Virginia Tech Football: 10 Questions Hokies Must Answer to Repeat as ACC Champs
While the Hokies came into last season with all the answers on the offensive side and several lingering questions on defense, this season's outlook offers a mixture of stability and uncertainty on both sides of the ball.
In 2011, Tech will line up with a new starting...well, backfield. Despite the promise of Logan Thomas and David Wilson, the fact of the matter is it's going to be considerably difficult to replace Tyrod Taylor and Ryan Williams without a hitch. However, this season the Hokies play a schedule which, in comparison with the tough slates of the past four years (which have included two national champions), resembles that of a high school team.
So, the team should have ample time to work out any kinks before the (very thin) meat of the schedule arrives. However, after the James Madison debacle, I, for one, will not consider any game a gimme. If the Hokies want another ACC Title, they need to iron out the pressing issues in the early going.
With that in mind, here are the 10 Questions Virginia Tech must answer (affirmatively) in order to repeat in 2011.
Is Logan Thomas the Next Cam Newton? (or Tyrod Taylor?)
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The comparisons have been flying around between Thomas and Newton, and the underlying reason is obvious: they're both 6'6" athletic quarterbacks. Seeing Logan Thomas next to Tyrod Taylor from a few feet away at FedEx Field last September was a shocking revelation for sure.
Along with his size, there are other indicators which seem to suggest that Thomas could be the real deal. Anyone who saw his touchdown catch against Wake Forest can attest to his freakish athleticism. Anyone who saw him calmly step in (cold) against Miami on 3rd-and-16 and throw a strike knows he looks like a winner.
But that doesn't mean he won't have struggles in his first year as the starter. Tyrod had struggles early on. Bryan Randall had struggles early on (we all remember the angry calls to put in Marcus). On the other hand, Michael Vick stepped onto the field and shined right away (the Clemson game notwithstanding).
Whether or not Thomas will ascend to greatness immediately is obviously unforeseeable, but he has the considerable benefit of a deep and seasoned receiving corps.
Can David Wilson Carry the Load Without Ryan Williams and Darren Evans?
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There are no questions about Wilson's speed or athleticism, and he has displayed unbelievable hands for a running back. He has certainly shown his mettle as a kick returner and a receiver. But, he has yet to exhibit the qualities of a great running back.
In 2010, he averaged a solid 5.5 yards per carry, but that number was significantly skewed by big games against weak opponents (8.2 yards per carry against East Carolina, CMU, and Wake). He struggled mightily against the best defenses. He has yet to show the patience, balance, and vision which made Ryan Williams a human highlight reel despite his average speed.
In 2011, with the departure of Williams and Darren Evans, David Wilson is the guy. In order for the passing game to open up for Thomas, Wilson is going to have to develop into a solid, dependable running back. Whether it includes misdirection, or a revival of the option (which seemed to diminish with Tyrod at the reins), Beamer is going to have to find a way to get Wilson going out of the backfield.
He does not seem to be the type of back that will succeed in smash mouth scenarios. He has striking similarities to Reggie Bush, and should be used in a way which maximizes his abilities like USC did with Bush.
Is Kyle Fuller the Next Great Hokie Corner?
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The brother of former Hokie and Tennessee Titan Vincent Fuller showed flashes of brilliance in his rookie campaign. In big games against Georgia Tech and Miami, Kyle stepped up. Bud Foster seems to continually breed excellent defensive backs, from Ike Charlton and Pierson Prioleau to DeAngelo Hall, Brandon Flowers, and now Jayron Hosley. Draft pick after draft pick has come from the Virginia Tech secondary. There's no reason to believe Fuller won't be next in line.
If Kyle Fuller can develop into a solid corner, as he appears destined to do, the Hokies will be lining up with arguably the best corner duo in college football. Jayron Hosley led the nation in interceptions last season, and is touted as a possible first round draft pick next season as a junior. Teams will be inclined to throw away from him.
If Fuller can reach his potential, the ACC will find a very hard time trying to pass against Virginia Tech in 2011.
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Can Tariq Edwards Replace Lyndell Gibson?
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When Bud Foster compares you to Xavier Adibi, you know people are going to take notice. While the advent of spring football brought a possible position battle at backer, the closure of it has seen the spot secured for Edwards. The tall, agile Edwards looks different than what you expect to see at linebacker, but he offers unbelievable speed and athleticism at the position.
Just as he has in the spring, Edwards seemed to seize the opportunities he got filling in for Gibson last season. Despite his limited playing time in 2010, he forced a fumble against Duke, and had an interception and a fumble recovery against Miami. He has the ball hawking instincts which have come to epitomize the Virginia Tech defense.
However, it remains to be seen if Edwards can carry the load for the entire season. His thinner frame obviously engenders worries about injuries at the hard hitting backer position.
How Will Mike O'Cain Handle the Play-Calling?
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It's no secret that arguably the greatest frustration among Tech fans post-ACC expansion has been the play-calling of offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring. There have been clear indicators that fans could point to in defense of their complaints.
Most notably, there were the 2007 passing numbers which ranked 86th in the nation, despite Tech having three future NFL wide receivers, two of whom are currently starters. Much easier to quantify (without watching hours of tape) would be the incessant failures at short yardage situations, which seemed to always impel Stinespring to attempt a simple run right up the middle.
