be ready to flow sideline to sideline all day in order to stop the Jackets' dangerous rushing duo. If they miss their assignments and make improper fits either player is capable of taking the ball for large chunks of yardage.
Virginia Tech's Receiving Core vs Georgia Tech Secondary
Georgia Tech's senior cornerback appears prepared to stop anyone the Hokies trot out there, it'll be up to OC Bryan Stynespring and the players themselves to work on establishing a legitimate receiving threat. The Hokies will be seeing nine in the box if they don't force the Wreck's secondary to respect their receivers.
Prediction
Georgia Tech's defense will be much better than the Furman unit that held the Hokies to 3 first half points. The defensive line will pressure Taylor and I expect the sophomore to make a couple amazing plays with his legs, not his arm. He'll lead the Hokies in rushing again and should add a long score or two to his highlight reel. In the end the lack of a serious receiving threat will doom the Hokie-birds as the Jackets will load up the box and force VT into the adventure that is throwing the football.
The Hokies defense will be stout against the option, Bud Foster is notorious for playing a simple defense that allows his athletes to make sound football plays. This will be one of Georgia Tech's toughest tests all season and Nesbitt and Dwyer will be facing a caliber of athlete that they have yet to face off against. With that said I think as the game grinds on the Jackets offense slowly wears down the Hokie defense and they'll find the end zone a couple times.
Special teams will swing the Hokies way and give them a sound edge in the kicking game as well as the opportunity to score off of a block. Paul Johnson may want to think about going for it or pooching the football because Lane Stadium isn't the place you want a young kicker getting his feel for the position.
In the end I think the Yellow Jackets get their second ACC win to move to 3-0 and squarely in first in the ACC.
Georgia Tech 23 Virginia Tech 17
The Yellow Jackets, with their new offensive scheme and new head coach Paul Johnson make the trip up to Blacksburg to take on the team that has been the ACC's loan perennial power since entering in 2005, Virginia Tech. Georgia Tech enters this game coming off a win in Chestnut Hill over the Eagles of BC while Virginia Tech limps into the contest after struggling to close out FCS Furman.
Paul Johnson's team is already 1-0 in the ACC and with a win here they would go to 2-0 in the league 1-0 in the Division and have some breathing room during their quest to Tampa. The Hokies need to rebound from the ECU shocker and prove they're still the team to beat in the Coastal which is why this early season showdown is the ACC GAME of the WEEK.
Both teams feature stout defenses that will pressure the quarterback, play opportunistic football and take advantage of mismatches with their front four. Getting behind the line of scrimmage and disrupting the flow of the game on both run and pass is what drives these two surprisingly underrated defensive units.
Offensively though the schemes are different both GaTech and VaTech look to run the ball first and punish you with a relentless rushing attack. VPI's power running game has been less than impressive this season but the addition of dynamic quarterback Tyrod Taylor should give the Hokies a shot in the arm and a boost in offensive production. He missed the first game but is already the Hokies leading rusher with 112 yards.
The Yellow Jackets rushing attack has yet to be stopped in their first two games. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt and B-Back Jonathan Dwyer have been the two biggest surprises of the young ACC season as they've pitched and ran for some big numbers in the new offense. Averaging 255.5 rushing yards a game the Jackets have proven to be a problem for BC already and they look to test the Hokies defensive discipline.
Georgia Tech Defense vs Virginia Tech Offense
Georgia Tech's defensive line was tabbed as one of the units to watch in the ACC during the preseason and they haven't disappointed. Vance Walker, the leader of the unit has put up strong numbers including 3 TFL's and a solo sack as well. Derrick Morgan and Darryl Richard have also been major players in this scheme, piling up TFL's and sacks on an All-ACC pace.
While the defensive line got all the hype with pro prospect Michael Johnson, the back seven have been the true story of this season as they've been the most noticeable improvement to Coach Johnson's talent pool. At Navy he had players who were limited athletically, now with first rate talent his team goes from hoping to hold and limit opponents to playing an attacking, gambling defensive style capable of frustrating opponents (see Ryan Perrilloux and Chris Crane). Along with the seven sacks they've amassed the GT defense has four interceptions, two by leading tackler, safety Morgan Burnett.
