ACC Round Table Part Three: Miami May Disappoint, ACC Looking for Respect.

Part Three of the ACC Round Table concludes our three part series previewing the ACC, with answers to our final questions.

Which team is most likely to disappoint in the ACC this season?

and

What are your final thoughts on the ACC this year?

The first two parts of the series are below.

Part 1
Round Table Introduction
Which team is the favorite to win the Atlantic Division?

Part 2
Which team is the favorite to win the Coastal Division?
Which team is the mostly likely to surprise in the ACC this season?

Thanks to Clark Nelson, Harlon Jordan, Allen Lopp, and Brian Gibson for sharing their opinions, and everyone who commented. On to the last two questions.

4) Which team is most likely to disappoint in the ACC this season?

Clark Nelson
Clemson. The verdict on Dabo is still out and they have a history for it. It is hard to pick a disappointing team because outside of Virginia Tech, no one else is expected to compete for a national title. If Virginia Tech loses three or four games, that would be a big disappointment, but I can't see a Frank Beamer team falling that far.

Harlon Jordan
Georgia Tech. Hopes are high in Atlanta. A lot of people are picking GT to outright win the Coastal division. But keep in mind, ACC coaches have had an entire offseason to prepare for their offensive style, and with solid defenses on the schedule (Clemson, Miami, Virginia Tech, Florida State), I don't see them putting up a ton of points.

They need to become more than a one-trick pony to win the ACC, and they were dead last in the conference in passing last year. Johnson has vowed to work on it (aiming for a 2,000 yard passing season from his QB), but Nesbitt has done nothing to prove he is capable of delivering a quality passing attack. I see a second place finish behind Virginia Tech, and a modest bowl game but no ACC Championship Game.

Allen Lopp
The team most likely to disappoint, in my opinion, is Wake Forest. Last year, Wake Forest largely depended on the defense to win their games. Now with the departure of Aaron Curry and Alphonso Smith they may be in trouble. They struggled to score on offense mainly because of an offensive line that could not protect Skinner or create holes to run through. It would not surprise me if they finish in the cellar of the Atlantic division.

Brian Gibson
The Miami Hurricanes are an improving team that will face one brutal schedule this season. Miami begins the season at Florida State, vs. Georgia Tech, at Virginia Tech and home vs. Oklahoma. The Hurricanes would be lucky to win one of those games and two seems like a pipe dream. With new coordinators and questions still to be answered on the offensive end a bad start could spell doom for Randy Shannon and the player's confidence.

Jeffrey Fann
Boston College have been one of the most consistent teams in the ACC over the last several years averaging 9.6 wins a over the last five years. That run of success might come to end this year.

The loss of All-American Linebacker Mark Herzlich is a huge blow to the defense, and with QB Dominque Davis, the likely starter, leaving Boston College this summer new head coach Frank Spaziani has a lot to deal with going into the 2009 season. BC has got some work ahead, but Miami is the team I think will be the most likely to disappoint.

That opening schedule is enough to scare the USC Trojains, @Florida State, Georgia Tech, @Virgina Tech, then Oklahoma. If the Miami comes out of that 2-2 they’ll be in great shape, but an 0-4 start could kill the confidence of a talented but inconsistent quarterback Jacory Harris.

The Canes barely get a break in the next four games, a win over Florida A&M, but then there is a tricky game at Central Florida, @Wake Forest, then Clemson. A 1-6 start is as likely as going 5-2 for the Canes. Regardless of the decent talent, this team isn’t a vintage Miami squad, and they aren’t used to winning games. The season could go down the tubes fast for Miami.

5)What are your final thoughts on the ACC this year?

Clark Nelson
The Coastal looks to be much stronger this year with an improved Duke and two top 15 teams potentially (VT and GT). The ACC as a conference overall is getting stronger, but to be considered as a major player in BCS bowls (like the SEC and Big 12), they have to win some head to head games against those conferences. Virginia Tech is playing for the ACC's reputation the first weekend of the season by going up against an SEC heavyweight, and the rivalry and bowl games will be very telling too.

Harlon Jordan
Parity, parity, parity. And I love it. Last year was probably one of the most entertaining seasons I've seen in a while. Every team in the Atlantic and four of six in the Coastal finished at least .500 in conference play.

This isn't your mid-90's ACC where Florida State was loaded and everyone played catch-up. Even Duke, the team that has spent so long in the basement it's changed it's mailing address, is seeing a turnaround. They easily have one of the best quarterbacks in the conference, and Coach Cutcliffe is making major strides to do the same with other key positions.

I'm also really looking forward to position battles this season. Coach Swinney at Clemson has two starting guys listed in the post-spring depth chart, Willy Korn and Kyle Parker—both of which possess the ability to have a breakout season.

Boston College is in the same position, but unfortunately for them, they don't have two four-star recruits battling it out. After the departure of Dominique Davis, the Eagles find themselves up the creek without a paddle.

Then you have expectations to watch for. Georgia Tech head man Paul Johnson said his goal was to have his quarterback pass for 2,000 yards this season. Tech is a run heavy offense; so much so they were dead last in passing last year. I'll be curious to see how their season turns out with QB Josh Nesbitt aiming downfield.

Another player to watch is NC State Sophomore sensation Russell Wilson. His 2008 campaign was surprising to say the least—especially the 17-to-1 TD to INT ratio. He'll have a target on his back this year, so I'm anxious to see how well he performs.

All in all, 2009 should be a fun one. I'm crossing my fingers to see an ACC team actually challenge for a national title again. And thank you Virginia Tech for at least bringing the conference a shred of respect with a BCS win last season.

Allen Lopp
Despite Al Groh and Dabo Swinney both being on the hot seat, only one of them will lose their job. Unfortunately, Boston College star linebacker Mark Herzlich will never play college football again. Will Florida State stay out of trouble long enough to compete in Atlantic Division? I'm looking forward to the upcoming college football.

Brian Gibson
Once again this is a year where anything can happen. Outside of Virginia Tech, any team could probably win or lose on a given week. Even the Hokies have to be wary of an injury to Tyrod Taylor or the Yellow Jackets could easily swarm in and take their spot. I'm looking forward to some big matchups and even bigger upsets.

Jeffrey Fann
I’m looking for the ACC to gain a measure of national respect in 2009. The opening weekend of last season with Clemson losing to Alabama, Virginia Tech losing to East Carolina, and Virginia getting smoked by USC, left scars all season the ACC never recovered from. I don’t think the ACC has national championship quality team, but with ACC out of conference games against the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Miss. St, Oklahoma, Nebraska, TCU, South Carolina, Florida, California, BYU, and Notre Dame, I see ACC teams winning their fair share of these type games.

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