Continuing our Keys to the ACC Championship feature, we’ll take a look at three teams that should be pretty good, but lack either talent or experience at some key positions that will likely keep them from competing for the ACC Championship. But after Virginia Tech’s 2004 season, you never really know. We’ll start with the only ACC team to beat the Hokies last year, N.C. State, and cover Boston College and Virginia as well.

N.C. State could be a real sleeper this year in the ACC. I say this for two reasons. Number one, they were (-17) in turnover margin in 2004, which effectively eliminated them from every close game they played (VT excepted). Also, they have one of the top defenses in the nation.

If Jay Davis improves and the defense remains strong, an easy out-of-conference schedule (at Temple, Eastern Kentucky, Southern Miss) will put the Wolfpack back in a bowl game. If they can manage to upset Virginia Tech on opening weekend, N.C. State should not play another challenging game until they play at Georgia Tech on Thursday, October 6.

The obvious strength of this team is the outstanding defensive line. This group has been together for quite awhile. They are a veteran group, starting three juniors and a senior. Manny Lawson and Mario Williams man the defensive end positions, and there is no better end combination anywhere in America. This is a group that abused the Tech offensive front in Blacksburg last season, and they will be looking to do the same in Raleigh this year.

Based on last season’s results, quarterback is the obvious choice here. Jay Davis had big shoes to fill with the departure of Philip Rivers, and fill them Davis did not, throwing 15 interceptions to only 12 touchdowns. However, Davis had a solid completion percentage (55.9%) and threw for over 2,000 yards. Marcus Stone was a freshman backup that many Wolfpack fans wanted as their starter, but the offense appeared very limited when he was in the game.

The secondary was another choice for team weakness, as they don’t return any fulltime starters. Marcus Hudson started five games at free safety last season and will move to corner in 2005. This unit might take its lumps early on and get beat for some big plays. They will be on an island because of State’s aggressive front seven and will give up some yards early in the season, but as the season drags on, this unit has the talent to be very good.

How will the Wolfpack adapt to their new offensive and defensive coordinators? Defensive coordinator Reggie Herring and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone departed the program in the offseason, and it could take some time to adjust to new plays and altered schemes of Mark Trestman (offense, from the Miami Dolphins) and Steve Dunlap (defense, from Syracuse). Trestman brings a wealth of NFL experience to the table and will install the West Coast offense for the Wolfpack. How quickly Jay Davis and the offensive line adjust to this new type of offense will decide how successful N.C. State is in 2005.

Boston College will bring some good, hard-nose football to the ACC. They lost only 15 lettermen from their 2004 team, a group that won the Continental Tire Bowl. They are a very well-coached team under Tom O’Brien, and they are the only team in the nation to have won five consecutive bowl games.

That being said, BC was never anything more than an upper middle-of-the-pack team in the Big East. They lacked the overall team speed to compete with Miami and Virginia Tech, and the depth to win on a consistent basis. Their talent level has improved somewhat, but an even tougher schedule won’t mean more wins.

BC’s strength in 2005 should be the offensive line. The Eagles return all five starters from a group that was already very solid. The five returning linemen for the Eagles have started a total of 87 games for Boston College. This group could turn out to be the best line in the ACC.

Team speed is still the biggest weakness for Boston College, although they have gotten better in that regard. They do have some big time players on their team, such as defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka, CB/WR Will Blackmon, and rising star linebacker Brian Toal, but they lack the overall team speed that programs such as Miami, Virginia Tech and Florida State have in their programs.

Boston College needs to hold serve at home to begin the 2005 season. Five of the Eagles’ first seven games are at home, including contests against Florida State, Virginia and Wake Forest. Wake has beaten BC two consecutive seasons. The Eagles finish the season playing three of their last four on the road, at VT, UNC and Maryland. They also get N.C. State at home in that stretch. Boston College needs to win early to make their seventh consecutive bowl appearance.

Virginia (12 returning starters)

Virginia has very good talent at certain positions, but the talent base isn’t effectively spread throughout the team to warrant picking them higher than fourth in the ACC and third in the Coastal Division. Al Groh has recruited talented linebackers and offensive linemen, but hasn’t been able to bring in enough receivers, defensive backs or talented quarterbacks.

The Hoos get Florida State and Virginia Tech at home, but must travel to Maryland, Miami and Boston College.

The offensive backfield is UVA’s strength in 2005. Most would say the linebacking corps, and they should be good as well. But as of yet, Ahmad Brooks the football player hasn’t caught up to Ahmad Brooks the athlete, plus there will be two new starters at outside linebacker, so I’m going with the offensive backfield.

UVA returns Wali Lundy, who is very talented, despite being benched in favor of Alvin Pearman last season. Pearman is NFL bound, and Lundy has his starting job back and must protect the football better. That said, Lundy is a very good back who has good depth behind him. Michael Johnson is a burner, and Cedric Peerman was impressive while redshirting last season. Jason Snelling is one of the top fullbacks in the ACC if he can return to his 2002 form.

Youth in the front seven could potentially be a major problem for defensive coordinator Al Golden in 2005. UVA will likely start four sophomores in their front seven. Chris Johnson or Chris Long will start at defensive end, Keenan Carter at defensive tackle, and it looks like Jermaine Dias and Vince Redd will start at outside linebacker. These guys will have some young backups as well. Another sophomore, Nate Lyles, will likely start at one of the safety spots, meaning five sophomores will be starting defenders for Al Groh.