The Jackets will be up against a nameless, faceless and completely identity-less offensive entity when they face the Hokies, a team averaging less than 300 yards of total offense a game. That paltry stat is only worsened by the putrid realization that only 103 of those yards come through the air (The Yellow Jackets, a triple option team, average 104 passing). To make this competitive the Hokies need to find some sort of offensive leader. Sean Glennon is out, Tyrod Taylor is in, which helps the rushing output but only serves to further the woes of the passing game.
VPI's leading receiver is Kenny Lewis, a running back, with only five receptions on the year. The departure of three senior receivers Hyman, Morgan and Royal for the NFL left the Hokies depleted and inexperienced at receiver. Young guns such as Dyrell Roberts and Andre Smith will have to step up to help out Taylor with this menacing Ramblin' Wreck pass rush.
Expect to see Morgan Burnett tight in the box with the Tech linebackers daring Virginia Tech to stretch the talented back seven vertically.
Virginia Tech's Defense vs Georgia Tech's Offense
Despite their offensive woes the Hokies defense has remained impressively stout, even with the loss of Xavier Adibi, Vince Hall and Brandon Flowers. VPI is only giving up 96 rushing yards a game and a very respectable 212 passing yards. Macho Harris isn't 100% but he's still playing quality and at times punishing defense. With the departure of the aforementioned linebackers Cam Martin and Purnell Sturdivant have stepped up nicely and played with the same Lunch Pail mentality of the traditional Bud Foster defense.
Stephen Virgil has been a bright spot in the defensive backfield as he's returned both a fumble and blocked PAT for scores and playing opposite Harris he is growing into VT's next NFL cornerback. The Virginia Tech run defense is going to be put to their most crucial test of this short season when they face the Yellow Jackets triple option attack and they'll be getting all they can handle when Nesbitt and Dwyer take the field.
The Jackets have scored eight touchdowns on the season, every one of them has been on the ground and Coach Johnson and team seem content to follow that trend all season. They're averaging right at 30 points a game and almost six yards per carry (5.9). With the every game the Wreck's crisp execution gets better and the team becomes more confident in their ability to win by staying within Johnson's system.
Demaryius Thomas, the leading receiver, patiently lays in wait as the Jacket's "deep threat," averaging 32.5 receiving yards a game. The Wreck will test Cam Martin and Purnell Sturdivant's discipline as Nesbitt and Dwyer methodically move the football down the field.
Look for Kam Chancellor and Macho Harris, VPI's most experienced back end players, to get involved in the run game early, helping out the less experienced backers. VT should load up the box, playing some variations of cover-2 to allow Harris and Virgil to stop the run as well as straight man to get their safeties active in the box early. The Hokies do have a slim athletic advantage and can afford to risk crowding the line of scrimmage.
Special Teams
So far this season Beamer ball has been somewhat less than stellar. Yes, the Hokies returned a blocked PAT for a score but they also committed a gaffe uncharacteristic of the Maroon and Orange; costing the Hokies a game. The ECU game special teams mishap that allowed a blocked punt for a touchdown lost Tech the game but should show the players how critical sound special teams can be, especially for a struggling offensive unit.
While the Hokies have had a very public shortcoming the Yellow Jackets kicking game with Scott Blair has been very Jekyll and Hyde-like. Blair is averaging 44.2 yards per punt and has forced three fair catches in the Jackets first two games. A quite strong showing early on by the sophomore. However, Blair a Calhoun, Georgia native, has been the polar opposite when it comes to his place kicking. He's 1-5 in field goal attempts and 7-8 with PATs.
Match Ups To Watch
Virginia Tech's QB's vs Morgan Burnett
Taylor isn't much of a passer, but then again neither is Glennon, and Burnett has shown a nose for the football through 2008's first two games. The safety had better be on the radar for the Hokies because if the quarterback doesn't look Burnett off the College Park sophomore could snag a couple more interceptions.
