Bleacher Report - Articles by Dustin Hughes

What Can Be Taken From Virginia Tech's Spring Football Game

Dustin Hughes — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:08:19 -0400

Quite often fans read way too deep into their teams spring game. It's hard to really get a feel of how the team is going to do based on a glorified practice.

There was a few things that you could gather from Virginia Tech's spring game.

First off, the offensive line is much more athletic than in years past. The line opened up holes and pass protected well for the majority of the snaps. There is also some depth beginning to form up front for the Hokies.

Something else Hokie fans can take from the spring game is that Ryan Williams is for real. Everyone knew the kid was fast, but he's faster on the field than most realized. He also has a decent amount of power to him, which most people did not know.

Several Hokie fans have been critical of Tyrod Taylor after his spring game performance when in fact his performance was really impressive.

What made him look better than in the past is his throwing motion. The much documented hitch has been fixed and his passes have much more zip. His release is also much quicker than it was before.

Yes Taylor wasn't amazing in the spring game, but the yellow jersey severely limited his abilities. It's much easier to touch Taylor than to it is to tackle him.

The back-up quarterback battle this spring gave Hokie fans two reasons to be excited.

Ju-Ju Clayton looks like he will be a capable back-up to Taylor this fall. While Clayton did not have a great spring game, he did have a very impressive spring overall causing coach Frank Beamer to draw comparisons to former Hokie Bryan Randall.

As for the other part of that battle, Marcus Davis proved he is an athletic freak and will be a force at receiver in the future.

While this may not alone be a reason to proclaim the Virginia Tech National Champions, but several of the questions they had going into the spring were answered. This may be the year for Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech: Why Are the Hokies Getting So Much Hype Heading into 2009

Dustin Hughes — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:30:31 -0400

A lot of people outside of the ACC are wondering why the Hokies are receiving so much hype. They are wondering why the Hokies projected in the preseason top 10, and why there are national title run whispers in Blacksburg this year.

There are many reasons for all this hype. The Hokies are returning loads of very young talent, including a receiving corps that was comprised entirely of freshmen last season.

Virginia Tech's offensive line lost only two starters from last season. Both of these positions will be filled by talented players with starting experience. Jaymes Broods will step in and play in the right guard position vacated by Nick Marshman. Brooks started in the Orange Bowl in place of the ineligible Marshman and played very well.

Beau Warren will fill in at center. Warren has played well in several games in his time at Virginia Tech.

At the skill positions, the Hokies return all of the starters from the 2008 campaign, including record breaking freshman tailback Darren Evans and playmaking QB Tyrod Taylor.

The addition of Logan Thomas and Ryan Williams, along with hopefully consistent line play, should give the Virginia Tech offense the shot in the arm it has needed the last few years.

On defense, the Hokies return all but four starters from the No. 7 overall defense in 2008. Three of the four positions will be filled by players that have starting experience. The biggest loss of all will be the leadership of Victor "Macho" Harris.

The returning talent on the Virginia Tech defense is amazing. Stephan Virgil will move over to the boundary corner position to replace Harris. Virgil had a quiet but productive season in 2008. He hauled in six interceptions and blocked a punt. He was just in the shadow of an All-American.

Barquell Rivers, Rashad Carmichael, Jake Johnson, and John Graves or Nekos Brown will fill the other vacant spots on the depth chart. All but Johnson have playing experience and have played well when called upon.

With Jason Worilds healthy for the first time in two years and replacements ready to step up and fill the gaps, Bud Foster's defense should only improve.

This season's schedule lines up perfectly for a title run. An early test against Alabama in Atlanta, GA will set the tone for the season. With all the difficult games except Georgia Tech at home, this schedule is just right. The schedule matches the talent more so this year than the undefeated season in 1999.

With a shutdown defense and great talent returning on offense, things may just be right for a title run this season in Hokietown. If the Hokies live up to the hype and reach or win the title game, Blacksburg will be the place to be come January 2010.

Will The Virginia Tech Passing Game Improve In 2009?

Dustin Hughes — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:03:48 -0400

2008 was not the best year for the Virginia Tech passing attack. It got off to a very slow start due to an extreme lack of experience.

With the injury to Brandon Dillard and Zach Luckett's suspension, Danny Coale was the most experienced receiver. He was a redshirt freshman.

Coale, Jarrett Boykin, and Dyrell Roberts started playing well at the end of last season, and their play boosted the offense as well.

This season those inexperienced wideouts are all back with a season under their belts.

One place the offense was very lacking was in the red zone. The addition of Logan Thomas could drastically improve that.

Thomas is six feet six inches tall and runs a 4.6 second forty-yard dash. Quite simply, no one will be able to cover him in a jump ball situation.

