ACC defenses take the lead again (yawn)
September 24, 2009 3:30 PM
Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich
The ACC has earned a reputation -– and deservedly so –- for being a defensive conference. Heading into the fourth Saturday of the season, it looks like that trend will continue, despite the return of nine starting quarterbacks and numerous starting running backs throughout the league.
Four teams -– No. 2 NC State, No. 4 Boston College, No. 6 North Carolina and No. 19 Clemson –- are ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation this week in total defense. As we get deeper into conference play, this could obviously change, considering that among the four schools, only two ACC games have been played, and that includes the game between Clemson and BC.
While the elite defenses are great for the conference’s image, it’s also a rather ho-hum start, considering nine starting quarterbacks returned from last year, and for the first time, the ACC expected three returning 1,000-yard rushers. Well, that changed once
Darren Evans was lost for the season at Virginia Tech, but
Jonathan Dwyer and Maryland’s Da’Rel Scott were expected to highlight a conference loaded with running backs and veteran offensive lines. Instead, Dwyer and Clemson’s
C.J. Spiller have barely made it through four quarters this season without getting dinged up, slowed down or resting against a lesser opponent.
It’s no wonder there’s such a buzz about Miami. The Canes have an offense. They have a quarterback. They have a coordinator. And the entire conference has been starving for that. If Miami keeps this up –- and does it against these stingy ACC defenses -– the Canes will prove why those three ingredients are keys in making any sort of a run at the national title.
A top 10 defense is one thing. A top 10 team is another.
