Conference Call
Sports writer Nick Piotrowicz breaks down the latest in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
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QUICK TWO: Clemson at No. 8 North Carolina
By -Nick Piotrowicz | Saturday, February 18, 2012 - 15:41
1. Clemson's first unit should be able to hang with the Tar Heels if it is careful with the ball, which it has been this season. The Tigers lead the ACC in turnover margin and are second to Virginia in turnovers per game. Guards Andre Young and Tanner Smith are 1-2 on the list of active ACC players in steals. This game will be won or lost from the bench, where UNC has the luxury of using P.J. Hairston and James Michael McAdoo, and losing very little from a scoring standpoint. Clemson needs big games from reserves Rod Hall, T.J. Sapp and Catalin Baciu to stay in the game. North Carolina will win running away if Clemson finds itself in foul trouble.
2. Clemson has not ever won in Chapel Hill. Not once. In 55 tries, the Tar Heels have left the floor victorious, the longest home winning streak versus a single opponent in NCAA history. Out of the last 25 meetings in Chapel Hill, North Carolina has won 23 of them by double digits. The No. 8 team in the nation doesn't seem like the UNC squad to let the streak snap at its behalf.
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QUICK TWO: N.C. State at No. 5 Duke
By -Nick Piotrowicz | Thursday, February 16, 2012 - 20:25
1. Mark Gottfried's Wolfpack has another chance to score its first elite ACC victory. N.C. State hasn't won at Cameron Indoor Stadium in its last 13 tries, and the No. 5 Blue Devils figure to make the task a little more difficult. The Wolfpack's best chance will be to borrow Miami's game plan that allowed it to leave Durham with a win on Super Bowl Sunday. The Hurricanes hit their 3-pointers, which kept the Blue Devils from doubling center Reggie Johnson. While N.C. State doesn't have an inside presence as physical as Johnson, C.J. Leslie's athleticism will ask questions of Duke's defense. Scott Wood – the ACC's best 3-point shooter at 44 percent – needs to have a big game from downtown tonight.
2. Andre Dawkins said after making 7 3-pointers in the first half against Wake Forest that he had silenced the critics who had said he was too inconsistent. If anything, he's further reinforced the notion that he's too hot-and-cold. His scoring output the past six games: 3, 14, 5, 3, 8, 3. The only one of those games in which he shot better than 40 percent during that stretch was against Virginia Tech, when he scored 5 points on 2-for-3 shooting. Dawkins has scored 17 or more points five times this season, and certainly seems due for a breakout.
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THREE AT THE BUZZER: Miami at Duke
By By Nick Piotrowicz | Sunday, February 5, 2012 - 18:09
1. It was hard to watch that game and not come away totally impressed with Miami center Reggie Johnson, and flabbergasted he hasn't been that good (or close) on a regular basis. In 35 minutes, Johnson notched 27 points and 12 boards, eight of which were offensive. After the first four minutes, though, Duke's defense on Johnson was very good. With the exception of a couple putbacks, most of Johnson's shots were difficult, contested shots that he made. Duke guard Austin Rivers gave a tip of the cap to Johnson, saying that the Blue Devils took momentum several times and Johnson wrestled it away.
The surprising part: Saturday was the 6-foot-10, 284-pounder's first double-double of the year.
2. It's easy to point the finger at the ranked half and say its flatness caused the loss (and the Devils were undeniable off-key in the first half), but Miami deserves a great deal of credit for the effort it put forth in Durham. The 'Canes have now won four straight, and Jim Larranaga has this club playing its best ball of the season. Cameron was going wild in the second half, and half a dozen times it looked as if Duke was about to take the lead for good. Miami never wilted, even in the face of ten second-half turnovers that helped Duke re-enter itself in the game.
3. Has anyone seen Andre Dawkins? After hitting a 3-pointer with 8:15 remaining in the first half, Dawkins was non-existent. His second-half line: two minutes, zero points, zero assists, zero rebounds, 0-for-2 from the field.
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Figuring out Florida State
By -Nick Piotrowicz | Friday, January 27, 2012 - 03:51
College basketball is a world in which nothing is safe. To re-assign Thomas Jefferson's famous quote about newspapers, one would be better off watching nothing than trying to figure out a single team's highs-and-lows.
Nobody has illustrated the point better than Florida State, which was 8-6 and coming off a 20-point loss to Clemson in its ACC opener exactly 20 days ago.
All the Seminoles have done since is give North Carolina a whooping it hadn't had it ages, ended Duke's 43-game winning streak at Cameron Indoor Stadium, simply taken care of three ACC teams and climbed to No. 23 in the AP Poll.
So, what can we decipher about the hottest team in college basketball?
First, it's hard to say they were underrated in the first place. The Seminoles were a Sweet 16 squad last year that was ranked No. 22 earlier this season, but after six easy out-of-conference victories, they lost six of their next eight, including losses to two to Ivy League schools at the blowout against Clemson. Their original ranking – as well as their subsequent free fall – were both fair.
Second, the turnaround was inevitable, though very few saw it coming as swiftly or steeply as it did. Florida State was simply too veteran to keep playing as poorly as it had been playing in December and early January. Of its 15 players, five are juniors, four are seniors and two are grad students, a decided advantage in a sport where high-pressure situations happen dozens of times every game.
Third, the statistics point toward the Seminoles being a team that can play into the second week of the NCAA Tournament and possibly further. Florida State has held its opponents to slightly under 37 percent shooting (third-best in the country), and is in the top ten in blocks. The Seminoles give up very few easy buckets.
Further, Florida State is difficult to defend. Eight Seminoles average seven or more points, and none of them average more than 14. Translation: Florida State isn't reliant on any one player. Teams that score from many places don't have an off night, even if a few players do.
Fourth, coach Leonard Hamilton deserves serious consideration for ACC Coach of the Year if the Seminoles finish in the ACC's top three. Hamilton doesn't receive quite the credit he deserves for turning around a woeful program. When Hamilton took over for Steve Robinson, the Seminoles were coming off a five-year stretch in which they had not won more than 14 games in a season.
Since the 2005-06 season – when Hamilton's first class of recruits were in their senior year – the Seminoles have failed to win 20 games only once, and have made the NCAA Tournament three times. They're only six away from 20 wins now, and barring a historic collapse, figure to make the field of 68.
Surely the Seminoles won't sweep the rest of their ACC schedule – this is clearly the high point of their regular season. The true measure of Florida State will be shown after it is beaten again.
In this conference, the champion is not the team that can play the best game, but rather the one that can consistently beat good teams. And with Florida State, the body of work isn't there quite yet.
