Frank Beamer's Four Biggest Challenges for Virginia Tech in 2015

To say the Virginia Tech Hokies have struggled the past three seasons would be an understatement. A record of 22-17 over the last three years represents mediocrity for a school that was accustomed to 10-win seasons. Prior to the 2012 season, the Hokies posted eight consecutive seasons of 10 or more wins.

Last season was full of ups and downs for Tech. The Hokies opened the 2014 season with a 2-0 record after a Week 2 upset win at eventual national champion Ohio State. Offensive problems would plague the Hokies and it took a win in the regular season finale against Virginia just for Tech to become bowl eligible.

What will 2015 bring the Hokies?

Every person who scored a point last season returns this fall. Led by Isaiah Ford, Bucky Hodges and Cam Phillips, Tech has a ton of offensive firepower. Senior quarterback Michael Brewer is also back and won't be learning a new offense this summer. 

Legendary head coach Frank Beamer will turn 69 years old in October of this year. With a new administration in place, how many more years will Beamer be in charge of his alma mater?

Here are Beamer's four biggest challenges in 2015.

All recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports. 

Finding Consistent Quarterback Play

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Beamer and Michael Brewer

Michael Brewer was anything but consistent in his first year at quarterback for the Hokies in 2014. He started off well, making some big-time throws in the win at Ohio State. However, his struggle with turnovers cost the Hokies a chance to win several more games.

As the season progressed, Brewer seemingly won his battle with turnovers, but his overall play worsened. Brewer is at his best when he's aggressive, pushing the ball down the field and taking chances. Turnovers will happen with this approach. Unfortunately for Brewer, he became skittish in the pocket and that led to more sacks, as he wasn't trusting what he was seeing. 

Brewer was terrific in the spring. In fact, Brewer didn't throw one interception in Tech's three scrimmages or the spring game.

“It’s been a big point of emphasis,” Brewer said of cutting down his turnovers, per the Associated Press via The Washington Post. “That was something we needed to improve upon last year, and I think we’ve done a good job of that this spring.”

For the Hokies to get back to the ACC title game again, Beamer needs Brewer at his best. 

Maintaining a Strong Running Game

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J.C. Coleman

When the Hokies were winning conference championships and residing in the Top 10 on an annual basis, a strong running game was often one of the primary reasons why. 

Since David Wilson departed Tech after the 2011 season, the Hokies have struggled to find a consistent running game. It wasn't until the final four games of last season that VT was able to run the ball well again. In fact, it was rising senior J.C. Coleman who helped take Tech's running game to another level. 

In the final four games of the 2014 season, Coleman ran for 468 yards at an average of 5.8 yards per carry. A big reason for Coleman's success on the ground was the insertion of freshman Wyatt Teller into the lineup at guard. Teller gave the Hokies their most physical lineman in years and it was no accident the running game took off once he became a starter.

For the Hokies to win consistently, they need a successful running game. Virginia Tech will always play strong defense and force turnovers. If VT's success on the ground carries over to this fall, the Hokies could challenge for the ACC title. 

Win the Recruiting Battles in the State of Virginia

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Freshman Offensive Lineman Austin Clark

The state of Virginia was loaded with elite high school talent over the last two years. Unfortunately, it was schools like Florida State, Alabama and Ohio State that signed some of the state's top talent. 

The Hokies' top in-state signees from the class of 2015 were 4-star offensive lineman Austin Clark and 4-star defensive tackle Tim Settle. Outside of that, the rest of Tech's top newcomers came from outside of the state. 

That trend must change. A big part of VT's success was its ability to secure the state's top talent. 

The class of 2016 isn't as talent-rich as the previous two classes. However, there is still quite a bit of talent to be signed. According to 247Sports, the Hokies currently do not have a verbal commitment from any of the state's top 10 players in next year's class. 

If Tech is going to return to its previous glory, the Hokies must do better in signing the state's top players. As long as Beamer is still in charge of the Hokies, other schools are going to negative recruit him and the Hokies. 

The state's top player next year, cornerback Levonta Taylor, has already verbally pledged to FSU. 

Stay Healthy

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Beamer underwent a throat surgery in December of last year and was unable to coach the team's bowl game. Beamer and the Hokies downplayed the surgery as a minor procedure, but Beamer had the surgery in early December and even had assistant Bryan Stinespring meet with the media to discuss Tech's recruiting class on signing day.

That was two months after Beamer's surgery.

Virginia Tech fans were concerned something far worse was going on with the legendary coach and his time in Blacksburg was coming to an end. That wasn't the case—at least not yet.

Beamer's tenure as head coach is likely nearing its end. But is that ending eight months from now or five years? Beamer hopes to finish the year on a much healthier note than he began it on.