The ACC Thread...................................

With the hire of Larry Fedora from Southern Miss, the Heels are switching to an up-tempo spread.  During the Davis years, the Heels would run between 50-60 offensive plays a year.  Fedora wants that number to be 80+.  The Heels also have arguably the best offensive line in the ACC this year with their returning QB (who ran the spread in high school) and starting RB (who rushed for over 1,200 yards last year).  The defense is going to be a question mark, but the offense is going to be fun to watch.

When the Heels and Jackets play, the last one with the ball should win.

When the Heels and Jackets play, the last one with the ball should win.

Probably so unless they can get our defense up to par. Like I said, probably so.

Up-tempo spread. So, in other words, it's the offense that Clemson now runs under Chad Morris. I hadn't heard that about NC, but it's not a huge surprise. A lot of eyebrows were raised after seeing Clemson's ridiculous production with that system (and Morris said "we've only opened about half the playbook"). If you've got the offensive talent then that system can wear your opponents out VERY quickly (see VA Tech). However, that system comes with an Achille's Heel: defense. You better have a stout (if not dominant) defense if you want that system to produce consistent results. A little Sammy Watkins doesn't hurt, either.

 However, that system comes with an Achille's Heel: defense. You better have a stout (if not dominant) defense if you want that system to produce consistent results.

So we are learning the same thing with the triple option. When the offense aint got it, the D has to kick butt until the O gets it together.

If that doesn't happen, you end up 8-5 with a 7 bowl game losing streak.

Well, you guys are just ruining my optimism.  We are also switching to a 4-2-5 defense so that the offensive linemen wear themselves out trying to get to the next level...15 yards down the field.

The only big concern I have is our defensive backs.  They were terrible last year. 
 

Why is UNC switching their defense? I know 2 years ago you guys had one of the best defenses around.

Fedora brought in Dan Disch and Vic Koenning as co-defensive coordinators and are familiar with the 4-2-5.  That is what Fedora ran at Southern Miss.  Our defense was good a couple of years ago, but we lost a ton of talent to the NFL and graduation.  With the NCAA investigation going on, we haven't been able to replenish the depth.  The 4-2-5 is all about speed and flexibility, but we will see.  We are returning a stud D-Lineman, DE's and two very good linebackers, but the rest of the guys are just average.

The ACC has 8 players on the Maxwell Award Pre-season watch list:

RB Giovanni Bernard, UNC
QB Tajh Boyd, Clemson
RB Andre Ellington, Clemson
QB Mike Glennon, NC State
QB EJ Manuel, Florida State
QB Bryn Renner, UNC
QB Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech
WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson

In addition, the following folks are on the Biletnikoff Award watch list:

Jheranie Boyd North Carolina SR
Michael Campanaro Wake Forest JR
Marcus Davis Virgina Tech SR
Willie Haulstead Florida State JR
Erik Highsmith North Carolina SR
DeAndre Hopkins Clemson JR
Allen Hurns Miami JR
Conner Vernon Duke SR

The ACC Lombardi Award watch list contains:

OT Oday Aboushi, Virginia
LB Jeremiah Attaochu, Georgia Tech
G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina
C Dalton Freeman, Clemson
DE James Gayle, Virginia Tech
LB Steve Greer, Virginia
OT James Hurst, North Carolina
DE Brandon Jenkins, Florida State
OT Morgan Moses, Virginia
LB Kevin Reddick, North Carolina
LB Bruce Taylor, Virginia Tech
G Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia Tech
DT Joe Vellano, Maryland
DE Bjoern Werner, Florida State
DT Nikita Whitlock, Wake Forest
DT Sylvester Williams, North Carolina

Lots of talent returning for the ACC this year.

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