[FreakNasty]

http://www.getsportsinfo.com/index.asp?p...ege/081307

ACC Atlantic Preview

[B]Offensive Rankings
[/B]1. Clemson (5 returning starters)
2. N.C. State (8 returning starters)
3. Florida State (6 returning starters)
4. Boston College (7 returning starters)
5. Maryland (8 returning starters)
6. Wake Forest (9 returning starters)
65 percent return

Defensive Rankings
1. Florida State (8 returning starters)
2. Clemson (7 returning starters)
3. Boston College (9 returning starters)
4. N.C. State (6 returning starters)
5. Maryland (6 returning starters)
6. Wake Forest (5 returning starters)
62 percent return

[B]All ACC Atlantic First Team Offense
[/B]QB Matt Ryan (Boston College)
RB James Davis (Clemson)
RB CJ Spiller (Clemson)
WR Greg Carr (Florida State)
WR Darius Heyward-Bey (Maryland)
TE Joey Haynos (Maryland)
C Steve Justice (Wake Forest)
G Andrew Crummey (Maryland)
G Curtis Crouch (N.C. State)
T Barry Richardson (Clemson)
T Gosder Cherilus (Boston College)

[B]All ACC Atlantic First Team Defense
[/B]DL Andre Fluellen (Florida State)
DL DeMario Pressley (N.C. State)
DL Phillip Merling (Clemson)
DL Martel Brown (N.C. State)
LB Nick Watkins (Clemson)
LB Erin Henderson (Maryland)
LB Derek Nicholson (Florida State)
CB Tony Carter (Florida State)
CB Alphonso Smith (Wake Forest)
S Myron Rolle (Florida State)
S Chris Clemons (Clemson)

[B]Breakdown by team[/B]: Clemson (6), Florida State (5), N.C. State (3), Maryland (3), Boston College (2), Wake Forest (2)

[B][SIZE=5]Projected Order of Finish

[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]Clemson
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 8-5 (lost to Kentucky in Music City Bowl)
Head Coach: Tommy Bowden (9th season)

Returning Leaders:
Passing: Cullen Harper (14-20, 155 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing: James Davis (203 att, 1219 yards, 17 TD)
Receiving: Aaron Kelly (30 rec, 355 yards, 3 TD)
Tackles: Nick Watkins (116)
Sacks: Ricky Sapp (4)
Interceptions: Butler/Watkins (3)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 3 Florida State (W)
Sept. 8 ULM (W)
Sept. 15 Furman (W)
Sept. 22 at N.C. State (W)
Sept. 29 at Georgia Tech (L)
Oct. 6 Virginia Tech (L)
Oct. 20 Central Michigan (W)
Oct. 27 at Maryland (W)
Nov. 3 at Duke (W)
Nov. 10 Wake Forest (W)
Nov. 17 Boston College (W)
Nov. 24 at South Carolina (L)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 9-3 overall (6-2 ACC)
8 “swing” games
Notes: Clemson’s duo of Davis and Spiller ranks near the top of running back duo’s in the country… Clemson was much better than the 8-5 they finished last season, but that has been a trend in the Bowden era… A big question mark is quarterback, but Harper or Willy Korn will do a fine job in my opinion. A schedule that has a majority of their tough contest at home should allow them to expand on last year’s win total.

[B][SIZE=4]Florida State
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 7-6 (beat UCLA in Emerald Bowl)
Head Coach: Bobby Bowden (32nd season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders:
[/B][/I]Passing: Drew Weatherford (177-318, 2154 yards, 12 TD, 11 INT)
Rushing: Antone Smith (88 att, 482 yards, 5 TD)
Receiving: Greg Carr (34 rec, 619 yards, 12 TD)
Tackles: Myron Rolle (77)
Sacks: Brown/Mcneil (3)
Interceptions: Roger Williams (4)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 3 at Clemson (L)
Sept. 8 UAB (W)
Sept. 15 at Colorado (W)
Sept. 29 Alabama (W)
Oct. 6 N.C. State (W)
Oct. 11 at Wake Forest (W)
Oct. 20 Miami (FL) (W)
Oct. 27 Duke (W)
Nov. 3 at Boston College (W)
Nov. 10 at Virginia Tech (L)
Nov. 17 Maryland (W)
Nov. 24 at Florida (L)

[B]Projected Results[/B]: 9-3 overall (6-2 ACC)
8 “swing” games
Notes: FSU has been underachieving for the last several years because of the loss of quality assistants (Richt and Amato come to mind). Amato is back as line backing coach, so the defense should improve… Jeff Bowden’s resignation was long overdue, and new Offensive Coordinator Jimbo Fisher will improve play…. Antone Smith should be the first 1,000 yard rusher since 1996, love his speed… They'll be in the thick of the ACC race..

