College Football 2007 ACC Preview
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2007 ACC: Atlantic Coast Conference Football Preview
Atlantic Division
Florida State
It was a bust of a season for Florida State (7-6 SU, 6-7 ATS), barely making a bowl game and losing 5 and 6 games in each of the last two seasons. It looks even worse when you realize four of their wins were against Troy, Rice, Virginia and Western Michigan. They beat Troy by 7 as a 26-point favorite and squeaked by Western Michigan 28-20 as an 18-point chalk. Not exactly what Seminole fans are used to.
However, there is plenty of room for optimism. They ended the season losing just 21-14 to eventual national champion Florida and a 44-27 rout of UCLA in the Emerald Bowl. Bobby Bowden has 7 starters returning on offense, plus two starting quarterbacks, and 8 on defense. Five new assistants join Bowden, including a new offensive coordinator in Jimbo Fisher. Fisher's offense helped LSU to a national title in 2003 and they welcome back Chuck Amato as linebackers coach, who was just fired as NC State coach.
The offense has two choices at quarterback to sift through with juniors Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee. Weatherford has the most experience, but has thrown 30 TDs and 29 picks the last two seasons. The more mobile Lee took over late last season and had 7 TDs, 5 INTs, 885 yards, though he completed only 51% of his passes. It was Weatherford who played in the Emerald Bowl, throwing for 325 yards against a strong UCLA defense in a 44-27 Seminole win.
Junior RB Antone Smith (456 yards) was the second leading rusher, but the coaching staff is trying to find a way to improve blocking, as FSU was a terrible running team in 2006, averaging 96 yards and just 3.5 yards per carry. The passing game has two key weapons in 6-foot-6 junior WR Greg Carr (12 TDs, 619 yards) and senior WR De' Cody Fagg. TE Brandon Warren was one of the brightest stars of the 2006 freshman class. The tight end had 27 catches for 293 yards and a TD.
The Florida State defense was strong, allowing 92 yards rushing per game, just 2.9 yards per carry, and 198 yards passing and brings back 8 starters. Junior DT Aaron Jones will anchor the line, along with senior DE Alex Boston and junior DE Neefy Moffett. The entire secondary returns on a unit that allowed just 178 passing yards in conference play. This team has experience and talent to be better, but they have a very difficult road schedule. Florida State plays at Clemson, at Colorado, at Wake Forest, at BC, at Virginia Tech and at Florida. Still, the Seminoles are 4-0 ATS their last 4 games as a dog (three straight up wins).
Boston College
It was an offseason of change at Boston College, despite a strong 10-3 season. Coach Tom O'Brien bolted for the greener pastures of NC State so Boston College football has a new head coach in Jeff Jagodzinski. Jagodzinski served as the offensive coordinator for the 2006 Green Bay Packers and gets a five-year contract. He spent 14 years as a college coach, most recently two successful seasons (1997-98) as offensive coordinator at Boston College. At BC, his offenses averaged more than 400 yards per game in each of his two seasons.
Frank Spaziani, who led BC to a 25-24 victory over Navy in the Meineke Car Care Bowl as Interim Head Coach, will remain on staff as defensive coordinator, while Steve Logan is the new offensive coordinator. Logan joins the BC staff after three seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach with the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe. Despite the changes on the sidelines, the Eagles are loaded with experience on the field, with 7 starters back on offense and 10 on defense!
The defense was fast and outstanding allowing 15.7 points, 3.5 yards per rush and just 183 yards passing per contest. They will be strong again behind junior Ron Brace in the middle, along with senior CB DeJuan Tribble. The entire defensive front seven returns. BC had a +15 turnover margin! The defense keyed the way allowing 13 ppg at home, where the Eagles went 8-0 SU, 5-2 ATS. On the road they struggled at times at 2-3 SU/1-3 ATS. BC is 6-0 SU/ATS as a dog the last two seasons!
The offense is very strong and balanced. The offensive line returns its best players and averaged 138 yards rushing in ACC play, 4.0 ypc, and 228 yards passing per game in 2006. Senior QB Matt Ryan (15 TDs, 10 INTs) returns and completed 61% of his passes. The running back depth is terrific behind senior running back Andre Callender (708 and 633 yards the last two years), and he was the leading runner three years ago averaging 4.6 ypc. They also return last year's leading rusher, senior L.V. Whitworth (807 and 791 yards the last two season). Boston College averaged 26 ppg.