The maturation of the pieces already in place and the addition of some new ones should boost the passing game.

Maybe just as important is Tyrod Taylor's throwing motion being fixed. Even he admitted that he had developed a bad habit that hurt his timing. Over the offseason, he worked with his high school coach and father to fix that.

With Tyrod fixing his throwing motion and the receivers developing, the Hokies passing game should vastly improve. Look for this to be a breakout year for Taylor and the Hokie offense.

Virginia Tech Defense Will Continue to Dominate in 2009

Dustin Hughes — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:38:04 -0400

A lot of people think that the Virginia Tech defense is going to drop off in 2009 after being seventh overall in 2008. With the graduation of four starters, including All-American cornerback Victor "macho" Harris, it's not surprising that people would feel that way. Tons of talent and leadership left the team with those four players.

As far as leadership goes, someone will have to step up to fill the void left by Harris, the leader of the defense last season. Who will do that, in my opinion Jason Worilds will be one of the leaders on the team.

Now I don't know what Worilds is like in the locker room as far as being vocal, but the way he played last year through a shoulder injury has to inspire the team to play harder and tougher. This defense has veterans that will fill the leadership roles. We may not know who it will be, but it will happen.

The boundary corner position that Harris vacated has already been filled by Stephan Virgil, who had a quietly successful season with six interceptions. Across the field at the field corner there is a question mark.

The most likely candidate for this spot is Rashad Carmichael. As far as depth goes there are young players that have the ability to step in when needed. Don't be surprised to see sophomore Eddie Whitley step in and play. He has wowed coaches with his skill and athleticism.

The defensive end position is another question mark on the roster. One side of the equation is solid with Worilds. The other side is the question, the answer may have been found with the move of John Graves to the defensive end position from defensive tackle.

Coach Frank Beamer has alluded to this being a long-term move. The only way it wont be is if the young depth behind Worilds, Graves, and Nekos Brown steps up and shows that they can come in and produce.

The linbacking corps is lacking experience but makes up for that in sheer athletic ability. One position that was left empty should be filled by Barquell Rivers, who played very well in the Orange Bowl.

Jake Johnson and Quillie Odom will be fighting for the other linebacker spot. I've heard Johnson is an absolute beast on the field. He will take that spot.

Basically the positions that have been vacated are being filled by very talented and capable players that have managed to prove themselves to defensive coordinator Bud Foster.

Anyone that has impressed Foster will impress the fans with their play. Year in and year out Foster proves that he can take players and plug them in and have the defense continue the tradition.

There will be no drop off this year. This defense will be just as, if not more effective than 2008's squad. The big plays that Hokie fans have become so used to will continue to be made. This defense will continue the tradition of great Hokie defenses. Look for another top 10 defense to emerge from Blacksburg next season.

Pre-Spring Prediction for ACC Coastal Division

Dustin Hughes — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:28:55 -0400

This is a very early prediction on the way the ACC Coastal division will play out att the end of the 2009 season. The ACC looks to improve its image this season and the coastal division is poised to be the stronger side overall. With fresh young talent throughout. This division is poised to lead the charge in improving the ACC's image in college football. The coastal will be competitive from top to bottom with lots of close games sure to come in the 2009 season. This is how I think the coastal division race will play out.

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The Virginia Tech Running Game In 2009

Dustin Hughes — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:37:36 -0400

Last year the Hokies running game was pretty productive. You had the emergence of a young star at running back and a quarterback that continued to show his athletic ability.

This coming season is looking to be even better for that group.

They return all players at the running back position minus Dustin Pickle. They will be adding the explosive Ryan Williams to the bunch. The only question is how are the carries going to be divided.

I think the starter throughout the season will be Darren Evans. Last season, as a freshman, he showed his ability to wear a defense down and just over power them at the end of the game and did so to the tune of over 1200 yards. Another year in the system and in the weight room will only improve this powerful back.

Behind Evans is where the battle will be for playing time.

You have Josh Ogelsby who showed flashes last year after the injury to the returning veteran Kenny Lewis Jr. Then you add in Williams who is explosive and shifty coming off his red shirt year to get the system down and this will be a tight race during spring and fall practice.

In the end I think Williams will win the battle for the number two spot. He is a combination of break away speed and great moves to evade tacklers in the open field. I believe he will be the home run threat the offense lacked in the 2008 season.

These two backs could end up being a duo to rival "The Untouchables."

To the combination of Evans and Williams you add Tyrod Taylor who was the teams second leading rusher last year.

I don't think he will be running as much this year, but you will see it. Just like the last two years his athleticism will provide some exciting and productive plays.

These parts put together should add up to a very productive running game. Having that will open up the passing game and create a much better offense overall.

