In College Park Stability Equals Danny O’Brien
By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com
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Certain conferences will always be known for being strong at certain positions. The Big Ten and powerful offensive linemen are forever synonymous. The SEC’s dominating defensive fronts have been the driver behind the league’s five straight national titles. The Big 12 has been led by record-breaking quarterbacks since their mid-90’s expansion.
The ACC’s identity has been more cyclical. With the league coming off of arguably its most impressive NFL Draft, here’s the first of a two-part look at where the strengths and weaknesses of the conference lies for the 2011 season. Be aware that a team noted as having a certain position as its biggest weakness does not mean it is the worst unit in the ACC, but rather that of the team’s seven position groups, it is their biggest concern as we approach September.
7. Quarterbacks
This has far more to do with inexperience than lack of talent. Many successful multi-year starters are being replaced (Tyrod Taylor, Christian Ponder, Russell Wilson, T.J. Yates, Joshua Nesbitt), but in terms of pure ability, their protégés may turn out even better. However, when your likely preseason all-ACC quarterback (E.J. Manuel) has thrown six career touchdowns, there is reason for concern. Miami’s and Virginia’s quarterback derbies should continue into late August. Georgia Tech will learn just how tough Nesbitt really was, and Virginia Tech must replace its all-time winningest quarterback. Inexperience at quarterback is not a death sentence, as three of the past four national titles have been won by teams with first-year starters, but ACC quarterbacks are generally asked to do more than SEC quarterbacks due to less talent around them. In addition to the young talent around the conference, Maryland and Duke have their most stable quarterback situations of the new millennium with Danny O’Brien and Sean Renfree respectively. That said, between the uncertainty and inexperience, the quarterback position is the biggest weakness heading into the 2011 ACC season.
Team whose quarterback is its biggest strength: Maryland
Team whose quarterback is its biggest concern: Virginia
6. Defensive Backs
Look no further than the last weekend of April in New York City to see why many ACC teams have secondary concerns heading into 2011: Six ACC defensive backs were drafted in the first five rounds. There’s still plenty of talent, as Jayron Hosley returns to lead Virginia Tech’s secondary after Rashad Carmichael’s departure, Charles Brown will solidify a young North Carolina unit after sitting out the 2010 season, and Florida State’s Greg Reid and Xavier Rhodes are one of the most dynamic cornerback duos in the country. Overall, it’s a transition year for defensive backfields in the ACC. New Maryland defensive coordinator Don Brown will move star safety Kenny Tate to linebacker, Georgia Tech must replace all four starters, and Wake Forest and Duke had two of the most porous units in the country in 2010. Virginia must replace its leader Ras-I Dowling, and Miami and Clemson each suffer two major losses. The 2010 suspensions at North Carolina will prove to be a blessing, as rather than losing four starters, they’ll get Brown back as well as a cast of players who saw significant action a season ago while Deunta Williams, Da’Norris Searcy, and Kendric Burney were out. Hosley, Brown, as well as Chase Minnifield at Virginia and Xavier Brewer at Clemson have lockdown cornerback potential, but the losses are too significant to rank this group any higher.
Team whose defensive backs are its biggest strength: Florida State
Team whose defensive backs are its biggest weakness: Georgia Tech
5. Offensive Line
Like the ACC’s defensive backfields, there are some major holes to fill among the offensive lines, but overall the number of starters lost isn’t all that bad. Miami (Orlando Franklin), Boston College (Anthony Castonzo), Clemson (Chris Hairston) and Florida State (Rodney Hudson) all must replace their leaders, but throughout the conference it’s a fairly veteran group of linemen, which places the position near the middle of these rankings. Despite their one key loss each, Miami and Clemson have two of the finest lines in the country, and Virginia Tech and Wake Forest will both have four senior starters. While Rick Trickett does one of the best jobs in the country coaching offensive lines, Florida State does have significant concerns with Hudson and C Ryan McMahon departing. They bring in JUCO Jacob Fahrenkrug to add some immediate help, but the group’s performance should drop some from 2010. Across the league, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, Duke, and Maryland all have solid but not spectacular units, and Virginia, who had a top NFL prospect almost every season up front under Al Groh, should improve in Year 2 under Mike London. The units as a whole are better than a season ago throughout the conference, but the star power is down a notch.
Team whose offensive line is its biggest strength: Miami
Team whose offensive line is its biggest weakness: Florida State
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