They don't have standout wide receivers, instead spreading the ball around to returnees like junior WR Brandon Robinson and senior WR Kevin Challenger. Home games vs. defending ACC champion Wake Forest, North Carolina State, Florida State and Miami highlight the 2007 Boston College football schedule. In addition, the Eagles will resume their series with Notre Dame with an Oct. 13 appearance in South Bend and also face tough road tests at Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Clemson. This team has good balance on both sides of the ball and a lot of experience, meaning another winning season and a bowl game are in the cards.
Clemson
Head Coach Tommy Bowden has changed the offensive philosophy at Clemson after bringing in OC Rob Spence two years ago. He convinced Bowden to give up his pass-happy attack and try for more offensive balance, which has happened. The offense was balanced and very impressive in 2005 averaging 26 points, 153.8 yards rushing (4.1 ypc) and 230.8 yards passing per game, and last season they averaged 33 points, 218 yards rushing and 193 passing. Only 4 starters are back on offense, but the defense is loaded with 9 starters returning.
The offense will have a new quarterback, with junior QB Cullen Harper (20 pass attempts, 155 yards) and top recruit freshman Willy Korn battling it out. The winner won't have to carry the load as the running game has its top two backs returning in junior James Davis (1,187 yards, 17 TDs, 5.8 ypc) and sophomore RB C.J. Spiller (938 yards). Yes, that adds up to over 2,000 rushing yards from two guys! One thing to keep an eye on is that the offensive line loses three starters. Top WR Chansi Stuckey is also gone, so they are looking for more from junior WR Aaron Kelly (355), who was second on the team in yards, and junior WR Tyler Grisham.
While there are new players on offense, the defense is positively loaded, with 9 starters back on a unit that ranked 13th in the nation. The defense was terrific, allowing 16 points and just 2.9 yards per rush under second-year defensive coordinator Vic Koennig. They will be strong again with the return of run stuffers junior Rashaad Jackson, LB Nick Watkins, along with DE Ricky Sapp. The special teams are also outstanding, with kicker Jad Dean while Cole Chason is a strong punter.
Clemson was just 2-3 SU/ATS on the road and faded down the stretch, on a 1-4 SU/ATS run to end the season (including a 28-20 bowl loss to Kentucky as an 11-point favorite). The 2007 schedule is tough, with the opener against Florida State, and road games at NC State, Georgia Tech, Maryland and South Carolina. Clemson is 5-3 SU, 8-0 against the spread as an underdog the last two years! The defense will carry this team to another bowl, but Bowden's teams never seem to put it all together, either stumbling early or late.
Wake Forest
A year ago we wrote, "A winning season and a bowl game is a possibility for Wake." Was it ever! Run-oriented Wake Forest has always been competitive under 7th-year Demon Deacons Head Coach Jim Grobe, but last year took the cake, winning the ACC. Wake was the surprise team in the nation, going 11-3 SU, 8-5 ATS while getting to the Orange Bowl, a 24-13 loss to Louisville. The ground game was strong again, averaging 150 yards per game, but the swarming defense was the big story, allowing 15 points per contest and just 3.1 yards per rush. 2007 looks promising with 8 starters back on offense and 5 on defense.
On offense, they are still a ground-oriented attack. They averaged 203 yards on the ground and 27.8 points per game in 2003, 21 ppg and 206 rush yards in 2004, and 24.5 points, 197.5 yards rushing in 2005. Quarterback Ben Wauk transferred out, but he only threw 21 passes for 105 yards in 2006. The main man is sophomore QB Riley Skinner, who was outstanding as a freshman with 9 TDs, 5 picks, 2,051 yards while completing 65.8% of his passes. Skinner was 21-of-33 for 271 yards in the Orange bowl against Louisville.
The backfield has great depth with the top four running backs returning with senior RB Kenneth Moore (507 yards), sophomore RB Kevin Harris (393, 5.0 ypc), senior RB Micah Andrews (256 yards, 4.4 ypc) and senior RB De'Angelo Bryant. The backfield is loaded with running options, along with 3 returning offensive linemen. They will look to the ground game to eat up the clock and lead the offense again. Kicker Sam Swank (21-of-27 FGs) was a huge weapon and returns for his junior season. He was 5-of-7 for kicks 50 yards or more! Wake loses it top two wideouts, so senior WR Kenneth Moore (314 yards) and senior TE John Tereshinski have to step up.