[B][SIZE=4]Wake Forest
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 10-3 (lost to Louisville in Orange Bowl)
Head Coach: Jim Grobe (7th season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders:
[/B][/I]Passing: Riley Skinner (171-260, 2051 yards, 9 TD, 5 INT)
Rushing: Kenneth Moore (105 att, 577 yards, 2 TD)
Receiving: Kenneth Moore (32 rec, 314 yards, 1 TD)
Tackles: Aaron Curry (83)
Sacks: Alphonso Smith (4)
Interceptions: Alphonso Smith (3)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 at Boston College (L)
Sept. 8 Nebraska (L)
Sept. 15 Army (W)
Sept. 22 Maryland (W)
Oct. 6 at Duke (W)
Oct. 11 Florida State (L)
Oct. 20 at Navy (W)
Oct. 27 North Carolina (W)
Nov. 3 at Virginia (L)
Nov. 10 at Clemson (L)
Nov. 17 N.C. State (W)
Nov. 24 at Vandy (L)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 6-6 (4-4 ACC)
9 “swing” games
Notes: Wake Forest had a magical 2006, with Riley Skinner emerging as the perfect quarterback for Jim Grobe’s offense. Kenneth Moore was the leading rusher and receiver last season, and should move back to his natural WR spot this year… The defense will not be as good this year with only two of their top six tackles back…. It would be naïve to pick Wake to win the ACC again, but I wouldn’t rule out another bowl bid with an experienced offense.

[B][SIZE=4]Boston College
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 10-3 (beat Navy in Meinke Tire Bowl)
Head Coach: Jeff Jagodzinksi (1st season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders[/B][/I]:
Passing: Matt Ryan (263-427, 2942 yards, 15 TD, 10 INT)
Rushing: LV Whitworth (174 att, 837 yards, 4 TD)
Receiving: Brandon Robinson (47 rec, 543 yards, 5 TD)
Tackles: Jolonn Dunbar (92)
Sacks: Kevin Atkins (7.5)
Interceptions: DeJuan Tribble (7)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Wake Forest (W)
Sept. 8 N.C. State (W)
Sept.15 at Georgia Tech (L)
Sept. 22 Army (W)
Sept. 29 UMASS (W)
Oct. 6 Bowling Green (W)
Oct. 13 at Notre Dame (W)
Oct. 25 at Virginia Tech (L)
Nov. 3 Florida State (L)
Nov. 10 at Maryland (W)
Nov. 17 at Clemson (L)
Nov. 24 Miami (FL) (L)

[B]Projected Results[/B]: 7-5 overall (3-5 ACC)
9 “swing” games
Notes: Tom O’Brien did a fantastic job during his tenure, and he had won seven straight bowl games before leaving for N.C. State… They are senior led and quarterback Matt Ryan is going into his third year as starter…. 10 wins will probably be out of reach with a difficult conference schedule (no UNC or Duke), but the new coach should be some excitement.

[B][SIZE=4]N.C. State
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 3-9 (no bowl)
Head Coach: Tom O’Brien (1st season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders[/B][/I]:
Passing: Daniel Evans (163-307, 1843 yards, 6 TD, 11 INT)
Rushing: Toney Baker (157 att, 715 yards, 6 TD)
Receiving: John Dunlap (30 rec, 392 yards, 4 TD)
Tackles: DaJuan Morgan (82)
Sacks: Martel Brown (7)
Interceptions: DaJuan Morgan (2)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 UCF (W)
Sept. 8 at Boston College (L)
Sept. 15 Wofford (W)
Sept. 22 Clemson (L)
Sept. 29 Louisville (L)
Oct. 6 at Florida State (L)
Oct.20 at East Carolina (W)
Oct.27 Virginia (W)
Nov.3 at Miami (FL) (L)
Nov. 10 North Carolina (W)
Nov. 17 at Wake Forest (L)
Nov. 24 Maryland (W)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 6-6 overall (3-5 ACC)
6 “swing” games
Notes: Amato was a great recruiter, but much like a majority of ACC squads under performed on a yearly basis… Tom O’Brien will not recruit as well, but will put an emphasis on size over speed and they will be tough… Quarterback issues have cost them since Rivers left, but they do have three qualified guys battling for the starting spot this season... They could go bowling...

[B][SIZE=4]Maryland
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 9-4 (beat Purdue in Champs Sports Bowl)
Head Coach: Ralph Freidgen (7th season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders:
[/B][/I]Passing: Jordan Steffy (0-5, 0 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Lance Ball (174 att, 855 yards, 8 TD)
Receiving: Darius Heyward-Bey (45 rec, 694 yards, 5 TD)
Tackles: Erin Henderson (114)
Sacks: Navarre/Moore (3.5)
Interceptions: Henderson/Justice (2)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Villanova (W)
Sept. 8 at Florida International (W)
Sept. 13 West Virginia (L)
Sept. 22 at Wake Forest (L)
Sept. 29 at Rutgers (W)
Oct. 6 Georgia Tech (L)
Oct. 20 Virginia (W)
Oct. 27 Clemson (L)
Nov. 3 at North Carolina (W)
Nov. 10 Boston College (L)
Nov. 17 at Florida State (L)
Nov. 24 at N.C. State (L)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 5-7 overall (2-6 ACC)
9 “swing” games
Notes: Florida transfer quarterback Josh Portis should be the starter, but Jordan Steffy could get some reps as well… Friedgen is an amazing recruiter and has done a good job of getting the Terps to four bowl games in six season (five wins in the other two seasons). Last year’s nine wins was impressive, but they had six wins by six points or less, and should come back to the back some this season without an experienced quarterback. They could go bowling...