If you noticed I didn't mention David Wilson in this article. I did that for a reason. I don't think that he will be playing this season. The running back position already has a ton of depth and wasting a year of Wilson's eligibility would be pointless this season. In my opinion the only way he sees the playing field this season is if a couple of the backs on the roster are injured. This kid can be very good and the Hokies will want him for as long as possible so playing him this year just doesn't make sense.

This upcoming season the Hokies will see a lot of hype. If they hope to live up to it the ground game will have to be a major part of the equation.

Superstitions in Sports

Dustin Hughes — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:22:44 -0400

Every sport has it, whether it's the fans or the players— it's there. They go from seemingly normal to just plain odd, but it's a part of the sports world and that's for sure.

When it comes fans, it's normally something as simple as a lucky jersey. For me it's lucky socks and unlucky shoes. If I wear something to a game where my team loses I won't wear it again. Many people I know don't wash their jersey if their team wins, but as soon as their team loses into the wash the jersey goes. Back in high school, alot of the kids wore "lucky" beads. They had to have those things or they thought their team would lose.

It's really funny to me that fans think what they wear or don't wear is going to affect the outcome of the game. I mean I'm just as guilty as the next guy, but the thought is just ridiculous. If I wear my lucky socks that's not going to make the team play harder.

Now the athletes some of their superstitions are a little different.

Some players have to put one sock on before the other in the same order every game.

Others tie their shoes a certain way every game. Some players have lucky wrist bands, gloves, or head bands and if they don't have them then they are just not the same And they think they won't be able to play the same game. Now one thing that the players superstitions have in common with fans is that it's all in their heads and none of it really matters.

Where do these rituals or "lucky" items come from?

From my experience it's just something different that a person does one game, the game turns out in their favor and they just keep doing it until a game goes the other way.

When that happens it's back to the beginning. Now some people don't have these superstitions, but most fans that I know have some sort of superstition in regard to watching or going to sporting events.

Whether you have a superstition— keep doing what your doing.

Because to me the involvement of fans and the feeling of importance they have with their teams (as crazy as some may be), is one of the things that make sports so great.

Why Virginia Tech Will Upset Alabama to Start the 2009 Season

Dustin Hughes — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:48:35 -0400

This may not be an upset in some people's eyes, but I can certainly say that Virginia Tech will be the underdog going into the game on Sept. 5.

I personally like that fact, it's just more motivation for the team to come out and play hard. Traditionally, Tech has played better as underdogs.

Frank Beamer just seems to know how to coach a team that is picked to lose. The fact that people are going to think that the Hokies won't have a chance will only make the victory even sweeter.

Why do I think that Virginia Tech will leave Atlanta with a win?

The first reason will be the Bud Foster coached defense. Yes, I know Alabama is in the SEC, but I honestly think that Virginia Tech's defense is as good—or better—than any other defense in the SEC, and I know that Foster is a better defensive coordinator than any in the SEC.

With Jason Worilds coming back healthy for the first time in almost a full season, and only losing four defensive starters (who will mostly be replaced by players with experience), this defense looks to improve over last season, and what better place to start than the beginning.

Next, Alabama is facing great losses on offense.

They are going to have to replace some major parts of their offense on all fronts. Starting up front, they are replacing two first-string offensive lineman, which is not going to be good news for the new QB they will be playing due to the graduation of John Parker-Wilson.

Combine that with the loss of star running back Glenn Coffee, and it might be hard goings for this offense against a top-10 defense.

Now the next question from most people will be if Virginia Tech can put up the points to win the game.

Well, I think they will and that the offense will be vastly improved over last year.

The skill positions players were all young last year (the most experienced being QB Tyrod Taylor as a sophomore). With a year of play and chemistry building practices under their belts, the problems the passing game faced at the beginning of last season will be gone.

As far as running the ball, Darren Evans emerged as a star in the making last year. Add to the lineup Ryan Williams for a change of pace as a shifty homerun threat, and it could be deadly. This may be the emergence of "THE UNTOUCHABLES II".

Add all these things together and I think you get a Virginia Tech victory.

Now I can almost promise you this will be a close game, or at least a very competitive one. This may not be what the experts think, but they should not be surprised to see VT walk out of Atlanta with a W, and walk right into the top-five the following Monday.

What a great start to a season with high hopes this would make.

10 Virginia Tech Hokies That Will Excel in 2009

Dustin Hughes — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:58:22 -0400

These are in my opinion the 10 Hokie football players that will excell like they havent in the past on the gridiron. Now I feel that alot of players will play great this year but some will step up and lead the team and maybe win games. There were alot of young players on this team last year and alot of them contributed in major ways mainly at the skill positions, where Vt boasted a sophomore quaterback, freshman starting tailback, and freshman wideouts across the board. There are some familiar faces on this list and some that are new to the program or at least the playing field

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