Cam Martin and Purnell Sturdivant vs Josh Nesbitt and Jonathan Dwyer
The Hokies top linebackers had better be ready to flow sideline to sideline all day in order to stop the Jackets' dangerous rushing duo. If they miss their assignments and make improper fits either player is capable of taking the ball for large chunks of yardage.
Virginia Tech's Receiving Core vs Georgia Tech Secondary
Georgia Tech's senior cornerback appears prepared to stop anyone the Hokies trot out there, it'll be up to OC Bryan Stynespring and the players themselves to work on establishing a legitimate receiving threat. The Hokies will be seeing nine in the box if they don't force the Wreck's secondary to respect their receivers.
Prediction
Georgia Tech's defense will be much better than the Furman unit that held the Hokies to 3 first half points. The defensive line will pressure Taylor and I expect the sophomore to make a couple amazing plays with his legs, not his arm. He'll lead the Hokies in rushing again and should add a long score or two to his highlight reel. In the end the lack of a serious receiving threat will doom the Hokie-birds as the Jackets will load up the box and force VT into the adventure that is throwing the football.
The Hokies defense will be stout against the option, Bud Foster is notorious for playing a simple defense that allows his athletes to make sound football plays. This will be one of Georgia Tech's toughest tests all season and Nesbitt and Dwyer will be facing a caliber of athlete that they have yet to face off against. With that said I think as the game grinds on the Jackets offense slowly wears down the Hokie defense and they'll find the end zone a couple times.
Special teams will swing the Hokies way and give them a sound edge in the kicking game as well as the opportunity to score off of a block. Paul Johnson may want to think about going for it or pooching the football because Lane Stadium isn't the place you want a young kicker getting his feel for the position.
In the end I think the Yellow Jackets get their second ACC win to move to 3-0 and squarely in first in the ACC.
Georgia Tech 23 Virginia Tech 17
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Week Three: Coastal Division Previews
We've got four games in the Coastal this week including the ACC game of the week featuring Georgia Tech making the trip up to Blacksburg to take on the Hokies. The three remaining games are nonconference games against quality opponents. It'd be nice to see the ACC beat up on the Big East in the UNC and UVA games and Duke playing a successful Navy squad tough would surely elevate the profile.
Check for the Georgia Tech @ Virginia Tech full game break down and preview on Thursday, including match ups to watch and players to surprise you.
North Carolina @ Rutgers (7:30 pm Thursday)
The Heels get their national television debut all alone on a Thursday night after limping into the bye week following sneaking out of Kenan with a win over McNeese State. This Rutgers team is going to test the Heels and with Darrius Massenburg out for the game following a knee scope the Heels will be short one defensive lineman.
After losing to Fresno State in their opening week the Scarlet Knights have some of the same questions to answer as the Heels. Stopping the run, limiting big passing plays and running the football will be the name of this game for both sides. The Knights gave up 206 rushing yards to the Bulldogs while only gaining 106 yards. The Heels fared somewhat better giving up 152 to McNeese State while rushing for 163.
However, 106 of those rushing yards were gained by wide receiver Brandon Tate, not the Heels running back tandem of Greg Little and Shaun Draughn. Both teams will have to run the football and limit the big pass plays that hurt the defenses last season. With Butch Davis and Greg Schiano being former colleagues and exhibiting similar football philosophies this game should be a slugfest of skilled players competing for their first marquee victory of 2008.
Keys to a Tar Heel Win
-Running the Football. Greg Little entered the 2008 season as the definitive starter at running back. His 37 yards on 14 carries has left some question marks surrounding the Heels run game. Shaun Draughn's 30 yards on 7 carries should get the defensive back convert seeing more carries in this football game. Little and Draughn will have to play up to expectations for the Heels to dictate the pace of this football game.
-Get Brandon Tate Loose on the Edge. The senior had 397 all purpose yards against McNeese State, 198 of those were on punt and kickoff returns including an 82 yard punt return for a touchdown. Rutgers' special teams weren't tested too often with their inability to score and Ted Dellaganna pinning the Bulldogs deep with his punts. Tate needs to get a big return early in order to set the tone and shorten the field for the Carolina offense.