The defense has 5 starters back and was an attacking, swarming unit. Wake was 10-3 under the total! LB Jon Abbate made an early jump to the NFL, which hurts, but DEs Matt Robinson and Jeremy Thompson return. Three starters need replacing in the secondary, with junior CB Alphonso Smith the holdover. Wake will go with a 4-3 lineup and will use a 3-3-5 from time to time to surprise the opponent.
Even before last season, Wake had a history of playing tough, losing to Clemson 37-30 in OT in 2004, upsetting BC 17-14, losing 27-21 to NC State as a +11 dog, and to Florida State by a field goal, 20-17 as a +14 dog. In 2005 they upset Clemson 31-27 and NC State, 27-19. In 2003, the Demon Deacons beat Boston College 32-28 as a +13 road dog, topped NC State 38-24 as a +8 home dog, lost 16-10 to Purdue, lost by 3 points at Virginia, and had an impressive 45-17 rout of Clemson. The schedule starts with games at Boston College and at home against Nebraska, with later road games at Virginia and Clemson. They host Florida State in November, and that's a revenge spot for the Seminoles after Wake flattened them 30-0.
NC State
A new era begins for the Wolfpack, who dumped underachieving Chuck Amato in favor of Tom O'Brien, a former Marine whose Boston College teams were disciplined and always seemed to overachieve. In 1996 he took over at Boston College, turning around a program that had been wracked with scandal and instability. The Eagles had back-to-back 4-7 seasons, then had eight consecutive winning seasons and eight consecutive bowl victories. His teams don't beat themselves and have ball-control offenses. New Offensive Coordinator Dana Bible joins him from BC, as well. Defensive coordinator Mike Archer comes over from Kentucky.
He inherits a program that needs a housecleaning, ending 2006 with a 7-game losing streak. Sloppy play, penalties and turnovers were huge problems the last two seasons. They had NFL caliber talent, too, with high draft picks defensive lineman John McCargo, DE Manny Lawson and No. 1 overall pick DE DeMario Williams two years ago, but underachieved. You may recall in early October when NC State upset Florida State, 24-20, an emotional Amato telling national TV viewers that his team never gives up. They haven't won a game since, riding a 7-game skid into the new season.
O'Brien will start with the offense and try and cut down the turnovers (minus-11 last season). Junior QB Daniel Evans (5 TDs, 11 INTs) and senior QB Marcus Stone (4 TDs, 5 INTs) are off poor seasons and will battle for time. Stone is an athletic, mobile QB who can throw deep, but he completed less than 48% of his passes. O'Brien and Bible love a power running game, and this backfield has two good ones in junior RB Andre Brown (658 yards, 5.3 ypc) and junior Toney Baker (688 yards, 4.4 ypc). They have led the Wolfpack in rushing the last two seasons, teaming for over 1,000 yards each time. One concern is that the offensive line took a big hit losing some key starters.
The offense has to be better, after getting an anemic 3.8 yards per rush, 17.5 points and 182 yards passing per game. The top three pass catchers return in senior WR Darrell Blackman (358), 6-foot-2 senior WR John Dunlap (392) and senior TE Anthony Hill (478 yards). With a strong defense and an anemic offense the last two years, it's no wonder NC State has gone 16-6 under the total! NC State was poor in 2005 when it was 118th in the nation in third down completions (25.5%), and 102nd in the nation last fall in third down conversion percentage, successful on just 32.4% of their tries. That should change with the new coaches.
Overall 9 starters return on offense, 7 on defense. The defense has been strong the last two years, but loses its top playmakers in DT Tank Tyler and linebackers Pat Lowery and Reggie Davis. Run stuffer DeMario Pressley returns up front, along with senior CB Jimmy Sutton in the secondary. The schedule is difficult, with road games at Florida State, Miami, and Wake Forest. And one other road game: September 8th at Boston College! Think the BC fans will cheer or boo their old coach?
