Virginia Tech Football: Time for Change in Blacksburg

The Virginia Tech Hokies are 8-1 in 2011 and ranked No. 10 in the BCS standings. 

The Hokies have accrued seven consecutive 10-win seasons and trail only Boise State and LSU in wins since the 2004 season.

However, change is due for the Frank Beamer and company. Tech has been stuck in Top-25 purgatory for years now and changes are necessary to make the step toward elite status.

Here are five things that can make that happen. 

Hire New Offensive Coordinator

Elite BCS teams in college football are often characterized by young, forward-thinking offensive minds that can put up big points on the scoreboard.

Virginia Tech lacks that identity.

Under current offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring, the best the Hokies have ever finished in total offense is No. 38.

Meanwhile, the Tech defense is perennially ranked in the top 10.

Virginia Tech needs to think outside the box and hire an offensive mind that can consistently put points on the board for the Hokies.

Becoming more productive on offense would eliminate the potential for upsets and give defensive coordinator Bud Foster some margin for error. 

Schedule Heavyweights

Over the past decade, Virginia Tech has made a habit of scheduling the best teams in the country.

Alabama, LSU, Boise State and Nebraska are all examples of highly ranked opponents that the Hokies have played recently out of conference.

In 2011, however, Virginia Tech took a break from playing elite teams outside the ACC and consequently has lost some national respect.

In order to improve their record against Top-Five teams, the Hokies need to play them. Rarely are ACC teams ranked that highly, so Tech will have to do so out of conference.

Virginia Tech plays Alabama in 2013 to kick off the regular season. With more matchups like that, look for Tech to garner some more respect and possibly remove the Top-Five monkey off its back. 

Build from Inside-Out

Virginia Tech's problems on offense and defense can often be attributed to the men in the trenches.

The elite teams such as LSU or Alabama have athletic, big linemen who dominate in the trenches.

The offensive line for the Hokies is a common scapegoat for struggles on the offensive side of the football. Tech rarely brings in top-notch recruits to protect the quarterback. Despite having the mobile Tyrod Taylor in 2010, Virginia Tech ranked No. 99 in sacks allowed. 

On the defensive line, oversized offensive lines are prone to dominating Tech's defense. Examples were Miami in 2011 and Stanford in the 2011 Orange Bowl. The Hokies allowed 236 and 247 rushing yards respectively in those two games.

Miami and Stanford both have big, physical running games with the ability to overload one side of the formation.

The problems on both lines need to be remedied before Tech can compete with the top-notch programs.  

Change Bowl Preparations

Virginia Tech has made 18 consecutive bowl games. That is good for the second-longest streak in the nation behind Florida State. The Hokies have made five BCS bowl games during that stretch.

Their record during that stretch: 8-9 in bowl games and 1-4 in BCS bowls.

When a team is that mediocre in bowl games, that team deserves a mediocre perception.

Virginia Tech needs to change its bowl preparation methods in order to be more effective in the postseason. The Hokies can ill-afford to have lackluster performances against quality opponents like they did versus Stanford in the 2011 Orange Bowl. 

Limit Letdowns

Both Virginia Tech and Stanford make trips to Durham to take on the Duke Blue Devils in 2011.

Stanford won 44-14.

Virginia Tech won 14-10.

With the Hokies still recouping after a loss to FCS opponent James Madison, Tech can ill-afford to lose to another bottom-feeder of college football.

It is on the staff's shoulders to have the Hokies better prepared for every game, regardless of the quality of the opponent. When fans and experts see a last minute win over Duke, the credibility of Virginia Tech is rightfully devalued.