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THREE AT THE BUZZER: Virginia at Duke
By -Nick Piotrowicz | Friday, January 13, 2012 - 03:56
1. Virginia is going to be a pain for a lot of teams in the ACC. They're probably not talented enough to get the 13 or 14 wins it'll likely take to win the conference regular season title, but nobody is going to blow them out. The Cavaliers' defense is good enough to keep it in any game, and they showed they can do just enough offensively to keep the defense from double-teaming star forward Mike Scott.
Joe Harris and Sammy Zeglinski are good shooters, and Virginia's pick-heavy offense makes the defense hustle on every possession. Not every player on every team wants to hustle. The 'Hoos will win a few games on discipline alone.
2. Yes, Virginia coach Tony Bennett did have a timeout after the Cavaliers rebounded the ball with 15 seconds remaining. And no, he didn't call it. Bennett made the right move, though. Austin Rivers admitted after the game that the Blue Devils had a defensive breakdown on the game's final possession – they even gave up an offensive rebound to boot – a result of the fast break that occurred after the Devils' miss. Virginia ran a play that had Scott, its best player, with an open look. There's nothing more they could have asked for. Scott just missed.
3. The problem with jump shots is that they're fickle. Even the best-shooting teams will have nights where they shoot 35 percent or worse. The good news for the Blue Devils: They didn't bail themselves out with threes (5-for-20) and they were horrendous from the free throw line (42 percent), and they still beat the No. 16 team in the country.
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QUICK TWO: No. 16 Virginia at No. 8 Duke
By -Nick Piotrowicz | Thursday, January 12, 2012 - 20:31
1. Pace is always a big deal in a basketball game, but it's about as important as it can be in tonight's game. No. 16 Virginia ranks second in the nation in scoring defense, surrendering a mere 50.5 points per game. The Cavaliers play a slow-down game, locking the opponent down, playing solid half-court offense and setting up easy buckets from their defense. Duke, however, is ninth in the country by scoring over 82 points per game. Four Blue Devils average double-digit points, and a Duke player has recorded a double-digit performance 59 times on the young season.
The battle of wills should be compelling. Expect Duke to explode off defensive rebounds so Virginia can't set up its defense.
2. Seth Curry is one of the better players in the country, but his importance to Duke cannot be understated, particularly from a scoring standpoint. He's scored fewer than the 13 points he's averaging five times, although two were blowouts in which he didn't play the entire game. The other three instances – when he was not relieved by the end of the bench – were against Kansas (close win), Ohio State (blowout loss) and Temple (loss). That doesn't bode well for the Blue Devils, who have no shortage of tough opponents on their ACC schedule. Duke's won every game he's scored in double digits this season.
Virginia's Joe Harris will likely guard Curry tonight. Harris is one of the better defenders in the ACC, so the 12-20 points the Devils will likely need from Curry won't be easy to come by.
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THREE AT THE BUZZER: Boston College at North Carolina
By -Nick Piotrowicz | Saturday, January 7, 2012 - 16:22
No. 3 North Carolina 83, Boston College 60
1.UNC's comfort level in its offense was very apparent against BC. The Eagles didn't defend poorly, save for a few blitzkrieg fast breaks in which they didn't run back, but the Tar Heels, when the offense is working, don't need much room. Boston College did a solid job of closing on jump shooters, but sometimes it doesn't matter. Harrison Barnes and P.J. Hairston combined for four three-pointers in the first half, all of which were quick-release shots they nailed. Eagles' coach Steve Donahue couldn't really be mad. There wasn't much his team did incorrectly on defense.
2.Kendall Marshall is the one who often is sent to the background in UNC's first-ranked offense, but the sophomore point guard is invaluable. He has not scored more than 10 points in a game this season, but Marshall plays with the utmost control. He rarely takes bad shots, he knows when to run and when to slow it down, and he's thinking teammates first. He's a good enough shooter that he can't be left open, and Harrison Barnes and Tyler Zeller have him to thank for padding their scoring averages. Marshall's only a sophomore. It's scary to think this is his game not even halfway through his UNC career.
3.North Carolina became uninspired on defense after its second-half lead swelled to more than 20. Perhaps the lead made them relax, but the Tar Heels received a few talking-tos from Roy Williams on defense. North Carolina allowed the Eagles to make their way back into the game because of bad D, something that could cost them against a better team. When UNC's defense is working hard – as it did for most of Saturday – it's among the best in the country.
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QUICK TWO: Boston College at No. 3 North Carolina
By -Nick Piotrowicz | Saturday, January 7, 2012 - 14:01
1. This game will be largely decided by Boston College's three-point shooting. The Eagles shoot well from behind the arc, and given North Carolina's length and athleticism (not to go all Jay Bilas on everyone), they will need to shoot a high percentage from three. Boston College shoots better than 42 percent from three – far and away its best asset – but the Tar Heels hold opponents to 37.6 percent, second best in the ACC.
Freshman Lonnie Jackson is the Eagles' best threat for three-pointers, and, well, everything else. He has led the team in points, field goals, threes and steals in its past nine game. He's made half of his threes this season, and he'll have to be good today for Boston College to leave Chapel Hill with a victory.
2.Tempo will play major role. UNC didn't get to be No. 3 in the country by accident – its best-in-the-land scoring offense (88.1 points per game) and second-best rebounding margin (plus-11.8) will test Boston college, to make the understatement of 2012. The Heels want to run at every opportunity, cause frustration and get easy transition baskets. Coach Steve Donahue will likely have the offense play slow and controlled in its half-court offense, as slowing the game down is in Boston College's best interest.
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3 at the buzzer: Duke at Ohio State
By -Nick Piotrowicz | Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 15:27
Some quick thoughts before the No. 3 Duke Blue Devils take on the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes at 9:30 p.m. tonight at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio:
1. Pay attention to the crowd's dynamic. Ohio is my home state, and I can tell you that there are weirder things in the Buckeye State than the weather. In many ways, Ohio State is the polar opposite of an ACC school. Football is the end-all, be-all for Ohio State, and basketball is looked at as something that takes place in the time period without football. (It's the opposite for nearly every other school in Ohio. Cincinnati, Akron, Kent State and Ohio care more about hoops). The Buckeyes regularly have 90,000-plus fans in their football stadium, regardless of who they play. Basketball is a different endeavor. Last season, Ohio State and Purdue were both ranked in the AP Top 10 for a game in Columbus, and more than 2,000 tickets were available shortly before tip-off.
Also keep your eye on the crowd's balance. There are many, many people in Ohio who root for Duke and North Carolina. I know many people who root for Ohio State, or Michigan, or Notre Dame in football, and the Blue Devils or Tar Heels in basketball. (Why they don't root for the same school in everything, I have never come close to figuring out.) Trust me: There will be no shortage of blue in the crowd tonight.
