Beamer is not impressed with your one ACC title in 2000s, Jackets, not at all.
The Coastal had a three team race for most of the season, North Carolina and Duke each had runs and faded, and the ‘Hoos had our only unemployed coach this season…
Before the season in the Coastal we had it:
- Virginia Tech Hokies–10-2(6-2 ACC)
- Miami Hurricanes–8-4(5-3 ACC)
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets–9-3(5-3 ACC)
- North Carolina Tar Heels–8-4(4-4 ACC)
- Virginia Cavaliers–4-8(2-6 ACC)
- Duke Blue Devils–5-7(2-6 ACC)
After a season of playing games in the Coastal:
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets–10-2(7-1 ACC)
- Virginia Tech Hokies–9-3(6-2 ACC)
- Miami Hurricanes–9-3(5-3 ACC)
- North Carolina Tar Heels–8-4(4-4 ACC)
- Duke Blue Devils–5-7(3-5 ACC)
- Virginia Cavaliers–3-9(2-6 ACC)
Surprise Team in a Good Way: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets–The Jackets’ offense was crazy good all season and dominated down the stretch outside of one game that occurred before the ACC Championship Game.
Surprise Team in a Bad Way: Virginia Tech Hokies–The two worst teams in the Coastal were the two worst so let’s pick on everybody’s pre-season pick for the ACC. They had an offensive brain-lapse in Atlanta and that determined the course towards the Chick-Fil-A instead of the ACC Championship Game/Orange.
Coastal Player of Year: Georgia Tech QB Josh Nesbitt–Nesbitt commanded one of the best offenses in the FBS division and had so many key runs to clinch wins all season. His development at the QB in Johnson’s system was the difference between just another bowl and their trip to a BCS bowl this season.
Coastal Coach of Year: Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson–11 wins, great offense, and resisting the urge to just stop playing defense like he has with punting all have contributed to the Jackets’ great season.
Coastal Rookie of Year: Virginia Tech RB Ryan Williams–Darren Evans, who? Williams went off this season and made the transition at running back seam-less with the injury to Evans who will return to a great stable of backs next year.
Excerpts from my previews/reviews:
For Virginia Tech: The reason why you can be more confident in this pick as compared to last year’s ACC favorite Clemson—is a coach that has been there before and players that have already won two ACC Championships. These guys have been there before and are still hungry.
Review: Virginia Tech was underwhelming compared to the last few seasons, but they had their bright spots with the emergence of Ryan Williams. Ultimately, anything short of an ACC Championship was going to be a disappointment and that’s not a bad bar to be set for a program. Virginia Tech will be back in contention next season like you would expect.
For Miami: Call me a sucker(and I mostly likely am one), but I see loads of talent and a manageable middle of the schedule that could keep the young ‘Canes in contention but just short of the Coastal title. They have the toughest overall schedule in the ACC, but with sufficient coaching, they could make some noise.
Review: Miami could very well be the favorite for the conference next season if they can get their act together. Miami steadily dropped off after the hot start in September when their offense did not perform down the stretch. Jacory Harris had a steady dose of kryptonite from the Virginia Tech game on which kinda makes you wonder, but he was only a sophomore–still a lot of development to come. The Canes bright spot is at the running back position as they have a great stable of backs.
For Georgia Tech: The Ramblin Wreck will be strong this season with many returning starters and the second year in the system of Paul Johnson. They have a strong schedule which will give them some issues. Their main weak points are on the lines. Tech has to protect Nesbitt, Dwyer, Jones, and co. to get the title in the Coastal and the d-line has to be strong against so many talented skill players in the ACC on their schedule.
Review: Did I say weak? Well, the defensive side had its issues, but Derrick Morgan made up for it at key points. Georgia Tech may not need a scholarship for the punter anymore with how they moved the ball this season and the ACC is left shaking its head in how to stop the offense. But, the defense, yeah, they were bad. The team is a couple more defensive stops-a-game from being elite in the country.
For North Carolina: The Tar Heels return a lot of talent on defense which should be the strength of the team. They have a couple of talented QBs and a solid RB in Shaun Draughn. Yet, beyond those two positions, the offense is lacking. They lost their top WRs who were the offense on a struggling squad last season. Without reliable WRs, this team will not be able to go much farther than .500 in conference and 8 wins.
Review: Yeah, let’s focus on the one team that I pegged the record and issues correctly. North Carolina, I have you figured out. I never understood why they were ranked preseason–they were on fire down the stretch, but the issues came up again in a loss to rival NC State. Like with NC State, you really wonder where UNC is in this division. GT has taken a step forward, so has Miami, and Virginia Tech is the daddy–where does UNC fit in? The Heels are on the outside and that should not be good enough.
For Virginia: The Cavaliers are not overly impressive anywhere really. They have a good RB in Simpson, but they lack quality offensive skill players everywhere else. The wild card is new OC Gregg Brandon who is looking to install a fast-paced offense which could throw off some defenses in the ACC, but does he have the QB to run it? I don’t think so.
Review: Had it mostly right and now the London era has commenced. Groh could not pull it all together even with a new offensive coordinator and now the ‘Hoos try to rebuild the program.
For Duke: The Blue Devils return quite possibly the best QB in the Coastal Division in Thaddeus Lewis. The loss of his partner in crime Riley at WR will be an issue, but Lewis spread the ball around pretty well last season. The schedule really sets up well for the Blue Devils as they have both Techs at home, a couple FCS teams, and Wake Forest at home to finish off the season.
Review: It did setup well for Duke Blue Devils’ football to make to a bowl game until they lost to the Heels and went on to lose every other game to finish the season like a good Duke team does. Lewis had an outstanding season, but a lack of a running plagued the Devils. The defense kept them in some games, but ultimately, it was often Lewis vs. (insert team name) all season.
Parting shots on the Coastal? Georgia Tech going to go back-to-back next season?