Maryland
A great coaching staff can always get the most out of its players. Maryland has a terrific staff behind Head Coach Ralph Friedgen. He was averaging 10 wins per season, until everything went wrong in 2004 and 2005, during back-to-back frustrating 5-6 campaigns. 2006 was a memorable one, though, going 9-4 winning an incredible string of close games, plus a bowl win over Purdue, 24-7. They won five games by 4, 2, 3, 1, and 1 point! This was also not an impressive team statistically, with a limited running game (3.8 ypc) and senior QB Sam Hollenbach had just 15 TDs, 11 picks.
While the Terrapins have to work in a new quarterback, they do have 7 starters returning on both sides of the ball. Junior QB Jordan Steffy steps in after going 0-for-5 last fall. Which means expect to see plenty from the ground game, with leading rushers senior RB Lance Ball (815 yards) and senior RB Keon Lattimore (743) both returning. The line was average, though, with Maryland rushing for just an average of 112 yards, 3.5 ypc, in ACC play. This is more of a plodding offense, especially with a new QB stepping in.
The relatively new QB will have the top four wideouts returning in sophomore WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (694 yards, 5 TDs), junior WR Danny Oquendo, junior WR Isaiah Williams and mammoth 6-foot-8 senior TE Joey Haynos. The Terps offense looks balanced, though they struck for just 21.8 ppg in 2006. Maryland was 7-1 SU at home last season, but 2-3 SU/ATS on the road, which continues a trend: The Terps are 31-8 SU, 21-15 ATS at home since 2001!
The defense returns 7 starters, but the front was weak allowing 163 rushing yards a game, 4.6 yards per attempt. That is a continuing problem, as in 2005 the Maryland run defense was porous allowing 165.7 yards per game, 4 ypc. The ends, Jeremy Navarre and Trey Covington, are back but have to develop into better pass rushers. The secondary loses its best player, cornerback Josh Wilson, who was the team's most valuable player. The schedule opens with two easy wins (Villanova, Florida International), but closes playing three of four road games at North Carolina, at Florida State and at North Carolina State. How many more close wins will they be able to keep pulling out of the fire?
Coastal Division
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech hopes to bring some more joy to the Hokie community after the awful events of April shattered the campus. The Hokies have been tearing up the ACC, with a 7-1 conference mark in their inaugural 2004 season, 2005's stellar 11-2 SU/ATS team that did everything right until a stunning 27-22 loss to Florida State in the ACC championship game, and last season's 10-3 team that went 6-2 SU/5-2-1 ATS in conference play. Defense led the way again, allowing 11 points, 91 yards rushing and 128 yards passing per game! Yes, they were 8-4 under the total with all that defense. With 8 starters back on BOTH sides of the ball, expect the Hokies to be great (not just good) again.
This was a run-first team as junior quarterback Sean Glennon, a pocket passer, was average with 11 TDs, 11 picks while completing just 56% of his passes. The offense is about balance, after averaging 113 yards rushing and 181 yards passing in 2006, and averaging 190.7 yards rushing and 190 yards passing in 2005. In 2004 they averaged 31 points, 178 yards rushing and 187 passing per game. In 2003, they averaged 35 points, 209 yards rushing and 192 passing per game. You get the idea: Beamer runs a great program.
The power running game has junior RB Branden Ore, who ran for 1,137 yards, 4.7 ypc, and 16 TDs despite injuries that limited his playing time. Junior FB George Bell is also in the mix along with sophomore RB Kenny Lewis. Virginia Tech likes to run, but there is a terrific group of speedy receivers to work with. Their top 2 receivers return led by senior Josh Morgan (448) and senior Eddie Royal (497). The 25 points per game they averaged was a little misleading, as the defense scored or set up great field position. If RB Branden Ore wasn't healthy or on, the offense struggled, so they need more consistency from the QB.
The defense was first in the nation allowing just 219 yards and 11 points per game. A whopping 8 starters return including the nation's best linebacking pair in Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi. Senior NG Carlton Powell leads another deep and fast defensive unit. The schedule is kind, with ACC home games against Miami, Florida State and Boston College. Road games at LSU, Georgia Tech and Clemson will be challenging. Georgia Tech and BC are revenge games, too. If the offense improves, this defense is talented enough to carry them to the ACC title game and it's possible they could be a national title contender.