2. Don't fret over Jared Sullinger. The Buckeyes' big guy is an absolute force who will assuredly play in the NBA, but if you're a Duke fan, he's not the one to worry about. The Devils have the frontcourt to keep Sullinger from going crazy. Instead, be afraid of Ohio State guard William Buford. At 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, Buford is at least two inches taller and 20 pounds heavier than every Duke guard. Buford possess the athleticism to cut like a small forward, but his jump shot is lethal. His mid-range and three-point game is as good as anyone in the country. He's averaging 17.7 points per game and shooting 50 percent from behind the arc.
Buford and I are from the same hometown (Toledo, Ohio), though he's a year younger than me in school. I can attest that he's had a killer jumper since he was 11. I watched plenty of times from the losing end of the stands while he was at Libbey High School.
3. November KOs. Duke has won 35 consecutive times in the month of November. They've lost only 10 times in the year's 11th month under Mike Krzyzewski. The last time Duke lost in November was to Marquette in 2006. That number wouldn't mean much if Duke were scheduling cupcakes, but they're regularly facing the best in the nation from the jump. Even the mid-major teams it plays (like Belmont and Davidson) aren't slouches. If the Devils win tonight, they'll have completed their fifth straight perfect November.
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In the case of Everett Withers
By -Nick Piotrowicz | Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 12:51
North Carolina interim head coach Everett Withers was nudged into the cockpit of the football program with hardly more than a week before the beginning of fall practice, with both sides of the agreement understanding a comfortable amount of space would be given. The interim title remained on Withers the entire season – implying that UNC has not made a decision regarding its long-term future, and could hire another coach with little more than a nod to Withers – and Withers was given a five-month audition to win the part.
Has he done enough?
For: The players respected him and responded positively to his leadership. After Butch Davis was fired, Chancellor Holden Thorp said that one of the qualities he wanted in Davis' replacement was the presence to be respected by the players. Withers had – and has – the players' respect. He's an emotional coach who bodes well in the bravado-exuding world of college football, and his straight forward mentality does well with recruits and their parents.
Against: The Tar Heels didn't have a single signature victory in Withers' lone season at the helm. North Carolina fattened itself on a fairly weak out-of-conference schedule, and beat only Virginia, Wake Forest and Duke in the conference. 3-5 in the ACC isn't impressing the UNC brass.
For: The circumstances were extraordinarily difficult. Your boss gets canned. You have to fill in nine days before the biggest sales quarter of the year. You haven't had anywhere near enough time or preparation for the job, but the company expects numbers to be as good or better than before. Numbers finish in the ballpark from last year. Is it fair to dismiss you?
Against: It's unlikely Withers will have another defense as good as the one he has. Remember, Withers is a defensive coach. With Davis' recruits, Withers' defense wasn't particularly impressive. The unit finished fifth in the conference in yards per game and points allowed, and never took over a conference game like it absolutely should have. For a defense that has two sure first-rounders in the 2012 NFL Draft (Quinton Coples, Zach Brown), a sure pick (Tydreke Powell), two fringe draftees (Charles Brown, Matt Merletti) and two players that would likely get drafted if they left early (Donte Paige-Moss and Sylvester Williams), the production in relation to talent was very poor.
For: Framework is in place. The Tar Heels can seriously challenge for the Coastal Division title next season, particularly on offense. With the exception of Virginia Tech's David Wilson, Giovanni Bernard would be the best running back in the ACC as a sophomore. Bryn Renner – with one year of starting behind him – figures to be one of the better passers country. He's already tenth in the country in passing efficiency. Three offensive lineman return, and seven starters should be back from an offense that scored 28 or more points seven times. A new system could hurt short-term success.
Against: Flaaaaaaaagship! Flaaaaaaaagship! Withers lost to his biggest football rival and caused himself – and a good many Tar Heels, past and present – embarrassment with his pre-game comments. He called UNC the state's “flagship” university, drawing the ire of supporters of nearly every other North Carolina school, including and especially N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien. When the Wolfpack beat the Tar Heels, 13-0, N.C. State fans mocked Withers and UNC with booming chants of “Flagship” at Carter-Finley Stadium. If you're going to run your mouth, you had better win. He didn't.
For: The Tar Heels met expectations. To borrow a quote from my man Dennis Green, they were who we thought they were. They didn't have a win against an opponent better than them, but they also didn't lose to any bad teams, either. They still finished bowl eligible, and they were competitive in every game besides a blowout loss at Clemson.
Against: Is the administration content with OK? That's what North Carolina was this season. Not good or bad, but OK. Every other school in the Coastal Division has a coach whose roots are deeply set. The circumstances were difficult, sure, but the sad reality is that the score receives no footnotes. In almost every case, crowds and booster donations are smaller when a team is losing. Should fifth in the Coastal Division warrant another chance?
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How the MAC can make the ACC better
By -Nick Piotrowicz | Thursday, November 10, 2011 - 01:32
With apologies to Fox Sports' “Saturday In The South” coverage of the ACC, the conference could very successfully look north for low-hanging fruit.
Perhaps you have seen the Mid-American Conference playing oddly-scheduled games on the ESPN family of networks during the week. Perhaps you have said, “Who cares?” (OK, you almost certainly said that.)
But the ratings, for games those from major conferences consider irrelevant, have drawn very well. Temple at Ohio on Nov. 2 drew more than 1.3 million people; Northern Illinois at Toledo hooked nearly a million the day before.
At a small school – or any school, really – drawing 1 in every 300 Americans is a big deal. Coaches in the MAC, which I covered for the past four years, have said the visibility has done wonders in recruiting.
Due credit must go to ESPN, which is wide-reaching and has a firm grip on sports broadcasting. The MAC has a deal with ESPN through 2017 that states the ESPN armada must nationally televise 11 of the conference's games.
The ACC can borrow – and thrive – with the same flexibility that MAC has shown scheduling. Every MAC school but one is in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana or Pennsylvania – the heart of Big Ten Country. So, instead of consistently fighting with (and losing to) the Big Ten for fans and for coverage, the MAC instead decided that Saturday did not have to be the sabbath of college football, and went to the middle of the week.
Though the conference received some criticism for moving away from Saturday, the move has been very successful, and the conference's visibility has improved. My alma mater, Ohio, does not play a Saturday game the entire month of November, but it does play on national TV in every November game. Here in North Carolina, I can watch all four games this month. I saw a total of zero of the first eight games on TV. Even a few years ago, that wasn't possible.
The ACC can employ the same tactic. Some games have been on Thursday nights, but a bigger shift could be beneficial. If one were to rank football conferences, the ACC is fourth behind the SEC, Big-12 and Pac-12. The Big Ten has a fairly good hold of the noon slate of games, the SEC runs the roost for night games and the Pac-12 fills the late-night void.
The ACC is fighting with every other good game in the country on Saturdays. The people in ACC territory who want to see the ACC can do so, but the average nonpartisan fan will pick the best game.
