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Second verse, same as the first.
No, we aren't sending you back to elementary music class, but this ACC Atlantic preview figures to read in a similar manner as yesterday's Coastal. Lot's of new players, lots of depth, lots of questions and opportunities. No sense in prolonging things - lets dive right in.
Boston College
2010 Record: 7-6 (4-4)
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 109th
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 19th
Base Offense: Power I
Returning Starters: 6 offense/7 defense
Significant losses: LB Mark Herzlich
Newcomer of Note: Offensive Coordinator Kevin Rogers. The former Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks’ coach is well known for his work with signal callers, and should further assist in sophomore Chase Rettig’s development. Four-star tight end Brian Miller has a chance down the road.
2011 Thoughts: To be frank, this offense has nowhere to go but up. And that’s simply a rule of numbers, let alone talent. You’ve got a budding quarterback in Rettig, the most consistent, if not best running back in the conference in Montel Harris, and the return of what should be the Eagles’ best receiver in Colin Larmond, Jr. Larmond is the key here. He’s averaged 20.4 ypc in two seasons before blowing out his knee prior to last year. At 6-foot-3, he’s more than just a field stretcher.
Final Analysis: To sit here and call last year’s 109th ranked offense a juggernaut would be insane. But you have to love the upside here. Rettig will grow, he should have a top receiver, and last year’s leading receiver, rising sophomore Bobby Swigert, to take heat off of Larmond. Mix in tight end Chris Pantale, and backup running back Andre Williams (4.9 ypc in 2010) and the makings for excitement are in place. Outside of Harris, all BC players will come at bargain basement prices, and should give fantasy owners nice sleeper potential.
Clemson
2010 Record: 6-7 (4-4)
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 86th
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 13th
Base Offense: Spread
Returning Starters: 8 offense/7 defense
Significant losses: QB Kyle Parker (I guess), RB Jamie Harper
Newcomer of Note: Where do we begin? New offensive coordinator Chad Morris brings his spread offense from Tulsa, and he welcomes a plethora of new toys. Five-star running back Mike Bellamy and five-star wide receiver Sammy Watkins headline a class that also includes four-star wide receivers Martavis Bryant and Charone Peake. Three-star quarterbacks Cole Stoudt and Tony McNeal will battle for the backup spot.
2011 Thoughts: We just mentioned four rookies who should contribute, at least. Which makes this one of the toughest offenses on which to bet the house. Outside of Blacksburg, running back Andre Ellington is the most dynamic in the ACC, assuming he is healthy. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins averaged 88 ypg, and scored three times in his final five contests, proving he can be a go-to option. And tight end Dwayne Allen should be a decent safety valve for the lynchpin of this offense…
Final Analysis: Which is quarterback Tajh Boyd. If you drafted a dynasty ACC signal caller two years ago based on stars, Boyd left your board awfully early. And you are still waiting to see a glimpse of his potential. He’s got dual-threat abilities, and Tiger fans probably wish he had more of an opportunity when Kyle Parker’s 2010 season went south. But a lack of any development was highlighted by an 8-of-24 spring game performance. Boyd has options all over the field, and he is the final nail that can build this house, or the final nail in ole Dabo’s future. The offense will rank higher than last year – but with newness across the board, and a tough schedule, 2012 may be a better year to put stock in any Tiger not named Ellington.
Florida State
2010 Record: 10-4 (6-2)
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 33rd
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 20th
Base Offense: Pro-set
Returning Starters: 8 offense/9 defense
Significant losses: QB Christian Ponder
Newcomer of Note: Five-star RB James Wilder, Jr. may end up at linebacker, which makes four-star Devonta Freeman a name you can’t forget about. Wide receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Rashad Greene are very, very good, but will have to wait their respective turns.
2011 Thoughts: It’s time to name drop, because the ‘Noles have too many options at their skill positions to count. Running backs Chris Thompson, Ty Jones and Jermaine Thomas had five 100-yard games between them (2-2-1 respectively). Bert Reed (58 receptions) leads four returning wide outs who all had at least 31 grabs and two scores. It’s a terrific problem for head coach Jimbo Fisher and “new” quarterback E.J. Manuel to have. And it’s a terrible problem for a fantasy owner.
