College Football Rankings: 8 Biggest Keys to ACC Title for Virginia Tech

With the onset of the Virginia Tech Hokies football season just two weeks away, the expectations for Hokie fans (and likely players and coaches) are beginning to materialize.

Every year Virginia Tech expects to win the Atlantic Coast Conference. With four conference titles in seven seasons, this is never an unrealistic goal.

At the same time, the Hokies will be facing an uphill battle in 2011. Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Williams and Darren Evans have all departed, along with a few key players on the defensive side of the ball.

Therefore, several pieces will have to fall into place for Virginia Tech to repeat this season.

With that in mind, here are the eight biggest keys to the Hokies winning an ACC Title again in 2011.

8. The Defensive Line Strength

The defensive line should be much improved for Virginia Tech in 2011.

Though the loss of defensive tackle Kwamaine Battle hurts for sure, there is still a good amount of depth along the line.

The brothers from Highland Springs High School, Antoine Hopkins and Derrick Hopkins will be the starters at the tackle spots.

J.R. Collins looks to be the starter at one of the defensive end spots, with James Gayle playing opposite him.

These guys will have to play with some authority if the Virginia Tech defense is going to return to it's previous form. Bud Foster's crew ranked in the top 10 in total defense each of the Hokies' first five years in the conference before dropping off last year.

The line will have to be stout to help the Virginia Tech defense support an offense that will be breaking in a new starting quarterback and running back.

7. David Wilson Embracing the Role as the Every-Down Back

With Ryan Williams and Darren Evans taking their snaps in the NFL this season, the brunt of the tailback duties have fallen to David Wilson.

This season will be the first time we've seen Wilson get significant carries.

Though he has displayed his athleticism and football prowess as a receiver and kick returner, Wilson has yet to wow Hokie fans from the running back spot.

2011 will be his chance to do so. Though he has not shown great vision and patience in the past, I think the combination of demanding the majority of his coaches' attention and finally getting the playing time will help him develop into an All-ACC caliber tailback.

David Wilson definitely needs to have a strong season to facilitate the development of quarterback Logan Thomas.

6. Strength in the Special Teams

Most fans rarely appreciate the importance of the special teams. As a Virginia Tech fan and therefore long time observer of Frank Beamer, I am not one of them.

This will be the fifth year in a row the Hokies have had to replace their kicker. The last four guys—Jud Dunlevy, Dustin Keys, Matt Waldron and Chris Hazley—all did well in their one season with the job.

This year, the kicking duties appear as if they will fall to local product Cody Journell. A high school All-American, Journell has dealt with his hip flexor problems and is finally ready to takeover.

The punter situation is still murky, but I for one hope one of the other four candidates (Grant Bowden, Scott Demler, Ethan Keyserling and Connor Goulding) steps up so that receiver Danny Coale doesn't have to risk injury doing his best Ray Guy impression.

5. Tariq Edwards and Jeron Gouveia-Winslow Stepping Up

With the transfer of backer Lyndell Gibson, Tariq Edwards will be moving into the starting lineup in 2011.

Edwards played well in limited time in 2010, forcing a fumble against the Duke Blue Devils and intercepting a pass against the Miami Hurricanes.

The coaches have spoken highly of him in the preseason, most notably with Bud Foster comparing him to Tech great Xavier Adibi.

Jeron Gouveia-Winslow was arguably the weak point of the starting Hokie defense a season ago. He stepped it up towards the end of the season, playing well in the ACC championship against the Florida State Seminoles. Hopefully the momentum will carry over into this season.

Gouveia-Winslow and Edwards will both have to improve their play to support a Tech defensive line that will be breaking in three new starters.

4. Offensive Line Strength

Assuming Greg Nosal is good to go after recovering from his shoulder surgery in January, the Virginia Tech Hokies will return four starters along the offensive line.

The lone new guy will be center Andrew Miller. His development will be key to the strength of the Hokies' front.

With a new quarterback under center and a new running back take the first team snaps, the offensive line will play an integral part in determining the outcome of the 2011 season.

With veteran All-ACC performers Blake DeChristopher and Jaymes Brooks returning, the Hokie line should be the best it's been since All-American Jake Grove graduated to the NFL in 2003.

3. Better Offensive Play-Calling

One of the things that has Virginia Tech fans most excited for the 2011 season is the advent of a new play-caller in Blacksburg.

Quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain, the former head coach of the North Carolina State Wolfpack, has done well in his short tenure with the Hokies, grooming a solid player in current Baltimore Raven Tyrod Taylor.

This season O'Cain will be taking over the play-calling duties from the much-maligned Virginia Tech offensive coordinator, Bryan Stinespring.

Hopefully O'Cain's signaling will breathe new life into the offense in 2011. Good play calls will be needed to utilize the many weapons on the Hokies' offense.

2. Avoiding a Letdown

Since their arrival in the ACC, the Virginia Tech Hokies have had one letdown game every season.

Notable examples include Florida State in the 2005 ACC Championship Game, Georgia Tech in 2006, East Carolina in 2008 and of course, the James Madison University debacle from a year ago.

The 2011 schedule presents almost no marquee matchups for the Hokies. If the preseason rankings were to hold true, Virginia Tech would play no ranked teams the entire regular season.

As such, letdown games are almost ubiquitous when looking at the Hokies football slate. Virginia Tech must avoid a misstep in one of those seemingly easily winnable games if they are to defend their ACC Title.

1. Logan Thomas' Development

From Michael Vick to Bryan Randall, Marcus Vick, and Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech has had continuity in their solid play at quarterback the past decade.

There are plenty of indicators that Logan Thomas will be the next great Hokie quarterback. He gave Virginia Tech fans plenty to watch in limited playing time last season.

Thomas showed his unbelievable athleticism with a touchdown catch against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. He displayed his quarterback prowess and fearlessness with a strike on a big 3rd-and-16 in a close game with the Miami Hurricanes.

Virginia Tech coaches have been beaming over Thomas throughout the spring and summer workouts. His growth at quarterback is likely the factor that will most heavily affect the outcome of the Hokies' season in 2011.

Luckily the schedule provides a few easy games to start out with that will allow him to get his feet wet. The Hokies will have no chance of defending their title unless Thomas develops into a solid quarterback.