With the college football season now only a day away, the Technician continues its preview of the ACC by taking a look at the Coastal Division. Yesterday we took a look at the Atlantic and determined that Clemson and Florida State were the clear frontrunners in a division that has been top-heavy for years.
The Coastal, on the other hand, has been a crapshoot for predictors on a week-to-week basis. Georgia Tech enters the 2015 season as the favorite to be the Coastal’s representative in the ACC Championship Game this season, but cases can be made for every other team on this list. Here’s what you need to know about the ACC Coastal Division.
Georgia Tech
It seems like every time someone questions Paul Johnson and the triple option, the Yellow Jackets have a great season, and all the doubters are immediately proved wrong. Now the next question arises: Can the triple option sustain a championship run?
The Yellow Jackets have a star quarterback in junior Justin Thomas, a natural fit for the option who ran for more than 1,000 yards in 2014. The Yellow Jackets had the best offense statistically in 2014, and there is no reason to think that will change this season. The defense struggled mightily last season, however, allowing 411.3 yards per game.
Virginia Tech
The Hokies have drawn significant praise across the nation, with many predicting the offense will finally catch up with their highly skilled defense. Quarterback Michael Brewer returns for his senior season and has weapons in sophomore pass-catchers Isaiah Ford, Cam Phillips and Bucky Hodges.
The defense is anchored by the defensive line, which returns senior defensive end Dadi Nicolas and junior defensive end Ken Ekanem, who combined for 18.5 sacks and 33 tackles for loss last season. The secondary features stud junior cornerback Kendall Fuller, another in the long list of Fullers to play at Virginia Tech. The Hokies have potential in 2015, but another upset of Ohio State is unlikely and the Coastal is too unpredictable to pencil them in as a contender.
Duke
The Blue Devils have largely been written off because of the loss of quarterback Anthony Boone to graduation. However, his successor, junior quarterback Thomas Sirk, has drawn positive reviews from coaches and media alike. If he can play at a level higher than Boone did last year, (which honestly shouldn’t be all that hard, as Boone held a 56 percent completion rate in 2014) there is the potential for Duke to be a contender again. The team returns its whole secondary and should have a good ground game.
Pittsburgh
Possessing possibly the best running/back-wide receiver combo in the nation was enough to get excited about Pitt football in 2015. Throw in the hire of head coach Pat Narduzzi and now you have the ingredients for a successful season in west Pennsylvania. Narduzzi’s hard-nosed style should translate well to the ACC, and he has the playmakers to make it work. Half-back James Conner, a junior, and wide receiver Tyler Boyd could both be Heisman Trophy candidates if it was possible for anybody other than a quarterback to win the award these days. The defense will bring them down, however, as could the play of junior quarterback Chad Voytik. Give Narduzzi some time to work, and this team could be dangerous in a short time.
Miami
Al Golden enters the season on the possibly the second hottest seat in the nation, behind another team’s coach on this list. The Hurricanes have had talent across the board and have largely underachieved, finishing 6-7 last year, including 3-5 in the ACC. The Canes have star quarterback Brad Kaaya back for another season, and the secondary is talented, but a brutal schedule that features in order: Nebraska, at Cincinnati, at Florida State, Virginia Tech, Clemson and at Duke will most likely sink them.
North Carolina
Every year, the Tar Heels are pegged to be the sleeper team in the ACC with the chance to break into contender status, and it seems like every year they underachieve and finish 6-6 or close to it. We won’t break the jinx. Behind star quarterback Marquise Williams and a talented wide receiver corps and backfield, the Tar Heels have the chance to be a good team in 2015. The defense has to improve this season and probably couldn’t get any worse. Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning is gone, and the Tar Heels should improve behind new defensive coordinator Gene Chizik’s 4-3 defense.
Virginia
Virginia head coach Mike London may be the only coach in the nation with a hotter seat than Al Golden and with good reason. A 23-38 record in five years doesn’t exactly instill job security. The Cavaliers named Matt Johns their starting quarterback for 2015, and his 6-foot-5 frame and passing ability should help the Cavs a little this season. The Cavs have holes all over the place and did themselves no favors by setting up a brutal schedule. The Cavaliers would’ve been much better suited for a schedule akin to NC State’s instead of the horror show that features UCLA, Notre Dame and Boise State.
