Virginia Tech Football: What the Hokies Have to Do to Salvage a Bowl Berth

At 4-5, the Virginia Tech Hokies are off to one of their worst starts since the 1992 season. That also happened to be the last time the Hokies failed to play in a bowl game.

While the Hokies have struggled this season, it's not exactly uncharted territory for Tech. Just two years ago, the Hokies started the season 4-6 and rallied to win their final two games to become bowl-eligible. Tech ended up winning that game and finishing the 2012 season with a record of 7-6.

At the time, a six-loss season felt like an aberration for the Hokies. After all, Tech replaced several stars from a team that came so close to winning the Sugar Bowl the season before. 

Instead, the 2012 season began a trend for the Hokies.

This season's team can blame youth and injuries, and rightfully so, but that won't change the record. For the Hokies to go bowling and continue the nation's second-longest active bowl streak, these three things must happen. 

Win Two Games

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Sounds simple, doesn't it? 

Of course, Virginia Tech must win two games to reach the six wins needed to qualify for a bowl berth. However, when a team has struggled on both sides of the ball as much as the Hokies have in 2014, winning one game is a major challenge. 

On paper, Wake Forest will be Virginia Tech's easiest opponent. The Demon Deacons are just 2-7 on the season, including an 0-5 mark in ACC play.

But Wake has played better football of late under new head coach Dave Clawson. Just two weeks ago, the Deacons challenged Clemson until the fourth quarter when the Tigers pulled away.

And beating bitter in-state rival Virginia won't be easy, either. The Cavaliers have an outstanding defense and will make life difficult for Tech's struggling offensive line. 

The Hokies head to No. 19 Duke this weekend in another must-win game. Tech can win, but it will be tough. 

Fix the Defense

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Defensive coordinator Bud Foster

This has been a tough year for longtime Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster. 

The Hokies have allowing opposing quarterbacks to eclipse 100 yards rushing on three different occasions. They gave up 364 yards on the ground to Miami and surrendered 427 yards passing to East Carolina.

Numbers like that didn't happen over a five-year span previously at Virginia Tech. Each of those things has happened in just nine weeks in 2014.

Tech doesn't exactly face an offensive powerhouse in the season's final three games. But Duke is extremely efficient and well-coached on the offensive side of the ball.

Forcing more turnovers—VT has just 14 on the season—would help camouflage some of Tech's other defensive issues. If Foster can get that out of this bunch, the Hokies will go bowling. 

Get Bucky Hodges the Football

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Virginia Tech tight end Bucky Hodges

Virginia Tech has an outstanding group of young pass-catchers. Freshman tight end Bucky Hodges, a former quarterback, may be the best of the bunch.

At 6'6", 244 pounds, Hodges has size like Rob Gronkowski yet runs like a wide receiver. 

Early in the season, the Hokies did a good job of getting Hodges the football, specifically in the red zone. However, in recent weeks, he hasn't been as involved.

With Wade Hansen taking over at right tackle in place of the injured Jonathan McLaughlin, per Mark Giannotto of The Washington Post, Brewer will need to get rid of the ball much quicker.

That means shorter routes. 

Hodges has shown the ability to go deep, he but needs the ball on shorter routes in order to create some yards after the catch. And involving Hodges more in the offense, at least theoretically, should open things up for fellow freshmen Isaiah Ford and Cam Phillips.