Virginia Tech Football: 5 Things the Hokies Must Improve During the Bye Week

At 4-5 on the year, the Virginia Tech Hokies' season is all but over. Sure, the Hokies could still win two of their next three games and go to a bowl for the 22nd consecutive season—second only to Florida State's current 35 in a row—but it's difficult to see Tech beating anyone right now. 

After the bye, the Hokies head to Duke, the defending Coastal Division champion that's currently atop the division again. Winning at Duke will be difficult, but Virginia Tech has shown an ability to win on the road this season.

After Duke, Tech heads to Wake Forest in one of the more winnable games on the schedule. Isn't that what everyone thought about East Carolina and/or Boston College?

It's the season finale that Hokie fans should be concerned about. The Hokies wrap up the season at home against archrival Virginia. Tech, of course, has dominated this rivalry for the last 20 years. UVA isn't great this season, but it does have a solid defense, and VT has struggled tremendously on offense.

The late bye week couldn't have come at a better time for the struggling Hokies. Here are five things Virginia Tech must improve in its bye week in order to go bowling for a 22nd consecutive season. 

Find 5 Best Offensive Linemen

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David Wang

Stacy Searels inherited a mess when he agreed to take over Virginia Tech's offensive line coaching position earlier this year. Searels is Tech's third offensive line coach in as many years.

For the second straight year, the Hokies have tried numerous offensive line combinations with little success. Offensive tackles Laurence Gibson and Jonathan McLaughlin have been solid. Both players have held up fairly well in pass protection, but like the rest of the offensive line, they have struggled with run blocking.

This year, sophomore Augie Conte took over at right guard, and for the most part, he has played well. Senior David Wang started the season at left guard, but coaches decided to move him to center and bench fellow senior Caleb Farris.

Redshirt freshman Wyatt Teller, one of the strongest players on the team, is now the starter at left guard. Teller is inexperienced on the offensive line, but he possesses unlimited potential.

For now, it appears the coaches believe Gibson, Teller, Wang, Conte and McLaughlin are the Hokies' five best offensive linemen. They must stick with those guys throughout practice and for the remaining three games in order to build some continuity along the offensive line. 

Find a Running Game

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Marshawn Williams

To say the Hokies have struggled to run the ball this season would be understatement. Tech enters this week No. 93 nationally in rushing offense.

Yes, there have been good moments, but those have mostly come against lesser teams like William & Mary and Western Michigan.

Injuries haven't helped. Tech lost last year's leading rusher, Trey Edmunds, for the season just as he was returning from an injury suffered last year. Freshman Shai McKenzie, a promising tailback from Pennsylvania, was also lost for the season with a torn ACL.

The current leading rusher, freshman Marshawn Williams, has also missed time with an ankle injury.

Junior J.C. Coleman has struggled this season, and Joel Caleb failed to make an impression, too.

In fairness to Tech's running backs, the offensive line is a big issue. If the Hokies expect to win at least two of their remaining three games, they must be able to run the football. 

Get More from Defense

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Bud Foster

2014 has been a nightmare for longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster.

Whether it's opposing quarterbacks running for over 100 yards against the Hokies or Miami rushing for a record 364 yards, Foster's defense has struggled all season.

Injuries haven't helped.

Sophomore cornerback Brandon Facyson and defensive tackle Luther Maddy—an All-ACC performer—missed much of the season. Top linebacker Chase Williams has also missed some time.

But other teams have outcoached Foster, too. That generally never happens.

There are some things Foster can't fix in the season's three remaining games. For example, he can't make his defensive line bigger. However, he must do the best he can to fix some leaks in a defense that is currently ranked No. 64 against the run. 

Get Michael Brewer on Track

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Michael Brewer

This may not be possible, but Virginia Tech's coaching staff must do what it can to get starting quarterback Michael Brewer comfortable and confident again.

During the first six weeks, the Hokies were 4-2 and Brewer had 11 interceptions. Since that point, the Hokies are 0-3 and Brewer has not thrown a interception.

If Brewer is going to be the guy for the rest of the season, and all indications are he will be, it's important for the coaches to give Brewer plays that he is comfortable with. Brewer is not a strong-armed guy; however, he has always been confident in his arm.

Except for the last three games.

It's no coincidence Brewer has struggled as he's been less aggressive. Quarterbacks like Brewer will throw interceptions, and sometimes you have to live with them and take the good with the bad. The same aggression Brewer possesses on the turnovers, he also has when he's pushing the ball up the field. 

If Brewer is scared or playing tentative, then he will not be effective. 

Get Mark Leal Ready

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Mark Leal

As bad as Brewer has played at times, or the offense as a whole, why not give fifth-year senior Mark Leal a chance?

Beamer has been noncommittal about Leal, continuing to insist that Brewer is Tech's starting quarterback, although Leal would get more snaps in practice, per Mike Barber of the Richmond Times-Dispatch: 

"

Michael Brewer is our quarterback. We’re going to give Mark Leal some more snaps this week and see if we need to get him in the game a little more. We’ll see about that. But Michael Brewer without question is our quarterback and he’s done a good job. We put him in some tough situations at times. 

I think we’ve got to help him with how we do things a little bit. But I’ve got every confidence in Michael Brewer. He knows how to play quarterback. I’ve said that before, but I really mean that.

"

Beamer has always been stubborn and resistant to change, even when changes needed to be made. If Brewer comes out and struggles against Duke, he needs to give Leal an opportunity. Things can't possibly get any worse. 

With a week off, the coaching staff should increase Leal's snaps with the first-team offense.