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Projecting 2008 ACC Quarterback Play 
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com

Part of the reason the ACC has struggled on the gridiron the last couple of years is there aren't many good offenses in the conference. Part of the reason there aren't many good offenses is there aren't many good quarterbacks. The ACC has been scraping the bottom of the barrel for quarterback play, and although things got better in 2007, there is still plenty of room to improve.

UVA's loss of Jameel Sewell to academics yesterday inspired this TSLMail. How will the Hoos do without their rising r-junior quarterback? Will true sophomore Peter Lalich be ready? If he's not, the Hoos could slip back down in the standings due to quarterback play. More on that later.

Let's take a look at each ACC team and see what their quarterback situation looks like heading into 2008. After each team, we'll indicate whether we think their quarterback play will be up or down this coming season.

Boston College obviously lost the heart and soul of their team, All-American quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan was the premier player in the ACC this year, and he is simply not replaceable after throwing for 4,507 yards with 31 touchdowns. He had four 400+ yard passing games. BC's quarterback in 2008 looks to be Chris Crane, a r-senior who has never played significant snaps.
BC's 2008 QB Play: Down

Clemson returns the talented and efficient Cullen Harper at quarterback. He will be a r-senior in his second year as the starter. All Harper did in 2007 was throw for 2,991 yards, with 27 touchdowns and just six interceptions. That's an amazing touchdown-to-interception ration. However, it's a little questionable whether or not Harper can improve on those numbers in 2008. RB James Davis and WR Aaron Kelly are off to the NFL, and the Tigers lose four starters on the offensive line.
Clemson's 2008 QB Play: No Change

Duke quarterback Thad Lewis put up some impressive numbers in 2007, throwing for 2,430 yards, with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He completed 55.3% of his passes. Imagine what he would have done if he had some good players around him. Duke's wide receivers were solid, but the offensive line is bad and there is no threat of a running game. Lewis, who will be a true junior in 2008, will have to learn new coach David Cutcliffe's system. Cutcliffe is a genius with quarterbacks. Lewis might slip a little this year as he gets used to a new offense, but he should be ready to roll as a senior in 2009.
Duke's 2008 QB Play: Slightly Down

Xavier Lee recently left Florida State after he was asked to move to tight end, so at least Drew Weatherford doesn't have to look over his shoulder anymore. Weatherford doesn't get as much credit as he deserves. He threw for over 2,000 yards this year, with nine touchdowns and just three interceptions. The offense bogged down at times, but that was mainly because of offensive line struggles. With what should be a better offensive line in front of him next year, Weatherford should be poised to have a very good senior season. He has a chance to take the Seminoles back to the top of the Atlantic Division.
FSU's 2008 QB Play: Up

Taylor Bennett likely played in his last football for Georgia Tech in the Humanitarian Bowl. Bennett is not a fit to run new coach Paul Johnson's option attack. Rising true sophomore Josh Nesbitt ran for 339 yards in 2007, but he wasn't asked to throw the ball much. Nesbitt was just 5-of-13 for 93 yards, with one touchdown and two interception. He is the likely starter next year. Even though GT won't have the same starter, quarterback play won't get any worse. Bennett threw nine interceptions and just seven touchdowns on the season, completing less than 50% of his passes.
GT's 2008 QB Play: Up

The Maryland Terrapins began the season with Jordan Steffy at quarterback, and ended it with Chris Turner lining up under center. Turner wasn't spectacular, but he was better than Steffy. He threw seven touchdowns and seven interceptions, but he had a very good 63.5% completion percentage, and threw for just under 2,000 yards despite starting just eight games. Turner began the season as the third string quarterback, but the rising junior should have the job locked down heading into next season.
Maryland's 2008 QB Play: Up

Miami lost senior quarterback Kyle Wright to graduation, and junior quarterback Kirby Freeman elected to not return for his senior season. That means Miami will have a quarterback who has never taken a college snap for the 2008 season. The likely starter is r-freshman Robert Marve. Marve was a 4-star recruit in the class of 2007 who redshirted last season. Even with a new starter, it's hard to imagine Miami's quarterback production getting worse. Wright and Freeman combined for 15 touchdowns and a whopping 20 interceptions. An average year from Marve would be an improvement.
Miami's 2008 QB Play: Up

North Carolina had a very young but very talented football team in 2007. The quarterback position was no exception. T.J. Yates had a good year as a r-freshman, completing 59.7% of his passes for 2,655 yards and 14 touchdowns. He threw 18 interceptions, but that number will improve with time. Yates also has the benefit of having a very good group of wide receivers, led by Hakeem Nicks. Nicks is probably the best wide receiver in the ACC. The passing game for the Tar Heels will continue to get better.
UNC's 2008 QB Play: Up

NC State used two quarterbacks in 2007, and the result was a lot of turnovers. Daniel Evans and Harrison Beck combined for 14 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. Beck alone threw just two touchdowns and nine interceptions. Both should be better with another year under Tom O'Brien, but what's their ceiling? Whatever it is, it can't be worse than 14 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.
NC State's 2008 QB Play: Up

Virginia starting quarterback Jameel Sewell is not enrolled in classes this semester, and sources indicate that he will not be back for the 2008 season due to academic issues. Sewell threw for 2,176 yards, with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions as a sophomore. He was poised to have a very good year in 2008, which would have been his third year as a starter. Now it appears true sophomore Peter Lalich will be the starter. Lalich played sparingly as a true freshman, but wasn't quite ready. He'll probably do okay in 2008, but the loss of Sewell is tough, and now there is absolutely no depth behind Lalich. If he's injured, UVA will be in trouble.
UVA's 2008 QB Play: Down

Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor combined to throw for over 2,700 yards in 2007, with 17 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. Taylor also added 429 yards on the ground. Both quarterbacks played exceptionally well down the stretch, leading the Hokies to their second ACC Championship in their first four years in the league. The only question is whether we will see a two-quarterback system again, or will we see Frank Beamer pick a starter and go with him all season? Either way, Virginia Tech is going to have good quarterback play in 2008. The one thing that will hold Tech's quarterback play back is the loss of four senior wide receivers. Because of that, I can't see them being any more productive than last year.
VT's 2008 QB Play: No Change

Wake Forest's Riley Skinner is a very efficient quarterback, completing 72% of his passes for 2,204 yards. He did throw 13 interceptions compared to just 12 touchdowns, but he was only a sophomore. He'll get better in that regard. There's not much else you can say about Skinner. He's got a great shot to lead the Demon Deacons to their third straight bowl game.
Wake's 2008 QB Play: Up