Final Analysis: Too much depth. And it just seems like these guys have all been here forever. Florida State will be very, very good in 2011 on both sides of the ball. But the defense, and quarterback positions are the only two that figure to offer consistent fantasy value because of said depth. With four to five running backs capable and a similar number of receivers for Manuel to toss it to – it’s best to sit back and watch the FSU season unfold rather than force yourself to have rooting interest.
Maryland
2010 Record: 9-4 (5-3)
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 29th
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 38th
Base Offense: Pro-Set
Returning Starters: 6 offense/7 defense
Significant losses: WR Torrey Smith, RB Da’Rel Scott
Newcomer of Note: Head coach Randy Edsall. Redshirt freshman Adrian Coxson, who transferred from Florida shortly after arriving in Gainesville, is a name that has probably been forgotten about by recruiting star chasers who lost patience.
2011 Thoughts: In a league with new quarterbacks galore, it’s exciting to put faith in sophomore Danny O’Brien. He’s the best returning QB in the ACC. Scott’s departure from the backfield is probably as much of a blessing as it is a curse. While Davin Meggett is the starter, and should be drafted and perform as such, I absolutely love D.J. Adams. Don’t let his 3.6 ypc fool you; he scored 11 times on just 67 carries last season. That’s a ridiculous average, and I’m willing to bet any takers his carries, and yardage, increase dramatically. He won’t score as often, but don’t expect that number to be cut in half either.
Final Analysis: With O’Brien being a stable, if not potentially spectacular quarterback, and one less back to worry about – there’s the makings of fantasy upside in College Park. If only we knew who replaces Torrey Smith.
North Carolina State
2010 Record: 9-4 (5-3)
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 32nd
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 29th
Base Offense: Split Back
Returning Starters: 7 offense/8 defense
Significant losses: QB Russell Wilson, WR Owen Spencer, WR Jarvis Williams
Newcomer of Note: If you are a stars guy with regards to recruiting, stop reading here. Wide receiver Hakeem Flowers might have the most potential, and is at a position of need.
2011 Thoughts: Replacing Wilson under center isn’t an easy task. It’s even more challenging when your head coach forces Wilson out the door and pins his future on your shoulders. Mike Glennon isn’t Russell Wilson. Hopefully, he is also not his brother (former Hokie Sean Glennon). He’s got a huge arm, but isn’t nearly as mobile as the man he is replacing. He also has no proven wide receivers. T.J. Graham is a track guy, and the most logical choice for success. Jay Smith is penciled in to start opposite of Graham. Have any of you heard of these two? If you said no, you’ll understand that tight end George Bryan will be a top option nationally. We love running back Mustafa Greene, but advise a wait and see approach. He led the team in rushing as a rookie, but only started once.
Final Analysis: Greene and Glennon are the two names to watch. Each comes with questions, but each have enough upside to be big time fantasy factors. You can do much, much worse than drafting these two as upside backups.
Wake Forest
2010 Record: 3-9 (1-7)
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 90th
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 110th
Base Offense: Power I
Returning Starters: 7 offense/8 defense
Significant losses: WR Devon Brown, WR Marshall Williams, RB Josh Adams, QB Skylar Jones
Newcomer of Note: QB Kevin Sousa is the top recruit, but he doesn’t have a clear path to snaps. Fellow Floridian RB DeAndre Martin may be too big (6-foot-3) to remain in the backfield.
2011 Thoughts: It can’t be worse than 2010. Short of a few big runs from Josh Harris, there was absolutely nothing to remember about last year’s Deacon attack. You have to expect some growth from sophomore QB Tanner Price, who has decent athleticism. Harris is the star here however. Initially, I was scared off by head coach Jim Grobe’s history with talented young backs. But the difference here is Harris doesn’t have the depth behind him some of Wake’s previous backs did. He should make a leap into the upper tier of ACC backs.
Final Analysis: Harris is a decent bye week plug in, or RB 4/5 for your roster. Otherwise, pass over this team without losing sleep. If you need a deep, deep sleeper however, keep your eye on WR Michael Campanaro. He’ll touch the ball in a variety of ways, and touches are huge for wideouts.