ACC Football: Week 4 Recap, Things We Learned, and ACColades
With Week 4 in the books, I'd love to say the ACC picture got a little but more clear.
I'd be wrong.
Virginia Tech, the preseason ACC favorite that started 0-2 and was being counted out this season, shutdown and shutout a Boston College squad that many felt had the tools in place to challenge Clemson and Florida State in the Atlantic. The Seminoles did the same to Atlantic counterpart Wake Forest. And an NC State squad that no one was paying ANY attention to moved to 4-0 with a dominating win on the road over 2009 ACC Champ Georgia Tech.
Next week will showcase four of the top contenders with Miami visiting Clemson and Virginia Tech headed to NC State.
In out of conference play Miami and North Carolina went on the road, topping Big East teams. One in dominating fashion and the other narrowly squeaking by. Maryland took care of a stingy FIU team at home and Duke literally turned the game over to Army.
Week 4: ACC Football Game Quick Hitters
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Miami 31, Pittsburgh 3
Coming into the season, this looked like a great match-up on paper. By the time it actually took place, it was a different story. Pitt showed zero signs of life offensively. The Hurricane defense had their way in route to shutting them down. Miami QB Jacory Harris had a decent game, but still showed the interception problem that doomed him last year.
NC State 45, Georgia Tech 28
The wolfpack took a step from 'are they for real?' to 'damn straight they are!', convincingly beating the reigning ACC Champs on their own turf. QB Russell Wilson looked Heisman like and NC State rolled up a massive amount of point and yardage on Techs soft defense. They need to keep the momentum going with Virginia Tech visiting next weekend.
Virginia Tech 19, Boston College 0
Coming into 2010, it looked as if the Eagles had figured their offensive problems out. Not so fast. RB Montel Harris looked great as usual, but that was it. The Hokie defense shut them down (and out). Hokie fans can't be happy with the lack of production on offense though. Kicker Chris Hazley was responsible for 12 of their 19 points.
Maryland 42, FIU 28
The Terps continue to confuse me. They beat a good Navy team, blow out Morgan State, don't show up against West Virginia then squeeze by FIU. But I digress. They are sitting at 3-1, and with a conference game against Duke looming, and the chance to move to 1-0 in ACC play, they need this early season confidence to continue.
Virginia 48, VMI 7
Mike London is looking more and more like the hire of the year. I know, I know it was VMI, but this was the type of game the Cavs would normally struggle in. Plain and simple, they have won the games they're supposed to in impressive fashion, and nearly won at USC. They'll get another opportunity to show how far they've come with Florida State visiting next weekend.
Army 35, Duke 21
Oh Duke. Through the first two games of the season, you looked decent. Much improved on offense and a little sloppy on defense. Excusing the Alabama game is understandable, but you literally turned the game over to Army. ACC play starts against Maryland next weekend, and it's crucial the Blue Devils find a way to win. Their schedule gets BRUTAL from that point forward.
Florida State 31, Wake Forest 0
The Seminoles looked good all across the board on their way to their first conference win of the season. The defense was stifling, and Ponder and company were on point. Coach Fisher has done a great job of getting his boys to shake off the debacle against Oklahoma, and it comes at a pivotal time with ACC play starting up.
North Carolina 17, Rutgers 13
Finally. Finally the Tar Heels get a 'W'. After hard fought losses LSU and Georgia Tech, they outlasted a tougher than expected Rutgers squad 17-13. If was a defensive battle with both teams being kept under 300 yards of offense. They have one more out of conference game against East Carolina next weekend before ACC kicks in gear.
Week 4: What We Learned in ACC Football
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- Russell Wilson is a baller. The kid continues to amaze me. Really makes you wonder what he'd be capable of on a squad with talent like Florida or Ohio State. His totals: 28/41 368 Yards and 3 TD's.
- The Georgia Tech defense is bad. Really bad. NC State racked up over 500 yards of offense.
- Miami QB Jacory Harris needs to get things in check - fast. He had decent numbers against Pitt, but still made those 'shoot yourself in the foot' INT's.