Case-and point: No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama were locked in a boring – albeit important – game on CBS at the same time No. 3 Oklahoma State was in a thrilling shootout with No. 14 Kansas State on ESPN. I think I can safely assume your television seldom left CBS, if at all. I know mine didn't.
So why fight? The ACC could start playing a couple of midweek games and avoid the ratings battle. The MAC has proven that people will watch football – any football – on any day of the week. The ACC offers better football with bigger implications, and would draw a much bigger share than small-budget schools in the Midwest.
The mid- to low-level schools in the ACC are the ones that can truly benefit from a handful of midweek games. People will watch games with teams in the Top 25 at any time, but will be much more inclined to watch a game that doesn't mean anything to them if it is on a non-traditional day.
Ultimately, teams are measured by their conferences. (I was interested to see Clemson go undefeated for the sole purpose of the reputation fight that might have occurred with undefeated LSU, Oklahoma State and Stanford, with one-loss Alabama claiming it belongs, too. Chances are the Tigers would still have went to the Orange Bowl.)
The better the conference, the better for its member schools. Visibility, to a degree, makes the conference better.
Further, the ACC recruits against the SEC fairly heavily, particularly in states like Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. The SEC is clearly the apex of college football, and the ACC would do well to win over top-tier recruits with any (rule-abiding) measures it can. Schedule changes could certainly give an edge.
For the first eight weeks of the season – before basketball starts, because you people love your hoops – why can't the ACC make itself a midweek staple?
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Reel Talk: Wake Forest at Duke
By -Nick Piotrowicz | Sunday, October 23, 2011 - 21:37
Wake Forest 24, Duke 23
The Duke-Wake Forest rivalry, which the Demon Deacons have won 12 straight times, has been fairly even talent-wise since David Cutcliffe took over in Durham. An even match was the case again Saturday, where in all three phases of the game, neither side was significantly better than the other.
Wake Forest's timing, however, ultimately gave it a win against the Blue Devils. In the first half, when possessions reached the critical down, the Demon Deacons kept drives going. The Blue Devils didn't. And despite a poor second half from Wake Forest, its efficient first half gave it enough of a push to leave Durham at 4-1 in the ACC.
Situation: Third-and-14 for Wake Forest at the Duke 26 midway through the first quarter. No score.
Play: As an obvious passing down, neither side dances around the issue. Wake Forest plays shotgun with four wide receivers and Duke counters with a three-lineman, two-linebacker version of dime.
The Blue Devils know Wake Forest quarterback Tanner Price likes throwing to wide receiver Chris Givens, the Demon Deacons' best pass catcher – Duke has already been burned for two first downs by Givens catches at this point in the game. Before that happens again, the Devils blitz both linebackers.
Result: Duke gets nowhere close to Price. Even though the coverage down field is superb, Price has way, way, way too much time to throw. Wake Forest picks up the rush easily, Price rolls to his right, then finds Givens for a touchdown.
From the time the Deacs snapped the ball to the time Price threw it, seven-and-a-half seconds elapsed. No defensive back can realistically be expected to cover anybody for that long.
Situation: Wake Forest ball with a third-and-15 at their own 9. Wake Forest leads, 10-0. Duke, after giving Price ample time to throw on its first scoring drive, has turned the tides. Pressure forced an incompletion and a sack on the first two plays of the drive to create a third-and-long for the Demon Decons.
Play: Wake Forest plays a shotgun with two backs and three receivers, and Duke plays its normal 4-2-5. The Devils elect to play a Cover Two zone, where Price spots Michael Campanaro on a deep in route.
Result: Wake Forest earns a demoralizing first down and keeps hold of the ball.
Yet the Devils have another chance to get off the field on the drive:
Situation: Fourth-and-two and Duke's 21. Jim Grobe shoos away the field goal team, who would have had a high-percentage shot at the uprights.
Play: Wake Forest shows a pistol look with a fullback to Price's side, and Duke stays steady in its 4-2-5. Price looks for Givens – again – on a fade route. Duke plays single coverage on the outside.
Result: After initially being ruled out-of-bounds, review determines that Givens did, in fact, have a foot in bounds. Cornerback Ross Cockrell's coverage was pretty good, but a better throw-and-catch keeps the drive going, and the Demon Decons score a touchdown two plays later.
And now to the Blue Devils on critical downs:
Situation: Third-and-five for Duke at the Wake Forest 33, 8:51 in the first quarter. No score.
Play: Duke plays a five-wide set and the Demon Decons rush three and drop eight into coverage.
Result: Duke's system calls for the ball to be out of Renfree's hands in 2.6 seconds or less, and any sacks from that point on are Renfree's responsibility. In this scenario, the Devils have five to block three – which shouldn't be a difficult task; however, left guard John Coleman gets beat by defensive tackle Nikita Whitlock, who is 30 pounds smaller and six inches shorter. Whitlock is in Renfree's grill in 2.4 seconds, records a sack and the Devils are forced to punt.
Situation: Duke ball at the Wake Forest 49. Fourth-and inches for the Blue Devils, who trail 10-0.
Play: Renfree sneaks for a first down, but the whistle blows. False start, Duke.
Result: The Blue Devils, who had fallen behind two scores, were having an effective drive. Duke was running and passing efficiently and getting into its first offensive rhythm of the afternoon. After the penalty, though, Cutcliffe has little choice but to punt to the Demon Decons, who extend their lead to 17 on the ensuing possession.
Duke wasn't terribly penalized (six penalties for 50 yards), but its misdeeds ended drives. On a second-and-three later in the second quarter, and at the Wake Forest 11, Duke committed a false start and a holding penalty on consecutive plays. They settled for a field goal.
In a one-point Duke loss, a difference on any of the above plays could be the difference between winning and losing. Duke has to be better at critical points if they're going to knock the 'same old Duke' talk they get after losses.
Notes
-Wake Forest refused to let Duke beat them with the deep throw. Conservative coverages gave Renfree his short option time and again, and he took it: 25 of Renfree's 45 attempts were at five yards from the line-of-scrimmage or shorter. It'll be interesting to see if Virginia Tech tries the same thing this coming Saturday.
-Duke's run blocking has improved considerably from the beginning of the season, which is impressive given that its top two centers are injured. The stat line doesn't do the Blue Devils justice (only 3.4 yards per carry), but the overall number was muddied by its red zone packages. Duke brought in backup quarterback Anthony Boone in running sets, and the Blue Devils rushed 11 times for 19 yards with Boone.
-On Wake Forest's game-winning touchdown, an interception gamble took one defender out of the play, and three Blue Devils missed chances to bring down Chris Givens. If one of the four had gotten Givens to the ground, it's realistic to say the Devils win the game.
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The Golden Years?