Miami
They love football in the south, and South Florida football fans are reeling from the Miami pro AND college teams losing their head coaches. Nick Saban fled the Dolphins while the Hurricanes fired Larry Coker. Miami's new head coach is Randy Shannon, 40, who was the team's defensive coordinator for the last six seasons. He has coached top 10 defenses in five of those six seasons. Miami allowed just 15 points per game in 2006, which is why they were 10-1 under the total!
The toughest job for the new coach will be to jumpstart the anemic Hurricane offense. The good news is 16 starters return, 9 on offense and 7 on defense. Patrick Nix is the new offensive coordinator at the University of Miami. He came to Miami after five seasons at Georgia Tech, including the last three as offensive coordinator. We're not sure what they see in Nix, as his Georgia Tech offenses were more plodding and cautious than explosive, despite star WR Calvin Johnson. QB Reggie Ball was vastly overrated and never improved. Perhaps it was Ball himself, but new OC Nix gets a fresh start with this Miami offense.
Fans aren't likely to be patient, however. Miami expected to be better than 5-3 in its inaugural season in the ACC in 2004. In 2005 they were 6-2 in the ACC and last season bottomed out at 3-5. Miami has gone 8-15 ATS the last two seasons! Senior QB Kyle Wright returns after throwing 8 TDs, 7 INTs for 1,655 yards while completing 60%. He was benched the final four games, giving way to junior Kirby Freeman, who was worse (7 TDs, 8 INTs). Wright hopes to return to his sophomore form of 2005 when he threw 18 TDs, 10 INTs for 2,403 yards. The offense averaged just 116 yards on the ground and 197 yards passing, outscoring opponents by a 19-15 average. That's not Miami offensive football!
The offense went over 27 points just twice, against Florida A&M and Florida International. The running game returns leading rusher sophomore Javarris James, who had 802 yards, 4.6 ypc, as a freshman. Super 6-foot-6 TE Greg Olsen (451) is gone, a big loss, but they still have senior WR Lance Leggett (584 yards) and sophomore WR Sam Shields (501), their top two pass catchers.
The defense allowed just 15 points per game, 67 yards rushing per game and 2.3 yards per carry, finishing seventh in the nation overall and fourth against the run. 7 starters are back, including mammoth 6-8, 265-pound defensive end Calais Campbell and cornerback Randy Phillips. Miami Hurricanes junior safety Anthony Reddick underwent successful surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will miss the entire 2007 season. Reddick has had a turbulent career. In 2004, he was named to the All-ACC freshman team. He finished that season with 73 tackles, one sack and one interception.
Reddick then missed nearly the entire 2005 campaign after tearing his right ACL in the second quarter of the Hurricanes' season opener against Florida State. He registered six tackles before suffering the injury. In 2006, Reddick was one of several players suspended for a sideline-clearing brawl with Florida International. Their first road game is at Oklahoma, though they play 4 of their first 5 at home. Road games at Florida State, at Virginia Tech and at Boston College will be tough, especially with those last two ending the regular season.
Georgia Tech
A disappointing end to the 2006 season carried over into a disappointing offseason. The Yellow Jackets lost their final three games, all by 3 points, including a 9-6 upset loss to Wake in the ACC title game and a 38-35 bowl loss to West Virginia. QB Reggie Ball has graduated, a 4-year starter, and the team's dynamic offensive player, WR Calvin Johnson, left early for the NFL. They've had plenty of talent the last few seasons, but have been pretty much a .500 team. The Yellow Jackets were 7-6 SU/ATS in 2003, 7-5 SU/6-5 ATS in 2004, and 7-5 in 2005. This has been an unpredictable team. In 2005 Georgia Tech upset Auburn and Miami, yet still only went 7-5. As a 9-point favorite over Utah in a bowl game, the Yellow Jackets lost 38-10! You never know which team is going to show up and 2007 is a rebuilding season.
Head coach Chan Gailey brings in a new offensive coordinator in John Bond, the offensive coordinator at Northern Illinois University the last three years. Bond will call the offensive plays and will also coach Tech's quarterbacks. Bond spent the previous four seasons (2000-04) as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Army, where he fashioned a wide-open offense that broke 35 school records. His Northern Illinois teams were run-oriented or balanced attacks, something that Georgia Tech has primarily been. They averaged 162 yards rushing and 169 passing in 2006.