-Take advantage of mistakes. The Heels secondary is going to have to play exceptionally well to limit the touches of Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood, two solid receivers. Mike Teel will make mistakes under the defensive pressure and Kendrick Burney, Trimane Goddard, Deunta Williams and company are going to have to take advantage of his errant or hanging passes. This secondary and receiver match up should be a great Thursday night showdown.
Duke vs Navy (12:00 pm Saturday)
The Blue Devils looked solid beating James Madison 31-7 in week one but then returned to earth battling their Big 10 counterpart Northwestern to a 20-24 loss in week two. Coach Cutcliffe has got the Devils on the right track towards improving and this game against Navy is going to display two contrasting styles and test the Blue Devils defense.
Duke, led by the arm of Thaddeus Lewis compiled 472 yards of total offense against the Wildcats and out gained them in the loss by 144 yards. Navy is coming off a week in which they gave up 488 yards of total offense in a loss to Ball State including 326 yards in the air. This is a recipe for the Devils to be successful with their skill players hurting Navy on the edges.
The problem for the Cutcliffe's Devils will be stopping the Navy run game. The Midshipmen rumbled to 346 rushing yards in the loss and only attempted 11 passes for the night. Cutcliffe's defensive stoppers led by Michael Tauiliili and Vince Ohgobaase will have their hands full stopping the triple option anchored by Shun White, Eric Kettani and Jarod Bryant. It is going to be a war of wills Saturday in Durham.
Keys to a Blue Devils Win
-Get an early lead. The triple option loses its effectiveness when the team is forced to play from behind. The ball control, power running must give way to quick passing and reaching for chunks of yardage, something Navy's athletes aren't well equipped to do. Duke needs to get Thad Lewis taking shots early to get up by two scores in order to push Navy out of their comfort zone.
-Play assignment football. The core of Duke's front seven is a group of older, experienced and heady players. They're going to need to use their wiles to combat this confusing Naval assault. By staying at home and playing their rules the Devils should be able to limit the big play by making the sure tackle and making solid run fits.
-Get Leon Wright more touches. The defensive back is the Blue Devils most explosive athlete and Cutcliffe needs to find a way to get Wright touches in the return game. His 23 yard punt return was an electrifying effort and working him into a regular return role will give the Blue Devils another much needed weapon on the edge.
Virginia @ UConn (7:30 pm Saturday)
Abysmal. Right now that is the only way to describe the Virginia Cavaliers in the 2008 season. Overmatched by SoCal and only mustering 187 yards of offense isn't the worst of their doing rather the week two 295 yard effort against IAA Richmond was the larger disappointment. All-ACC caliber running backs Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson were only able to gain 96 yards and Peter Lalich completed only 53.8 percent of his passes against the Spiders.
UConn hasn't been much better, after blasting through Hofstra in week one the Huskies Big East title dreams were put in perspective with a 12-9 escape of the Temple Owls. Tyler Lorenzen threw for an anemic 86 yards and his inability to complete passes forced the Huskies to run the ball 55 times in order to salvage a victory. If ever two teams were on a converging path this game is it.
Two disappointing second games lead the Huskies and 'Hoos limping into Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut with more questions than answers on the offensive side of the ball. The defenses should be the stars of this ESPN evening show with Scott Lutrus of UConn and Clint Sintim of UVA leading their proud units to the field.
Keys to a Virginia Win
-Disrupt the line of scrimmage. The Wahoos had 10 tackles for loss and 6 sacks in last Saturday days game against the Spiders. UConn gave up 5 tackles for loss and 1 sack to Temples young defense. Matt Conrath, Clint Sintim and co. will have to take advantage of the UConn's inept offensive line to disrupt Lorenzen and stand out running back Donald Brown.
-Make UConn One Dimensional. Stacking the box, blitzing linebackers out of the 3-4 scheme and confusing the offensive line by bringing pressure from multiple directions will force the Huskies into second and long or third and long situations. Making Tyler Lorenzen beat them instead of allowing Donald Brown to continue his All-Big East campaign (currently averaging 180 yards per game).
