ACC Spring Practice Primer

By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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After a disappointing 2-6 bowl season, ACC teams are anxious to get back on the field and look towards 2012.

BOSTON COLLEGE

Practice Opens: February 18th

Spring Game: March 31st

Biggest Storyline: Can the Eagles stay healthy? 2011 was a season to forget in Chestnut Hill, as top rusher Montel Harris and top receiver Ifeanyi Momah saw their seasons end early with injuries. With no running game and a young offensive line, quarterback Chase Retting struggled to create any consistent production, and Boston College missed a bowl for the first time since 1998. In addition to Harris and Momah, cornerback C.J. Jones and defensive tackle Kaleb Ramsey also are back after taking medical redshirts last season. Harris suffered a setback on Monday and will miss the rest of the spring.

CLEMSON

Practice Opens: March 7th

Spring Game: April 14th

Biggest Storyline: How quickly can Brent Venables make an impact? After stifling a decent Virginia Tech offense in the ACC Championship Game, the defense took the night off against West Virginia in the Orange Bowl, allowing 70 points and costing defensive coordinator Kevin Steele his job. Losing Andre Branch and Brandon Thompson off of the defensive line is significant, but rising sophomore linebackers Stephone Anthony and Tony Steward have a ton of upside.

FLORIDA STATE

Practice Opens: March 19th

Spring Game: April 14th

Biggest Storyline: Have the Seminoles found an offensive line? Outside of the offensive front, there’s not much to dislike about Florida State. Unfortunately, there are still major concerns in the trenches. Left tackle Zebrie Sanders, the only steady piece of the line a year ago, departs. All five positions are open competitions heading into the spring, with the four freshmen who started the Champs Sports Bowl doing battle with upperclassmen Jacob Fahrenkrug and Bryan Stork, as well as junior college transfer Daniel Glauser.

MARYLAND

Practice Opens: March 10th

Spring Game: April 21st

Biggest Storyline: Can Randy Edsall win over the locker room? When 24 players with eligibility remaining leave the team in one year, there’s a problem. Couple that with 10 straight losses to FBS opponents, and that’s the unenviable situation Edsall faces as he enters his second spring in College Park. He’ll have two new coordinators to help him after Gary Crowton and Todd Bradford were relieved of their duties. Edsall has a reputation as a disciplinarian, but his abrupt departure from UConn and handling of Danny O’Brien’s scholarship release has left many inside and outside of the program scratching their heads.

N.C. STATE

Practice Opens: March 23rd

Spring Game: April 21st

Biggest Storyline: Can Mustafa Greene return to 2010 form? A foot injury derailed the running back’s 2011 season, and the Wolfpack offense was sent off course until mid-October. James Washington played well at times, but isn’t the talent that Greene is. With leading receiver T.J. Graham and tight end George Bryan moving on, the Wolfpack will need more from their running game next season. Washington will still have a role, but Greene has to be the No.1 guy.

WAKE FOREST

Practice Opens: March 1st

Spring Game: April 14th
Biggest Storyline: How will four offensive line starters be replaced? The quality play of the veteran line allowed the Deacons to remain balanced last year and utilize Tanner Price’s mobility en route to a surprising bowl season. Only center Garrick Williams returns, and how quickly the new pieces develop will determine whether or not Wake Forest takes a step back in 2012. There’s enough talent at the skill positions even with Brandon Pendergrass and Chris Givens gone, but the line has to at least come close to matching the production of the 2011 unit.
 

DUKE

Practice Opens: February 22nd
Spring Game: March 31st
Biggest Storyline: How quickly can the defensive line develop? There were a number of close calls for the Blue Devils in 2011, narrowly missing out on upsets of Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and Georgia Tech. The improved level of competitiveness was due in large part to Jim Knowles' 4-2-5 defense, but the Blue Devils still need to generate more of a pass rush up front. DE Kenny Anunike was granted a medical hardship after a knee injury ended his 2012 season, and he is the most likely of the group to emerge as a star player.
 

GEORGIA TECH

Practice Opens: March 26th

Spring Game: April 20th
Biggest Storyline: Can the Jackets find any semblance of a passing game? At midseason when Georgia Tech stood at 6-0, the Jackets had thrown 10 touchdown passes. At the end of an 8-5 season, Georgia Tech still had thrown 10 touchdown passes. The word “balance” has no place in Paul Johnson’s offense, but there has to at least be a threat of a big play strike. At the moment, the Yellow Jackets have no wide receivers on their roster who have caught a pass. There’s no Stephen Hill or Demaryius Thomas, but someone has to step up if this team expects to contend in the Coastal Division come September.
 

MIAMI (FL)

Practice Opens: March 3rd

Spring Game: April 14th
Biggest Storyline: Is there another Lamar Miller on the roster? The third-year sophomore took his talents out of South Beach and declared for the NFL Draft after rushing for 1,272 yards last season. The best candidate to replace him may be incoming freshman Duke Johnson. Rising senior Mike James had 72 carries a year ago, but is more of a bruiser with limited playmaking potential. Early departures will impact almost every position group for the Hurricanes, but none had the impact of Miller.
 

NORTH CAROLINA

Practice Opens: March 14th

Spring Game: April 14th

Biggest Storyline: Can the Tar Heels find some playmakers on defense? The North Carolina defense has slowly eroded since it was rocked by an academic scandal in the summer of 2010. A defense thought to be the best in the nation two years ago now appears to be the weak link in a team that should score points with quarterback Bryn Renner and running back Gio Bernard thriving in Larry Fedora’s spread offense. Only Sylvester Williams returns up front, and losing both Browns, linebacker Zach and cornerback Charles, severely hurts the back seven.

VIRGINIA

Practice Opens: March 19th

Spring Game: April 14th

Biggest Storyline: What is left defensively? Defensive end Cam Johnson is a second-day NFL Draft pick, and cornerback Chase Minnifield won’t be much behind him. Not only must the Cavaliers replace their stars, but they were severely humbled in back-to-back blowout losses to Virginia Tech and Auburn to end the season. Mike London hauled in a tremendous recruiting class, including three 4-star recruits in the front seven, but none will be on campus until the summer.

VIRGINIA TECH

Practice Opens: March 28th

Spring Game: April 21st

Biggest Storyline: Who will step up at the skill positions? David Wilson may have been the most dynamic player in college football, and Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale were as reliable of a pair of receivers as you can find. All three depart, and now offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring must replace 3,500 yards of production. The Hokies were able to land 4-star running back J.C. Coleman, who is on campus this spring. Rising senior receivers Marcus Davis and D.J. Coles came on late in the season, but will now have to shine with more attention given to them.

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