Looking at the ACC

By Brandon Rink
SouthernPigskin.com

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For most of the ACC, spring football is done – and the long wait to the next meaningful football news begins.

One thing is certain – we have a lot more questions to ponder than actual answers about ACC football out of the spring.

At Boston College, the Eagles have their man at QB in Chase Rettig, but it’s hard to say where they will go under a new offensive system.

With the Tigers, there were glimpses of what new OC Chad Morris has promised in the spring game, a faster tempo and physical running game, but without their star RB Andre Ellington all spring, they’re a toss-up too when it comes to stepping on the field in September.

In Durham, I’ve seen the word “bowl” thrown around for Duke this season (much like the last couple years), but on a third defensive coordinator in as many years, the Blue Devils will need to see marked improvement on D against a tough schedule.

The ‘Noles have the swagger coming off a successful first season under Jimbo Fisher – they’ll just have to wait until closer to the season for any continuity because FSU was a MASH unit this spring.

Georgia Tech is one of the teams that hasn’t had a spring game yet – finding a new B-back and grooming the next Josh Nesbitt at QB are the priorities for the Jackets (only two of the most important features of Paul Johnson's offense).

The Terps aren’t wrapping up spring practice until April 30 – giving Randy Edsall a little more time to install new systems all-around, and a little less time for the players to forget them over the summer.

In Miami, it’s the same old, same old at QB it appears – dueling gunslingers Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris threw 2 INTs each in the spring game…Al Golden does have a star in RB Lamar Miller though (166 rushing yards and 2 TDs to lead the Green to a 30-17 win).

The Tar Heels have their QB situation settled after RS sophomore Bryn Renner delivered in the UNC scrimmage, but their only experienced RB Ryan Houston being sidelined until mid-August could be a problem.

NC State thought they had their QB spot locked and loaded, but a lackluster spring game from Mike Glennon has the Wolfpack faithful checking the Asheville Tourists’ box scores for how Russell Wilson’s doing in the minors.

The ‘Hoos are in year two of Mike London’s rebuilding job – making a bowl would be a major accomplishment this season with a stable of pretty unspectacular QBs on the roster.

We know Virginia Tech’s going to be in the mix, but will it be another wire-to-wire job under new QB Logan Thomas and a reshuffled coaching staff? Probably not.

And Wake Forest – erasing a forgettable season with a very young team will be a little easier with a slightly not very young team this season under true sophomore QB Tanner Price’s guidance.

Spring football raises hopes eternally (or however that phrase goes), but I really wonder what we’ll see from a lot of these teams – and I think even the most ardent of ACC fans can admit the same.

It’s going to be an interesting next couple of months of debate on who will step out from the crowd and take the ACC.