-Use the power running game. The Huskies don't have an active defensive line and they are largely undersized compared to the Cavaliers massive big men upfront. By getting Mikell Simpson and Cedric Peerman pounding on the linebackers and leaning on the linemen the Cavs can suck up the safeties and the linebackers, allowing Lalich to hit solid receiver Kevin Ogletree with the vertical passing game.
Tomorrow AFN will break down the ACC Atlantic Games.
Check for the Georgia Tech @ Virginia Tech full game break down and preview on Thursday, including match ups to watch and players to surprise you.
North Carolina @ Rutgers (7:30 pm Thursday)
The Heels get their national television debut all alone on a Thursday night after limping into the bye week following sneaking out of Kenan with a win over McNeese State. This Rutgers team is going to test the Heels and with Darrius Massenburg out for the game following a knee scope the Heels will be short one defensive lineman.
After losing to Fresno State in their opening week the Scarlet Knights have some of the same questions to answer as the Heels. Stopping the run, limiting big passing plays and running the football will be the name of this game for both sides. The Knights gave up 206 rushing yards to the Bulldogs while only gaining 106 yards. The Heels fared somewhat better giving up 152 to McNeese State while rushing for 163.
However, 106 of those rushing yards were gained by wide receiver Brandon Tate, not the Heels running back tandem of Greg Little and Shaun Draughn. Both teams will have to run the football and limit the big pass plays that hurt the defenses last season. With Butch Davis and Greg Schiano being former colleagues and exhibiting similar football philosophies this game should be a slugfest of skilled players competing for their first marquee victory of 2008.
Keys to a Tar Heel Win
-Running the Football. Greg Little entered the 2008 season as the definitive starter at running back. His 37 yards on 14 carries has left some question marks surrounding the Heels run game. Shaun Draughn's 30 yards on 7 carries should get the defensive back convert seeing more carries in this football game. Little and Draughn will have to play up to expectations for the Heels to dictate the pace of this football game.
-Get Brandon Tate Loose on the Edge. The senior had 397 all purpose yards against McNeese State, 198 of those were on punt and kickoff returns including an 82 yard punt return for a touchdown. Rutgers' special teams weren't tested too often with their inability to score and Ted Dellaganna pinning the Bulldogs deep with his punts. Tate needs to get a big return early in order to set the tone and shorten the field for the Carolina offense.
-Take advantage of mistakes. The Heels secondary is going to have to play exceptionally well to limit the touches of Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood, two solid receivers. Mike Teel will make mistakes under the defensive pressure and Kendrick Burney, Trimane Goddard, Deunta Williams and company are going to have to take advantage of his errant or hanging passes. This secondary and receiver match up should be a great Thursday night showdown.
Duke vs Navy (12:00 pm Saturday)
The Blue Devils looked solid beating James Madison 31-7 in week one but then returned to earth battling their Big 10 counterpart Northwestern to a 20-24 loss in week two. Coach Cutcliffe has got the Devils on the right track towards improving and this game against Navy is going to display two contrasting styles and test the Blue Devils defense.
Duke, led by the arm of Thaddeus Lewis compiled 472 yards of total offense against the Wildcats and out gained them in the loss by 144 yards. Navy is coming off a week in which they gave up 488 yards of total offense in a loss to Ball State including 326 yards in the air. This is a recipe for the Devils to be successful with their skill players hurting Navy on the edges.
The problem for the Cutcliffe's Devils will be stopping the Navy run game. The Midshipmen rumbled to 346 rushing yards in the loss and only attempted 11 passes for the night. Cutcliffe's defensive stoppers led by Michael Tauiliili and Vince Ohgobaase will have their hands full stopping the triple option anchored by Shun White, Eric Kettani and Jarod Bryant. It is going to be a war of wills Saturday in Durham.