By -Nick Piotrowicz | Monday, October 10, 2011 - 15:07
Miami coach Al Golden is a great recruiter. His prowess for going into a recruit’s home and selling the program successfully is immediately visible. The tie, the haircut the can-do attitude – you can see why parents (and their sons) buy what he's selling.
But we have yet to see him be a great coach. Is he a good coach? Sure. It may not be fair, but Golden can’t be a great coach until his team starts winning big games, which it has never done.
What Golden did to the Temple program, while impressive, was not as remarkable as it looked. The Owls were an absolute doormat in the Big East until they left after the 2004 season. Between 1980 and 2008, Temple had a total of one winning season, and did not play in a bowl game for the entire duration.
Golden deserves credit for helping to change the culture in North Philly, but the lion’s share of recognition should go the administration and the Mid-American Conference. The MAC welcomed Temple as a football-only school with open arms starting in 2007, and both sides were smart enough to realize what a good match they were for each other.
The Owls gave the MAC, home to the metropolitan powers of Oxford, Ohio, Muncie, Indiana and DeKalb, Illinois, a top-10 market in Philadelphia. The MAC gave Temple, which was working on three decades of futility, a schedule in which it could be competitive and eventually successful.
Golden was praised as a phenomenal coach because of the rapid turnaround: Temple was 3-31 in the three years preceding him, and around .500 by his second year. But they should have been. As it turned out, playing the likes of Eastern Michigan and Akron tends to be easier on the win column than playing West Virginia and Pitt.
Yet, Golden’s Owls never so much as made the conference championship game, and there isn’t a good reason as to why that’s the case. In 2008, Golden’s third full season, you could see his recruits taking over, particularly at the end of the season. The Owls went 4-4 in the MAC and challenged –including eventual champion Buffalo – everyone they lost to.
2009 Temple had the most talent in the conference. Eight Owls were named First-Team All-MAC. Temple had the conference's best player in defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson. It had the best running back in Bernard Pierce. It had far-and-away the best defensive line. It had, if not the best offensive line, one as good as rushing leader Northern Illinois. It had a decent quarterback, and even the best kick returner in the conference statistically.
But thanks to a 35-17 loss on the last day of the regular season to Ohio, the Owls watched the Bobcats represent the MAC East in the MAC Championship Game. Ohio won that game as a result of preparation – the Owls couldn't compensate for a fairly-predictable Ohio offense, and truly lost the game after second-half adjustments.
2010 Temple returned almost every important piece – seven of the eight First-Team All-MAC selections returned – and were in Golden's fifth year, meaning that almost every player on the roster was his recruit.
The Owls finished even worse than the season before. An early season loss to Northern Illinois coupled with a home loss to Ohio knocked Temple out of contention with a week to play. The 5-3 finish in the MAC left Temple without a bowl bid.
The situation Golden is in at Miami is Temple multiplied by 100. He has a distinct advantage over the rest of the ACC because all the recruits he could ever need are in his backyard: Miami-Dade County is one of the biggest hotbeds for football talent in the entire country. He has a popular brand to sell, which he didn't have at Temple. He's at the helm of one of two ACC programs that can say its won it all in the BCS era. And he has a board of trustees that will – to a fault – support its football program.
But Golden, like the Hurricanes of the past eight years, hasn't turned talent into titles.
We'll give him a break for the next two years: These aren't his guys and this isn't his mess. But Miami isn't Philadelphia, and no one is going to throw a parade if he wins nine games. Big games keep cashing big checks. If Golden doesn't flip his history and realize the high standard by the time his recruits are starters – to borrow a famous line from Bill Parcells – he'll always be known as a phenomenal grocery shopper but a lousy cook.
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Looking Ahead: Week 3
By Nick Piotrowicz | Thursday, September 15, 2011 - 19:13
A tough season in Chestnut Hill, Mass. became a little bit tougher for Boston College. Offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers is taking a leave of absence due to his health. Rogers has dealt with leg and back issues in the past.
“Our football program operates as a family unit, and we are totally supportive of Kevin,’’ coach Frank Spaziani said in a statement released by Boston College. “I would like to ask our fans and followers to support Kevin and respect his privacy.”
Rogers, who was the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterbacks coach last season, will be replaced by Dave Brock, who was Boston College’s offensive line coach.
“We’re all speaking the same language. He’s done it before and understands these subtleties that go about doing it, and it’s a family and team game,” Spaziani said in his weekly teleconference. “The coaching staff is no different.”
About Auburn
The Tigers play, well, the Tigers at Clemson on Saturday. It’s by far Clemson’s biggest out-of-conference game, and coach Dabo Swinney said he knows what its like to be at Auburn, which has a 17-game winning streak.
“I was a part of a 20-something game winning streak at Alabama and one thing that I can remember is, you just expect to win. When you win that many games in a row, you expect to win,” Swinney said. “You just never panic.”
But, you know, it helps that Cam Newton is gone.
Swinney: “Well, certainly I’m glad Cam Newton is with the Carolina Panthers. I’m not going to lie to you about that.”
Wake’s worry
Wake Forest blew a 15 point lead against Syracuse to lose, and nearly fumbled away a 21-point lead to N.C. State in Week 2.
Head coach Jim Grobe said they’re working to address the problem immediately.
“I think in our case what we’ve got to get our eyes off the scoreboard and quit feeling comfortable with the lead,” Grobe said. “From our standpoint, we got to keep trying to keep our kids realizing at this level with the talent of teams we’re playing against, there is no comfortable lead.”
Game Ball: Wake Forest wide receiver Michael Campanaro. The senior wideout scored twice in the win against N.C. State, once catching the ball and the other throwing it on a trick play. And for the record, it was as good as any ball Tanner Price threw all day, and that’s not a knock on Price.
Quote of the Week: “We got it in the plans; He just doesn’t know about it yet.” –Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer, asked if Michael Vick, who recently signed a contract worth over $100 million, will be donating an indoor practice facility.
Humor Me: I wish I could say I came up with this, but I did not. Someone wittier than I dubbed the Ohio State at Miami game this Saturday the “Ineligi-Bowl.”
Gripe of the Week: Why is the University of Oklahoma called ‘OU?’ That’s not how acronyms work, people.
Player to Watch: Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly. To quote Judge Smails, “The man's a menace!” Live games don’t quite do Kuechly justice. He has 35 tackles through two games, and he’s changed at least a dozen other plays. His intelligence is always on display: He seems to always know what the offense will run.
Game of the Week: No. 18 West Virginia at Maryland. I understand how many big games there are this weekend. I even wrote about it. But for my money, I’m betting the Mountaineers going turtle hunting will be the most entertaining game. A lot of times, with huge games in the top ten, like No. 1 Oklahoma against No. 5 Florida State, there are a lot of early jitters and the game is sloppy in general. And if last year’s turnover fest between Miami and Ohio State is any indication of what we’ll see Saturday, the winner will be whichever team beats itself less.