7 starters return to that offense, and the new QB is junior Taylor Bennett. He played last season throwing 5 TDs, 2 INTs for 523 yards. In fact, he completed 60% of his passes (the overrated Ball completed just 44%). Senior RB Tashard Choice will see plenty of carries to take the pressure off the new QB. He ran for 1,473 yards, 5 ypc, and 12 TDs. Junior WR James Johnson (608 yards) was the second leading receiver and had 7 TDs. This has been a run-first offense under Gailey that averaged 153 yards rushing in 2005 and 162 last year.
Fortunately, this defense is strong and returns 9 starters. They were outstanding against the run (3.3 ypc allowed), but DT Joe Anoai is off to the NFL. Junior defensive tackle David Brown and junior defensive tackle Darryl Richard will have to step into those big shoes. They also return senior defensive end Adam Oliver, senior defensive end Darrell Robertson, and junior Elris Anyaibe. The secondary returns three starters and allowed just 195 yards through the air per contest. Durant Brooks is one of the nation's best punters. They open the season at Notre Dame, and have back-to-back October games at Maryland and Miami. The erratic offense and great 'D' is why G-Tech is 21-14 "under" the total the last three years. Success will hinge on QB Bennent and if the new offensive coordinator improves things.
Virginia
Coach Al Groh's Cavaliers have been in decline, going 8-5 SU/ATS in 2003, 8-4 SU, 7-5 ATS in 2004, 7-5 in 2005 and 5-7 last season. They have lost a lot of key talent from those teams, including TE Heath Miller, OL Elton Brown, DE Chris Canty, LB Darryl Blackstock, Kai Parham, D'Brickashaw Ferguson and QB Marques Hagans. Despite a 4-4 conference mark in 2006, it was a bit of a mirage, as it was a rebuilding year for the Cavs. The good news is 9 starters are back on both sides of the ball!
Virginia still runs a pro-style offense, but needs a quarterback after a terrible campaign, averaging 100 yards rushing, 157 passing and just 15 points per game. Virginia finished at the ACC bottom on offense and was 8-3 under the total. There is some hope because of mobile sophomore QB Jameel Sewell. As a freshman, he stepped in with 5 TDs, 6 INTs, 1,342 yards, while rushing for 200 yards. All five starters return to the line, though they need a new running back. Junior RB Cedric Peerman (153 yards) leads an inexperienced group.
Junior WR Kevin Ogletree, Virginia's top wide receiver, suffered a serious knee injury and is expected to miss the 2007 season. Ogletree had 7 rushing attempts for 63 yards while leading the Cavs with 52 catches, 582 yards and 4 TDs. Ogletree ranked third in receptions in the Atlantic Coast Conference last season as a sophomore. He played as a true freshman in 2005, so Ogletree can redshirt this season and return in 2008 with two years of eligibility remaining. With Ogletree out, the Cavaliers' top returning wide receiver is junior Maurice Covington, who had six catches for 45 yards last season. 6-foot-6 freshman TE Andrew Devlin should help, along with speedy frosh WR Kris Burd.
The defense gave up just 290 yards per game and gets nine starters back. The defense has a terrific talent up front in senior NT Keenan Carter, who helped them allow just 3.3 yards per rush. Virginia has been a great team at home the last four years, but lousy on the road. Virginia is 21-5 SU/19-7 ATS at home the last four seasons, but 7-16 SU/7-14 ATS on the road! The first half of the schedule is favorable until October, when Virginia ends the season by playing five straight against Maryland, NC State, Wake, at Miami and Virginia Tech. If they want to go bowling, the Cavs had better win 'em all early!
North Carolina
It's been a while since anyone's been excited over a North Carolina football season, but at last there is excitement and hope with new coach Butch Davis. He did a sensational recruiting job while at Miami, then flopped in the pros with the Browns. Davis doesn't have a lot of talent to work with just yet. His biggest task will be improving an anemic offense that averaged 18 points and 3.6 yards per rush. The good news is 11 starters return on offense and the recruiting class was very strong.
The offense has mobile senior quarterback Joe Dailey, a former transfer from Nebraska. Dailey earned a spot on the 2006 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Football Team. In his first year of eligibility at UNC, he played in 10 games and started seven, including the last five. He completed 112 of 195 attempts (.574) for 1,316 yards and seven touchdowns, 10 picks. Sophomore QB Cam Sexton started last season and struggled, with 4 TDs, 8 picks and just 41% completions. Keep a close eye on 6-5 freshman QB Mike Paulus, a top prospect who probably won't sit for long if the other guys struggle.