Keys to a Blue Devils Win
-Get an early lead. The triple option loses its effectiveness when the team is forced to play from behind. The ball control, power running must give way to quick passing and reaching for chunks of yardage, something Navy's athletes aren't well equipped to do. Duke needs to get Thad Lewis taking shots early to get up by two scores in order to push Navy out of their comfort zone.
-Play assignment football. The core of Duke's front seven is a group of older, experienced and heady players. They're going to need to use their wiles to combat this confusing Naval assault. By staying at home and playing their rules the Devils should be able to limit the big play by making the sure tackle and making solid run fits.
-Get Leon Wright more touches. The defensive back is the Blue Devils most explosive athlete and Cutcliffe needs to find a way to get Wright touches in the return game. His 23 yard punt return was an electrifying effort and working him into a regular return role will give the Blue Devils another much needed weapon on the edge.
Virginia @ UConn (7:30 pm Saturday)
Abysmal. Right now that is the only way to describe the Virginia Cavaliers in the 2008 season. Overmatched by SoCal and only mustering 187 yards of offense isn't the worst of their doing rather the week two 295 yard effort against IAA Richmond was the larger disappointment. All-ACC caliber running backs Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson were only able to gain 96 yards and Peter Lalich completed only 53.8 percent of his passes against the Spiders.
UConn hasn't been much better, after blasting through Hofstra in week one the Huskies Big East title dreams were put in perspective with a 12-9 escape of the Temple Owls. Tyler Lorenzen threw for an anemic 86 yards and his inability to complete passes forced the Huskies to run the ball 55 times in order to salvage a victory. If ever two teams were on a converging path this game is it.
Two disappointing second games lead the Huskies and 'Hoos limping into Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut with more questions than answers on the offensive side of the ball. The defenses should be the stars of this ESPN evening show with Scott Lutrus of UConn and Clint Sintim of UVA leading their proud units to the field.
Keys to a Virginia Win
-Disrupt the line of scrimmage. The Wahoos had 10 tackles for loss and 6 sacks in last Saturday days game against the Spiders. UConn gave up 5 tackles for loss and 1 sack to Temples young defense. Matt Conrath, Clint Sintim and co. will have to take advantage of the UConn's inept offensive line to disrupt Lorenzen and stand out running back Donald Brown.
-Make UConn One Dimensional. Stacking the box, blitzing linebackers out of the 3-4 scheme and confusing the offensive line by bringing pressure from multiple directions will force the Huskies into second and long or third and long situations. Making Tyler Lorenzen beat them instead of allowing Donald Brown to continue his All-Big East campaign (currently averaging 180 yards per game).
-Use the power running game. The Huskies don't have an active defensive line and they are largely undersized compared to the Cavaliers massive big men upfront. By getting Mikell Simpson and Cedric Peerman pounding on the linebackers and leaning on the linemen the Cavs can suck up the safeties and the linebackers, allowing Lalich to hit solid receiver Kevin Ogletree with the vertical passing game.
Tomorrow AFN will break down the ACC Atlantic Games.
Monday, September 8, 2008
The Best of Week 2 in the ACC
After being out of town for a week it is good to get back to the ACC and writing about the trials and triumphs of the conference. Week 2 was pretty eventful and an overall win the league. Wake Forest was the only true on the field victory of any meaning but the 'Canes, Noles, Tigers and Yellow Jackets were all impressive this week.
Disappointments include Maryland as a whole, Chris Crane from BC, NC State's utter ineptitude at quarterback and Duke losing to Northwestern (who would've thought a Duke loss would be a disappointment).
Week Three should get things pumped up here with the conference season slowly starting to get underway and some good nonconference match ups as well. Rutgers and UNC lock horns on Thursday night to highlight the conference nationally and the Heels definitely need a good showing after the McNeese State debacle. Maryland vs California as well as Virginia at UConn fill out the meaningful nonconference battles.
Before we get immersed in week three lets look at the best of week two in ACC Football country.
Best Showing: Miami's Defense
Yes, Wake Forest beat their SEC foe, yes Florida State rang up 69 points against Western Carolina but neither of those teams efforts was a herculean as the 'Canes defensive unit. Led by freshman and sophomores the unit held reigning Heisman winner Tim Tebow in check for three quarters of the game.
