SerpApi.Org
Somebody told me the Big Ten nixed its preseason poll.
What will they do without a baseline of who’s going to win coach of the year? How will Coach So-and-So motivate his team without a media poll they’ll be picked to finish dead last? Can we even have a society without debate of which pollster is the dumbest person covering a conference?!?
The grass really might be greener on that side.
It’s time to go over the ACC preseason poll. It’s due Wednesday afternoon and the results should come out in the next few days, if not next week.
Here’s the ballot filed to the ACC on Tuesday:
Preseason All-ACC team
Offense
QB – Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Cal
RB – Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami
RB – Nate Sheppard, Duke
WR – Malachi Toney, Miami
WR – Duce Robinson, FSU
WR – Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson
TE – Jeremiah Hasley, Duke
ALL-PURPOSE – Que’Sean Brown, VT
OT – PJ Williams, SMU
OT – McKale Boley, UVA
OG – Noah Josey, UVA
OG – Malachi Carney, GT
C – Lance Robinson, Lou.
Defense
DE – Clev Lubin, Lou.
DE – Will Heldt, Clem.
DT – Kemari Copeland, VT
DT – Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami
LB – Kam Robinson, UVA*
LB – Braylan Lovelace, Pitt.
LB – Kyle Efford, GT
S – Zechariah Poyser, Miami
S – Cruce Brookins, Pitt.
CB – Davaughn Patterson, WF
CB – Ashton Hampton, Clem.
* Preseason POY
Special teams
K – Aidan Birr, GT
P – Daniel Sparks, UVA
Specialist – Yamir Knight, SMU
My Take: I don’t want to belabor a point when it comes to these things. But the ACC needs to change a few things about its All-ACC team voting — both for the preseason poll and the end-of-season teams.
– There need to be more positions on defense. We vote for 13 offensive players and that’s fine, it allows more of a spotlight on skill position players. There are only 11 defensive slots. There needs to be a nickel position, at least.
Case in point: Patterson is not a cornerback. Nor has he played safety. He’s been one of the best nickels in the ACC for two seasons. Granted, he’s moving positions this season to safety.
– I was able to select Sagapolutele as my QB … but he wasn’t nominated for preseason player of the year. All due respect to Robinson, Cal’s QB would’ve been my selection there.
It’s beyond my understanding why Cal wouldn’t nominate Sagapolutele for player of the year. It also shouldn’t be up to them — if he’s a candidate as the top QB in the league, he’s a candidate for player of the year.
– The nominees for specialists included kickers, punters and long-snappers.
Do me a favor: Explain how long-snapper stats compare to returners who also play offensive or defensive roles.
Predicted order of finish
1. Miami
2. SMU
3. Louisville
4. California
5. Pittsburgh
6. N.C. State
7. Virginia
8. Duke
9. Clemson
10. Virginia Tech
11. Georgia Tech
12. Wake Forest
13. Florida State
14. Syracuse
15. Stanford
16. UNC
17. Boston College
My Take: Surely, this was difficult when there were divisions.
But I’d take return to that format in a heartbeat.
There’s such an unbalanced nature to a 17-team league. Miami certainly has the best roster. The Hurricanes also don’t play the teams I’ve got finishing second, third or fourth this season. They play the trio of teams I’ve got picked for the bottom three spots, though.
This is the second straight season I’ve attempted to pick the winner of every game. Ideally, it gives me a better understanding of whose schedule swings tougher, whose is easier. For example:
I think Wake Forest could have better talent than last season. But the Deacons also have to play each of my top four — and only the game against Miami is at home.
Virginia Tech is another team that could outperform its ranking here. I love the fit of James Franklin in Blacksburg; I don’t love that they have road games against Miami, Clemson, SMU and Cal.
