 #17 Virginia Tech Hokies Preview Virginia Tech has become a staple in the preseason rankings often beginning the year in the top 10 or the top 20. And the Hokies usually live up the rankings. Last season, their only losses came against ranked opponents. D J Boyer looks at the 2008 team and breaks down what we can expect from the Hokies this season. #17 Virginia Tech Hokies
Head Coach – Frank Beamer
2007 Record – 11-3 2007 Review
The entire nation seemed to be Hokie fans early in the season after the tragedy that happened at Virginia Tech. Tech was able to win the ACC but like Wake Forest the season before they came up short in the Orange Bowl losing to Kansas 24-21. Virginia Tech has become a staple in the preseason rankings often beginning the year in the top 10 or the top 20. The three games dropped by Virginia Tech last season were against Kansas, Boston College and National Champion LSU, all ranked teams.
Team MVP
Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor are the MVP’s to me because both should see time at quarterback. Glennon began the year very slowly and Taylor was brought in to give the offense another look, a more athletic playmaking look, one that was common when the Vicks were quarterbacks at Virginia Tech. Glennon came on at the end of the year and had some big performances, especially in the ACC Championship game against Boston College. Now with senior tailback Brandon Ore gone there are some questions in the backfield and this is why the quarterback play will be more important than ever.
Offense
Quarterback
One has to wonder if the Hokies are going to try and employ a two quarterback system or simply go with the quarterback who they feel is better suited to play against the particular defense they are facing that day. We talked about both of the quarterbacks being the MVP for this team and the contrasting styles they employ. Sean Glennon is the pure passer who has the ability to manage a game while Tyrod Taylor is the athletic runner who always seems to find a way to have his team win and makes good decisions. Taylor is nowhere near the thrower Glennon is and his throwing is substandard even for a running quarterback. Glennon has showed period where he plays inconsistently and tries to do too much. Both have a number of good qualities and things they need to improve on. Look for Glennon to start the year but we will see Taylor on the field, question is how much and could he eventually unseat Glennon in the starting roll. Running Back
The team finally had enough of the underachieving Brandon Ore and his bad practice habits and he was released from scholarship. Jahre Cheeseman looks like the player that is going to get the bulk of the carries but Virginia Tech could have as many as four backs getting significant playing time. The deoth is there but Tech usually likes to have one running back that is “their guy”….do they have that with this group? I think Frank Beamer is going to let Cheeseman and youngsters Doug Evans and Josh Oglesby battle it out to see if he can find the one guy to carry the load. Kenny Jefferson is the fullback as Tech has a number of formations where a true fullback is needed. Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
We see four receivers gone from last years team and the leader Eddie Royal is one of them. Zach Luckett and Ike Whitaker are now the new starters and both have a ton of potential and at 6-3 and 6-2 are huge targets. Also look for freshman Patrick Terry to establish himself as a third receiver or a deep threat. While this group is getting their feet wet the tight ends will see a lot of action. Sam Wheeler and Greg Boone are not the most athletic tight ends but are both sure handed and great red zone targets. Offensive Line
Even with the loss of first rounder Duane Brown this should be the strong suit of this team. Ed Wang and Sergio Render look like potential All-ACC picks at tackle and guard and Blake DeChristopher will step into replace Brown and was highly touted. At 297 pounds DeChristopher is the only member of the starting line that doesn’t exceed 300 and that could change by the middle of the season. Incoming freshman Will Alvarez is a monster at guard and could unseat Nick Marshaman at some point for a starting job or he will at least get a lot of playing time. Center Beau Warren and tackle Will Allen are waiting in the wings and by next season they will be names that everyone who follows football in the ACC will know. Virginia Tech looks to have the deepest line in the conference.
Defense Defensive Line
The defensive line looks like they are about a year away from being one of the most dominant lines at the NCAA level. Orien Harris is the top returning sack artist with 6.5 and he will be the leader along the line. While Virginia Tech has been known for their defensive ends going back to the days of Bruce Smith it looks like the defensive tackles may be the strongest area as tech has three underclassmen they will be rotating around the line that are all very strong. John Graves, Cordarrow Thompson and Daryl Robertson will be rotating in and combined they have a good mix of run defense and pass rush between them. Linebackers
Losing Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi may not have the type of detrimental impact many would be expecting as both are now playing at the NFL level. With Purnell Sturdivant has made great strides and Cam Martin looks like the next star in waiting with his versatility and ability to line up almost anywhere along the line. Barquell Rivers was a nice recruiting land for Virginia Tech and he is a player that they could be getting into games more and more and could have a big impact week in and week out by the end of the year. Brett Warren is the steady leader that should keep the linebackers together and make them a force. Secondary
Brandon Flowers was lost to the NFL and he may not have been the best junior cornerback the Hokies had. With Victor Harris the Hokies have a legitimate All American candidate who can team with safety Kam Chancellor and form on e of the best secondaries around. With Rashad Carmichael and Cris Hill there is more than enough firepower in the secondary. Chancellor plays the pass well for a guy built more like an extra linebacker. Virginia Tech seems to have its share of players who are young and ready to step up, the team is just waiting for which players are going to do it. Special Teams
Jud Dunlevy is lost at kicker and the team has a number of candidates vying for the spot, one that might encompass having live tryouts during games as two or even three guys may get the call for the Hokies. Dustin Keys may have the inside track right now and the punter position is locked down with the underrated Brent Bowden. With Eddie Royal gone the return game also has an opening. Expect Victor Harris and newcomer Patrick Terry to be returning most of the kicks for the Hokies. You can’t talk about Virginia Tech without bringing up the Frank Beamer philosophy on blocking kicks. Virginia tech and The Air Force Academy have made it an art form over the last decade, expect another 5 blocks or so this season. 2008 Outlook
Virginia Tech is solid at the quarterback spot but you would like to see them settled on a top guy because there will be questions whether the rotating quarterback system will work. Just who steps up in the absence of Brandon Ore? I think Virginia Tech would be more successful with a running back by committee approach, at least more so than rotating quarterbacks. The defense will always be solid and while I don’t expect them to put as much heat on the quarterback as in years past they are very stout against the run and throwing on them will be difficult with the personnel in the secondary. A repeat for the ACC title is still a possibility.
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