A questionable pass interference call and an overturned play that gave the Gators a first down deep in the red zone were the major differences that iced the game for the Gators. Shannon's young team was energetic and every bit as fast and athletic as the Fighting Tebows. Their offense has a ways to go but they've got an ACC Championship caliber defensive unit now. The Virginia Tech and UNC sexy picks for the Coastal Title are in a lot of trouble with Robert Marve slowly improving his play to keep Jacory Harris off the field.
Worst Showing: Maryland
The picture of pathetic thus far into the season. Virginia is bad, but their defense is capable of taking awful performances and making them look mediocre. Maryland's passive defensive philosophy and horrendous offensive outings have made the Terps look horrible. Darrious Heyward-Bey hasn't been able to get the ball and the blame for not using one of the nations elite receivers can be shared by Coach Friedgen and quarterback Chris Turner.
Defensively the Terps are excessively passive, laying in wait to read and react to the opposition as opposed to attacking and forcing the issue. This team clearly isn't as talented on the defensive side of the ball, missing Erin Henderson as their leader and hard nosed run stopper. In the days of EJ Henderson or Shawn Merriman the Turtles always attacked the quarterback and forced teams into third and longs to dictate the games pace.
The Terps better get aggressive on defense and find a quarterback who can get the ball to Heyward-Bey, other wise they'll be battling NC State for last in the Atlantic.
Check out the ACC photos section for our week one tailgating experience as well as some photos from Clemson Alabama and the Clemson and Citadel weekend in South Carolina.
Disappointments include Maryland as a whole, Chris Crane from BC, NC State's utter ineptitude at quarterback and Duke losing to Northwestern (who would've thought a Duke loss would be a disappointment).
Week Three should get things pumped up here with the conference season slowly starting to get underway and some good nonconference match ups as well. Rutgers and UNC lock horns on Thursday night to highlight the conference nationally and the Heels definitely need a good showing after the McNeese State debacle. Maryland vs California as well as Virginia at UConn fill out the meaningful nonconference battles.
Before we get immersed in week three lets look at the best of week two in ACC Football country.
Best Showing: Miami's Defense
Yes, Wake Forest beat their SEC foe, yes Florida State rang up 69 points against Western Carolina but neither of those teams efforts was a herculean as the 'Canes defensive unit. Led by freshman and sophomores the unit held reigning Heisman winner Tim Tebow in check for three quarters of the game.
A questionable pass interference call and an overturned play that gave the Gators a first down deep in the red zone were the major differences that iced the game for the Gators. Shannon's young team was energetic and every bit as fast and athletic as the Fighting Tebows. Their offense has a ways to go but they've got an ACC Championship caliber defensive unit now. The Virginia Tech and UNC sexy picks for the Coastal Title are in a lot of trouble with Robert Marve slowly improving his play to keep Jacory Harris off the field.
Worst Showing: Maryland
The picture of pathetic thus far into the season. Virginia is bad, but their defense is capable of taking awful performances and making them look mediocre. Maryland's passive defensive philosophy and horrendous offensive outings have made the Terps look horrible. Darrious Heyward-Bey hasn't been able to get the ball and the blame for not using one of the nations elite receivers can be shared by Coach Friedgen and quarterback Chris Turner.
Defensively the Terps are excessively passive, laying in wait to read and react to the opposition as opposed to attacking and forcing the issue. This team clearly isn't as talented on the defensive side of the ball, missing Erin Henderson as their leader and hard nosed run stopper. In the days of EJ Henderson or Shawn Merriman the Turtles always attacked the quarterback and forced teams into third and longs to dictate the games pace.
The Terps better get aggressive on defense and find a quarterback who can get the ball to Heyward-Bey, other wise they'll be battling NC State for last in the Atlantic.
Check out the ACC photos section for our week one tailgating experience as well as some photos from Clemson Alabama and the Clemson and Citadel weekend in South Carolina.
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