Virginia Tech Hokies Defense Builds From Within To Combat Inexperience

Throughout his 15 years as defensive coordinator of the Virginia Tech Hokies, Bud Foster has garnered a reputation of building nationally-ranked defenses.

However, this year could be a challenge for Foster, as he will try to continue his success with a defense that lost seven of its starters last season — including star linebacker Cody Grimm.

The one area where most pundits believe the Hokies will be impressive immediately is in the secondary. This is no surprise for a Foster defense, which routinely produces cornerbacks such as DeAngelo Hall, Brandon Flowers and Macho Harris — all of which have started on an NFL team.

Returning at boundary corner will be redshirt senior Rashad Carmichael, who led the team with six interceptions last season.

At the boundary corner spot, Carmichael will be put on an island with the opposition’s best receiver — a task that he is looking forward to.

“It’s the kind of football I like, playing on that boundary. It’s more one-on-one,” Carmichael said. “That side of the field is smaller, so you know quarterbacks are going to try you because you’re going to be in one-on-one situations and I like to put that pressure on myself.”

Returning in the secondary with Carmichael will be rover Davon Morgan, who earned the starting job in 2009 but missed most of the season because of injury.

In addition to Carmichael and Morgan will be newcomers Eddie Whitley and Jayron Hosley, who will complete the Hokies pass defense.

Whitley will be the free safety, replacing Kam Chancellor, and has impressed with his play in the spring and fall practices.

On the other side of Carmichael at field corner will be Hosley, although it isn’t a sure thing. Hosley has missed much of fall practice with nagging injuries and junior Cris Hill seems to be making his case to perhaps take the spot for himself.

Though Whitley, Hosley and Hill are newcomers to the secondary, Carmichael is doing all he can to make sure that their inexperience won’t turn into a lack of communication.

“I like to be a big brother to these guys," said Carmichael. "If they feel comfortable with you off the field — you helping them out and doing what you can for them — then it’s easier to translate that chemistry on the field.”

While the secondary is seen as the strongest dimension of the Hokies defense, the defensive line is where the biggest questions lie.

The line will have a huge task on its hands getting to the quarterback without stalwarts Jason Worilds and Cordarrow Thompson leading the way.

The only returning starter in the trenches is defensive tackle John Graves, but he was limited for most of last season because of an injured ankle.

However, Graves still looks to be the leader of the group, coming off of a spring in which he was named the defensive MVP.

Joining Graves at defensive tackle will be Kwamaine Battle, whose play this fall has separated him from a pack of tackles including Antoine and Derrick Hopkins, who figure to get snaps as well.

At defensive end, converted tight end Chris Drager and Steven Friday will be in charge of applying pressure from the outside. The difference between the end spots and those at defensive tackle is that Foster isn’t as confident in the depth at end. In fact, he said J.R. Collins would be the only other defensive end he is comfortable sending out there at the start of the season.

That lack of depth is Foster’s biggest concern coming into the season.

“When we are really good on defense, we are able to substitute our D-linemen," said Foster. "You know, we play a lot of the same people with our perimeter kids and I’d like to rotate some of our guys if we need to. Overall on our defense, the biggest question mark is our depth because it is all inexperienced.”

Rounding out the Hokies defense is the linebacking corps, which lost Grimm, perhaps one of the best defensive players that has ever suited up for Tech.

Slotted to take his place is redshirt sophomore Jeron Gouveia-Winslow, who spent all of last season in Grimm’s shadow awaiting his opportunity.

“Ending last season, I knew I was going to be the next person in line to take his spot, so coming into spring ball, I was really focused,” said Gouveia-Winslow. “I’m just trying to do my job on the defensive side. If I just do my job and try not to make too many big plays, then our defense will be fine.”

Opposite of Winslow will be Lyndell Gibson, who started the last five games of 2009 and was named the defensive player who had an exceptional spring.

The center of the Hokies defense will be Bruce Taylor at mike linebacker. Barquell Rivers was initially at the top of the depth chart, but because of a torn quadriceps, Rivers will not be ready at the start of the season — thrusting Taylor into the starting role.

Rivers’ inability to recover quickly enough from the injury he sustained on March 3 is a setback, but Taylor has surprised his coaches this fall and has many thinking that Rivers’ absence won’t necessarily hinder the defense.

“[Rivers and Taylor] are both really good football players,” said head coach Frank Beamer. “Bruce might be a little bit faster, might be a little bit niftier, but they are both what you are looking for at linebacker.”

At the end of the day, seven new starters for the Hokies defense means that its ability to produce is a mystery for everyone — including Foster.

The good news though, is that the rest of college football only has to wait a few more days to see what Bud Foster was able to do with a new group of players.

This artile was featured in the Thursday, Sept 2 edition of the Collegiate Times where Nick is a sports reporter. You can follow him on twitter @Caffscorner or read his blog