As Florida State and the start of a new season looms, it is
time to breakdown the matchup.
First, let's talk about last night's football. I watched two games, North Carolina State vs. South Carolina and Boise State vs. Oregon.
Does anyone else find it ironic that LaGarrette Blount turned into college football's Ron Artest the same night that the NCAA implemented mandatory pre-game handshakes to show sportsmanship and comradery?
SIDENOTE: Forgive me, but I cannot help but think that if this were Javarris James, then ESPN would have started a new channel just to feature Gene Wojchiekowski and Skip Bayless tearing the Miami program apart. While ESPN certainly is not sweeping this one under the rug, the outcry is not even as severe as it was when Robert Marve decided to transfer and Randy Shannon imposed harsh restrictions upon him. Give me a break.
Back to football. Both games were sloppy, and I actually enjoyed the first game a little bit more from a football standpoint.
I was thoroughly impressed with SC's Eric Norwood, who showed that he is one of the nation's top linebackers and was always around the ball. He is the type of player that Sean Spence could become. What was disheartening is that South Carolina left the door open for NC St. to win the game on at least 5 occasions, and NC St. could not do it.
The Wolfpack's hyped up quarterback, Russel Wilson, looked like he was running for his life, and his receivers just could not come up with the big grab. My dad and I could not figure out how this same team has a two game winning streak against the 'Canes (Kirby Freeman's 1-15 game in 2007 and last year's dreadful season finale). This underscored the difference between the SEC and ACC at this point in time: SEC teams are able to step on the throat, while ACC teams have been unable to.
A good example of this is last season's Hurricane team. Miami was really only blown out once (Georgia Tech) and had windows to win in each of the other 5 losses, including UF (remember that this was a 9-3 game at halftime, and the offense was so inept that they could not move the ball across mid-field without a struggle; this was a one score game until UF benefitted from a bad pass interference call in the end zone and an AWFUL ruling on a challenged catch that went in favor of the Gators). However, the 'Canes time and again showed an inability to really "run away and hide" as my dad put it, either allowing the other team to stick around and then succumbing or coming out slow and digging too big a hole to climb out of. Think about it.
Here are the 6 losses from last season:
UF- Already discussed, but the 'Canes had a great chance to take the lead and change the game until the Gators got those two fourth quarter calls.
UNC- Miami chokes away a lead and then cannot hold on to the winning pass in the end zone on the game's final play
FSU- Miami came out slow and was down too much at halftime for even a furious second-half comeback to make up for.
GT- Blowout
NC St.- Allowed the other team to get out to a big lead before coming back, but in the end fell short.
CAL- Allowed the other team to get out to a big lead before coming back, but in the end fell short.
The difference between 7-6 and 11-2 for this team was probably one or two plays in each game, which is exactly what happened to the Wolfpack last night. The moral of the story is that the football played in the SEC just seems to be a cut above right now. Teams like FSU and Miami are getting better, and soon they should be back at that level. However, the question remains as to when. That is what this season really is all about for not just these two teams, but the entire conference.
The ACC was the nation's deepest conference last year, but also perhaps its most mediocre.Will this be the year in which an elite rises up in the ACC?
Virginia Tech is getting hyped as the conference's best team. I have seen this play before. It always ends with Virginia Tech underperforming expectations and everyone wondering why. Here's why: they are NOT an elite program. They will always win 9 or 10 games, but that is what they are. Every year, they lose their biggest games, and when they don't they find a way to lose to a team like East Carolina or Boston College when they shouldn't. I expect them to get embarassed by Alabama, which will reflect poorly on the conference, even though a team like FSU is probably a better match up (and, dare I say, so is Miami) and a better standard-bearer for the ACC.
North Carolina seems to be overhyped. Clemson is, well, Clemson. Georgia Tech seems to be a bit like Virginia Tech, good for 9 or 10 wins a year and 1 or 2 bad losses. Wake Forest and Boston College are overachievers who have capitalized on mediocrity. NC St. and Virginia are sleeping giants who probably need another year or two before they make a run to the top.