- Virginia Tech's defense looked good, allowing only 250 total yards to Boston College. Ironically enough though, Eagle RB Montel Harris account for nearly half of those yards, going for 111 yards and averging nearly 6 yards a carry.
- Maryland is a hard team to judge. Beat Navy one week, lose to West Virginia, then barely beat FIU at home.
- Virginia continues to look good on offense, tallying 466 yards and 48 points, although it was against VMI. Still, it's a positive sign for an offense that was projected to be anemic.
- Florida State can rebound from a tough loss and continue playing well.
- Duke is a legitimate offensive threat - if it can stop turning the ball over.
- Blue Devil WR Conner Vernon is the real deal. After Week 4, he leads the ACC in receptions per game as well as receiving yardage.
Week 4: ACC Football ACColades
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Offensive Team of the Week: NC State
The Wolfpack rolled up 527 yards of offense (368 passing; 159 rushing) and 45 points against not a cream puff, but the reigning ACC champ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Defensive Team of the Week: Florida State
The Seminoles held Wake Forest to zero points and only 185 yards of total offense, 103 of that on the ground which was the Deacons strong point offensively coming in.
Offensive Player of the Week: QB Russell Wilson, NC State
This should come as no surprise. Wilson is easily one of the best QB's in the nation. Saturday at Georgia Tech he went 28/41 for 368 Yards and 3 TD's. He also added in a rushing TD.
Defensive Player of the Week: LB Nate Irving, NC State
Irving was key in the Packs big win over Georgia Tech. He tallied 16 Tackles, 4.5 Tackles for Loss and 2 Sacks on the day.
Specialist: K Chris Hazley, Virginia Tech
He accounted for 13 of the Hokies 19 points in their 19-0 win at Boston College. That type of stability will come in handy for Virginia Tech, with a few close games likely in their future.
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Week 5: What's on Tap
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12:00 - Miami (2-1, 0-0) at Clemson (2-1, 0-0) ESPN 2
12:00 - Florida State (3-1, 1-0) at Virginia (2-1, 0-0) ACC Network
3:30 - Virginia Tech (2-2, 1-0) at NC State (4-0, 1-0) ABC
3:30 - East Carolina (2-1) at North Carolina (1-2, 0-1) ESPN 3
6:00 - Duke (1-3, 0-1) at Maryland (3-1, 0-0) ESPN 3
7:00 - Georgia Tech (2-2, 1-1) at Wake Forest (2-2, 1-1) ESPN U
8:00 - Notre Dame (1-3) at Boston College (2-1, 0-1) ABC
There are a few match-ups that could wind up having a major impact on how represents each division in the ACC Title Game.
Miami at Clemson looks like it could very well be a preview to the title game. Both squads lost tough road games to top notched opponents and appear to be the strongest squads in the conference at this point. If history has anything to say, this should be a good one - the last three have gone into overtime.
Florida State, already at 1-0, can bring win number two in with a victory at Virginia. The Cavs have looked vastly different than the doormat team everyone projected this year. Coach London seems to have pulled an overnight miracle but the Noles will be their toughest test to date. If State can get a 'W' it gives them a great early stance in the Atlantic.
NC State already stands at 1-0, coming away with a win against one its harder conference opponents in Georgia Tech. Things get a touch tougher in Week 5 when Virginia Tech visits. The Hokies rebounded from early season losses to defeat East Carolina and picked up an ACC win shutting out Boston College, looking more and more like the team we expected. A win by the Wolfpack puts them in great position early considering the only real tests they face from here on out are at home versus Florida State and a trip to Clemson.
Maryland and Duke likely won't play into the conference picture, and with the way the Wake Forest has been performing, Georgia Tech should move to 2-1.
Game of the Week: (TIE) Miami at Clemson; Virginia Tech at NC State
On a side note, I have to ask ESPN what they were thinking putting Miami/Clemson at 12:00 and giving the 8:00 prime time slot to (drum roll please) - Notre Dame at Boston College. Really guys? BC showed no offensive life against Virginia Tech and the Irish are 1-3. You pick that over a game that has gone into OT the three meetings a features a Top 20 school against a team that moves into the Top 20 if they win?
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