Virginia Tech Football: First-Half Report Card for the Hokies

After losing high profile players such as Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Williams and Darren Evans to the NFL, this year’s Virginia Tech football team was a bit of a mystery for the media and fans to figure out.

The team was beginning a new era with redshirt sophomore quarterback Logan Thomas taking over and junior running back David Wilson leading the back field. The defense brought back much experience though and the receiving corps was considered the best in the ACC.

The team rolled through its first four opponents without much of an issue but in their first conference game against Clemson, they looked awful, especially Thomas.

However, in the two weeks following the loss, Thomas has scored a total of nine touchdowns with no interceptions and the Hokies now look like the front runner in the ACC Coastal.

So at a 6-1 record and a return to the Orange Bowl in sights, how have the Hokies done this season?

Here is the first half report card for Virginia Tech Football:

Offense

The Virginia Tech offense has been the most interesting group of the team thus far this season.

After beginning the season by putting up 66 points on the scoreboard in a route of FCS school Appalachian State, the offense went a bit stagnant over the next four games.

The offense was enough to get by teams such as ECU, Arkansas State and Marshall but when Clemson came to Lane Stadium for the ACC opener, the Hokies were just horrific.

Logan Thomas struggled to do much and the opposing defenses were able to stack the box and not allow David Wilson to get much going running the ball.

However, in the past two weeks, the team has tried some new formations with the team and are now throwing the ball more than any other team in the Frank Beamer era at Virginia Tech.

After dropping 38 points against their last two ACC opponents, the Hokies offense looks to be rolling now and has fans excited for the remainder of the schedule.

Grade: B

Defense

The defense for the Hokies was amongst the best in the nation through the first five weeks of the season.

Even after the team’s loss to Clemson, many still praised the defense and put much of the blame on the offense and special teams.

However, injuries have hit the defensive unit hard and they now have two starters out for the season as well as two other starters working to get back on the field.

The star of the defensive line, Antoine Hopkins, tore his ACL while starting linebacker Jeron Gouveia-Winslow suffered a Linsfrinc sprain in his left foot. They will both be out for the remainder of the year.

Now, moving forward, this unit is missing some key pieces and it will be vital to see how players such as Alonzo Tweedy and Luther Maddy can step up.

After starting the season so well, they gave up a staggering 35 points to Miami but then rebounded well to only give up 17 against Wake Forest. If this team wants any chance at getting back to the Orange Bowl in January, the defense will have to remain consistent and not have any let downs.

Grade: B+

Special Teams

The special teams unit has been the most ridiculed group on the entire team this season.

Through the first four games of the season, Scott Demler was the punter and struggled tremendously to the point that he got booed in his own home stadium.

The punter was last in the nation in punting average and it forced coach Frank Beamer to make a change to true freshman Michael Branthover. Branthover has done an adequate job enough that he is the permanent replacement.

The kicker, Cody Journell, has not had many opportunities field goal wise but has missed one. He has not looked very impressive on his kicks either. It will be interesting to see how it goes if it comes down to Journell making a long kick to win a game.

The special teams has been pretty bad throughout the first half of the season but it looks like the situation is finally getting settled now with some changes that have been made.

Grade: C-

Coaching

The coaching for the Hokies went through some changes this offseason with the most significant one being the change of game day play calling duties being assigned to Mike O’Cain rather than offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring.

This brought a lot of excitement for fans of the team as they pictured a much more pass happy offense than the one we had grown accustomed to seeing over the years.

For the most part, the offense has looked the same through the first five games of the season and especially against Clemson which drew much criticism from the media and fans.

However, in the past two weeks, the team has went to more of a spread attack and it has proved to be effective.

The defense is again back to what Virginia Tech is accustomed to under Bud Foster and are one of the top units in the country.

Grade: A-

Overall

This team is one that nobody really knew what to expect coming into the season with a mixture of youth and experience.

Now, seven games into the season, it seems like the Hokies are a legitimate contender for the ACC title and could be well on their way to another trip to Charlotte.

Despite the loss to Clemson, the team has shown bounce back ability and a lot of heart on numerous occasions.

Both the offensive and defensive units have shown signs of brilliance and the potential to be extremely special.

Moving forward, this team has a chance to do something special. This team can get back to the Orange Bowl and win a BCS game.

Grade: B