Who does that leave? Miami and Florida State.
These are the two megaliths, the teams that need to be good for the ACC to be respectable. They are college football royals that have been cast down with the paupers as of late (Miami moreso than FSU). However, both are expected to make big jumps back to respectability this season, and for each it begins monday night.
I think it is ridiculous to have two rivals play the first game of the season, but that is what the ACC has deemed best. Here is a breakdown by position group heading in to what figures to be a low-scoring, hard hitting football game that will be played through the echo of the whistle.
Quarterbacks: Jacory Harris and Christian Ponder are both considered to be promising young quarterbacks. Last year, Ponder gashed the 'Canes defense by taking advantage of a flaw in the containment scheme. He probably looked better than he actually is, while Harris probably looked worse behind a weak line. I think they are probably about equals at this point; Ponder seems to struggle with accuracy, while Harris seems to struggle on balls that require some extra zip. EDGE: Even
Running Backs: FSU is lead by Jermaine Thomas, probably the best runner in the game. However, Miami is loaded at the position, with Javarris James and Graig Cooper handling most of the load and backups Lee Chambers, Damien Berry and Mike James all capable of filling in nicely. James is a solid runner if not spectacular, and Cooper is lethal when used correctly. Depth is huge in what will be a physical game. EDGE: Miami
Receivers: FSU has a good group, lead by Richard Goodman and Jarmon Fortson, one of the ACC's best combos. The tight end, Caz Piurowski, is huge, but more of a threat as a blocker. The 'Canes will be lead by the foursome of Leonard Hankerson, Aldarious Johnson, LaRon Byrd and Travis Benjamin. Benjamin tore FSU up last season, and Byrd has developed in to a stud. Miami's tight ends are a question mark. If Dedrick Epps is healthy he is a great weapon, and reports say he is healthy. If Jimmy Graham is as good as the practice reports claim, he will contribute as well. EDGE: Miami
Offensive Line: Miami's is bigger and stronger than last year, but lacks depth. Florida State returns a young, athletic line (read: lightweight) that will not have to go against Eric Moncur or Adewale Ojomo, UM's two best ends. EDGE: FSU
Defensive Line: Florida State is young across their line, and young defensive linemen usually need a few games to get acclimated. Miami is missing Ojomo and Moncur, but really needs its ends to hold containment more than anything else when facing Ponder, who likes to get outside the pocket. Miami's tackles (Allen Bailey, Marcus Forston, Micanor Regis, Josh Holmes) should push around FSU's lighter interior linemen, which will help generate a better pass rush from the ends. EDGE: Miami
Linebackers: Miami has a very talented, very enigmatic groups. Outside of Sean Spence, each player has a big question mark about their ability to help win football games. Meanwhile, FSU has good starters but almost no quality depth. Dekoda Watson is the next big-time FSU 'backer, but even he lacks starting experience. Nigel Bradham is big and physical. EDGE: Even
Secondary: FSU's Patrick Robinson is the best player for their defense, and he will do a good job, although it is plausible that Hankerson or Byrd could push him around. Meanwhile, Miami's secondary was awful last season. A number of factors seem to suggest they will improve, but until they prove it, Robinson swings it for the Noles. EDGE: FSU
Special Teams: Matt Bosher was the conference's second best kicker last season, behind FSU's Graham Gano, who is now gone. Benjamin and Cooper lead a strong Miami return game. FSU lost their top returner in Michael Ray Garvin, but freshman Greg Reid could make a big impact. EDGE: Miami
Coaching: Until Randy Shannon proves he is as good a gameday coach as he is a recruiter (he is improving, but has a lot of work to do) FSU gets the edge.
So there you have it. While I have an idea of who I think will win, I will not make a prediction (as someone wrote of Heather Dinich yesterday, I couldn't predict 6 o'clock at 5:30).
I will be keeping running notes during the game, and afterward I will put them up here. Until then, Go 'Canes, and enjoy your holiday weekend.
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