I have Maryland at #9 because I think they are better than their showing from last year, injuries killed them. They will have some good players on defense if they can stay relatively healthy and their new OC and DC; Mike Locksley and Brian Stewart have a history of turning things around quickly. From a talent standpoint, they should have more than BC, Duke and Wake.
Mike London and staff are in their 3rd year and they just recently got an upgade at QB. Their offense has alot of good players though the defense is a bit of an unknown. I give them the edge over Miami and UNC.
Question for those putting VT and FSU above Clemson. And keep in mind I’m a Clemson homer but….I was just curious about your thought process. Head to head do you really see Clemson regressing that much from last year? Our Oline is the big question for people I’m sure, but we still have all of the skill players on offense and our defense is going to be better this year (Couldn’t get much worse last year….and we beat both of those teams with the bad defense, VT twice). I personally can’t see it. I could understand being behind MAYBE FSU, they are loaded and could do some damage, but VT?
Not calling your rankings wrong or anything, just curious why you think that.
Question for those putting VT and FSU above Clemson. And keep in mind I’m a Clemson homer but….I was just curious about your thought process. Head to head do you really see Clemson regressing that much from last year? Our Oline is the big question for people I’m sure, but we still have all of the skill players on offense and our defense is going to be better this year (Couldn’t get much worse last year….and we beat both of those teams with the bad defense, VT twice). I personally can’t see it. I could understand being behind MAYBE FSU, they are loaded and could do some damage, but VT?
Not calling your rankings wrong or anything, just curious why you think that.
As a Clemson fan you of all people should know how important an oline is to any offense, regardless of how good the skilled position players are. Going into the ‘08 season, Clemson had all the skilled position players in the world and only returned 2 on their offensive line. Didn’t turn out that well and they had a better defense that year. This year, Clemson only returns one starter on their oline. On the defensive side, they have a new defensive coordinator and only return 1 starter on their dline. You win and lose games in the trenches. That’s my thought process.
Question for those putting VT and FSU above Clemson. And keep in mind I’m a Clemson homer but….I was just curious about your thought process. Head to head do you really see Clemson regressing that much from last year? Our Oline is the big question for people I’m sure, but we still have all of the skill players on offense and our defense is going to be better this year (Couldn’t get much worse last year….and we beat both of those teams with the bad defense, VT twice). I personally can’t see it. I could understand being behind MAYBE FSU, they are loaded and could do some damage, but VT?
Not calling your rankings wrong or anything, just curious why you think that.
As a Clemson fan you of all people should know how important an oline is to any offense, regardless of how good the skilled position players are. Going into the ‘08 season, Clemson had all the skilled position players in the world and only returned 2 on their offensive line. Didn’t turn out that well and they had a better defense that year. This year, Clemson only returns one starter on their oline. On the defensive side, they have a new defensive coordinator and only return 1 starter on their dline. You win and lose games in the trenches. That’s my thought process.
A statistical oddity that supports your argument: This goes back further, but in the last 20 years Clemson’s record in odd number years is 92-46-1 (no losing seasons), in even number years the record is 64-57 (4 losing seasons, only one 9-win season).
That said, I don’t think this line will be as bad as ‘08. If you’re only returning one starter it’s good that it’s your center. Brandon Thomas played a lot last year and was pretty good, but now moves out to LT. And Shatley has seen a ton of action in the trenches, albeit as a DT, but is the strongest guy on the team and they say it’s like he’s been a starter there at OG.
Morris’ system should mitigate some of the issues unless we get in 3rd and looong situations. Boyd being a little more mobile than Cullen Harper helps too.
Question for those putting VT and FSU above Clemson. And keep in mind I’m a Clemson homer but….I was just curious about your thought process. Head to head do you really see Clemson regressing that much from last year? Our Oline is the big question for people I’m sure, but we still have all of the skill players on offense and our defense is going to be better this year (Couldn’t get much worse last year….and we beat both of those teams with the bad defense, VT twice). I personally can’t see it. I could understand being behind MAYBE FSU, they are loaded and could do some damage, but VT?
Not calling your rankings wrong or anything, just curious why you think that.
As a Clemson fan you of all people should know how important an oline is to any offense, regardless of how good the skilled position players are. Going into the ‘08 season, Clemson had all the skilled position players in the world and only returned 2 on their offensive line. Didn’t turn out that well and they had a better defense that year. This year, Clemson only returns one starter on their oline. On the defensive side, they have a new defensive coordinator and only return 1 starter on their dline. You win and lose games in the trenches. That’s my thought process.
A statistical oddity that supports your argument: This goes back further, but in the last 20 years Clemson’s record in odd number years is 92-46-1 (no losing seasons), in even number years the record is 64-57 (4 losing seasons, only one 9-win season).
That said, I don’t think this line will be as bad as ‘08. If you’re only returning one starter it’s good that it’s your center. Brandon Thomas played a lot last year and was pretty good, but now moves out to LT. And Shatley has seen a ton of action in the trenches, albeit as a DT, but is the strongest guy on the team and they say it’s like he’s been a starter there at OG.
Morris’ system should mitigate some of the issues unless we get in 3rd and looong situations. Boyd being a little more mobile than Cullen Harper helps too.
Didn’t know of that stat. The one game that Thomas started at LT last season, he didn’t look too hot (NCSU).
Clemson has alot of questions on D, but I think they will be instantly better. Yeah the O-line will also be a huge unknown. I still think FSU hd the best team in the ACC last season if not for injuries and some crap officiating.
Agreed Slappy, I don’t think it will be as bad as 08 either. And with this offense you are not sitting in the pocket forever, its quick, its up tempo, you want to move the ball as fast as possible. We don’t need to hold the pocket for hours. The only downfall would be the run game or goal line where we needed to push the Dline back. Its arguable that we have much better coaches now then 08 too.
08 - Billy Napier (OC), Brad Scott (Oline)
12 - Chad Morris (OC), Robbie Caldwell (Oline)
Maybe the season will prove me wrong but, I’m really not worried about our line this year.
It is 2012 power rankings, not based on last year. I think I will go with every poll in the land including Vegas and say FSU will be the cream of the crop in the ACC this year.
How do you rank players from last year, many who will not be around this year? Of course most of last year’s players at FSU will still be around. Also I don’t think you can factor in Manuel and Greene being automatically injured this year.
