GREENSBORO, N.C. — No offense to the ACC, but there's a reason that the conference hasn't played a role in the national championship picture recently.
That reason? No offense.
 JOHNNY CRAWFORD/Cox Newspapers Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer is pushed out of bounds by Georgia's Rashad Jones in the second quarter on Saturday, 11/29/08, in Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. For a larger, high resolution image, click HERE |
Since the University of Miami joined the league in 2004, seven ACC teams have finished among the nation's Top 50 in total offense. Last season, Georgia Tech was the conference's most productive unit, averaging 372.46 yards per game. That ranked 50th among 119 FBS teams.
It's hard to win big games if you can't move the ball. ACC teams have found that out the hard way. The conference lost eight consecutive BCS games until Virginia Tech snapped the streak by defeating Cincinnati in the FedEx Orange Bowl on Jan. 1.
But there are signs that trend could be changing thanks to the ACC's talent at running back. Eight of the top 10 rushers from 2008 return, and that doesn't include Clemson's C.J. Spiller, whose Heisman Trophy-campaign includes a life-sized poster of the Tigers' multi-talented senior."I like it," said Spiller, who needs 921 yards to become the ACC leader in all-purpose yards. "It gives our school exposure."
Other ACC running backs could do the same for their universities.
Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer, the ACC's Player of the Year, returns after leading the conference in rushing (107.3 yards per game) for the Yellow Jackets' triple-option attack. He could be more productive in his second season under coach Paul Johnson's system and make his own case for Heisman attention.
Also back are Maryland junior Da'Rel Scott (94.4 ypg) and Virginia Tech sophomore Darren Evans (90.4 ypg), the ACC's second- and third-leading rushers.
Then there is Miami's combination of Graig Cooper and Javarris James with more than 3,000 career rushing yards and Boston College's Montrel Harris, who gained 900 yards last year as a freshman.
"They get overlooked because we're a league that hasn't had a team who has been a consistent top-5 or top-10, but we're a league of great running backs," Wake Forest defensive tackle John Russell said. "They're scary good."
It's been a while since the ACC has been as collectively strong at one of the offensive skill positions. Since 2004, the conference has produced 29 NFL first-round draft choices, but only four of those have played quarterback, receiver or running back.
The quarterback position also figures to be improved this season because most of the ACC's 12 teams return an incumbent. The conference's best quarterbacks — North Carolina State's Russell Wilson, Wake Forest's Riley Skinner and Duke's Thaddeus Lewis — are known as much for their feet as their arms. That should make game-planning much easier for defensive coordinators this season.
"The focal point for all defenses in this league will be the same — stop the run," Lewis said.
This season, that may not be so easy.
Jorge Milian writes for The Palm Beach Post. E-mail: jorge(underscore)milian(at)pbpost.com.
