Fair or not, the lasting image of the ACC’s 2011 season is the 70 points hung on conference champion Clemson by West Virginia in the Orange Bowl.
The good news for the conference is there’s plenty of talent to get beyond that image. As noted by ESPN.com ACC blogger Heather Dinich, a wealth of experienced and talented quarterbacks will return in 2012, including Clemson’s Tajh Boyd and Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas.
Of course, there are many questions entering the spring for members of the ACC. Can Clemson stop Clemsoning itself and put together a won-loss record that matches its talent level? Can the Hokies reascend to its traditional spot atop the conference? Or, will a surprise team — London calling? — shakeup the top of league?
The answers to those questions and many, many more won’t be answered for several months, but we can take a look into some of the storylines that will be woven into the ACC’s spring story.
Tigers need to get defensive
Arguably the biggest move for Clemson this offseason was one that didn’t happen, with head coach Dabo Swinney and the athletic department’s bank account being able to beat back a significant push by Ohio State for the services of offensive coordinator Chad Morris. The biggest move that did come to fruition? Replacing defensive coordinator Kevin Steele with Oklahoma’s Brent Venables. After the 70-point bowl debacle, parting ways with Steele was inevitable and necessary outside of the bowl debacle; the Tigers finished 81st in points allowed and 71st in total yards per game in 2011. Venables’ defense will begin its implementation during the spring. While the fruits of change won’t be realized until September — at the earliest — there may not have been a more significant change in the conference, one that needs to work if Clemson wants to become more than a bit player on the national scene.
Water wet, sky blue, FSU’s back
Like flowers blooming or getting gouged by the tax man, trumpeting Florida State’s return to relevance on the national stage has become an annual rite of spring. The Seminoles were preseason sweethearts last year — some dolt had them as high as No. 2 before the start of the 2011 season — but stumbled its way to an 8-4 record in the regular season that included losses to Wake Forest and Virginia. It’s undeniable that, on paper, the talent is there with top-ten recruiting classes each of the past four years and 15 starters returning from last year’s squad. Perhaps the biggest question mark for FSU entering the spring? The offensive line, a group sorely lacking in experience and a unit that must begin to find some clarity in these upcoming offseason sessions.
Edsall, Edsel, whatever… it’s still a lemon
It seems that the embarrassing offseason at Maryland has overshadowed somewhat the abysmal on-field product during Randy Edsall‘s first season with the Terps. And what an abysmal mess it was. After opening the Edsall era — a loose term, for obvious reasons — with a win over Miami, the Terps proceeded to win just one of its next 11 games to cap a 10-loss season. And things didn’t get much better after that two-win debacle; a change at coordinator on both sides of the ball and the transfer of erstwhile starting quarterback Danny O’Brien along with both starting offensive tackles and several other key contributors makes this second spring wrought with more uncertainty than the first one. Changing offensive and defensive schemes, several quality players fleeing what looks, smells and feels like a sinking ship? Not exactly what Edsall and his program needs coming into a season that has must-have turnaround written all over it, regardless of how staunch his boss’ support is at this time.
Everything’s Hokie-dory in Blacksburg
Lather, rinse, repeat, right? Well, maybe. Here’s the known for the Hokies entering the spring: they will be really good on defense, returning nine starters from a Bud Foster-led squad that finished in the Top Ten nationally last year. On offense, there’s Thomas and… well… a lot of question marks. Starting running back David Wilson and his 1,709 yards needs replaced. As does his backup. As do the Hokies’ two leading receivers, with the departed Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin accounting for nearly half (121) of the Hokies’ 243 receptions. How to replace that offensive production — over 3,700 yards among the four out of nearly 5,800 yards of total offense in 2011 — will be the Hokies’ top priority this spring and go a long way in determining how far Tech can go this season. Then again, given the fact that Frank Beamer & Company play the plug-and-succeed game as well as anyone in the country — eight consecutive 10-win-plus seasons, 13 in his 21 seasons in Blacksburg — anything less than another division/conference crown would be more than a mild surprise even with the offensive attrition.
ACC working on London time?
Virginia doesn’t have the talent that conference foes Clemson or Virginia Tech or Florida State or Miami can throw out on any given Saturday, but it does have something those perennial ACC contenders don’t: arguably the best football coach in the conference. Mike London — and the underrated coaching staff he’s assembled — has the Cavaliers on the verge of a borderline miracle — making the Hoos a have year-in and year-out. Last year was a glimpse into what the future may hold for the Cavs as a loss in the regular-season finale to in-state rival Tech was the only thing keeping them from the Coastal’s spot in the conference title game. If the Hoos are hoping for a repeat or better in 2012, however, London must do something about a defense that will be forced to replace six starters from last year’s team.
