Let's talk ...
Billy in Arlington, VA writes: Heather - I think you might need to take a step back and rethink your coaches rankings in the ACC. While I can understand putting Clemson at the #1 spot on Offense, you can't realisticially sit back and say thay have the best coaching staff in the ACC. Jump off the bandwagon. Yes, Clemson had a great year, and won the ACC but don't forget Dabo was on the hot seat before the year started. He's had one great year in his career, one pretty good year, and a losing season(one year ago). When's the last time Beamer had a losing season in the ACC? Continuity and consistency is what makes a great staff...not one great season. Maybe time to rethink your choices there...
HD: I understand your point, Billy, really I do, but that post was sort of like a dream team scenario for 2012. If you had to pick the best of each, which would you choose? Ideally, I might choose Frank Beamer, Bud Foster and Chad Morris. Or Beamer, Mark Stoops and Morris. That would be fun.
Ryan in Ann Arbor, Michigan writes: in your article early picks, you didnt mention jimbo fishers staff, you already said they had the best defense and special teams, so im sure coaching had something to do with that. Also trickett is known as one of the best OL coaches in the country we both know this. pretty sure FSU has the better recruiting class coming in as well. All of fsu struggles are due too injuries not coaching! So why dont you mention them? Have good day....
HD: Again, because we're going with the total package, and offensively, I don't think FSU was at the top of its game last year. Most FSU fans would probably concede the same (so would Florida). No, I don't think that means Jimbo Fisher is a bad offensive coordinator or got worse last year -- you're right, injuries had a lot to do with it, especially up front -- I just think that overall, Chad Morris had and will continue to have more success in 2012, and Venables is the missing piece.
Doug in Raleigh, N.C. writes: Heather,I just read your 9AM post and it looks like the answer to the question I asked in your chat this week. Just wondering if you saved my question, or if you already had this topic planned. Either way, thanks - good read!Take care,Doug
HD: Yes, you were the inspiration for that post, Doug, thanks for the idea. It's the offseason. I count on you guys, the readers, for help with the posts. I didn't answer Doug's question during the chat because I wanted to think about it a little more, but it's not unusual for me to build a post around one of your questions or suggestions, so keep 'em coming, guys. Thanks, Doug!
Peterson in Los Angeles writes: HeatherHow can you give Clemson an A, when in at least 3 games they got their clocks cleaned. They looked simply pathetic against West Virginia. Giving an A to Clemson when it failed F in a big BCS game shows extreme lack of judgement.
HD: If I were grading only the bowl games then yes, Clemson would have gotten an F-. But when you're considering the entire body of work, it certainly wasn't a bad season for a team that wasn't even ranked to begin the preseason. Don't forget that Clemson had a first-year starting quarterback, a new offensive coordinator, and a lot of youth on defense. They won the ACC title for the first time since 1991. The bowl game doesn't detract from that. At least it shouldn't.
Nick in Charlotte, N.C, writes: Do you think the Tar Heels will stand a chance at getting to a bowl game, let alone the ACC Championship game in 2012?
HD: I absolutely think UNC fans should expect a bowl game. The Tar Heels will have a good quarterback in Bryn Renner, one of the nation's top rushers in Giovani Bernard, and plenty of remaining talent for Larry Fedora to work with in his first season. The only thing that should be an excuse for UNC not making it to the postseason is the NCAA. As for the Coastal Division race? I think it's anybody's game.
Billy in Arlington, VA writes: Heather - I think you might need to take a step back and rethink your coaches rankings in the ACC. While I can understand putting Clemson at the #1 spot on Offense, you can't realisticially sit back and say thay have the best coaching staff in the ACC. Jump off the bandwagon. Yes, Clemson had a great year, and won the ACC but don't forget Dabo was on the hot seat before the year started. He's had one great year in his career, one pretty good year, and a losing season(one year ago). When's the last time Beamer had a losing season in the ACC? Continuity and consistency is what makes a great staff...not one great season. Maybe time to rethink your choices there...
HD: I understand your point, Billy, really I do, but that post was sort of like a dream team scenario for 2012. If you had to pick the best of each, which would you choose? Ideally, I might choose Frank Beamer, Bud Foster and Chad Morris. Or Beamer, Mark Stoops and Morris. That would be fun.
Ryan in Ann Arbor, Michigan writes: in your article early picks, you didnt mention jimbo fishers staff, you already said they had the best defense and special teams, so im sure coaching had something to do with that. Also trickett is known as one of the best OL coaches in the country we both know this. pretty sure FSU has the better recruiting class coming in as well. All of fsu struggles are due too injuries not coaching! So why dont you mention them? Have good day....
HD: Again, because we're going with the total package, and offensively, I don't think FSU was at the top of its game last year. Most FSU fans would probably concede the same (so would Florida). No, I don't think that means Jimbo Fisher is a bad offensive coordinator or got worse last year -- you're right, injuries had a lot to do with it, especially up front -- I just think that overall, Chad Morris had and will continue to have more success in 2012, and Venables is the missing piece.
Doug in Raleigh, N.C. writes: Heather,I just read your 9AM post and it looks like the answer to the question I asked in your chat this week. Just wondering if you saved my question, or if you already had this topic planned. Either way, thanks - good read!Take care,Doug
HD: Yes, you were the inspiration for that post, Doug, thanks for the idea. It's the offseason. I count on you guys, the readers, for help with the posts. I didn't answer Doug's question during the chat because I wanted to think about it a little more, but it's not unusual for me to build a post around one of your questions or suggestions, so keep 'em coming, guys. Thanks, Doug!
Peterson in Los Angeles writes: HeatherHow can you give Clemson an A, when in at least 3 games they got their clocks cleaned. They looked simply pathetic against West Virginia. Giving an A to Clemson when it failed F in a big BCS game shows extreme lack of judgement.
HD: If I were grading only the bowl games then yes, Clemson would have gotten an F-. But when you're considering the entire body of work, it certainly wasn't a bad season for a team that wasn't even ranked to begin the preseason. Don't forget that Clemson had a first-year starting quarterback, a new offensive coordinator, and a lot of youth on defense. They won the ACC title for the first time since 1991. The bowl game doesn't detract from that. At least it shouldn't.
Nick in Charlotte, N.C, writes: Do you think the Tar Heels will stand a chance at getting to a bowl game, let alone the ACC Championship game in 2012?
HD: I absolutely think UNC fans should expect a bowl game. The Tar Heels will have a good quarterback in Bryn Renner, one of the nation's top rushers in Giovani Bernard, and plenty of remaining talent for Larry Fedora to work with in his first season. The only thing that should be an excuse for UNC not making it to the postseason is the NCAA. As for the Coastal Division race? I think it's anybody's game.
Heather Dinich | email
College Football- ESPN.com ACC blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2007
- Wrote for The Baltimore Sun
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Heather Dinich
Dinich covered ACC and Big Ten football for five seasons before joining ESPN.com in November 2007. She's an Indiana grad but somehow her favorite day of the week is Saturday.
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