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Tech OL One of the Best in the ACC, Relatively Speaking
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com

Would you believe it if I told you that Virginia Tech's offensive line has a chance to be the best in the ACC in 2008? I would not have believed it either, until I researched each team to see what everybody has coming back. Curt Newsome's unit is one of just three teams in the conference to bring back four starters, and if they can avoid injuries and block like they did down the stretch in 2007, they could potentially outplay any other line in the ACC.

Before we take a deeper look at what each team has coming back in the starting lineup, check out the following table for the overall numbers.

Virginia Tech lost Duane Brown to the NFL, but they do return the other four starters. Right guard Sergio Render should be the anchor this year. Most importantly, Tech has two backups with starting experience in Richard Graham and Beau Warren. It's doubtful that the Hokies will be dominant up front this year, but if you'll keep reading, you'll see that most of the rest of the ACC is in much worse shape up front.

North Carolina returns all starting guards and tackles. They are a very experienced unit. To really improve however, they are going to have to get more physical. UNC's running game was virtually non-existent last year. This line should be solid, but I don't see them as the physical, road grading type. Most of UNC's offense will come through the air.

Maryland could end up with the best line in the conference after returning three full-time starters and a part-time starter. However, are we going to be able to tell? The Terps lost their top two backs, as well as top lineman Andrew Crummey. When Crummey went out with an injury last year, the Terp OL looked pretty inept.

Duke returns three starters up front, including both offensive tackles. However, most of the talent up front for the Blue Devils are more along the lines of 1-AA players. They can bring back as many as they want, but they aren't going to be able to consistently block ACC defenses. They need an influx of talent to be competitive.

Boston College returns three starters up front. They did lose the entire left side of their offensive line, including First Round NFL Draft pick Gosder Cherilus. The Eagles were good in pass protection last year, but they weren't exactly a dominant drive blocking team. They are a much more finesse team than they used to be. This line should be solid, but if they didn't dominate with Cherilus, they aren't going to dominante without him.

Georgia Tech returns three solid starters up front, but they are going to be playing in a whole new system of football. Will they be able to make the transition? Probably not well enough to be the best line in the ACC.

Wake Forest returns three starters up front. They did lose the ACC's best center in Steve Justice. The Demon Deacons should be one of the top three or four lines in the ACC, but how much of that is due to their system and how much is due to talent? Wake has trouble blocking teams with a lot of talent up front like Virginia Tech and Clemson, which leads me to believe that a lot of their success up front comes from their system. Tailback Josh Adams will also help this line look better than they are.

Clemson returns two starters up front, but just one of them is a full-time starter. The Tigers have had a lot of offensive line turnover over the last couple of years. They've lost three or four starting linemen in each of the last two offseasons, the number varying depending on if you count part-time starters as well. Their new line did not impress this past spring. Clemson is the preseason pick to win the ACC, but their offensive line will be their weak spot.

Florida State's offensive line has been in worse shape than Virginia Tech's recently. I'm not sure how much better it can get in 2008. FSU lost three seniors, and projected starting tackle Daron Rose is ineligible this year due to academics. Rodney Hudson and Ryan McMahon are very good sophomores, but you need more than two linemen, and it doesn't look like the 'Noles have enough. They'll be especially thin if there are any injuries.

Miami is in the same boat as FSU. Their offensive line was pretty bad to begin with, but they also lost both starting guards and their starting center. They do return left tackle Jason Fox, the best lineman on the team, but the Hurricanes are still in rebuild mode up front. It doesn't look like they have the talent to reload.

Virginia also lost their starting center and both guards. Left guard Branden Albert left after his junior year, and he was a first round pick. Left tackle Eugene Monroe will have to anchor the line, but the loss of Albert is an absolutely huge loss for the Hoos. He brought a physical nature that you don't see often up front for UVA.

NC State returns just two starters, and neither player started every single game last year. Still, all Tom O'Brien teams are well-coached, and the Wolfpack will probably get the best out of this unit.

I'm not saying that Virginia Tech will have the best offensive line in the ACC. However, do you see anyone else in the conference that will without a doubt put a better offensive line on the field this year than the Hokies? I don't. I don't see that many teams in the league with what I'd call an above average offensive line. I think Tech has a chance to be the best by default.

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