Winston-Salem is still mourning the loss of Sam Hartman, who transferred to Notre Dame this past January. The Demon Deacons are losing a potential Heisman candidate, and they are left with an uncertainty at the most important position in football.
Meet the QB: They will turn to Mitch Griffis, a sophomore who appeared in four games last season, and threw a total of 41 passes. The one complete game he played in was the first week last year against VMI, where he put up solid numbers throwing for 288 yards, 3 touchdowns, and completed 21 of his 29 pass attempts. Even with the uncertainty here, Wake Forest has one of, if not the top WR room in the ACC and their ability to get open will only help Griffis’ confidence as the season goes on. Donavon Greene, Jahmal Banks, Ke’Shawn Williams, and Taylor Morin are all legit threats that will have secondaries shaking in their boots all season long. If Griffis can find a connection with these guys in the first month of the season, this will be a very dangerous offense once they start their conference schedule.
What's the Problem?: Of the five games Dave Clawson’s squad lost last year, all five opponents scored over 30 points, giving up an average of 39.8 points per game in those five games. Offense was never the issue for Wake Forest last year, and it won’t be this coming season either. The defense will be led, and carried, by Jasheen Davis and Caelen Carson, but unfortunately the nine other men that will be out there will be Young, Dumb, and Broke(n). Clemson, Pittsburgh, Florida State, NC State, Notre Dame, and Syracuse will all be candidates to put up a 50 piece and the offensive coordinators for these schools have this game circled and labeled as a game to meet their contract incentive numbers.
Prediction: I actually have confidence in Mitch Griffis for this season, and believe that the offense will win this team a handful of games, and be able to keep them in the games where the defense is lacking. However, their last 8 weeks of the season are just about as hard as it gets in the ACC. @ Clemson, @ VT, vs. Pitt, vs. FSU, @ Duke, vs. NC State, @ Notre Dame, and @ Syracuse. They will be lucky to get 3 of those games to go their way. They are a bowl team, but if this defense somehow can become a halfway decent unit, they may find themselves battling for a spot in the ACC Championship game. Let's be realistic though, 7-5.
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