John Shoop is the Tar Heels' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Shoop comes to Chapel Hill after serving two seasons with the Oakland Raiders. He was Oakland's quarterbacks coach in 2005, the tight ends coach in 2006 and was elevated to offensive coordinator for the final five games of the 2006 season. And you remember the Raiders offense in 2006! Before that Shoop spent the 2004 season as quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under head coach Jon Gruden. He worked five seasons (1999-2003) for the Chicago Bears under head coach Dick Jauron, including three as the offensive coordinator (2001-03).
A player to watch is freshman QB Mike Paulus of Syracuse, N.Y., who committed to the Tar Heels, sloughing off offers from Syracuse, Tennessee, Alabama, and Miami. A key loss is tailback Ronnie McGill, who was a workhorse. A couple of seniors who were backups will have to step in, with RB Barrington Edwards (330 yards, 3.6 ypc), a former LSU transfer, and RB Justin Warren. The top two wideouts return in sophomore WR Hakeem Nicks (660 yards, 16.9 ypc, 4 TDs) and junior WR Brooks Foster (38 grabs, 486 yards). Freshman WR Rashad Mason was a sought after prospect, along with offensive lineman Kevin Bryant of Lauderdale Lakes, Fla, who choose North Carolina over Florida, Texas and USC.
The defense was horrible for several years under coach John Bunting, so Davis has to upgrade a porous unit that lacked confidence (and proper tackling skills). The poor defense is partly why they are 24-15 OVER the total the last four years combined. 5 starters return. Sophomore DT Cam Thomas is 330-pounds to help up front along with senior NT Kyndraus Guy, while the secondary has two starters back in SS Trimaine Goddard and CB Quinton Pearson. They like freshman defensive tackle Marvin Austin to help up front, as well. The defense allowed 38.3 points per game in 2003, 32 ppg in 2004, and 30.5 ppg in 2006. UNC is 2-8 SU/4-6 ATS on the road the last two years. There is some hope for the future under the new coach, but you won't see many wins this year.
Duke
The Blue Devils carry a 20-game losing streak into the new season. Duke head coach Ted Roof welcomes 16 starters back from a year ago, including everyone on offense. Still, Duke has gone 0-12 SU, 5-6 ATS in 2006 and 1-10 SU, 2-8 ATS in 2005. This is a basketball school, with the football program a mess. The rebuilding continues, and Duke averaged just 283 total yards of offense, 15 ppg, while allowing over 168 yards rushing AND passing per game!
Peter Vaas, a former head coach in NFL Europe who spent the last two seasons at Notre Dame, has been added to the Duke football staff. Vaas will coach Duke's running backs while serving as passing game coordinator, after watching Charlie Weis and Brady Quinn tear up the air the last two seasons. Sophomore QB Thaddeus Lewis wasn't that bad as a freshman, with 11 TDs, 16 INTs and 2,134 yards. In the finale, Duke lost 45-44 to North Carolina as Lewis was 20-of-35 for 285 yards, 4 TDs and 2 picks. In fact, he had 6 TDs and 3 picks in his last two games, against Georgia Tech and UNC.
On offense, 11 starters return. Junior RB Justin Boyle (358), Ronnie Drummer and sophomore Re'quan Boyette (388) lead the thin ground game. The passing game has senior WR Jomar Wright (561) and junior WR Eron Riley (643 yards), who led the team in yards. After averaging 17.9 yards per reception on 18 catches as a true freshman in 2004, Wright was blossoming into one of Duke's top targets in 2005 when he suffered a season-ending leg injury in week five. In 2006 he was second in yards. Senior center Matt Rumsey anchors an offensive line that has everyone back.
The Duke defense has 5 returning starters including what could be a good defensive line led by sophomore DT Vince Oghobaase and sophomore DT Ayango Okpokawuruk. They allowed just 138 yards rushing in ACC play, impressive when you realize how often they trailed and the opponents went to the run and that the team had allowed over 200 yards rushing the previous two seasons. Are there any winnable games? They open at home over UConn, head to Northwestern Sept. 15, and then there's the finale at North Carolina. In between they will lose most of them, but the goal this season is to end that 20-game skid.
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