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Reel Talk: N.C. State at Wake Forest
By Nick Piotrowicz | Tuesday, September 13, 2011 - 13:49
Wake Forest 34, N.C. State 27
Perhaps N.C. State's escape of Liberty was more of an indication of how this season will play out than Wolfpack fans would like. Unlike last week, though, the defense didn't do enough to bail the offense out, and State opened its ACC schedule with a road loss.
The Wolfpack was without its three best pass rushers: J.R. Sweezy, Jeff Rieskamp and Thomas Teal are all injured. But N.C. State lost because of a lack of discipline, not because of injuries.
And Wake Forest simply avoided its Week 1 problem as opposed to solving it.
First, though, we'll get to N.C. State.
Crossed wires
Wake Forest killed the 'Pack with crossing patterns all afternoon. N.C. State, for whatever reason, couldn't adapt to the Demon Deacons' passing game, which was fairly unimaginative. But can you blame Wake Forest? They ran what worked until N.C. State showed they could stop it, and they never did.
Situation: Wake Forest ball at N.C. State's 31. Third and eight, 0-0 with 10:51 left in the first quarter.
Play: The Demon Deacons come set in shotgun with two backs and three receivers, and N.C. State counters with dime. Both backs stay back in blitz protection, but neither of them is needed because the offensive line plays it so well.
The 'Pack saw something on film that made them go after Wake right tackle Doug Weaver. Repeatedly, N.C. State sent blitzes Weaver's way. This time, they send safety Dontae Johnson. They got to Weaver for two sacks on the day, but on his first test, Weaver plays it beautifully: He forces Johnson so far to the edge that he's essentially out of the play.
Result: In blitzing Johnson, N.C. State dropped both ends into coverage, but Deacon receiver Michael Campanaro's route was too far down field for the ends to change the outcome. Price, with ample time, spots Campanaro. State blows all four chances to tackle Campanaro, who walks in for a touchdown.
Situation: Wake Forest ball at its own 46. Second and three, 7-0 Wake Forest with 5:28 left in the first quarter.
Play: Wake opens in shotgun with four wide receivers, but Price sends the running back in motion – there is now an empty backfield. The 'Pack plays nickel, but stays in its defense after the motion.
Result: N.C. State plays a Cover Two zone, but leaves the middle of the field wide open for Campanaro, Wake's best skill player. How did that happen? Great question. Camparano has nearly 20 yards before he's even touched, and Wake kicks a field goal later in the drive.
Bait-and-switch
The Demon Deacons' play-calling was astute, particularly in the first half. One seemingly meaningless play showed Wake something that led to a touchdown.
Situation: Wake Forest ball at its own 44. First and ten, 0-0 on the opening drive.
Play: Wake runs receiver Chris Givens in motion, then runs a reverse with him. N.C. State's left side over-pursues the ball – the ultimate goal of a reverse – and Givens runs for 12 yards and a first down.
Result: Two Wake possessions later, the Deamon Deacons run a reverse to Campanaro. This time, however, N.C. State stays put, and the safties crash to stop the reverse cold. The only problem is that Campanaro has no intention to run. He throws to Danny Dembry – who is 15 yards behind everybody – for a 40-yard touchdown.
Bad situation
N.C. State quarterback Mike Glennon was both good and bad, but he's a first-year starter. One particular instance, though, showed his inexperience and might have cost State the game.
Situation: N.C. State ball on its own 36. First and ten, 20-6 Wake Forest with 10:16 left in the third quarter.
Play: The 'Pack shows shotgun with two backs and three receivers – the formation gives them flexibility on first down. Wake stays in its base 3-4, and sends one linebacker to Glennon's right, who State easily picks up. The Deacons play a relatively elementary Cover Two zone, but Glennon doesn't – or chooses not to – adapt.
Glennon egregiously misunderstands the situation. The Wolfpack, only down 14 at this point, has plenty of time to change the outcome – more than 25 minutes. And N.C. State has a fresh three downs after its defense stopped the Demon Deacons. It's not time to panic. It would only be time to panic if Wake scores again, meaning that the Wolfpack has to protect the ball and play smart. Glennon decides before the play that he's throwing to T.J. Graham, and by God, he's going to throw to him.
Result: Glennon stares down Graham and forces the ball into the teeth of the zone, where free safety Josh Bush picks him off and runs it to State's 26. Wake scores a touchdown on the ensuing possession.
And the hits just keep on comin'
N.C. State's offense roared to life, but the team as a whole had little synergy. When one unit was working, another was screwing up.
Situation: N.C. State kickoff after scoring a touchdown. Wake Forest leads 27-13 with 1:47 left in the third quarter.
Play: Wake kick returner Merrill Noel finds that the right side of N.C. State's kickoff team is not present, and takes the ball to the Wake 48.
Result: Again, there was plenty of time, and the Wolfpack had the lead back down to 14. It had wrestled momentum back, and simply needed to hold. Instead, Wake started almost at midfield, then scored what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown four plays later.
Parting ways
N.C. State's offense scored another 14 points and had the ball in Wake Forest territory with less than two minutes remaining, but turned the ball over on downs. The fact of the matter is that State – or anybody else besides East Carolina – can't give up 34 points on the road and expect to win. Sure, the offense wasn't spectacular, but it was decent. 424 yards and 27 points should have been enough to win.
For Wake Forest, another week brought another fourth quarter comeback. They survived it against State, but weren't so lucky against Syracuse. The Demon Deacons have given up 50 points after halftime in two games. They can't keep melting down in the second half and expecting wins.
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Reel Talk: UNC vs. Rutgers
By Nick Piotrowicz | Monday, September 12, 2011 - 18:57
North Carolina 24, Rutgers 22
First, North Carolina is lucky to have escaped with a win. The Tar Heels survived at least a dozen mental mistakes that, against a better team, would have cost them the game. UNC turned the ball over five times – twice on fumbles after first downs – and gave the Scarlet Knights nearly 100 free yards with penalties.
Rutgers' front seven gave North Carolina difficulty in its run game, and exposed several problems UNC will have to correct if it expects a win in Atlanta against Georgia Tech on Sept. 24.
But let's get to why the Tar Heels won this game, and why it will win games to come.
The Coples Effect. Defensive end Quinton Coples is beyond invaluable for North Carolina. Coples has only three tackles and two sacks through two games, but his mere presence makes UNC's defense effective, like these two plays:
Situation: Rutgers ball on its own 33. Third down and 13. 7-0 North Carolina.
Play: The Scarlet Knights, in shotgun with a running back to each side of quarterback Chas Dodd, are in an obvious passing situation. The Tar Heels know it, and call a mildly-aggressive linebacker blitz out of nickel, where they are playing a Cover One.