However, the 2011 season will see the beginning of the Mike O'Cain play-calling era. The way in which O'Cain developed Tyrod Taylor into a complete quarterback gives confidence as to his coaching ability. However, seeing as how we've seen nothing of his play-calling as of yet, the jury is still very much out on his abilities in that respect.
In order for the new cogs of the offensive machine to mesh successfully, O'Cain will first have to develop as a smart, decisive play-caller. First and foremost, he needs to show that he is more imaginative than his predecessor.
Can Andrew Miller Anchor the Offensive Line?
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The offensive line has been the habitual Achilles heel of Virginia Tech football since their arrival in the ACC. This problem is somewhat surprising, considering the history of offensive line strength under Beamer.
Every Tech fan older than 25 remembers names like Eugene Chung, Jim Pyne, and Bill Conaty. More recently, guys like Matt Lehr and Jake Grove used to bust open hole after hole for Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones without any problems.
In 2011, we could see a resurgence of the offensive line strength. The Hokies return four starters, the lone newcomer being Andrew Miller at center. If Miller can develop into a solid center, Tech could have the best line its had since Grove went in the first round of the NFL Draft in 2004.
His development is going to be essential, because, as we saw with Florida at the beginning of last season, a shaky center can derail an entire offense. With a new QB and a new starting tailback, Andrew Miller is going to have to step up if the Hokie offense is going to be effective this season.
Is There a Better Punter Than Danny Coale?
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It's never a good thing when you hear that your starting wide receiver is successfully competing for the starting punting job, but that's exactly the kind of news that was coming out of Blacksburg this April. Four other players (all of whom were actually recruited as punters) are also in competition for the spot: Grant Bowden, Scott Demler, Ethan Keyserling,, and Connor Goulding. Needless to say, none of them has stood out so far.
I find it almost unfathomable that Beamer would allow such a valuable offensive weapon to risk injury in the punting game. Perhaps he is allowing Coale to compete to increase the motivation for the other candidates. But, on the other hand, Beamer's mentality on special teams has always been to put the best players out there, and using a wide receiver as a punter would certainly be an interesting twist of Beamer Ball.
Although fans seem to overlook the importance of the punter, anyone who watched Brent Bowden can attest to the immeasurable advantage a solid punter gives a team. Football is a field position game, and Tech needs to have one of these potential punters step up to avoid putting the defense in a hole on a regular basis in 2011.
Can Newcomers and Antoine Hopkins Lead a Resurgence of the Defensive Line?
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One of the most positive messages coming from the Tech camp this spring has been the emergence of several young players along the defensive line. The purported starters include three sophomores, James Gayle, J.R. Collins, and Derrick Hopkins.
In limited play last season, all three had shining moments. Gayle had sacks against Boston College and UNC. Collins had sacks against Central Michigan, Wake Forest, and Duke, and recovered the fumble against Boise St. The younger Hopkins had a sack against ECU and UVA, and recovered a fumble against Miami.
All three played very well in the spring, with Collins and Gayle recording "sacks" in the spring game. Along with veteran (and older brother) Antoine Hopkins, the defensive line should reemerge as a strong point for the Hokies in 2011. This should lead to a resurgence of the previously perennially strong Tech defense.
Solid D begins at the first line of defense, which is the front four. Last season did not produce sufficient defensive line production, with the Hokie D recording a paltry 34 sacks (compared with the 47 recorded in 2007). With the positive development along the defensive line, that number should go up in 2011.
Is Cody Journell Going to Be Dependable?
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Ever since Brandon Pace shook off his game-ending miss against NC State in 2004, the Hokies have been blessed by solid field goal kicking year after year. More impressively, the last four seasons have all seen first-year kickers step in and succeed. Jud Dunlevy, Dustin Keys (for the most part), Matt Waldron, and Chris Hazley all had excellent years in their one year as the Tech place kicker.
The next in line—though not a senior—is Cody Journell. Hailing from Giles County, Journell is a local boy. I seem to remember Tech signing a local kid as the kicker back in 1996. I think his name was Shayne Graham, and he might just be 4th all-time in FG percentage in NFL history. That one seemed to work out well for everyone.
After battling hip flexor injuries, Journell is finally ready to take the spot he expected to have when he arrived as a high school All-American. Hopefully he will be up to the task. Solid kicking is something that has been so dependable of late that some Tech fans may have come to take it for granted.
As Adam Vinatieri has shown every football fan over the last decade, you can't put a price on a dependable kicker, especially in big situations. With newcomers stepping in at integral positions on offense, a solid kicker is going to be a must in order for the Hokies to win close games this season.
Can Antone Exum Make the Switch to Rover?
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There were some good glimpses at the talent and potential of Exum in 2010. Coming off the bench, he had 45 tackles and nine pass break-ups last season. He displayed good cover skills against Boise State and NC State, and solid tackling against Boston College, UNC, and Florida State.
Overall, he showed considerable athleticism and instinct during his freshman year, but struggled at times (2nd half of the Stanford game).
It remains to be seen if he can make the transition to Rover. The strong safety position has always been a bit of a hybrid of defensive back and linebacker, and this is even more true with the Rover. Exum played and practiced his first two years at free safety, so he is going to have to make a transition in both his play and his overall football mentality.
If Exum can settle into his new position, the Hokies could have their best secondary since the 2007 crew that put 3 DB's (Macho Harris, Brandon Flowers, and Kam Chancellor) in the NFL.
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