Assessing the Rivals position rankings

posted by LW, Friday, May 15, 2009

The past few years, it's been assumed by observers both partial and impartial that Clemson has more talent than most other ACC teams.

If Steve Megargee's post-spring position rankings serve as an accurate indicator, that assumption is correct.

I decided to add up how many players from ACC schools ended up on Megargee's list.

Clemson's five representatives -- including C.J. Spiller, who was selected twice as a running back and special-teams player -- came in second to Virginia Tech's 6.

Here's the tally:

Virginia Tech--6
Clemson--5
Miami--3
N.C. State--3
FSU--2
BC--2
WF--2
Maryland--2
GT--2
NC--1
VA--1
Duke--0

A few general observations:

-- Wow, not much ACC representation at WR with Jacoby Ford the only guy (at No. 22). This reflects one of the ACC's biggest deficiencies in recent years; the conference's draft numbers have been really good, but very few of its high draft picks have been receivers ... or running backs, for that matter.

-- The conference is getting a lot better at running back, though, with Jonathan Dwyer (2), Spiller (11), Darren Evans (15) and Da'Rell Scott (16).

-- A ton of good linebackers from the ACC (6), but not many defensive linemen (2).

-- Some good coaches, too (4 in the Top 25). The ACC has really upgraded its coaching with the recent additions of Butch Davis (22) and Paul Johnson (13).

-- Four defensive coordinators among the Top 25 (No. 2 Bud Foster, No. 12 Kevin Steele, No. 15 Mickey Andrews, No. 23 Dave Wommack). Once again, a reflection of a conference that's been dominated by defense in recent years.

Moving right along...

Awful, awful news for Boston College LB Mark Herzlich.

Greg Paulus picked Syracuse, and this guy thinks his addition will help the Orange on the field and at the gate.

Steve Spurrier doesn't needle his foes nearly as much as he used to, and that's a shame. Looks like he's stirring up the Urban Meyer-to-Notre Dame speculation.

Memo to the visored one: Might not be wise partake in this sort of talk about a coach who beat you by 50 last time out.

Dabo Swinney teed it up yesterday at the BMW Charity Pro-Am.

Looks like he made some par-saving putts and even chipped in, but two balls out of bounds on No. 10?

I'll borrow one of Swinney's most oft-repeated practice lines:

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME???"

The ACC's response to the NCAA's flag ban:

Yawn.

This blogger sizes up the ACC's basketball coaches. He puts Oliver Purnell in the "Good Signs Trio" with Seth Greenberg and Leonard Hamilton.

A quick glance at Purnell's record since arriving at Clemson is basically a 45-degree angle of improvement: no postseason, NIT first round, NIT second round, NIT runner-up, NCAA tournament, NCAA tournament. It's taken a little while, but Purnell has Clemson -- speaking of schools that barely care about basketball; Clemson feels more like an SEC school than an ACC one -- molding itself into a nice little program. Next stop: Revising in-game strategy a little bit. Purnell is too often sluggish to adapt to, say, a streaking guard; Purnell will keep the press on even when it's not working. Stuff like that. Good progress, though.

Baseball team got started off on the right foot last night in Raleigh.

Here are updates on the women's tennis team in the Greenville News and Independent-Mail.

In the ACC Sports Journal, a spring review of Maryland. And a 2009 overview of Georgia Tech.

LW

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