Rutgers sends both backs to double-team the ends, Coples and Kareem Martin. Because the backs have been exhausted, and are not available for blitz pick-up, there are now three blockers left to pick up three remaining rushers. Linebacker Kevin Reddick runs, untouched, in one of the spaces created in the offensive line, which has been pulled far too wide. Reddick absolutely blasts Dodd, whose pass flies lazy in the air, somehow finding the turf.
Effect: Rutgers is forced to change its passing game plan. The Knights resort to lots of three-step drops, misdirection and shotgun. Dodd is noticeably apprehensive the rest of the half.
Play No. 2:
Situation: Rutgers ball on UNC's 14. Third and goal. 17-12 North Carolina.
Play: The Knights, needing the endzone, come out of shotgun with four wide receivers. The Heels match with a nickel, and blitz three. Coples drops into coverage, but Rutgers' left tackle, forced to show respect, stays with Coples and lets blitzers run past him to both his left and his right.
Effect: Dodd has no choice but to get rid of the ball. He throws a bad pass, which the receiver falls the ground in the process of catching. The Knights settle for a field goal.
Acting Sophomoric. Bryn Renner, who is statistically impressive (85.7 percent completion percentage) is still growing in his decision-making process, and is expectedly hot-and-cold. The good:
Situation: UNC ball on its own 29. Third and one. 0-0.
Play: The Tar Heels play a standard singleback set with two receivers to Renner's left, allowing it many options. The Knights play their base 3-4, and send a weak-side blitz at Renner, who keeps his weight balanced in the face of the pressure. Renner calmly hits Erik Highsmith on a five-yard out route for a first down, but gets hit in the process.
Effect: North Carolina, with a fresh sets of downs, finds single coverage on the very next play. Renner finds it and throws a 66-yard touchdown to Dwight Jones.
And the bad:
Situation: UNC ball on Rutgers' 35. Third and seven. 17-15 North Carolina.
Play: Midway through the third quarter, UNC comes out of a four-wide shotgun set, and Rutgers plays a modified dime, with three lineman and two 'backers. The Knights creep the safety and both linebackers, clearly showing blitz. Renner stays in the play without shifting or adding protection, and a double-team allows one of the two blitzing linebackers in free. Renner escapes the pressure with a roll-out, but compounds the initial mistake by throwing across his body.
Effect: Rutgers picks off the errant pass, and UNC throws away its chance at a long field goal or a punt to pin the Knights. A good chance to extend the lead is wasted.
Left for dead. The most disconcerting thing about UNC's game against Rutgers was its inability to establish the run at all, particularly to the left side. The numbers look OK, but were skewed by two big runs. On its other 27 rushes, the Heels gained only 37 yards. They struggled to block Rutgers' speedy defensive line, which has to worry UNC fans for games against Virginia Tech and Clemson.
Situation: UNC ball on its own 40. First and ten. 7-3 North Carolina.
Play: The Heels play power-I, running a tight end in motion from right to left. The Knights remain in their 3-4, but cheat both safties towards the line-of scrimmage. The strong safety does blitz. North Carolina attempts an edge run to the left, but three Knights are in the backfield as Ryan Houston takes the hand off. He improvises, runs right, and gains a yard.
Effect: Rutgers apparently saw something on film that took away half the field. The blitzed off the left edge all afternoon, and North Carolina never adjusted. It will be interesting to see if Virginia employs the same tactic Saturday in Chapel Hill.
Check back tomorrow for a Reel Talk of N.C. State's game against Wake Forest.
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Breakdown: Sept. 3's games
By -By Nick Piotrowicz | Monday, September 5, 2011 - 18:05
Richmond 23, Duke 21
Three-and-out
1. Again? For the third straight time and second time in three seasons, Richmond beat Duke. And where to start? Could it be that the offense was bad enough in the first half to spoil the whole game? Duke's first-half drives: punt, punt, turnover on downs, fumble, touchdown, fumble, punt and end of the half. Could it be poor decision-making by the staff? Coach David Cutcliffe blamed himself for attempting another play when the Devils had no timeouts and the ball at the Richmond 19 with less than ten seconds in the half, then came away with nothing after being tackled in play. Or could it be kicker Will Snyderwine? An All-American, Snyderwine missed a 28-yard chip shot with 1:43 remaining in the game that would have given Duke the lead. It was only his second career miss form 21-29 yards.
2. In with the new. Duke's new defense (they played almost exclusively in nickel) was mostly good. Duke's offense pinned the defense in bad situations, leading to ten Richmond points off turnovers. Its only fault was allowing two touchdown drives immediately after Duke scores.
3. Running free. The Duke running game found life in the second half. Desmond Scott (who left the game in the third quarter with a leg injury) and Juwan Thompson combined to rush for more than 100 yards in the third and fourth quarters.
Player to watch: S Matt Daniels. Daniels was the best player on Duke's defense. He was constantly near the ball: he had nine tackles and six pass break-ups.
End line: The Devils needed anything but what they got against Richmond; they play Standford on Saturday and open ACC play the week after.
North Carolina 42, James Madison 10
Three-and-out
1. Right on time. Tar Heels fans (and the media covering them, for that matter) were sick of hearing about investigations, firings and misdeed, and ready for football. Bryn Renner's perfect first quarter touchdown throw to Dwight Jones, who had run a great route through two defenders, was timely, to say the least.
2. Man of the Hour. Renner, against a team who upset eventual ACC champion Virginia Tech last season, was a Phil-Simms-like 22-for-23 for 278 yards and two touchdowns. Not bad for a first career start.
3. Seventh Heaven. UNC's front seven was stout against the run. The Heels held James Madison to 60 yards rushing, and a miserable 1.5 yards-per-carry.
End line: Though against an FCS team, interim coach Everett Withers got a near-perfect start.
Virginia Tech 66, Appalachian St. 13
Three-and-out
1. 'D' for Dominant. The Hokies' defense was superb on Saturday. Appalachian St. built its brand on a speedy, ultra-athletic offense, and Virginia Tech wouldn't let them get anything going. The Mountaineers' first three drives: Fumble, three-and-out, three-and-out. It was 17-0 Hokies before the “Star-Spangled Banner” got to the second verse.
2. Mr. Wilson! Va. Tech running back David Wilson (16 carries, 162 yards, 3 touchdowns) looked like a fine candidate for First-Team All-ACC. Wilson's speed – against a very quick team – was in a class of its own. The offensive line moved the Mountaineers all game, and Wilson took full advantage.
3. QB Questions? Logan Thomas, in his first start filling in for graduated Tyrod Taylor, was shaky throwing the football. Thomas' accuracy wasn't there on most throws. Virginia Tech's passing game is predicated on being able to run, using misdirection and low-risk throws as a change of pace. Against better opponents, Thomas (9-for-19) must be more consistent.