People will just have to put the Clemson-WVU game out of their minds, because it is done and over. If not, Clemson will hurt themselves all season long. They just played a team that was prepared to exploit some of their short comings and WVU was just way too fast for them. They will most likely not see WVU for a couple of years, as they will have to get used to the Big 12, so Clemson should do well in the ACC this year. Next year they play two SEC teams during the regular season, so they should enjoy this year and try and win the ACC.
London and his staff are not even in the top half of coaching staff’s in the ACC. I love how they said they were a “regular-season finale” loss to VA Tech from winning their division as if they were really in contention. Tech beat UVA 38-0 and could have won by 60 if Tech wanted. UVA gave up more points than it scored and had 5 losses on the season. They played in a weak ACC last year and still lost 5 games. VA Tech was 11-1 to end the regular season before playing its 2 post-season games.
The ACC crown still runs through Blacksburg, VA and if you want to win the ACC you need to do what Clemson did last year and beat Tech twice.
Likely will be Clemson or FSU vs VT…again. If the hokies could recruit like Clemson or FSU they would be dangerous. If FSU or Clemson could coach like VT they’d be dangerous. But likely more of the same from ACC. And in terms of the story Mike London is a middle of the pack coach. They recruit very similar to their in state rival but their results on the field just don’t show it. Poor research in this story implies they are working with lesser recruiting classes. GT is the sleeper this year…and they get VT early which is typically a good thing.
“London and his staff are not even in the top half of coaching staff’s in the ACC.”
One game does not a season make.
No coaching staff has done more with less than Mike London’s. With a team largely assembled from spare parts left over from the Al Groh era and predicted to finish 5th in the Coastal division, Virginia knocked off some big-name ACC opponents in Miami, Florida State, and Georgia Tech; none of these opponents are slouches, and last year’s Cavaliers were outmatched talent-wise in each of these games.
As to Virginia playing in a “weak” ACC, Virginia Tech played in that same “weak” ACC.
The conference does indeed go through Blacksburg until consistently proven otherwise, but to say London’s coaching staff isn’t even good simply is nonsense. If the current coaching staff stays in place and Virginia continues to improve its recruiting results as they have the past two years under London, there’s no reason to bet against the Cavaliers consistently being in the thick of things in the conference.
Clemson will be hyped just like last year as long as they’re playing teams with no D-line or secondary, but they have numerous weaknesses on both sides of the ball that become glaringly obvious against good teams. As long as he’s not pressured, Boyd can sit back and air it out once Watkins gets open or he’ll tuck it and scramble, but they’re completely exposed when facing a quality defense. Just watch the GT, NC State and South Carolina games and you’ll see how horrible his decision making becomes once he’s pressured and his receivers are covered. Their line was horrible in short yardage situations, they’re useless against a corner blitz and when Boyd throws a screen, he either hits his own shoes or the score board. Not to mention their defense is horrendous and a complete joke. They can’t tackle, can’t stop the run, can’t cover and can’t defend the zone read.
@krioniq…you didn’t read my post about the weak ACC correctly. I said UVA had 5 losses in a very weak ACC. VA Tech was 11-1 to end its regular season. Essentially, Tech did what it should have done and UVA lost a lot of football games in a very weak year for the ACC. That isn’t a good sign for UVA.
UVA consistently has strong recruiting classes and NEVER produces anymore. UVA has beaten Tech several times in the last 10 years in recruiting, yet Tech always wins 10 or more games and beats UVA. London didn’t inherit a bad team or lack of talent. Groh was a God-Awful coach but did ok at bringing in talent. London appears as if he will follow in Groh’s foot steps. Solid recruiting and somehow never being more than a 6-8 win team. Maybe 9 every now again but never getting a better bowl than the Peach.
daboiskennethfrom30rock says:
Feb 28, 2012 2:03 PM
Clemson will be hyped just like last year as long as they’re playing teams with no D-line or secondary, but they have numerous weaknesses on both sides of the ball that become glaringly obvious against good teams. As long as he’s not pressured, Boyd can sit back and air it out once Watkins gets open or he’ll tuck it and scramble, but they’re completely exposed when facing a quality defense. Just watch the GT, NC State and South Carolina games and you’ll see how horrible his decision making becomes once he’s pressured and his receivers are covered. Their line was horrible in short yardage situations, they’re useless against a corner blitz and when Boyd throws a screen, he either hits his own shoes or the score board. Not to mention their defense is horrendous and a complete joke. They can’t tackle, can’t stop the run, can’t cover and can’t defend the zone read.