End line: Appalachian St. is a very good FCS team, and Virginia Tech embarrassed it. The Coastal favorites lived up to the preseason title.
Florida State 34, Louisiana-Monroe 0
Three-and-out
1. Playing favorites. The clear ACC favorite didn't sway the mindset in either direction. It was an easy win, but it should have been.
2. The new guy. E.J. Manuel, replacing now-Minnesota Viking Christian Ponder, admitted to having jitters early in the contest, but settled down and was decent. He finished 22-for-34 with two touchdowns and an interception.
3. Biding time. We're less than two weeks away from No. 1 Oklahoma's visit to Tallahassee. Florida State has another walk-over (Charleston Southern) before we learn if its a real contender for the National Championship.
End line: If the 'Noles' defense is as good as it played Saturday, Florida State stands a good chance of beating the Sooners.
Northwestern 24, Boston College 17
Three-and-out
1. Raising Kain's. Northwestern backup quarterback Kain Coulter was essential in the Wildcats' win in Chestnut Hill. Coulter was 18-for-25 and Northwestern recorded its first win since Nov. 13, 2010.
2. Missing Montel? Not so much. Boston College running back Andre Williams rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the absence of Montel Harris, the ACC Preseason Player of the Year.
3. Starting a trend. The conference was supposed to have a down year, and the first weekend proved, to some degree, that might be the case. Losses to teams at the bottom of the Big East and Big Ten, and then another to an FCS team, won't help the conference come time for bowl bids.
End line: If the Eagles couldn't beat, at very best, the seventh best team in the Big Ten at home, ACC play could be disastrous.
N.C. State 43, Liberty 21
Three-and-out
1. Opportunity knocks. The Wolfpack forced seven turnovers in a game that was closer than the final score indicates. Certainly the deciding factor in N.C. State's win, the defense tied a school record for turnovers forced, which led to 20 points.
2. Glennon iffy. In his first start, Mike Glennon was not convincing, but he didn't have to be. The defense, special teams and running game were so good that Glennon only needed to be mediocre. There were more positives than negatives for Glennon.
3. Intangibles. The 'Pack did a lot of things correctly in the first game that many teams need weeks to get right. N.C. State blocked very well on punt and kickoff returns, which, because of the scrambling nature, are difficult to execute. Tackling support, as evidenced by the high volume of turnovers, was also good.
Player to Watch: RB Curtis Underwood. Underwood provided a huge boost to N.C. State, rushing for 114 yards and a touchdown on only 14 carries.
End line: All eyes will be on Glennon – and Russell Wilson in Madison – as N.C. State opens ACC play this week at Wake Forest.
Clemson 43, Troy 19
Three-and-out
1. Bend but don't break. Holding Troy to 19 points is an accomplishment. The Trojans run a permanent hurry-up offense, attempting a ton of plays and usually getting in shootouts. While Troy ran 77 plays for 418 yards, Clemson kept it to only two touchdowns.
2. Discipline. Clemson committed only two penalties and one turnover, which is even more of an accomplishment when considered it was both teams' first game.
3. Freshman muscle. Freshman gained 266 of Clemson's 468 total yards against Troy. Clemson relies fairly heavily on its young guns, and it will need statlines like this to get wins.
End line: Clemson better gets its growing pains out of the way quickly: Starting on Sept. 17, the Tigers play host to Auburn, then Florida State, then they go to Blacksburg to play Virginia Tech.
Virginia 40, William & Mary 3
Three-and-out
1. Which is it? Was Virginia that good or William & Mary that bad? Probably the latter. The Tribe had 169 yards of total offense and allowed nearly 500. Willaim & Mary was on the verge of being shutout until Drake Kuhn hit a field goal late in the fourth quarter.
2. Parks' recreation. Virginia running back Kevin Parks averaged 7.2 yards per carry and made three visits to the endzone. The Cavaliers' offense will likely go through him.
3. Specialty item. Kicker Robert Randolph (Family Band not present) booted four field goals for Virginia. In the hotly-contested, much-anticipated race for First-Team All-ACC kicker, Randolph has to be the early leader.
End line: Virginia plays arguably the worst out-of-conference schedule in the ACC. We won't know anything about them until they play someone in the Top 75.
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Breakdown: Sept. 1's games
By Nick Piotrowicz | Friday, September 2, 2011 - 16:11
ACC football opened up with two games Thursday. One went as expected. The other set off the panic alarm in old-gold-and-black country.
Syracuse 36, Wake Forest 29 (OT)
Three-and-out
1. A devastating start. The Deamon Deacons held a 15-point advantage with 11 minutes remaining in Thursday’s game, and despite multiple opportunities to finish the Orange, could not close it out. The offense couldn’t move the ball in the second half, and Syracuse would have won in regulation had Wake Forest not blocked a field goal late in the fourth quarter.
2. And the poor get poorer. Deacons quarterback Tanner Price injured his knee in the fourth quarter and did not return, giving way to back-up Ted Stachitas. The Winston-Salem Journal reports Price has a sprained knee and will be undergoing further evaluation later Friday. A cold start is anything but easy, but the truly disconcerting part of Stachitas’ appearance was the coaching staff’s total lack of faith in him. The Deacons advanced the ball near midfield with under a minute remaining, but Wake Forest let the clock run out after a sack. Why not try a heave to the endzone?
3. Element of expected. Wake Forest had little interest in throwing with Stachitas in the game, and Syracuse knew it. The Deacons rushed seven times for 13 yards and managed only two first downs with Stachitas under center. Even before Price sustained the injury, Wake Forest’s offensive play-calling became very uninventive. They rushed for only 1.9 yards per carry on the night.
Player to watch: RB Brandon Pendergrass. Out of the Michael Turner mold, Pendergrass is 5-foot-9 and over 200 pounds. He runs with great power and could be a useful weapon if Wake Forest can keep seven or less in the box.
End line: Losing to one of the worst teams in the worst BCS conference already dampened any bowl plans in Winston-Salem.
Georgia Tech 63, Western Carolina 21
Three-and-out
1. A no-win game. Georgia Tech’s win does little to measure its chances come ACC-play. A blowout was expected and anything less would have been semi-disastrous.
2. Problems with special teams? Even in the win, the Yellow Jackets looked subpar in the third phase. Western Carolina returned a missed field goal 69 yards for a touchdown and averaged nearly 20 yards per kickoff return. The Catamounts nearly broke two kickoff returns for touchdowns.
3. QB Tevin Washington looked great. Sure, it was an inferior opponent, but he was accurate and he made good decisions. His final line—8-13, 272 yards and three touchdowns— was indicative of how he looked.
End line: Tech has two inherently winnable games the next two weeks (at Middle Tennessee State and Kansas at home), and should be 3-0 when it gets its first real test of the season: North Carolina on Sept. 24 in Atlanta.
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