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News flash: That’s why Kevin Steele was fired and Brent Venebals was hired. The only teams Clemson lost to last year all played a version of the veer/spread. You’re right, they couldn’t stop it, but they have the talent to. That means they were poorly coached. When a team is poorly coached, you make changes as Clmson did last year on offense and this year on D.
If you don’t think VaTech and FSU had quality defenses, then you’ve never seen them play.
BTW Mr Taylor, another Shamecock thug was arrested again this week. Why wasn’t any of this habitual criminal covered? Six counts of terrorism in July and now burglery. Or is it a non story still this is typical behavior for a Spurrier coached team? Will Spurrier ever stop disgracing the NCAA and ditch the thugs? I know, the pretenders have to have a warm fuzzy.
http://m.wistv.com/autojuice?targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wistv.com%2Fstory%2F17030336%2Fusc-mlb-watley-arrested-suspended
@jonkybon: http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/27/gamecocks-lb-charged-with-grand-larceny-violent-burglary/
You’re welcome.
@jonkybon, have you compared Clemson and Oklahoma’s defensive stats from last season?
Clemson allowed: 29.3 points/game, 394.4 total yards/game, 176.9 rushing yards/game and 217.5 passing yards/game
Oklahoma allowed: 22.1 points/game, 376.2 total yards/game, 134.7 rushing yards/game and 241.5 passing yards/game.
Clemson’s total D finished ranked 59th and Oklahoma’s 62nd. Steele had top 25 D’s in ’09 and ’10 but a horrendous ’11 season, so he’s replaced by someone who was being demoted to co-defensive coordinator. But defense is not the only problem, S&C is a huge issue and the O line is thin as hell, not to mention Boyd’s total inability to perform under pressure.
It’s absolutely hilarious that you criticize USC for Watley’s arrest, and talk about Spurrier disgracing the NCAA. Joe Craig beats his girlfriend with a towel rod then repeatedly punches her in the face when she’s on the ground IN FRONT OF WITNESSES and the story didn’t break until 12 days later, and all he got was a 3 game suspension. Craig was charged with assault AGAIN, but for some odd reason wasn’t arrested until 3 days later and wasn’t dismissed by Datboy until Wednesday night and the criminal domestic violence charges weren’t announced until Thursday Feb. 2nd, coincidentally, the day after national signing day.
Brandon Thomas was also arrested for disorderly conduct. Then there was Deandre McDaniel, who put a comforter over his girlfriend’s head, choked her, punched her in the head, threatened to break her neck, then threw her down a flight of stairs and punched her in the chest as she tried to flee. He was charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. Still want to talk about disgracing the NCAA? Nothing says classy like a towel rod to the face.
daboiskennethfrom30rock says:
Feb 29, 2012 12:36 AM
@jonkybon, have you compared Clemson and Oklahoma’s defensive stats from last season?
Clemson allowed: 29.3 points/game, 394.4 total yards/game, 176.9 rushing yards/game and 217.5 passing yards/game
Oklahoma allowed: 22.1 points/game, 376.2 total yards/game, 134.7 rushing yards/game and 241.5 passing yards/game.
Clemson’s total D finished ranked 59th and Oklahoma’s 62nd. Steele had top 25 D’s in ’09 and ’10 but a horrendous ’11 season, so he’s replaced by someone who was being demoted to co-defensive coordinator. But defense is not the only problem, S&C is a huge issue and the O line is thin as hell, not to mention Boyd’s total inability to perform under pressure.
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Have you bothered to look at the offenses both teams played against? Did you consider that Clemson replaced their entire offensive staff last year and the new OLine coach used a different blocking scheme than the players Bowden recruited to play the line?
This was Dabo’s third recruiting class and will be his third full season. I don’t recall Spurrier winning any Championships in his second season. In fact, I don’t recall Spurrier winning anything (except childish sideline displays) since he failed at Washington.
Want to talk about pretenders: Shamecocks have a FB playing QB. Their star RB hasn’t played an entire season yet and is coming off major reconstructive surgery. They are lsoing their best DE, DT, S, CB and WR to the draft. Their best LB is facing terrorist charges in one state and burglery in another. The DC bolted as did three or other assistant coaches.
Every player in the SEC East has gotten a lot stronger and Crapolina has gotten weaker. Fifth place in the SEC last year will be happy for sixth or seventh this. All while Spurrier Jr actually runs your team into crap.
John Taylor says:
Feb 28, 2012 5:51 PM
@jonkybon: http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/27/gamecocks-lb-charged-with-grand-larceny-violent-burglary/
You’re welcome.
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My apologies Sir, I missed it.